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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-District 2-Jennings Disclosure & Emails ReceivedMelendez, Eleazar From: Carlos Iglesia <charly.church@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 3:45 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Tony Scornavacca Subject: Re: "Trees ; Samaneas" Good afternoon Ken, Thanks much for taking the time to respond. I just love Saman trees.. (Google them up! and click images, worldwide..) Let's just plant more Samanea trees everywhere! Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. You seem to have good advisers on this, well-informed: I'm sure you will make the correct decision. -- It's a relatively small issue in the Grove.. All the best, Carlos Iglesia On 2/24/2016 9:15 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, l—043KA- Sub COW— bis ',U 2- )wn',OP NkWVQ Ord 'Em as peu Submitted into the public Ken Russell record for item(s) PZ.6 City of Miami Commissioner on 02/2 1 2016 City Clerk. Sent from Outlook Mobile On Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 7:17 AM -0800, "Carlos Iglesia" <charly.churchnamail.com> wrote: Hey Ken, The Arborist is absolutely correct. (be sure to watch the video on the Grapevine). These trees are great, wide Canopy too, deserve a chance. Best, Carlos Iglesia Regards, Carlos Iglesia Logistics Manager BGT Holdings LLC (786) 521.2551 http://www.bgtholdings.com Melendez, Eleazar Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/2 i 2016 City Clerk. From: Austin -Bowman, Deirdre Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 2:46 PM To: hornstei@yahoo.com; jmcmglades@aol.com; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Kinchens, vonCarol; laura@dadeheritagetrust.org; Pacheco, Madelin; Rodriguez, Jr, Rafael; ZZZ- Alvaro Coraspe; ZZZ-Coconut Grove Village Council (Jessica Lewis); ZZZ-Colin Veter, ZZZ-Elena Carpenter, ZZZ-Frank Kissel; ZZZ-Gachysolares (Zoning); ZZZ-Info (Zoning Notif.); ZZZ-Info3 info@dadeheritagetrust (NET); ZZZ-Madalyn Repoci; ZZZ-Manuel Alonso-Poch; ZZZ-Mcconnell28 (NET); ZZZ-Rmasrieh@aol.com; ZZZ-Stirrup Grove Homeowners Association (Steve Dloogoff); ZZZ-Yery. Marrero (Natoma Manors Homeowners Association) Cc: Brudzinski, Kyle; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Tree Covenant for 3053 GIFFORD LANE Attachments: 3053 GIFFORD LANE (HOA).pdf Dear Applicant, Please return the Tree Covenant notarized, witnessed and signed. Along with a $10.00 money order made payable to the City of Miami for the recording fee. Drop off the Tree Covenant documents to City of Miami Planning and Zoning Department at 444 SW 2"d Avenue, 3rd Floor Miami, FL 33130. For additional information, please contact the Environmental Resources Division at 305.416.1551. "The price of anything... is the amount of life you exchange for it..." Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. From: Christy (Nones) McKenzie <sunshineyoga@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 11:16 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject. Re: Cutting down the Saman trees in Morningside Thank you for reaching out Mr.Russell. I believed you can easily have the tree significantly trimmed instead of removed if it is a danger of falling. Please consider this option as these decisions that seem simple one day can have strong impacts in unseen ways in the future. With the way our city is building these days, preserving as much of our tree canopy as possible should be of paramount importance. Thank you so much, Christina McKenzie On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 9:24 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussell@miamigov.com> wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend. and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile 4 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 8:28 AM -0800, "Christy (Hones) McKenzie" <sunshineyogakgmail.com> wrote: As a very concerned Miami Citizen; native and voter, I strongly urge you not to cut down the two trees in question in Morningside neighborhood. Extensive research was done before the trees were planted. Experts were consulted. I recently.asked Jeff Shimonski, a well-respected local arborist (former head of horticulture for Parrot Jungle, and he also writes the horticulture article for the Biscayne Times), to inspect the trees. On camera, he says they are vigorous and healthy, and he sees "absolutely no reason to remove them". Watch the 2 minute video Thank you for your time and consideration, Christina McKenzie KI Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/20)16, City Clerk. From: wadadasaw@gmail.com on behalf of Steve Pearson <sdpearson@bio.miami.edu> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 201610:51 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner] Subject: Re: Trees in Morningside Dear Commissioner Russell, Thank you for your response and your concern for these trees. It appears that one of the trees was hit by city lawn mowers and/or poisoned. If it has been determined that the tree is unsafe (which would likely be the case if the tree was poisoned), then Mr. Cruz should be permitted to replace it and the Commission should issue a stern warning that any intentional damage to these trees is a criminal act of destruction of public property. Thank you again, Steve Pearson On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 9:17 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krusseligmiamigov.com> wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. I Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. On Sat, Jan 23, 2016 at 11:02 AM -0800, "Steve Pearson" <sd ep arson@bio.miami.edu> wrote: Dear Commissioner Russell, Samanea saman are one of the great street trees of the world and they provide valuable shade, which is particularly valuable in hot, urban environments. Their planting should be encouraged wherever there is adequate space, which is the case in this median planting. Please vote to prevent the removal of these trees when this item comes before the Commission on January 28. Thanks, and congratulations on your recent election. The City of Miami desperately needs more enlightened environmental stewardship and it is my fervent hope that you can provide same. Besides being the Director of the University of Miami's Gifford Arboretum, I am the President of TREEmendous Miami, a volunteer group that plants, promotes and protects trees in Miami -Dade County. I was also formerly the Chairman of the City of Miami Committee on Beautification and Environment, and the Committee planted thousands of trees on Miami's Highways and in its parks and neighborhoods during those years. Thank you again, Steve Pearson Stephen D. Pearson Director, John C. Gifford Arboretum Department of Biology University of Miami 1301 Memorial Drive, Room 231 Coral Gables, FL 33143 (305) 284-1302 sdpearson@bio.miami.edu One World, One People, One Destiny Stephen D. Pearson Director, John C. Gifford Arboretum Department of Biology University of Miami 1301 Memorial Drive, Room 231 Coral Gables, FL 33143 (305) 284-1302 sdpearsongbio.miami.edu One World, One People, One Destiny Submitted into the public record for item(s) P_ on 02 25 2016 City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. From: Brett Ury <brettury@gmail.com> Sent: 'Thursday, February 25, 2016 9:34 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Re: Morningside Hi Ken! Thx for the detailed response to a small issue. I appreciate it very much. How's things? I imagine it's been a wild ride so far. Really happy you won, and excited to see the positive influence having "one of us" in your position. Hope your family is great too. Regards, Brett On Feb 24, 2016, at 9:25 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussell@miami ov�com> wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile Submitted into the public record for item(s) pZ.6 on 02/2 )12016, City Clerk. On Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 2:26 PM -0800, "Brett Ury" <bretggy@�mail.com> wrote: Hi Ken!!! I hope you are doing well and you're family is as too. I read about two small trees that are supposed to be removed here in Morningside. I think they should remain and wanted to share the story with you. I will share what I read below: Regards, Brett The City of Miami's Public Works Department wants to cut down two healthy, thriving trees in Morningside. These are two Samanea saman trees. You've probably never heard of that species; it's almost unknown in Miami. But if you've ever been to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, you've seen it decorating some of the most sacred ground in America, at the .Arizona Memorial: <preview_2 jpg> Our two trees are in the median of NE 6 Court, between 57 and 58 Streets: <DSCN0267_2 jpg> This one is on the north end of the median. <DSCN0254 jpg> This one is the second tree from the south end of the median. Why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees? Misinformation. It's a long story, but the short version is that these are non-native trees that the city is not familiar with, and there is misinformation about them on the internet. 10 They make an excellent street tree and shade tree. There are over a thousand of them planted on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii. You can see hundreds in medians just like ours, on Google Street View. . - -__ - - - _ - - Submitted into the public Here's an example: record for item(s) PZ.6 <PastedGraphic-4.png> on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Extensive research was done before the trees were planted. Experts were consulted. I recently asked Jeff Shimonski, a well-respected local arborist (former head of horticulture for Parrot Jungle, and he also writes the horticulture article for the Biscayne Times), to inspect the trees. On camera, he says they are vigorous and healthy, and he sees "absolutely no reason to remove them". Watch the 2 -minute video Aisa Michel (who lives right next to the median) and I have appealed the proposed tree removal to the Miami City Commission, and it will be heard on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. The item is number 19 on an agenda which will begin after 3 pm. It will probably be a long agenda, going on into the night. Friends, I hope you also like trees and don't think they should be cut down because of misinformation. Please help save.these beautiful trees. 11 Melendez, Eleazar Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. From: sheryl gold <shergoldcom@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 8:25 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Re: Please save the healthy shade trees in Morningside Dear Commissioner Russell: Thank you for your a mail and serious commitment to hearing both sides in order to determine what is in the best interests of the residents..... as well as the trees and the environment. While you are weighing the evidence, please consider the following: One tree is healthy; the other was struck and substantially damaged by City lawn mowers, twice, in the past few weeks, and sprayed with an apparent poison by someone opposed to the trees! I hope you will vote to retain the healthy tree and replace the damaged tree with a healthy new Samanea saman specimen; and permit the damaged tree to be taken back to the nursery for rehabilitation. This would maintain the symmetrical planting in that median. I'm sorry that I am unable to change my schedule to attend today's meeting. Sincerely, Sheryl Gold, cofounder GTAG Greenspace/Tree Advocacy Group On Feb 24, 2016, at 9:21 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. 12 This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the -city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2- p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 12:21 PM -0800, "Sheryl gold" <shergoldcom@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Commissioner Russell, Re: Item #19 on the agenda of January 28th City of Miami Commission meeting We urge you to save the two healthy Samanea Saman trees in the median of NE 6th Ct., between 57- 58th Street in Morningside. The Million Trees Miami campaign to increase the tree canopy to 30% is still far from its goal and more relevant than ever. Destroying canopy street trees is counterproductive when the City of Miami should be doing everything possible to preserve, product and enhance the urban forest, especially in light of the important role trees play in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Although a non native species, these particular trees are an excellent street tree, as proven by their widespread use in Hawaii. Thank you for your consideration. Sheryl Gold GTAG Greenspace/Tree Advocacy Group Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 13 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, iEleazar Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. From: Bud Meyer <Ibudmeyer@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 8:18 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Larry (Bud) Meyer; Anne Subject: Re: Letter regarding PZ.19 for Commission meeting Jan. 28, 2016 Attachments: Tree letter.docx Commissioner Russell: I am out of state on business and unable to attend the meeting. I am resubmitting a revised letter on the PZ 19 tree removal issue and ask that you include it in the record. My wife and I join the views of our adjoining neighbors, the Morningside Civic Association, the MCA Tree Committee in asking the city to remove once and for all the wrong trees from the wrong place. Larry Bud Meyer 640 NE 58th St. Miami, FL On Feb 24, 2016, at 9:12 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. 14 Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 8:13 AM -0800, 'Bud Meyer" <lbudmeyerkgmail.com> wrote: Signed document attached. Letter pasted in here. Jan. 27, 2016 In re: PZ. 19 15-01386a APPEAL CITATION Commissioner Ken Russell, Vice Chair Miami City Commission 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 We, the undersigned, are abutting property owners of the median along NE 6 Court and NE 58th Street, residing at 640 NE 58th St. We strongly support the Planning and Zoning Department's finding recommending removal of two non-native Monkey Pod trees. As the staff report cites, the saplings were planted without required authorization. In the past decade, these inappropriate trees have been planted three separate times, only once with permit. The plantings, authorized or not, were always done over our objections and despite the concerns of the neighborhood's tree committee. In addition to being unsuitable for the median's confined space, the non-native Monkey Pod trees fail and die due to cold weather. We witnessed the trees' deaths from our windows in 2010 after a prolonged January cold snap. is Please know co -appellant Cruz has admitted publicly that he killed the most recently planted trees, although that fact does not appear in documents appealing the city's decision. He sprayed Roundup (Glyphosate) at their roots during his inadvisable attempts to maintain the median. That work is the city's responsibility. Over the past decade, we have witnessed the serial plantings and serial deaths of these non-native saplings. I was a member of the Morningside tree committee, in fact hosting the meeting in which co -appellant Cruz advocated for importing the species from Hawaii. Against committee concerns, the co -appellant acted alone. We would prefer native trees conforming to the street tree master plan guiding plantings in the city and county. We lost a decade, of enjoying a thriving canopy due to the co -appellant's insistence on planting the wrong tree in the wrong place. Please deny the appeal before you. Lawrence H. Meyer Anne K. Robertson Cc: Chair Hardemon, Mayor Regalado, commissioners Gort, Sanchez and Carollo Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 16 on 02/2S/2016 City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. From: Jo Manning <jomanning1940@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 7:34 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Re: The killing of viable trees has got to stop.... Good luck on this, Commissioner! Trees cannot speak for themselves. We have to do it. When I was on the Historic Preservation Board for the city of Miami Beach we were great defenders of our trees. And thank you for getting back to me. Jo Manning On Wed, Feb 24, 2016 at 9:24 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussell(2miami og v.com> wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 8:38 AM -0800, "Jo Manning" <iomannin 1� 940(a gmail.com> wrote: Even children know how important trees are to us human beings ... they help us breathe! 