The latest word on efforts to continue to expand the planting of oaks in the Village against Urban Forestry Best Practices, threat of disease and negative impact to property values:

This Wednesday, October 21, at the Parks and Parkways Board Meeting, Commissioner Anderson handed a piece of paper to the Village Manager as the meeting was being conducted, and as she was sitting in attendance at the public meeting. Since communications between Commissioners and a Manager falls under the context of government open to all under Sunshine, Ms. Garcia professionally saw no problem (and in fact surely recognized the need) in handing a copy of the communication to a board member when he asked to see it.

The paper was in fact an email with some potential impact regarding Parks & Parkways Business. The email was one sent to Bob Anderson’s email account (Gmail) and dated August 19th, 2009, from Keith A. Bradley, Assistant Director — Institute for Regional Conservation, regarding an issue brought up at a past Commission meeting and at various past Parks & Parkway meetings — namely the need to emphasize biodiversity here in the Village and diversify our tree canopy.

During the meeting, Commissioner Anderson verbally challenged the right of board members to look at his communication to the manager. He indicated that it was NOT part of Sunshine. However, the nature of the mail, although in part commenting on the lack of immediate threat to our Coastal Live Oaks through a limited review of the status of Sudden Oak Death — also included this parting admonition: “In case something like Sudden Oak Death does reach Florida, it (expanding biodiversity, not lessening it, in our urban forest) will be a good insurance policy”.

In addition, this statement is in keeping with the recommendation from the Village’s own Urban Forestry report several years ago to lessen the planting of oaks, and yet, unfortunately, continues to this day.

The email to Anderson did not detail how Sudden Oak Death has infected oaks in the White Oak family (like our Coastal Live Oaks) in the laboratory, and how the threat is still possible for the future.

But that really is not the main point. Instead, we need to follow best practices because they are best practices, and because any number of pathogens might impact the Village if we don’t diversify our tree canopy. Equally, if we follow best practices, we are in a better position to assure our receiving future grants from State and/or Federal agencies that recognize the need for diversity as a safe-guard against tree loses.

Last, there have been other instances where Commissioner Anderson seemed to have a limited knowledge of Sunshine Law, or, in fact, interpreted Sunshine erroneously at times. So this organization would hope that the Village Attorney and Manager would review if a copy of the aforementioned email communication can be released. And, more specifically, if it is within Sunshine Law for citizens to ask for a copy under the protections of open and transparent government.

Last, below are a few web snippets that reflect additional information regarding the oak blight.

…oaks such as the white oaks and red oaks…are not yet known to be natural hosts for the disease; however, they have been successfully infected in the lab.

http://web.utk.edu/%7Emtaylo29/pages/sudden%20oak%20death.html

(However, from GA Forestry Commission Report there seems recognition of white/live oaks as host): A positive camellia plant was retrieved by APHIS, GDA, UGA, and GFC. The infected plant, mulch within 6 feet and potting soil in the planting hole were removed and incinerated. … Other known hosts include azaleas, vaccinium, roses, and the Georgia State Tree: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana).

http://proxy.stu.edu:2225/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=12B1B8B64CDDE260&p_docnum=31&p_queryname=6

Another report that hints at the spread of the disease in ways yet undetermined…

“Laboratory tests indicate that many more plant species, both wild and cultivated, are potentially
susceptible to P. ramorum.”

http://agr.wa.gov/plantsinsects/Diseases/SOD/docs/PhytophthoraRamorumGuide.pdf