Board weighs Brazilian-pepper removal, consultant RFP and volunteer cleanup to reduce fire risk

Committee members and staff discussed rising drought and combustible vegetation risks, and the need to address invasive Brazilian pepper and flammable cabbage palms on several Turnbull Creek-area parcels. Staff said mechanical clearing and selective trimming will be necessary and that controlled burns were not recommended for some parcels because of palm density.

"They looked at the Turnbull property. They're like the most important thing would probably be to get some of the cabbage palms out of there," the Staff member said, noting the division of forestry’s assessment that controlled burns were not appropriate in some areas. Staff said they plan to issue an RFP for consulting firms to provide heavy-duty mechanical clearing and that volunteers could be used for trail clearing and less intense tasks. The committee also discussed organizing a citywide Brazilian-pepper cleanup day, and staff reported access to a regional pest-plant group’s phone app (via University of Georgia) to map invasive occurrences with GPS for targeting removal.