17 Submitted into the public Aghast at the culling of healthy trees in Morningside. A travesty :( record for item(s) PZ.6 Jo Manning on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. 1460 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, FL 33139 18 Submitted into -the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. From: Neil and Alyce Robertson <robertna@bellsouth.net> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 20161:20 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Marc Billings; Santamaria, Ed; Alfonso, Daniel J. Subject: Re: Trees are important. Let's not get derailed Dear Commissioner Russell, You don't have to tell me that trees are important. The Adopt a Tree Program that I started in 2001 has distributed 180,000 trees to date and counting. While I appreciate the fact that the City has modified its position, as the chair of the Morningside Tree Committee, I think it is important to understand who is derailing the process. In 2007 the Miami City Commission adopted the Street Tree Master Plan for a reason - right tree, right place. The Monkey Pod tree has proven that it is neither. 3 different iterations have died only to be replanted without a permit. I don't think scofflaws should be rewarded. In my humble opinion, the City needs to take charge of Its rights of way so as not to Incur the liability for improperly planted trees. That being said, if the City has determined what is going to do in this case and I will reluctantly accept that a neighborhood scofflaw will get his way once again. Perhaps we can explore revising the Code so that this nonsense does not put the City in this untenable situation in the future? Mr. Cruz despite his PowerPoint presentations is not an arborist or a biologist and should not plant in City rights of way without a permit. I have copied Marc Billings, president of the Morningside Civic Association. While Mr. Cruz has attempted to generate support from his Move On petion from Portland and beyond, I think it's much more important that our Civic Association supports the position to plant the right tree in the right place. I would like the MCA Tree Committee to work hand in hand with City staff going forward. I will not be appearing at the Commission hearing, but that should not be construed that I agree with the retention of these trees in the median. They should be relocated to Morningside Park. If you are to have the green infrastructure in Miami, the policies need to be in place. Not an individual resident with his or her own aesthetic. Alyce Sent from my Whone 19 On Feb 24, 2016, at 9:10 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussellgmiami og v.com> wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion.on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 8:31 PM -0800, "Neil and Alyce Robertson" <robertna&bellsouth.net> wrote: I am disappointed as a Morningside resident that this item got deferred. The essential question is who controls our public spaces..If it is to be citizen activists, then how do we insure that residents who may have differing opinions get a voice? What if citizen voices do not mesh with City liability law. Does one individual control the public space? After 10 years is it "my turn"? If so, I can do much better on tree survivability. I am annoyed that this issue was reported to the City of Miami a year ago when the illegally planted Monkey Pod Trees were replaced in February 2015. How many times does a person get to commandeer a median? Submitted into the public zo record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. I am the head of the Morningside Tree Committee. Can we figure a route to better tree canopy? Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Marc Billings <marc.billings&gmail.com> Date: January 28, 2016 at 10:11:11 PM EST To: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Cc: Morningside Google Group <Mornin sg ideQgoogle rg_oups.com> Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Elvis, We all understand your personal connection to Morningside and respect the time spent on bE the community. - The acquisitions and misinformation you present is troubling in so much as this is a volunteer organization and those involved have professional reputations that could be impacted by the: accusations. In spite of these accusations, the community, as represented by the MCA conti move through any actions in a transparent and professional process. When I called you per: last week to find a resolution prior to spending City resources on this matter the goal was to f solution that limited this level is public divisiveness. As I mentioned to you, the issue is not of particular care to involve myself in. Nevertheless, a formal process has been initiated- and the matter was brought to the MCA in November of 2015. The Tree committee presented the history of the tree planting and the P Board recommended supporting the removal. There were no secret meetings as you sugges group of individuals who reviewed.the facts at hand and concluded in an open and transparei manner that a native, evergreen tree would be a better selection rather than the failed Monke variety. Given that this tree planting was done without current permit, was under a year old , could be relocated to the park the MCA supported the action. Whether you were responsible prior tree's death or not, the matter of native tree versus non native tree was sufficient to supl motion. Please find attached letter prepared by the MCA Board, signed by me in the capacity of Pres and forwarded to the City to support the removal permit. I have moved the City officials to a this email and will no longer be responding to this matter personally. I respectfully ask that tl- communications on this matter cease in our email platform. The City has sufficient informatic handle this matter and we can be satisfied with their ruling. On behalf of MCA 0 SuhmittPrl intn the niil clic 21 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. MonkeyPodtoCommission.docx (1).pdf - 2 pages Download 101 On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzkmac.com> wrote: Marc, thank you for writing back. I think you're on the wrong side of this issue. Tree protection and preservation is an important neighborhood concern. Your use of the words "pollute" and "spam" imply that you disagree with me. That's your right, even though you have never heard my side of the story, only tips of the iceberg. Please know that I will not be silenced or intimidated by you. Nor will I be silent if I witness intimidation. I advise you to consider being nicer to people, especially to people you disagree with. One thing I have learned in my many years of civic activism is that someone we disagree with today can be someone we agree with tomorrow, and we will want to work with that person on an issue of mutual interest. We can all disagree without being disagreeable. I noticed that you wrote nothing about the substantive points I raised in my email. Was any of it wrong? Or simply in conflict with pre -determined conclusions? Inconvenient truth should be studied, not suppressed. I wish this discussion was only botanical and not political. Marc, why is it that no one wrote the Morningside Google Group to inform the neighborhood that the MCA / Tree Committee had been quietly working on removing these trees since February of 2015, almost a year ago? Could it be that a small number of individuals in the neighborhood wanted the City to believe that the neighborhood at large was in agreement with removing these trees, and that if word got out there would be opposition? Submitted into the public 22 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. I have a copy of your letter to the City. Out of a courtesy to you I have not yet sent it to the Morningside Google Group. Marc, and everyone, please know I did not want it to come to this. I would have been thrilled to give my side of the story before decisions were made, but I was not allowed that courtesy. Not by the MCA Tree Committee, not by Public Works. Hey, we're all human. Mistakes can happen. However, Commissioner Ken Russell has had input from both sides. I commend him for recognizing that there are two sides to every story, and for making the effort to hear both. i Yes, mistakes can happen. I made the mistake of routinely spraying herbicide around the trunks of the trees, which eventually killed them. Let's hope the Miami City Commission doesn't make another mistake today, and that the trees are saved. Elvis Cruz I On Jan 28, 2016, at 7:07, Marc Billings <marc.billingskgmail.com> wrote: Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our.Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. i L On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruza-mac.com>wrote:. � � U Dear Friends and Neighbors, iJ U ° E° Today's the day. Thursday,,January 28, 2016. � O t!1 41 IR N The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at o o Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the N c agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but -the PZ 23 (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's -time and -the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. Marc Billings @marcbillings 3059707010 For more options, visit this group at hltp://gropps.google.com/group/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://momingsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to momingside+unsubscribe@googlegoups.com. To post to this group, send email to morningside@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https:Hgroups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 24 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Bob Brennan <treeguru@mac.com> Sent: Thursday, February 25, 20161:15 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Re: Semana seman (Rain Tree) Thanks you for your response. I will be there to contribute my opinion based on science and experience. -If you would like to look at wrong tree in the wrong place try walking along Commodore plaza near Grand Ave. Brand new travesty in landscaping...... I will try to keep my soap box at home... Yours in arboriculture, Bob Brennan 305-323-7342 'treegurua-mac.com On Feb 24, 2016, at 9:18 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. Submitted into the public 25 record for items) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 6:20 PM -0800, "Bob Brennan" <treeguruCaD-mac.com> wrote: Hey Ken, You and I sat near a Semana seman while chatting at Fairchild. These are not bad trees. We have many other larger problems than a couple of trees that are going to get big. I will come into the office one day soon... Thanks for being accessible. Yours in arboriculture, Bob Brennan 305-323-7342 treeQuru(cDmac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 26 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/2S/20)16, City Clerk. From: Bob Ross <bobrosspr@bellsouth.net> Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 201611:08 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Re: Morningside Trees Ken, Thank you for your thoughtful response. It's worth probing a bit to evaluate any claim that a tree needs to come down because of its state of health. I've experienced situations over the years when governments trump up "unhealthy tree" cases to justify earlier dubious decisions. This species grows with spreading branches so I would hope that any claim of poor health would be based on more than a theoretical risk of branches falling, or the tree tipping, in a storm. It gets high marks as a street tree, and is an under -planted one at that. Bob Ross On Wednesday, February 24; 2016 9:13 PM, "Russell, Ken (Commissioner)" <krussell@miamigov.com> wrote: Greetings, " Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. ; Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since yon wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile On Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 6:33 PM -0800, "Bob Ross" <bobrossp2a,bellsouth.net> wrote: Ken, 27 I am one of the organizers of TREEmendous Miami, whose mission is to plant, protect and preserve trees throughout Miami -Dade County. It has been brought to my attention that the City, through ignorance, is planning to remove two gorgeous flowering trees in Morningside. Please don't let it happen. Thank you for your consideration. 6- Bob Ross Past President, TREEmendous Miami and Councilmember, Village of Pinecrest Submitted into the public Zs record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/2 2016 City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. From: Barry Miller <barry@savinomiller.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 10:56 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Re: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Thanks for reaching out Commissioner Russell. It's good to hear at least one will be preserved, and wonder if the second is worth transplanting. I cannot attend tomorrow's meeting as I'm in Cartagena for a few days. Good luck in -any case, Barry On Feb 24, 2016, at 9:16 PM, Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussell(ir),miamiaov.com> wrote: Greetings, Thank you for taking the time to write me. I wanted to apologize, first off, on the delay in responding. While I try to have my office respond to most calls or emails within a day, I wanted to take my time to analyze this important policy issue and hear what various parties had to say before getting back to you. Please know that aside from this email, I've read through several other emails and letters both supporting and opposing the removal of the trees. This issue has also morphed significantly since you wrote a few weeks ago. While the city last month was recommending the removal of two trees that Elvis Cruz alleged were healthy, that is no longer the case. I was informed today the city will not seek to remove one of the samanea saman trees, since it appears to be in good shape. The city is still recommending the removal of a second tree because of the future risk it presents of falling. At this point, this is not a permitting issue, but a life and safety issue. Still, this is an issue where I am bound by law to hear both sides, and rule in terms of what I think is in the best interests of the residents. The City Commission will be hearing from all sides and taking a decision tomorrow some time after 2 p.m.. I invite you to attend and express your opinion on this issue. Thanks, Ken Russell City of Miami Commissioner Sent from Outlook Mobile 29 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. On Mon, Jan 25, 2016 at 8:57 AM -0800, "Barry Miller" <barry_@savinomiller.com> wrote: Dear Commissioner Russell and Mr. Santamaria, I am writing as a Miami native and Landscape Architect who's been practicing in South Florida for over 30 years to ask that the City reconsider the removal of two Samanea saman (Saman Rain Tree) trees in the median shown below. These trees become beautiful, flowering tropical canopy trees, suitable to our diverse South Florida landscape (you can find one at Fairchild Gardens as well), and are considered non-invasive. I am curious as to what the reason is for removal; is it street reconstruction, or utility installation? If there is concern about future issues such as curb damage form roots, etc., I'd suggest ringing three sides of the tree along the curb with 2' deep root barrier. I'd be happy to discuss the matter further if you'd like. Best, Barry Miller Barry Miller, ASLA Savino & Miller Design Studio 12345 NE 6th Avenue A Miami, FL 33161 O 305.895.9082 x 302 C 305-299-9076 www.savinomiller.com <i mage004.j pg> From: sheryl gold fmailto:shergoldcom(�i)gmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 2:20 PM To: sheryl gold Subject: Fwd: Please help save two trees in Morningside! In case you wish to send a letter. It seems that all Public Works departments undervalue canopy trees, not matter in what city. Sheryl From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Date: January 22, 2016 at 8:20:38 AM EST To: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Subject: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Dear Concerned Citizen, 30 U L O U ami a 4- t H U 4- 0 O z N L o Ln 4-1 O O U = {n L O The City of Miami's Public Works Department wants to cut down two healthy, thriving trees in Morningside. These are two Samanea saman trees. You've probably never heard of that species; it's almost unknown in Miami. But if you've ever been to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, you've seen it decorating some of the most sacred ground in America, at the Arizona Memorial: <preview_2 jpg> The two trees are in the median of NE 6 Court, between 57 and 58 Streets: 31 This one is on the north end of the median. <DSCN0254.jpg> This one is the second tree from the south end of the median. Why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees? Misinformation. It's a long story, but the short version is that these are non-native trees that the city is not familiar with, and there is misinformation about them on the internet. They make an excellent street tree and shade tree. There are over a thousand of them planted on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii. You can see hundreds in medians just like Morningside's, on Google Street View. Here's an example: 32 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Extensive research was done before the trees were planted. Experts were consulted. I recently asked Jeff Shimonski, a well-respected local arborist (former head of horticulture for Parrot Jungle, and he also writes the horticulture article for the Biscayne Times), to inspect the trees. On camera, he says they are vigorous and healthy, and he sees "absolutely no reason to remove them". Watch the 2 -minute video Aisa Michel (who lives right next to the median) and I have appealed the proposed tree removal to the Miami City Commission, and it will be heard on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. The item is number 19 on an agenda which will begin after 3 pm. It will probably be a long agenda, going on into the night. Friends, I hope you also like trees and don't think they should be cut down because of misinformation. Please help save these beautiful trees. Please take a moment to send an email to City Commissioner Ken Russell. You might also CC the Director of Public Works, Mr. Ed Santamaria. His email is esantainaria@miamigov.com Please ask them to save these trees. If you're pressed for time, you can simply forward this email to them. Thank you in advance for helping protect Morningside's trees! Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz@mac.com 33 Submitted into the public Melendez, Eleazar record for item(s) PZ.6 :on 02/25/2016. -City Clerk. - From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Monday, February 22, 20161:54 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Garcia, Francisco; Santamaria, Ed; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha; Gonzalez, Raphael Subject: Today's site visit, inspection and compromise on the tree removal appeal of the Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Dear Esteemed City Officials, First of all, thank you to Ms. Quatisha Oguntoyinbo-Rashad and Mr. Ralph Gonzalez for taking the time to visit the site today. Secondly, thank you to the rest of you for taking the time to assist with this issue, which as I have said to some of you, was the result of several misunderstandings. As for a resolution of the tree removal appeal, as you may recall, I had proposed the following compromise on January 20, 2016, following my meeting with .Commissioner Russell and Ms. Oguntoyinbo-Rashad: 1. I pledged that if either of the two trees in question dies of natural causes, I will gladly replace it with a tree of the city's choice, free of charge. 2. I also pledged that I would glady take on the responsibility and cost of having the trees maintained and trimmed as needed. I would much prefer having the trees trimmed by a private concern, rather than waiting for the over-worked city crews. Today, February 22, 2016, at 10 am: Ms. Oguntoyinbo-Rashad and Mr. Gonzalez arrived and inspected the trees. Mr. Jeff Shimonski, a well- qualified tree expert with whom the city personnel are quite familiar, also participated in the inspection. I imagine Ms. Oguntoyinbo-Rashad and Mr. Gonzalez will submit their own evaluations of the trees' condition. From my perspective, the two Samanea saman trees which are subject to the appeal (the #1 and #3 Samanea saman trees in that median, from north to south), appeared very well -foliated. (The other two Samanea saman trees, #2 and #4, are not part of the appeal. They have lost some leaves but have not defoliated following the possible poisoning first seen on February 8, 2016. They are putting out new leaves and branch tips are green.) However, Ms. Oguntoyinbo-Rashad has expressed some reservations about the condition of tree #1 in the past. 34 I also have reservations about the future condition of tree #1, based on the repeated lawnmower and weed eater strikes which have removed substantial portions of bark since its planting just over a year ago, and again in the recent past. I have further concerns following the possible poisoning first seen on February 8, 2016. 9 .w 4L, + r a f AN Note the fresh wound (February 17, 2016), and the band of red/pink liquid sprayed on the trunk below the wound (possible intentional and malicious poisoning). Because of the repeated City -caused lawnmower damage (which has opened the tree to potential infection), and the possible malicious poisoning, and because the opposition has mentioned a desire for shade, I today proffered to Ms. Oguntoyinbo-Rashad and to Mr. Gonzalez an additional compromise concession: I will gladly replace tree #1 with a 10 to 12 foot -tall specimen of the same species, currently being nursery - grown in a 45 gallon container. (I have located a nursery which has Samanea saman in stock, with those specifications.) This would be at my expense, with no cost to the City whatsoever. In that way any potential future health concerns of this individual often -injured tree should be alleviated, with much less risk of the tree having to be replaced later. (The current, injured tree #1 would not be cut down, but instead transferred to a container and taken back to the nursery for continued rehabilitation.) Submitted into -the public record for item(s) PZ.6 35 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. On a related note: In light of the fact that the City's lawn maintenance crews have repeatedly damaged these trees, I am requesting that as part of the compromise agreement I be allowed to place plastic curbing and mulch around the trunks of the 6 Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Ave and 6 Court medians (there are two others in the 6 Ave median, immediately north of NE 55 Terrace, 2 blocks to the south.) Otherwise, the original cause of this whole issue, City lawn equipment damage, will not have been prevented in the future. Here is a picture of the lawn mower protection I wish to be allowed to install (this is already installed on Samanea saman 94 in that median): Note the rusty brown patch at the bottom of the trunk; that is lawn mower damage. The dark brown patch above it is older lawn mower damage. So, in light of the latest issues the trees have encountered since my initial compromise offered on February 20, 2016, here is the current iteration of my proffered compromise: The City of Miami will grant me, Elvis Cruz, an after -the -fact permit for the planting of the Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Streets, as well as a permit to replace tree 91 (the northernmost Samanea saman in that median) with a 10 to 12 foot -tall Samanea saman specimen in a 45 gallon container). Submitted into the public record for item(s) pZ.6 36 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. In consideration for the permits, I, Elvis Cruz, hereby pledge that if either of the two Samanea saman trees in question (#I and #3) dies of natural causes, I will gladly replace it with a tree of the city's choice, free of charge. Furthermore, in order to help ensure the continued health and viability of the Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Ave and 6 Court medians, I, Elvis Cruz, also pledge that I will take on the responsibility and cost of having the Samanea saman trees maintained, trimmed, fertilized, and watered. I will also place plastic curbing and mulch around the trunks of the 6 Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Ave and 6 Court medians. Accordingly, the City will grant me, Elvis Cruz, permission to perform the tree maintenance and protection measures mentioned above. Please let me know as soon as possible if the compromise is accepted, and whatever steps are needed to formalize it. Please know that the tree removal appeal is on the agenda for this Thursday's City Commission meeting (February 25, 2016), and from what I understand the both the City and I prefer that this issue be resolved without it being heard before the Commission. I would certainly prefer to not inconvenience my expert witnesses and citizen supporters with a trip down to City Hall, so I await your response. It is my firm belief that if these trees are allowed to stay and live, they will enhance the Morningside neighborhood and the City of Miami greatly. In closing, thank you once again for your assistance with this matter. Sincerely, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz@mac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) Pz.6 37 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Monday, February 22, 2016 7:30 AM To: Santamaria, Ed Cc: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Dear Mr. Santamaria and other City Officials, Please be advised that on Friday, Feb 19, 2016, Mr. Rafael Llorente of the State of Florida's Dept of Agriculture, arrived on scene and took samples from the possibly poisoned trees, for lab analysis. DSCN0451 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 38 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES COMMISSIONER ADAM H. PUTNAM www.FreshFroYnFIar1da.com RAFAEL A. LLORENTE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST IJ DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES THE CONNER BUILDING (BSO) 2142006 Phone 3125 CONNER BLVD., SUITE N Rafael.Lkwente@FreshFromFlorida.com TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399.1650 DSCN0454 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 39 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. See - j"^_4 ,o4:4. On Feb 8, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Elvis ,Cruz <elviscruz(aD-mac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly die. <DSCN0379.jpg> <DSCN0380.jpg> <DSCN0387.jpg> <DSCN0389 4.jpg> It is sad and disturbing. to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruza-mac.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/morningside?hl=en 42 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 on 02 25 2016 City Clerk. For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.volasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribeCcD-googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to morningside@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public - record for item(s) PZ.6 43 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Alyce Robertson <robertson@miamidda.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2016 1:14 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha; Garcia, Francisco; marc.billings@gmail.com Subject: Morningside Tree Committee Tonight we held a meeting of the Morningside Tree Committee. We are looking at plantings at the barricades where the new fencing has occurred and also at filling in holes from dead trees. Primarily, the committee supports plantings that are no or low maintenance in the public spaces based on prior experience. In 2007, the previous committee planted over 150 trees in cooperation with the City through funding from the Tree Trust Fund. At that point in time, the City dug the holes and Morningside volunteers planted the trees. The Tree Committee will be making recommendations on how to proceed going forward. Elvis Cruz was in attendance tonight. It appears we will have an issue going forward if indeed 4 trees were poisoned and will perish. He will be seeking to replace the same trees. That is not necessarily the sentiment of the Tree Committee who wishes to move on and make sure the canopy is enhanced. He also took issue with the recommendations in the Miami -Dade County Street Tree Master Plan for not including the Monkey Pod Tree. It is quite odd to have my own words quoted back to me, however, I can assure you, the species was considered and rejected, as I recall, mostly because of appropriateness in this growing zone and potential brittleness in a hurricane, though, perhaps it could be revisited as climate change occurs. One of the considerations of Dr. Ed Gilman is that for tree resilience in hurricane conditions is cluster plantings. This deserves more attention in wide median planting areas. The members of the MCA Tree Committee strongly stated that they are not about 4 trees in Morningside and they are about enhancing the overall canopy. Ladies and gents; as head -of the MCA Tree Committee; we are looking to take our good tree canopy to great levels and whatever support the City of Miami can provide to get there, we will appreciate as the City of Miami's first historic district. Alyce M. Robertson Executive Director Miami Downtown Development Authority 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2929 Miami, FL 33131 robertson@miamidda.com www.miamidda.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZA 44 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: rhusonhun@aol:com Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 8:57 PM To: marc.billings@gmail.com; brettury@gmail.com Cc: morningside@googlegroups.com; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Maybe the city workers were simply marking them? Bob Hunsaker ----Original Message ---- From: Marc Billings <marc.billings@gmail. com> To: Brett <brettury@gmail.com> Cc: Morningside Civic Association <morn ingside@goog leg roups. com>; KRussell <KRussell@miamigov.com>; djalfonso <djalfonso@miamigov.com>; ESantamaria <ESantamaria@miamigov.com>; fgarcia <fgarcia@miamigov.com>; QOguntoyinbo-Rashad <QOguntoyinbo-Rashad@miamigov.com> Sent: Mon, Feb 8, 2016 8:37 pm Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Don't jump the gun too quick. The poinciana also had the marking. Someone should sample the bark and have it tested before we have a treegate.. Sent from my Phone On Feb 8, 2016, at 7:01 PM, Brett <bretturyCaDgmail. com> wrote: Who ever did that is truly pathetic. On Monday, February 8, 2016 at 3:57:09 PM UTC -5, Elvis Cruz wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will likely lose their leaves in a,couple of weeks and possibly die. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 45 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. E Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 46 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. tF-1 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 47 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. L Submitted into the public 48 record for item(s) PZ-6 on 02/2 W2016 City Clerk. Z It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 Elvi... (cDmac.com For more options, visit this group at hftr):Hqroups.google.com/group/mornin.gside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.volasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morning side+unsubscribe(cDgoogleg rouPs. com. To post to this group, send email to morning sidetu7aoogleg roups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 49 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. For more options, visit this group at http://q rou ps. goog le. com/q rou p/morninaside?h I=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.volasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe(aD-goo. legroups.com. To'post to this group, send email to morning side(aD-QooglegrouPt. com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for itern(s) PZ.6 50 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Brett <brettury@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 7:02 PM To: Morningside Civic Association Cc: Morningside@googlegroups.com; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); -Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Who ever did that is truly pathetic. On Monday, February 8, 2016 at 3:57:09 PM UTC -5, Elvis Cruz wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly die. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 51 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 0 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 52 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. 