Environmental Stewardship Committee outlines FY27 priorities focused on trees, marsh restoration and parks

The Environmental Stewardship Committee presented a four‑point set of proposed priorities to the Atlantic Beach City Commission on March 2, asking the commission to align the recommendations with the FY27 budget process and to consider a marsh pilot project and stronger protections for large trees.

Amy Palmer, chair of the Environmental Stewardship Committee and a 30‑year Atlantic Beach resident, told commissioners the priorities grew out of public input and committee work and emphasized the maritime forest: “We’re in a moment where concern over the loss of some of our largest and oldest trees … now is the time to act to save the remaining irreplaceable trees,” Palmer said.

Why it matters: Commissioners and residents have repeatedly said the city’s tree canopy is central to Atlantic Beach’s identity and property values. Committee members argued that the city is removing more large trees than it is replacing and that an updated policy framework and targeted programs could preserve heritage trees and slow canopy decline.

Palmer summarized four focus areas: maritime forest protections; parks and open‑space enhancements (including marsh stabilization); beautification using Florida‑friendly landscaping principles to conserve water and reduce chemical runoff; and environmental stewardship actions to support an upcoming state‑required stormwater management plan. The committee proposed tangible measures such as an annual tree fund, a heritage tree maintenance grant to help homeowners defray pruning/inspection costs, mapping elder trees for heritage designation, a developer roundtable to discuss incentives, and an “arborist for a day” program to offer residents free arborist checks.

The presentation included a data point the committee said shows a widening gap between removals and replacements: the committee reported roughly 3,500 inches of tree removals in a 10‑month span in 2025 compared with about 1,900 inches of replacement plantings, which the committee used to argue for stronger protections and targeted incentives. A city staff member clarified the city’s current dataset tracks formal, permitted removals (typically supported by an arborist letter) and mitigation replacements; the staff member said naturally fallen trees are not counted in the same permit dataset.

Commissioners asked detailed questions. Commissioner Ring asked how many distinct programs ESC listed and whether ESC would play an ongoing role in a marsh restoration pilot; Palmer said the committee treats several items as five program priorities with supporting activities and that the pilot budget would be housed in a city department, not the committee, though ESC would help guide implementation. Commissioner Grama asked whether removals include naturally fallen trees; a city staff member replied they do not. Commissioner Taylor sought confirmation that property owners who provide a certified arborist’s letter typically are not required to do mitigation for obviously dead trees; committee members and staff confirmed that practice.

On marsh restoration, committee members said they are talking to partners — which commissioners identified as including Steve Swan, Hunter Matthews and university partners — and that the pilot would likely use grad students as project monitors to keep pilot costs lower, with larger grant funding sought after proof of concept. Several commissioners expressed support for oyster and mangrove‑based approaches as part of marsh work.

Legal and procedural context: Commissioners discussed a potential conflict with Florida Statute 163.045 raised during the meeting and the need to coordinate outreach to state representatives; the committee is also preparing proposed amendments to Chapter 23 of the city code to strengthen tree protections and setback rules. ESC said it would provide more detailed Chapter 23 recommendations at the separate, immediately following workshop.

Budget and next steps: Commissioners emphasized matching any new priorities to the FY27 budget calendar. The mayor asked for a short conversation at the city manager’s report next week and confirmed the formal priority‑setting session is April 6. No votes or formal adoptions occurred at the March 2 workshop; commissioners requested ESC cost out pilot options and return with a single recommended pilot site for budget consideration.

The commission reconvened five minutes later to take up Chapter 23 amendments; no action was taken on the ESC priority list during the ESC portion of the workshop.