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Sebastian board celebrates Tree City USA recognition, highlights Filbert Street Park invasive removal
Summary
The City of Sebastian Natural Resources Board announced acceptance into Tree City USA, reported completion of an urban forestry grant that removed invasive Brazilian pepper at Filbert Street Park and planted more than 28 native trees, and heard a public request to explore a memorial tree program.
Chair called the meeting to order Dec. 2, and staff announced that Sebastian's Tree City USA application was accepted this year. "So I'm pleased to be able to announce that the Tree City USA application was accepted this year," Felicia Bernard said, adding she is pursuing the Growth Award.
The meeting then focused on recent work at Filbert Street Park, where Bernard told the board an urban forestry grant project with Parks & Recreation and a group called Integrity Tree removed primarily Brazilian pepper and installed native plantings. "They did most of the invasive species removal work," Bernard said, adding that native butterfly flowers and more than 28 young trees were planted in cleared areas and near the playground.
A board member who lives nearby praised the work as a visible improvement, saying the Brazilian pepper had been largely removed from the park's sightlines. Bernard and the board discussed the need to coordinate any future shoreline clearing (for example at the Main Street boat ramp) with mangrove protections and Parks & Recreation because of the sensitivity of mangrove habitat.
During public comment, resident Ray Osborne asked whether Sebastian has a memorial tree program like neighboring Vero Beach. Bernard replied, "There is not currently a memorial tree program, but the city does have some other memorial programs," pointing to memorial brick and bench programs and noting that a memorial-tree policy would require coordination with Parks & Recreation and facilities staff.
The board did not adopt a new policy at the meeting but asked staff to consider options and to return with more detail if feasible. The next steps include follow-up with Parks & Recreation on potential memorial-tree placement, and continued monitoring of the Filbert Street Park plantings as the young trees establish.
The meeting adjourned after routine business.