1 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 53 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 0 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 54 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 0 It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami; FL 33137 305 754 1420 Elvi... kmac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 55 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Santamaria, Ed Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 4:55 PM To: Anne Robertson; ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: RE: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Do any of the neighbors have security cameras that may have captured any activity at this area? Eduardo [Ed) Santamaria, PE, C6C Director o-. City of Miami Public Works Department 444 SW 2"d Avenue, 8th Floor +�ucar A� la Miami, FL 33130 �' �_ Telephone: 305-416-1050 esantamariaC@miamieov.com From: Anne Robertson [mailto:annekrobertson@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, February 8, 2016 4:53 PM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Elvis, as abutting neighbors we have not witnessed anyone in the median near the trees except city workers who trimmed throughout the neighborhood last week. If these trees have been intentionally harmed that is indeed sad. Anne and Bud Sent from my Whone On Feb 8, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzmac.com> wrote: (a� Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly die. Submitted into the public <DSCN0379.jpg> record for item(s) PZ.6 56 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. <DSCN0380.jpg> <DSCN0387.jpg> <DSCN0389_4.jpg> It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 E1visCruzgmac.com For'more options, visit this group at hlip:Hgroups.google.com/goup/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://momingsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe(-P-oop-legroups.com. To post to this group, send email to morningside@goop-legroups.com. For more options, visit https:Hgr6ups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 57 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Anne Robertson <annekrobertson@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 4:53 PM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Elvis, as abutting neighbors we have not witnessed anyone in the median near the trees except city workers who trimmed throughout the neighborhood last week. If these trees have been intentionally harmed that is indeed sad. Anne and Bud Sent from my Whone On Feb 8, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will 'likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly die. <DSCN0379 jpg> <DSCN0380.jpg> <DSCN0387 Jpg> <DSCN0389_4.jpg> It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Submitted into the public Elvis Cruz record for item(s) PZ.6 58 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz@mac.com For more options, visit this group at httQ//groups.goo leg com/ roup/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://momingsiderecommends.volasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe@goo leg ,groups.com. To post to this group, send email to mornin sg ide(a og_oglegroups.com. For more options, visit hgps:Hgroups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 59 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Neil and Alyce Robertson <robertna@bellsouth.net> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 4:39 PM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Though I don't condone killing trees, I would hope that we can have a rational discussion about tree planting in the public rights-of-way going forward. Ironically, we have a Tree Committee meeting this evening. Alyce Sent from my Whone On Feb 8, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzkmac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea samara trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly die. <DSCN0379 jpg> <DSCN0380.jpg> <DSCN0387.jpg> <DSCN0389_4.jpg> It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Submitted into the public Miami, FL 33137 record for item(s) PZ.6 60 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 305 754 1420 E1visCruz@mac.com For more options, visit this group at http://g!oups.google.com/gEopp/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://momingsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribeggooglegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to mornin sg ideggooglegroups.com. For more options, visit https:HgroLips.google.com/d/opto . Submitted into the public record for item(s) pZ.6 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. 61 Melendez, Eleazar From: Lilian Fernanda de Paula <1ilidepaula99@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 4:05 PM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. It is betone sad! Sent from my Whone On Feb 8, 2016, at 3:56 PM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz(a,mac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison,.the trees will likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly ,:: die. <DSCN0379 jpg> <DSCN0380Jpg> <DSCN0387.jpg> <DSCN0389 4.jpg> It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 Submitted into the public 305 754 1420 record for item(s) PZ -6 62 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. E1visCruz@,mac.com For more options, visit this group at http:Hgroups.google.com/group/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at hqp://momingsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to morningside@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit hgps://groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 63 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2016 3:57 PM To: Morningside Google Group Cc: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Alfonso, Daniel J.; Santamaria, Ed; Garcia, Francisco; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Apparent intentional, malicious poisoning of Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Dear Friends and Neighbors, This morning I discovered what appears to be an intentional poisoning of the four Samanea saman trees in the NE 6 Court median between 57 and 58 Street. These pictures show that an unknown red liquid was sprayed around the trunks of the four trees, in a manner consistent with intentional poisoning methods. If the liquid is a poison, the trees will likely lose their leaves in a couple of weeks and possibly die. Submitted into the public 64 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 65 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 4 y A iY ��� ���;��"'D } ��' #ry �� .. ,.. D - ,�' _ '�'� #•fit _ ill , _T47 ot y � , t 'yew �* �►.'= ', i woo WS" � . � A 07 lot an �� �4 t ,' `�i ��'� � �,d�� Yom` �� � 'Y .. ., �_ J'�� I^, f• _ j� - - It is sad and disturbing to think that someone, possibly one of our neighbors, would want to intentionally kill these trees. Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 E1visCruzkmac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 67 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <petitions@moveon.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 3:04 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: 330 signers: Please Save Morningside's Trees! petition Dear Ken Russell, I started a petition to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, the petition has 330 total signers. You can post a response for us to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.org/target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom-65853-20260203-JNXJVS The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." To download a PDF file of all your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?iob id=1722021&targ`t type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.ora/deliver pdfhtml?job id=1722021&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Thank you. --Elvis Cruz If you have any other questions, please email petitions@moveon. org: The links to download the petition as a PDF and to respond to all of your constituents will remain available for the next 14 days. This email was sent through MoveOn's petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. Ifyou don't want to receive further emails updating you on how manypeople have signed this petition, click here: http://vetitions.moveon.orQ/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1nYW1vZ29 2LmNvbQ-4petition id=104811. Submitted into the public 68 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016- City Clerk. - From: Neil and Alyce Robertson <robertna@bellsouth.net> Sent: Monday, February 01, 2016 12:32 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha; f.garcia.iglesias@gmail.com; Marc Billings; Larry Meyer Subject: Fwd: Unauthorized median maintenance Ok so here is photographic evidence that Elvis Cruz has been "maintaining" the median on 6 Court. He has admitted to killing trees by his use of an herbicide, but somehow we should trust him going forward. 12 trees have died at his hands. I am concerned that over fertilization and herbicides will contaminate the Bay through the stormwater system due to Morningside's adjacency to the Bay. He has had 10 years to prove these trees work, and I have yet to see evidence of that. Can I have my 10 years to take my turn in that median? I am confident that I can produce better results. Elvis Cruz has hijacked this median in Morningside for 10 years. But there is more - he has planted coconut palms at will - and BTW - we have lost 2 windshields to falling coconuts in front of our house. We didn't file a claim against the City, but probably could have. So he is a scofflaw that expects the system to work in his favor. Enough is enough. The Morningside Tree Committee was reestablished to deal with the very issue confronting the Miami City Commission, though I think the Street Tree Master Plan is the guiding document of what to plant in our public spaces. Morningside prides itself on its great canopy. This has been 10 years of nonsense. Why has the City allowed a private citizen to take over its median? Where is.the.democratic input? This median looks lousy. From: Larry Meyer <lbudmeyer(a,umail.com> Date: January 31, 2016 at 1:48:28 PM EST To: Alyce Robertson DDA <robertnagbellsouth.net> Subject: Fwd: Unauthorized median maintenance Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Larry Meyer <lbudmeyer@gMail.com> Date: January 29, 2016 at 5:07:44 PM EST To: Ken Russell <krussell@miami og v.com>, Marc. Billings <marc.billing_s@gInail.com>, esantamariagmiami og v.com, josephf(a ol�properties.com, Anne <annekrobertsonggmail.com>, 69 rwagnerggmail.com Subject: Unauthorized median maintenance Co -appellant Elvis Cruz on Friday afternoon 1/29/16, the day after the continuance of the City Commission Paz -19 action re the appeal of city recommendation to remove two nonnative trees in the 6th Court median. I asked him if Public Works knew he was doing this and sanctioned this work. He admitted the proper city authorities were unaware of his unauthorized effort to save the trees. As the abutting neighbor, I asked him to stop. I took additional photos and video. Sent from my iPhone Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 70 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar j From: Elvis Cruz <petitions@moveon.org> Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2016 8:47 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: 320 signers: Please Save Morningside's Trees! petition Dear Ken Russell, I started a petition to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, the petition has 320 total signers. You can post a response for us to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.org target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom-65853-20260131-IlYa6V The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." To download a PDF file of all your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://t)etitions.moveon.or deliver pdf html?job id=1719619&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: hLtp://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?iob_id=1719619&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Thank you. --Elvis Cruz Ifyou have any other questions, please email petitions&moveon.org. The links to download the petition as a PDF and to respond to all of your constituents will remain available for the next 14 days. This email was sent through MoveOn's petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents of petitions posted on our public petition website. Ifyou don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: htty:IlDetitions. moveon. org/delivery unsub. html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1 nYW1 vZ29 2LmNvbQ--_&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 71 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Larry Meyer <Ibudmeyer@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 5:08 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Marc Billings; Santamaria, Ed; josephf@goldmanproperties.com; Anne; rwagner@gmail.com Subject: Unauthorized median maintenance Attachments: IMG_0243JPG; ATTOOOOI.txt Co -appellant Elvis Cruz on Friday afternoon 1/29/16, the day after the continuance of the City Commission Paz -19 action re the appeal of city recommendation to remove two nonnative trees in the 6th Court median. I asked him if Public Works knew he was doing this and sanctioned this work. He admitted the proper city authorities were unaware of his unauthorized effort to save the trees. As the abutting neighbor, I asked him to stop. I took additional photos and video. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 72 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, IEleazar on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. From: Neil and Alyce Robertson <robertna@bellsouth.net> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 201611:31 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Trees are important. Let's not get derailed Attachments: MonkeyPodtoCommission.docx (1).pdf, ATT00001.htm I am disappointed as a Morningside resident that this item got deferred. The essential question is who controls our public spaces. If it is to be citizen activists, then how do we insure that residents who may have differing opinions get a voice? What if citizen voices do not mesh with City liability law. Does one individual control the public space? After 10 years is it "my turn"? If so, I can do much better on tree survivability. I am annoyed that this issue was reported to the City of Miami a year ago when the illegally planted Monkey Pod Trees were replaced in February 2015. How many times does a person get to commandeer a median? I am the head of the Morningside Tree Committee. Can we figure a route to better tree canopy? Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Marc Billings <marc.billings@gmail.com> Date: January 28, 2016 at 10:11:11 PM EST To: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Cc: Morningside Google Group <MorninRside@sooRlegroups.com> Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Elvis, We all understand your personal connection to Morningside and respect the time spent on behalf of the community. The acquisitions and misinformation you present is troubling in so much as this is a volunteer organization and those involved have professional reputations that could be impacted by these accusations. In spite of these accusations, the community, as represented by the MCA continues to move through any actions in a transparent and professional process. When I called you personally last week to find a resolution prior to spending City resources on this matter the goal was to find a solution that limited this level is public divisiveness. As I mentioned to you, the issue is not one that l particular care to involve myself in. Nevertheless, a formal process has been initiated and the matter was brought to the MCA in November of 2015. 'rhe Tree committee presented the history of the tree planting and the MCA Board recommended supporting the removal. There were no secret meetings as you suggest, only a group of individuals who reviewed the facts at hand and concluded in an open and transparent manner that a native, evergreen tree would be a better selection 73 rather than the failed Monkey Pod variety. Given that this tree planting was done without current permit, was under a year old and could be relocated to the park the MCA supported the action. Whether you were responsible for the prior tree's death or not, the matter of native tree versus non native tree was sufficient to support the motion. Please find attached letter prepared by the MCA Board, signed by me in the capacity of President and forwarded to the City to support the removal permit. 1 have moved the City officials to a BCC on this email and will no longer be responding to this matter personally. I respectfully ask that the communications on this matter cease in our email platform. The City has sufficient, information to handle this matter and we can be satisfied with their ruling. On behalf of MCA 0 MonkeyPodtoCommission.docx (1).pdf • 2 pages .,Download x x D On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> wrote: Marc, thank you for writing back. I think you're on the wrong side of this issue. Tree protection and preservation is an important neighborhood concern. Your use of the words "pollute" and "spam" imply that you disagree with me. That's your right, even though you have never heard my side of the story, only tips of the iceberg. Please know that I will not be silenced or intimidated by you. Nor will I be silent if I witness intimidation. I advise you'to consider being nicer to people, especially to people you disagree with. One thing I have learned in my many years of civic activism is that someone we disagree with today can be someone we agree with tomorrow, and we will want to work with that person on an issue of mutual interest. We can all disagree without being disagreeable. I noticed that you wrote nothing about the substantive points I raised in my email. Was any of it wrong? Or simply in conflict with pre -determined conclusions? - Inconvenient truth should be studied, not suppressed. Submitted into the public 74 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 I wish this discussion was only botanical and not political. re ord for ite 6. City Clerk. Marc, why is it that no one wrote the Morningside Google Group to inform the neighborhood that the MCA / Tree Committee had been quietly working on removing these trees since February of 2015, almost a year ago? Could it be that a small number of individuals in the neighborhood wanted the City to believe that the neighborhood at large was in agreement with removing these trees, and that if word got out there would be opposition? I have a copy of your letter to the City. Out of a courtesy to you I have not yet sent it to the Morningside Google Group. Marc, and everyone, please know I did not want it to come to this. I would have been thrilled to give my side of the story before decisions were made, but I was not allowed that courtesy. Not by the MCA Tree Committee, not by Public Works. Hey, we're all human. Mistakes can happen. However, Commissioner Ken Russell has had input from both sides. I commend him for recognizing that there are two sides to every story, and for making the effort to hear both. Yes, mistakes can happen. I made the mistake of routinely spraying herbicide around the trunks of the trees, which eventually killed them. Let's hope the Miami City Commission doesn't make another mistake today, and that the trees are saved. Elvis Cruz On Jan 28, 2016, at 7:07, Marc Billings <marc.billings@smail.com> wrote: Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send dozens of. emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. 75 On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com>wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the -day. Thursday; January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a . median, then replace -them with new trees. Marc Billings @marcbillings 3059707010 For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/morningside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.volasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop.receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to morningside@googlegrouPS.com. For more options, visit https:Hgroups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 76_ on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: rhusonhun@aol.com Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 10:14, PM To: marc.billings@gmail.com; ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside@googleg roups.com; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; f.garcia.iglesias@gmail.com; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. I think it's kind of entertaining! And if I chose to get involved, it would even be useful. Bob Hunsaker ---Original Message -- From: Marc Billings <marc.billings@gmail.com> To: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Cc: Morningside Google Group <Morn i ngside@googlegroups. com>; Ken Russell <KRussell@miamigov.com>; Ed Santamaria <ESantamaria@miamigov.com>; Francisco J. Garcia <f.garcia.iglesias@gmail.com>; Quatisha Oguntoyinbo- Rashad <QOguntoyinbo-Rashad@miamigov.com> Sent: Thu, Jan 28, 2016 7:08 am Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. 101 - On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz4-)mac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and. usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. This has been one big Twilight Zone episode with several bizarre twists. Here's one quick example: Below is a picture of a Public Hearing notice for today's hearing. It was posted on the SW corner of NE 6 Court and 58 Street. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 77 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Now let's look at a closeup of that posted notice: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 78 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Id before tt ire Planning,and APixals U � t.. Nednesda Februa 6 2013 y ry 101 e , �, U 6.30 P.M. o E w ar * Cit Half 3500 Pan American Drive )5 Ln o-* L N � _ N - N E O O NC N i O f E, LIAN D USE T THE EASTERN PART OF 21 �-)'*LOW DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMEPCl) Notice the date of the hearing: Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Almost three years ago. If you go read the notice, it describes a proposed change in zoning from residential to commercial (something the City of Miami does all too often), on NW 28 Street. Apparently they posted the wrong notice. Mistakes can happen. Here's a short preview of what I will be presenting to the Miami City Commission today: Some of those in favor of removing these Samanea saman trees have said that this species cannot live / grow / thrive in Miami's climate, because it gets too cold here and that the trees need volcanic soil, like the conditions in Hawaii. Not true. Here's some undeniable proof: This website is a photo essay about the Florida State Champion Samanea saman tree. Please look at the pictures and read the text. (Samanea saman has several names, including Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Mimosa and Albizia saman. In that photo essay it is called a Rain Tree.) The tree is growing in Fort Lauderdale, which gets even colder than Miami, but not by much. That tree is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old, according to different sources. That means it survived the first day in recorded history that it snowed in Miami, January 19, 1977. And the second day, December 25, 1989. And the long cold spell of 2010. It has survived many hurricanes in its lifetime, including Donna, Cleo, Betsy, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma 79 There is no volcanic soil in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida. That Florida State Champion tree was measured by the Ft. Lauderdale and State of Florida foresters as being 61 feet tall. How could it grow so tall? Notice that it is growing in a wide-open field, with unlimited root area, not a constricted street median. (Those opposed to the trees have simultaneously argued that it will not grow here and that it will grow too big.) (As an interesting side note, our native oak tree, Quercus virginiana, has been measured by the State of Florida to grow to 109 feet tall. But no one has ever argued that they should not be planted on our streets or medians.) Ironically enough, towards the end of that photo essay is an excerpt from Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia by Margaret Barwick (2004), which repeats the falsehood that has caused this whole controversy. Probably the most celebrated S saman is one in Tobago, which, in ig6o, provided the Frame for the treehouse in the film of the book, M Swiu hmil Robinson. That tree measured 76 m (z5o ft) wide x 6o m (mo ft) high. personally measured that famous tree on the island of Tobago in 2012. It was 69 feet tall. Apparently it was 60 feet tall in 1960, and somewhere along the way 60 feet was changed to 60 meters, which would be 196 feet tall, not the 120 feet mentioned in that excerpt. The photographs and measurement of the Fort Lauderdale Samanea samara by the City and State foresters confirms that Samanea samara will indeed thrive in South Florida, and that its maximum height is in the 60 foot range, not the 190 foot range. If anyone would like to sign the petition to save the trees (currently 251 signatures and climbing) here's the link: http://Detitions.moveon.or-/sign/please-save-morningsides Have a great day, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz(a)_mac.com For more options, visit this group at hftp://oroups.-goonle.com/-qroup/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morn ingside+unsubscribeO--googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to morning side(cDgoogleg rouDS. COM . For more options, visit https:H.groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) Pz.6 80 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Marc Billings @marcbillings 3059707010 For more options, visit this group at hft6:Hqrou0s.google.com/qroup/morningside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morning side+unsubscribe(cD-goog leg roups. com. To post to this group, send email to morn ingside(cagooglegrouPs. com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 si J on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Marc Billings <marc.billings@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 201610:11 PM To: 777-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Attachments: MonkeyPodtoCommission.docx (1).pdf Elvis, We all understand your personal connection to Morningside and respect the time spent on behalf of the community. "rhe acquisitions and misinformation you present is troubling in so much as this is a volunteer organization and those involved have professional reputations that could be impacted by these accusations. In spite of these accusations, the community, as represented by the MCA continues to move through any actions in a transparent and professional process. When I called you personally last week to find a resolution prior to spending City resources on this matter the goal was to find a solution that limited this level is public divisiveness. As I mentioned to you, the issue is not one that I particular, care to involve myself in. Nevertheless, a formal process has been initiated and the matter was brought to the MCA in November of 2015. The Tree committee presented the history of the tree planting and the MCA Board recommended supporting the removal. There were no.secret meetings as you suggest, only a group of individuals who reviewed the facts at hand and concluded in an open and transparent manner that a native, evergreen tree would be a better selection rather than the failed Monkey Pod variety. Given that this tree planting was done without current permit, was under a year old and could be relocated to the park the MCA supported the action. Whether you were responsible for the prior tree's death or not, the matter of native tree versus non native tree was sufficient to support the motion. Please find attached letter prepared by the MCA Board, signed by me in the capacity of President and forwarded to the City to support the removal permit. I have moved the City officials to a BCC on this email and will no longer be responding to this matter personally. I respectfully ask that the communications on this matter cease in our email platform. The City has sufficient information to handle this matter and we can be satisfied with their ruling. On behalf of MCA 0 Mon keyPodtoCommission.dou (1).pdf .2 pages - Download Submitted into the public 82 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 101 On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> wrote: Marc, thank you for writing back. I think you're on the wrong side of this issue. Tree protection and preservation is an important neighborhood concern. Your use of the words "pollute" and "spam" imply that you disagree with me. That's your right, even though you have never heard my side of the story, only tips of the iceberg. Please know that I will not be silenced or intimidated by you. Nor will I be silent if I witness intimidation. I advise you to consider being nicer to people, especially to people you disagree with. One thing I have learned in my many years of civic activism is that someone we disagree with today can be someone we agree with tomorrow, and we will want to work with that person on an issue of mutual interest. We can all disagree without being disagreeable. I noticed that you wrote nothing about the substantive points I raised in my email. Was any of it wrong? Or simply in conflict with pre -determined conclusions? Inconvenient truth should be studied, not suppressed. I wish this discussion was only botanical and not political. Marc, why is it that no one wrote the Morningside Google Group to inform the neighborhood that the MCA / Tree Committee had been quietly working on removing these trees since February of 2015, almost a year ago? Could it be that a small number of individuals in the neighborhood wanted the City to believe that the neighborhood at large was in agreement with removing these trees, and that if word got out there would be opposition? I have a copy of your letter to the City. Out of a courtesy to you I have not yet sent it to the Morningside Google Group. Marc, and everyone, please know I did not want it to come to this. I would have been thrilled to give my side of the story before decisions were made, but I was not allowed that courtesy. Not by the MCA Tree Committee, not by Public Works. Hey, we're all human. Mistakes can happen. Submitted into the public 83 record for item(s) PZ.6. on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. However, Commissioner Ken Russell has had input from both sides. I commend him for recognizing that there are two sides to every story, and for making the effort to hear both. Yes, mistakes can happen. I made the mistake of routinely spraying herbicide around the trunks of the trees, which eventually killed them. Let's hope the Miami City Commission doesn't make another mistake today, and that the trees are saved. Elvis Cruz On Jan 28, 2016, at 7:07, Marc,Billings <marc.billings@gmail.com> wrote: Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send.dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions.. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com>wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until -after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. Marc Billings @marcbillings 3059707010 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 84 on 02/25/20)16, City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. From: jtrujillo@casazulcorp.com Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 8:23 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Santamaria, Ed; 'Francisco J. Garcia'; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: RE: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Hi Mr. Russell, My name is Jose Trujillo and I am a resident of Morningside and have been since 2007. I usually like to stay away from such neighborhood discourse as the current tree issue but after reading emails and talking.to other neighbors I feel compel to at least share some observations. It seems only the loudest voices are heard and usually those are not representative of the community. • The tree/trees in question were planted without a permit • If one neighbor feels they have the right to plant trees in a public space without permits, another neighbor has the same right to oppose it and go through the proper city channels to have it removed. • The city clearly posted the correct hearing notice referenced in David Holtzman email so any other implication by Mr. Cruz is misleading to make the city look incompetent. The correct notice is actually 40 feet away from Mr. Cruz's home. • My understanding is that the tree/trees would be moved to the Morningside park if possible. That seems like a much better place for the trees to live and thrive. • 1 have seen Mr. Cruz use similar intimidation and miss -information tactics to get what he want and he continues to do so because it usually works. In no communication to the neighborhood or in the petition he created has Mr. Cruz made it clear that he continues to plant trees in public spaces without permits or input from his neighbors, that he has tried unsuccessfully to plant the same tree in the same spot for 10 years or that he actually was the one to kill the trees in the first place • Our neighborhood landscape would be severely handicapped if every resident felt as if they had the right to plant any trees in any public space. • Our neighborhood has some real issues that need to be addressed (flooding, street repairs, lighting, park facilities, crime, etc.). I hope wasting your time and city resources to address this particular one does not jeopardize your involvement in the real issues Morningside is facing. Thank you very much for your time and consideration, Jose Trujillo 670 NE 52 Terr. Miami, FL 33137 305 755 2417 From: morningside@googlegroups.com [mailto:morningside@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Elvis Cruz Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 6:16 AM To: Morningside Google Group <Morningside@googlegroups.com> Cc: Ken Russell <KRussell@miamigov.com>; Ed Santamaria <ESantamaria@miamigov.com>; Francisco J. Garcia 85 <f.garcia.iglesias@gmail.com>; Quatisha Oguntoyinbo-Rashad <QOguntoyinbo-Rashad@miamigov.com> Subject: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. This has been one big Twilight Zone episode with several bizarre twists. Here's one quick example: Below is a picture of a Public Hearing notice for today's hearing. It was posted on the SW corner of NE 6 Court and 58 Street. Now let's look at a closeup of that posted notice: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 86 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 00 id-66fo- r -e- Lite Planning, toning and A Nednesday,' bruary 6, 201 113: Cit Hall 3500 Pan American D' "-_ LAND USE AT THE EASTERNTED COMM'RC" "LOW DENSITY RESTRI Notice the date of the hearing: Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Almost three years ago. If you go read the notice, it describes a proposed change in zoning from residential to commercial (something the City of Miami does all too often), on NW 28 Street. Apparently they posted the wrong notice. Mistakes can happen. Here's a short preview of what I will be presenting to the Miami City Commission today: Some of those in favor of removing these Samanea saman trees have said that this species cannot live / grow / thrive in Miami's climate, because it gets too cold here and that the trees need volcanic soil, like the conditions in Hawaii. Not true. Here's some undeniable proof: This website is a photo essay about the Florida State Champion Samanea saman tree. Please look at the pictures and read the text. (Samanea saman has several names, including Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Mimosa and Albizia saman. In that photo essay it is called a Rain Tree.) The tree is growing in Fort Lauderdale, which gets even colder than Miami, but not by much. Submitted into the public 87 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. That tree is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old, according to different sources. That means it survived the first day in recorded history that it snowed in Miami, January 19, 1977. And the second day, December 25, 1989. And the long cold spell of 2010. It has survived many hurricanes in its lifetime, including Donna, Cleo, Betsy, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. There is no volcanic soil in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida. That Florida State Champion tree was measured by the Ft. Lauderdale and State of Florida foresters as being 61 feet tall. How could it grow so tall? Notice that it is growing in a wide-open field, with unlimited root area, not a constricted street median. (Those opposed to the trees have simultaneously argued that it will not grow here and that it will grow too big.) (As an interesting side note, our native oak tree, Quercus virginiana, has been measured by the State of Florida to grow to 109 feet tall. But no one has ever argued that they should not be planted on our streets or medians.) Ironically enough, towards the end of that photo essay is an excerpt from Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia by Margaret Barwick (2004), which repeats the falsehood that has caused this whole controversy. Probably the most celebrated S saman is one -in Tobago, which, in ig6o, provided the fame for the umbousc in the film of the book, 17m ,swiss Twmit Minm.T hat tree measured 76 m (iso ft) wide x 6o m {uo' high. I personally measured that famous tree on the island of Tobago in 2012. It was 69 feet tall. Apparently it was 60 feet tall in 1960, and somewhere along the way 60 feet was changed to 60 meters, which would be 196 feet tall, not the 120 feet mentioned in that excerpt. The photographs and measurement of the Fort Lauderdale Samanea saman by the City and State foresters confirms that Samanea saman will indeed thrive in South Florida, and that its maximum height is in the 60 foot range, not the 190 foot range. If anyone would like to sign the petition to save the trees (currently 251 signatures and climbing) here's the link: http://petitions.moveon.or sig_o/please-save-momin sg ides Have a great day, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz(&-mac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) Pz.6 88 on 02/25/20316, City Clerk. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.izoogle.com/Uoup/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://momingsiderecommends.yolasite.com. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to mornin sg ide@google rgroups.com. For more options, visit hLtps:// r�google.com/d/optout. n a Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 89 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Neil and Alyce Robertson <robertna@bellsouth.net> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 20161:19 PM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Marc Billings; Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Elvis I have stayed out of the Googlegroup on this topic but I can't allow you to misrepresent to the neighborhood what is actually going on. Two of the illegally planted Monkey Pod trees died in October 2014 and you replaced them with the same tree species in February 2015. You talk about courtesy owed to you, but it is you who should have pulled a permit to replant so the City with input from the neighborhood could decide if we wanted to replace it with the same species after 10 years of failure in this location. These trees are not the only ones you have planted illegally. There are many coconut palms and more. The medians belongs to all of us, so could you please stop planting without a permit? Alyce Sent from my Whone On Jan 28, 2016, at 10:23 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzgmac.com> wrote: Marc, thank you for writing back. I think you're on the wrong side of this issue. Tree protection and preservation is an important neighborhood concern. Your use of the words "pollute" and "spam" imply that you disagree with me. That's your right, even though you have never heard my side of the story, only tips of the iceberg. Please know that I will not be silenced or intimidated by you. Nor will I be silent if I witness intimidation. I advise you to consider being nicer to people, especially to people you disagree with. One thing I have learned in my many years of civic activism is that someone we disagree with today can be someone we agree with tomorrow, and we will want to work with that person on an issue of mutual interest. We can all disagree without being disagreeable. Submitted into the public 90 record for items) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. I noticed that you wrote nothing about the substantive points I raised in my email. Was any of it wrong? Or simply in conflict with pre -determined conclusions? Inconvenient truth should be studied, not suppressed. I wish this discussion was only botanical and not political. Marc, why is it that no one wrote the Morningside Google Group to inform the neighborhood that the MCA / Tree Committee had been quietly working on removing these trees since February of 2015, almost a year ago? Could it be that a small number of individuals in the neighborhood wanted the City to believe that the neighborhood at large was in agreement with removing these trees, and that if word got out there would be opposition? I have a copy of your letter to the City. Out of a courtesy to you I have not yet sent it to the Morningside Google Group. Marc, and everyone, please know I did not want it to come to this.' I would have been thrilled to give my side of the story before decisions were made, but I was not allowed that courtesy. Not by the MCA Tree Committee, not by Public Works. Hey, we're all human. Mistakes can happen. However, Commissioner Ken Russell has had input from both sides. I commend him for recognizing that there are two sides to every story, and for making the effort to hear both. Yes, mistakes can happen. I made the mistake of routinely spraying herbicide around the trunks of the trees, which eventually killed them. Let's hope the Miami City Commission doesn't make another mistake today, and that the trees are saved. Elvis Cruz On Jan 28, 2016, at 7:07, Marc Billings <marc.billings@jgmail.com> wrote: Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. Submitted into the public 91 record for items) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. It is not acceptable to send dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz()_mac.com>wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove; item PZ 19 on the agenda:, No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. For more options, visit this group at http:H oups.goo leg com/ rg_oup/momingLside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribeggooglearouns.com. To post to this group, send email to morninpside@googlegroul)s.com. For more options, visit https:Hgloups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 92 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 201612:33 PM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Subject: Today's Morningside Tree Removal Appeal has been Postponed. Dear Fellow Tree Lovers, I have received a written request from City of Miami officials that the City wishes to "continue" (which means postpone in city -speak) today's Morningside Tree Removal appeal so they can gather more information. I am a firm believer in having as much information as reasonably possible before making a decision, so I quickly agreed to the continuance. Therefore, if you were planning on going to Miami City Hall for this tree appeal today, please know that the item will not be heard. As they say in the military, "stand down". 1 A huge thank you to all who have supported saving these trees. I'll keep you posted. Stay dry out there, and have a great weekend, Elvis Cruz Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 93 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Bud Meyer <Ibudmeyer@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 11:13 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Larry (Bud) Meyer, Anne Subject: Letter regarding PZ.19 for Commission meeting Jan. 28, 2016 Attachments: Tree letter signed.html Signed document attached. Letter pasted in here. Jan. 27, 2016 In re: PZ. 19 15-01386a APPEAL CITATION Commissioner Ken Russell, Vice Chair Miami City Commission 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 We, the undersigned, are abutting property owners of the median along NE 6 Court and NE 58th Street, residing at 640 NE 58th St. We strongly support the Planning and Zoning Department's finding recommending removal of two non- native Monkey Pod trees. As the staff report cites, the saplings were planted without required authorization. In the past decade, these inappropriate trees have been planted three separate times, only once with permit. The plantings, authorized or not, were always done over our objections and despite the concerns of the neighborhood's tree committee. In addition to being unsuitable for the median's confined space, the non-native Monkey Pod trees fail and die due to cold weather. We witnessed the trees' deaths from our windows in 2010 after a prolonged January cold snap Submitted into the public 94 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Please know co -appellant Cruz has admitted publicly that he killed the most recently planted trees, although that fact does not appear in documents appealing the city's decision. He sprayed Roundup (Glyphosate) at their roots during his inadvisable attempts to maintain the median. That work is the city's responsibility. Over the past decade, we have witnessed the serial plantings and serial deaths of these non-native saplings. I was a member of the Morningside tree committee,. in fact hosting the meeting in which co -appellant Cruz advocated for importing the species from Hawaii. Against committee concerns, the co -appellant acted alone. We would prefer native trees conforming to the street tree master plan guiding plantings in the city and county. We lost a decade of enjoying a thriving canopy due to the co -appellant's insistence on planting the wrong tree in the wrong place. Please deny the appeal before you. Lawrence H. Meyer Anne K. Robertson Cc: Chair Hardemon, Mayor Regalado, commissioners Gort, Sanchez and Carollo Submitted into the public 95 record for item(s) PZ -6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <petitions@moveon.org> Sent:. Thursday, January 28, 2016 10:53 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: 273 signers: Please Save Morningside's Trees! petition Dear Ken Russell, I started a petition to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, the petition has 273 total signers. You can post a response for us to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.or target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom-65853-20260128- Zg Utbx The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." To download a PDF file of all your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1716698&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf html?ob id=1716698&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Thank you. --Elvis Cruz If you have any other questions, please email petitions ,moveon. org. The links to download the petition as a PDF and to respond to all ofyour constituents will remain available for the next 14 days. This email was sent through MoveOn's petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. Ifyou don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: htty://petition. moveon. org/delivery unsub. html?e=eWiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1 nYW1 nZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 96 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Justin B. Kaplan <jkaplan@kymplaw.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 201610:27 AM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Marc Billings; Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Unsubscribe. Justin B. Kaplan, Esq On Jan 28, 2016, at 10:23 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzgmac.com> wrote: Marc, thank you for writing back. I think you're on the wrong side of this issue. Tree protection and preservation is an important neighborhood concern. Your use of the words "pollute" and "spam" imply that you disagree with me. That's your right, even though you have never heard my side of the story, only tips of the iceberg. Please know that I will not be silenced or intimidated by you. Nor will I be silent if I witness intimidation. I advise you to consider being nicer to people, especially to people you disagree with. One thing I have learned in my many years of civic activism is that someone we disagree with today can be someone we agree with tomorrow, and we will want to work with that person on an issue of mutual interest. We can all disagree without being disagreeable. I noticed that you wrote nothing about the substantive points I raised in my email. Was any of it wrong? Or simply in conflict with pre -determined conclusions? Inconvenient truth should be studied, not suppressed. I wish this discussion was only botanical and not political. Marc, why is it that no one wrote the Morningside Google Group to inform the neighborhood that the MCA / Tree Committee had been quietly working on removing these trees since February of 2015, almost a year ago? Submitted into the public 97 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Could it be that a small number of individuals in the neighborhood wanted the City to believe that the neighborhood at large was in agreement with removing these trees, and that if word got out there would be opposition? I have a copy of your letter to the City. Out of a courtesy to you I have not yet sent it to the Morningside Google Group. Marc, and everyone, please know I did not want it to come to this. I would have been thrilled to give my side of the story before decisions were made, but I was not allowed that courtesy. Not by the MCA Tree Committee, not by Public Works. Hey, we're all human. Mistakes can happen. However, Commissioner Ken Russell has had input from both sides. I commend him for recognizing that there are two sides to every story, and for making the effort to hear both. Yes, mistakes can happen. I made the mistake of routinely spraying herbicide around the trunks of the trees, which eventually killed them. Let's hope the Miami City Commission doesn't make another mistake today, and that the trees are saved. Elvis Cruz On Jan 28, 2016, at 7:07, Marc Billings <marc.billings@gmail.com> wrote: Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzCaD_mac.com>wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. Submitted into the public 98 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. "rhe Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. For more options, visit this group at httv:Hgoups.goofzle.com/Uoup/momingside?hl=en oup/momingside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends". at hqp://momingsiderecomm6nds.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to momingside+unsubscribeggooglegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to momin sg ide@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit"htt-ps:Hproups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public 99 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 201610:23 AM To: Marc Billings Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Marc, thank you for writing back. I think you're on the wrong side of this issue. Tree protection and preservation is an important neighborhood concern. Your use of the words "pollute" and "spam" imply that you disagree with me. That's your right, even though you have never heard my side of the story, only tips of the iceberg. Please know that I will not be silenced or intimidated by you. Nor will I be silent if I witness intimidation. I advise you to consider being nicer to people, especially to people you disagree with. One thing I have learned in my many years of civic activism is that someone we disagree with today can be someone we agree with tomorrow, and we will want to work with that person on an issue of mutual interest. We can all disagree without being disagreeable. I noticed that you wrote nothing about the substantive points I raised in my email. Was any of it wrong? Or simply in conflict with pre -determined conclusions? Inconvenient truth should be studied, not suppressed. I wish this discussion was only botanical and not political. Marc, why is it that no one wrote the Morningside Google Group to inform the neighborhood that the MCA / Tree Committee had been quietly working on removing these trees since February of 2015, almost a year ago? Could it be that a small number of individuals in the neighborhood wanted the City to believe that the neighborhood at large was in agreement with removing these trees,, and that if word got out there would be opposition? I have a copy of your letter to the City. Out of a courtesy to you I have not yet sent it to the Morningside Google Group. Submitted into the public 100 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Marc, and everyone, please know I did not want it to come to this. I would have been thrilled to give my side of the story before decisions were made, but I was not allowed that courtesy. Not by the MCA Tree Committee, not by Public Works. Hey, we're all human. Mistakes can happen. However, Commissioner Ken Russell has had input from both sides. I commend him for recognizing that there are two sides to every story, and for making the effort to hear both. Yes, mistakes can happen. I made the mistake of routinely spraying herbicide around the trunks of the trees, which eventually killed them. Let's hope the Miami City Commission doesn't make another mistake today, and that the trees are saved. Elvis Cruz On Jan 28, 2016, at 7:07, Marc Billings <marc.billings&Qmail.com> wrote: Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruza-mac.com>wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at. what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. Submitted into the public record for item(s) Pz.6 ioi on 02 25 2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 9:16 AM To: David Holtzman Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Xen (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. David, you are correct. The two notices at either end of the median say two different things. No, it was most certainly not my intention to confuse the readers, and thank you for providing this factual information. Elvis Cruz On Jan 28, 2016, at 8:43, David Holtzman <davidjholtzmankgmail.com> wrote: Elvis, The portion of your, email related to the notice raised a curiosity for me, so I went to look at the notices myself this morning. Clearly the notice you outline has no bearing on the item being heard today, and whether or not it was posted related to this matter is unclear, though it's proximate location to the trees in question might lead -one to conclude that it is -not properly noticed. And while I am sure it was not your intention to do so, your omission of the other notice also posted on this block, serves to confuse'the readers of this email that a properly posted notice does not exist. I have attached photos of the other notice which accurately describes the matter in question. I though given the wide distribution of this email, it was important clarify this one point. David Holtzman Submitted into the public record for item(s) Pz.6 102 on 02/2):L2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: David Holtzman <davidjholtzman@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 8:43 AM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Elvis, The portion of your email related to the notice raised a curiosity for me, so I went to look at the notices myself this morning. Clearly the notice you outline has no bearing on the item being heard today, and whether or not it was posted related to this matter is unclear, though it's proximate location to the trees in question might lead one to conclude that it is not properly noticed. And while I am sure it was not your intention to do so; your omission of the other notice also posted on this block, serves to confuse the readers of this email that a properly posted notice does not exist. I have attached photos of the other notice which accurately describes the matter in question. I though given the wide distribution of this email, it was important clarify this one point. David Holtzman Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 103 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. . { . i .• � +}`_A tie �' � • h ' .. UBLIC HEA ON THIS PROPERTY AT CITY HALL V 350p pA AMERICAN DRIVE DI NER KEY ;ly! .14A ",' <<� i < �` rp,OI- flONAL - PURPOSE � }y i WTI ON DATE rz CALL. , X16 2030 TAMPERNG'OR . REMOVAIOE A WTmENT OF TFtTS Sir-4 _ { • 1W y 9 CITY OF MIAMI NOT'ICE.OF PUBLIC HEARING blotlm to to PuMc. SIMW pW" 0__te) end p_60jledy to 0wnms of Real EsWo Wth 5W FA A pejo hemN Will be held before the i"" [yam as 020'� Date: Tsssdey..famiery2B. 2018 , T ro: 2:00 P.M. Ptem: City Hall. 3500 Pen AnW"- 0*19 Pelltbn(s) to eonslder the following: iMi386a GRANTING OR DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY AISA MICHEL AND ELVIS CRUZ, AND AFFIRMING OR - REVERSING INTENDED DECISION NUMBER 15.194 TO REMOVE TWO TREES FROM THE MEDIAN ALONG NORTHEAST 8TH COURT BETWEEN 57TH AND Se STREP s.amoe.�..emomvaa m.m�n+eia®rw.rr�.� rs.'v'w �Mr.w vim.'~��' r4�:.w'A winrrw.r laver aMw. `oP s+eaM�r r1.+r�s.s .ar.'r�s tiwgY�y, .4rigY=yPlZ �®I.M a.0 OnM�1 �y.�ii ep..r' � �. On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruzkmac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. This has been one big Twilight Zone episode with several bizarre twists. Here's one quick example: Below is a picture of a Public Hearing notice for today's hearing. It was posted on the SW corner of NE 6 Court and 58 Street. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 ios on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. � of 4. M MIAMI tw• HE, Ant.a ° PUBLIC _e i OH THIS PROPERTY All CtTV RAIL 1y(QP NliERlANDRIVE OR",Ekt:Fa 1t OW1AAL FI , .�a � .:... F,P1Wi10N 'ALL. � — I y'�a! � }l `� R �• - .. YAW* �Ra11JF1fi OF BOARO$ �wK I L EI ' 'i�n`•wK .� •''dim" '� .�y� h.F ' • R 4`. .yam b ,�:4.� �•� Y �yf, YL l.h _ y. . • JCS <� 4 _ Id before 0 - ie te: n. M Planni Zan -in and al JVednesday, February 6, +x:30 P.M. City Hall, 3500 Pan Amer � LAND USE AT TME EASTERN PART OFA "LOW DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMERCI) Notice the date of the hearing: Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Almost three years ago. If you go read the notice, it describes a proposed change in zoning from residential to commercial (something the City of Miami does all too often), on NW 28 Street. Apparently they posted the wrong notice. Mistakes can happen. Here's a short preview of what I will be presenting to the Miami City Commission today: Some of those in favor of removing these Samanea saman trees have said that this species cannot live / grow / thrive in Miami's climate, because it gets too cold here and that the trees need volcanic soil, like the conditions in Hawaii. Not true. Here's some undeniable proof: This website is a photo essay about the Florida State Champion Samanea saman tree. Please look at the pictures and read the text. (Samanea saman has several names, including Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Mimosa and Albizia saman. In that photo essay it is called a Rain Tree.) The tree is growing in Fort Lauderdale, which gets even colder than Miami, but not by much. Submitted into the public 107 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. That tree is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old, according to different sources. That means it survived the first day in recorded history that it snowed in Miami, January 19, 1977. And the second day, December 25, 1989. And the long cold spell of 2010. It has survived many hurricanes in its lifetime, including Donna, Cleo, Betsy, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. There is no volcanic soil in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida. That Florida State Champion tree was measured by the Ft. Lauderdale and State of Florida foresters as being 61 feet tall. How could it grow so tall? Notice that it is growing in a wide-open field, with unlimited root area, not 'a constricted street median. (Those opposed to the trees have simultaneously argued that it will not grow here and that it will grow too big.) (As an interesting side note, our native oak tree, Quercus virginiana, has been measured by the State of Florida to grow to 109 feet tall. But no one has ever argued that they should not be planted on our streets or medians.) Ironically enough, towards the end of that photo essay is an excerpt from Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia by Margaret Barwick (2004), which repeats the falsehood that has caused this whole controversy. Probably the most celebrated S saman is one^in Tobago, which, in eg6o, provided the frame for the treehouse in the film of the book, The Swiss hmi� hbinson. That tree measured 76 m (asa ft) wide x 6o m (tza ft) high. I personally measured that famous tree on the island of Tobago in 2012. It was 69 feet tall. Apparently it was 60 feet tall in 1960, and somewhere along the way 60 feet was changed to 60 meters, which would be 196 feet tall, not the 120 feet mentioned in that excerpt. The photographs and measurement of the Fort Lauderdale Samanea saman by the City and State foresters confirms that Samanea saman will indeed thrive in South Florida, and that its maximum height is in the 60 foot range, not the 190 foot range. If anyone would like to sign the petition to save the trees (currently 251 signatures and climbing) here's the link: http://petitions.moveon.or siwVl)lease-save-momin sg ides Have a great day, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz(W-mac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 tos on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. For more options, visit this group at hl!p:Hgloups.google.com/group/morningside?hl=en For. recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://momingsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to momingside+unsubscribe@goojzlegoups.com. To post to this group, send email to momingside@googlegEout)s.com. For more options, visit https:Hgroups.google.Com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 109 Melendez, Eleazar From: Marc Billings<marc.billings@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 7:08 AM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Elvis, Against all of our requests, you have continued to pollute our inbox with this matter. It is not acceptable to send dozens of emails to people in a public forum such as our Google group for your personal missions. This is spam, unsolicited email, please stop. 0 ' On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elvisceuz@mac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. This has been one big Twilight Zone episode with several bizarre twists. Here's one quick example: Below is a picture of a Public Hearing notice for today's hearing. It was posted on the SW corner of NE 6 Court and 58 Street., Submitted into the public 110 record for item(s) PZ -6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. �. MIAMI f pUBL,IC HAS Do THIS PROPERTY Al YR& ±_' 75COP AMERICAN DRIVE MW:Epf,Ej OMATION vl&-2030 y f Tile r r k �.' GBOARDS Pj;-��, Notice the date of the hearing: Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Almost three years ago. If you go read the notice, it describes a proposed change in zoning from residential to commercial (something the City of Miami does all too often), on NW 28 Street. Apparently they posted the wrong notice. Mistakes can happen. Here's a short preview of what I will be presenting to the Miami City Commission today: Some of those in favor of removing these Samanea saman trees have said that this species cannot live / grow / thrive in Miami's climate, because it gets too cold here and that the trees need volcanic soil, like the conditions in Hawaii. Not true. Here's some undeniable proof: This website is a photo essay about the Florida State Champion Samanea saman tree. Please look at the pictures and read the text. (Samanea saman has several names, including Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Mimosa and Albizia saman. In that photo essay it is called a Rain Tree.) The tree is growing in Fort Lauderdale, which gets even colder than Miami, but not by much. _ __ Submitted into the public 112 record for items) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. That tree is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old, according to different sources. That means it survived the first day in recorded history that it snowed in Miami, January 19, 1977. And the second day, December 25, 1989. And the long cold spell of 2010. It has survived many hurricanes in its lifetime, including Donna, Cleo, Betsy, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. There is no volcanic soil in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida. That Florida State Champion tree was measured by the Ft. Lauderdale and State of Florida foresters as being 61 feet tall. How could it grow so tall? Notice that it is growing in a wide-open field, with unlimited root area, not a constricted street median. (Those opposed to the trees have simultaneously argued that it will not grow here and that it will grow too big.) (As an interesting side note, our native oak -tree, Quercus virginiana, has been measured by the State of Florida to grow to 109 feet tall. But no one has ever argued that they should not be planted on our streets or medians.) Ironically enough, towards the end of that photo essay is an excerpt from Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia by Margaret Barwick (2004), which repeats the falsehood that has caused this whole controversy. Probably the most celebrated S. sam- an is one inTobago, which, in 1g6o, provided the fume for the treehouse in the film of the book, The Swiu hmii Minson,That tree measured 76 m (250 %) wide x 6o m (t2o ft) high. I personally measured that famous tree on the island of Tobago in 2012. It was 69 feet tall. Apparently it was 60 feet tall in 1960, and somewhere along the way 60 feet was changed to 60 meters, which would be 196 feet tall, not the 120 feet mentioned in that excerpt. The photographs and measurement of the Fort Lauderdale Samanea saman by the City and State foresters confirms that Samanea saman will indeed thrive in South Florida, and that its maximum height is in the 60 foot range, not the 190 foot range. If anyone would like to sign the petition to save the trees (currently 251 signatures and climbing) here's the link: http://Petitions.moveon.org/sign/please-save-morningsides Have a great day, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz@mac.com Submitted into the public 113 record for item(s) PZ -6 on 02/25L2016 City Clerk. For more options, visit this group at . http://groups.google.com/group/morningside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at.http://mor6ingsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to morn ingside@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.tom/d/optout. Marc Billings @inarcbillings 3059707010 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 114 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Maggie Steber <maggiesteber@earth Iink.net> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 6:30 AM To: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Re: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Stupid and crazy waste of money—I think the commissioners have had Donald Trump transferred into their brains. This would make a great feature story for the NY Times the fight over 2 trees .... you should send this to the NYT writer here, Lisette Alvarez (alvarez@nytimes.com).....maybe she would see the wit and weirdness and waste of it ....... thanks for sharing. maggie On Jan -28, 2016, at 6:16 AM, Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> wrote: Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. This has been one big Twilight Zone episode with several bizarre twists. Here's one quick example: Below is a picture of a Public Hearing notice for today's hearing. It was posted on the SW corner of NE 6 Court and 58 Street. <DSCN0256.jpg> Now let's look at a closeup of that posted notice: <DSCN0259 jpg> Notice the date of the hearing: Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Almost three years ago. If you go read the notice, it describes a proposed. change in zoning from residential to commercial (something the City of Miami does all too often), on NW 28 Street. Apparently they posted the wrong notice. Submitted into the public 115 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Mistakes can happen. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Here's a short preview of what I will be presenting to the Miami City Commission today: Some of those in favor of removing these Samanea saman trees have said that this species cannot live / grow / thrive in Miami's climate, because it gets too cold here and that the trees need volcanic soil, like the conditions in Hawaii. Not true. Here's some undeniable proof: This website is a photo essay about the Florida State Champion Samanea saman tree. Please look at the pictures and read the text. (Samanea saman has several names, including Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Mimosa and Albizia saman. In that photo essay it is called a Rain Tree.) The tree is growing in Fort Lauderdale, which gets even colder than Miami, but not by much. That tree is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old, according to different sources. That means it survived the first day in recorded history that it snowed in Miami, January 19, 1977. And the second day, December 25, 1989. And the long cold spell of 2010. It has survived many hurricanes in its lifetime, including Donna, Cleo, Betsy, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. There is no volcanic soil in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida. That Florida State Champion tree was measured by the Ft. Lauderdale and State of Florida foresters as being 61 feet tall. How could it grow so tall? Notice that it is growing in a wide-open field, with unlimited root area, not a constricted street median. (Those opposed to the trees have simultaneously argued that it will not grow here and that it will grow too big.) (As an interesting side note, our native oak tree, Quercus virginiana, has been measured by the State of Florida to grow to 109 feet tall. But no one has ever argued that they should not be planted on our streets or medians.) Ironically enough, towards the end of that photo essay is an excerpt from Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia by Margaret Barwick (2004), which repeats the falsehood that has caused this whole controversy. <PastedGraphic- l .png> I personally measured that famous tree on the island of Tobago in 2012. It was 69 feet tall. Apparently it was 60 feet tall in 1960, and somewhere along the way 60 feet was changed to 60 meters, which would be 196 feet tall, not the 120 feet mentioned in that excerpt. The photographs and measurement of the Fort Lauderdale Samanea saman by the City and State foresters confirms that Samanea saman will indeed thrive in South Florida, and that its maximum height is in the 60 foot range, not the 190 foot range. 116 If anyone would like to sign the petition to save the trees (currently 251 signatures and climbing) here's the link: http://petitions.moveon.or sign/please-save-morningsides Have a great day, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruzO-mac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 117 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez. Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2016 6:16 AM To: Morningside Google Group Cc: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed; Francisco J. Garcia; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha Subject: Today's the day - Samanea saman tree removal appeal at Miami City Hall. Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today's the day. Thursday, January 28, 2016. The Samanea saman tree removal appeal hearing is today at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove, item PZ 19 on the agenda. No one knows at what time it will be heard, but the PZ (Planning and Zoning) agenda cannot legally begin before 2 pm, and usually doesn't begin until after 3 pm. The Miami City Commission will decide if it wants to waste the city's time and the taxpayer's money by removing two healthy and thriving trees from a median, then replace them with new trees. This has been one big Twilight Zone episode with several bizarre twists. Here's one quick example: Below is a picture of a Public Hearing notice for today's hearing. It was posted on the SW corner of NE 6 Court and 58 Street. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 118 on 02125/2016 City Clerk. fi LIC HEAM i or THCS PROPERTY AT Cm' 35:0P ASdF.RICAN DRIVE 11JZ,A►tj �4 OWNdAL fWATION MLL r 1 '>E MMENJ OF � 8TS �g BOARDS �r _t ¢ r- ���.� '� �ji ,1• it ti i: I-Ad before 0 )e Plannina. Zoninaan ..d Mmis e- M. Wednesday, February 6,2013 f4 . 4 6030 P*M. e: City Hall., 3500 Pan Amedcan Ddve s PA1E 1A U-S- E AT THE RT R • R FI'NLOW DENSITY RESTRICTED Notice the date of the hearing; Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Almost three years ago. If you go read the notice, it describes a proposed change in zoning from residential to commercial (something the City of Miami does all too often), on NW 28 Street. Apparently they posted the wrong notice. Mistakes can happen. Here's a short preview of what I will be presenting to the Miami City Commission today: Some of those in favor of removing these Samanea saman trees have said that this species cannot live / grow / thrive in Miami's climate, because it gets too cold here and that the trees need volcanic soil, like the conditions in Hawaii. Not true. Here's some undeniable proof- This roof This website is a photo essay about the Florida State Champion Samanea saman tree. Please look at the pictures and read the text. (Samanea saman has several names, including Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Mimosa and Albizia saman. In that photo essay it is called a Rain Tree.) The tree is growing in Fort Lauderdale, which gets even colder than Miami, but not by much. Submitted into the public 120 record for items) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. That tree is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old, according to different sources. That means it survived the first day in recorded history that it snowed in Miami, January 19, 1977. And the second day, December 25, 1989. And the long cold spell of 2010. It has survived many hurricanes in its lifetime, including Donna, Cleo, Betsy, Andrew, Katrina, Rita and Wilma. There is no volcanic soil in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Florida. That Florida State Champion tree was measured by the Ft. Lauderdale and State of Florida foresters as being 61 feet tall. How could it grow so tall? Notice that it is growing in a wide-open field, with unlimited root area, not a constricted street median. (Those opposed to the trees have simultaneously argued that it will not grow here and that it will grow too big.) (As an interesting side note, our native oak tree, Quercus virginiana, has been measured by the State of Florida to grow to 109 feet tall. But no one has ever argued that they should not be planted on our streets or medians.) Ironically enough, towards the end of that photo essay is an excerpt from Tropical & Subtropical Trees: An Encyclopedia by Margaret Barwick (2004), which repeats the falsehood that has caused this whole controversy. Probably the most celebrated S. sarnan is one mTobago, which, in ig6o, provided the frame for the treehouse in the film of the book, The Swiss Family "inion. That tree measured 76 m (ago ft) wide x 6o m (t2o "high. I personally measured that famous tree on the island of Tobago in 2012. It was 69 feet tall. Apparently it was 60 feet tall in 1960, and somewhere along the way 60 feet was changed to 60 meters, which would be 196 feet tall, not the 120 feet mentioned in that excerpt. The photographs and measurement of the Fort Lauderdale Samanea saman by the City and State foresters confirms that Samanea saman will indeed thrive in South Florida, and that its maximum height is in the 60 foot range, not the 190 foot range. If anyone would like to sign the petition to save the trees (currently 251 signatures and climbing) here's the link: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/please-save-moming_sides Have a great day, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz(a-mac.com Submitted into the public 121 record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. .Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 122 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016. City. Clerk. From: Bud Meyer <Ibudmeyer@gmail.com> - - Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 201612:13 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Larry (Bud) Meyer, Anne Subject: Letter regarding PZ.19 -- Support for rejection of the appeal. Attachments: Tree letter signed.html Commissioner Russell: We are homeowners abutting the median at NE 6th Court and NE 58th Street. We support the recommendation and urge the commission to reject the appellants. Signed letter attached. Letter pasted in here: Jan. 27, 2016 In re: PZ.19 15-01386a APPEAL CITATION Commissioner Ken Russell, Vice Chair Miami City Commission 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 We, the undersigned, are abutting property owners of the median along NE 6 Court and NE 58th Street, residing at 640 NE 58th St. We strongly support the Planning and Zoning Department's finding recommending removal of two non- native Monkey Pod trees. As the staff report cites, the saplings were planted without required authorization. In the past decade, these inappropriate trees have been planted three separate times, only once with permit. The plantings, authorized or not, were always done over our objections and despite the concerns of the neighborhood's tree committee. 123 In addition to being unsuitable for the median's confined space, the non-native Monkey Pod trees fail and die due to cold weather. We witnessed the trees' deaths from our windows in 2010 after a prolonged January cold snap. Please know co -appellant Cruz has admitted publicly that he killed the most recently planted trees, although that fact does not appear in documents appealing the city's decision. He sprayed Roundup (Glyphosate) at their roots during his inadvisable attempts to maintain the median. That work is the city's responsibility. Over the past decade, we have witnessed the serial plantings and serial deaths of these non-native saplings. I was a member of the Morningside tree committee, in fact hosting the meeting in which co -appellant Cruz advocated for importing the species from Hawaii. Against committee concerns, the co -appellant acted alone. We would prefer native trees conforming to the street tree master plan guiding plantings in the city and county. We lost a decade of enjoying a thriving canopy due to the co -appellant's insistence on planting the wrong tree in the wrong place. Please deny the appeal before you. Lawrence H. Meyer . Anne K. Robertson Cc: Chair Hardemon, Mayor Regalado, commissioners Gort, Sanchez and Carollo Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 124 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Bob Ross <bobrosspr@bellsouth.net> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 9:32 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Morningside. Trees Ken, I am one of the organizers of TREEmendous Miami, whose mission is to plant, protect and preserve trees throughout Miami -Dade County. It has been brought to my attention that the City, through ignorance, is planning to remove two gorgeous flowering trees in Morningside. Please don't let it happen. Thank you for your consideration. M. Bob Ross Past President, TREEmendous Miami and Councilmember, Village of Pinecrest Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 125 on 02/2):L2_016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Kitty <kitterry@earthlink.net> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 9:24 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Fabulous Trees Dear Commissioner, Please do not destroy the beautiful Flowering trees in Morningside. I beseech you to visit the site and enjoy the size and beauty of this specimen. Small native trees are not always the answer. Do the right thing. Save our old canopy trees. Kate Terry 36 year resident of The City if Miami Submitted into the public record for item(s) P` on 02/2 )12016 City Clerk. 126 Melendez, Eleazar From: JOYCE NELSON <grovitesl@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 6:01 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Please help save two trees in Historic Morningside! Importance: High The City of Miami's Public Works Department wants to cut down two healthy, thriving trees in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District. These are two Samanea saman trees. You've probably never heard of that species; it's almost unknown in Miami. But if you've ever been to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, you've seen it decorating some of the most sacred ground in America, at the Arizona Memorial: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 iz� on 02 2S 2016 City Clerk. Our two trees are in the median of NE 6 Court, between 57 and 58 Streets: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 128 on 92.L2-5/2016. City Clerk. .� , `.fix, W-. . r rN�M1 i 1 I'I r' �'� � �.�'. " -..: _ ate'-"+•. w ' - This one is the second tree from the south end of the median. Why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees? Misinformation. It's a long story, but the short version is that these are non-native trees that the city is not familiar with, and there is misinformation about them on the internet. They make an excellent street tree and shade tree. They are non-invasive and produce pretty pink flowers. There are over a thousand of them planted on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii, where you can see hundreds in medians just like Morningside's, on Google Street View. Extensive research was done before the trees were planted. Experts were consulted. I recently asked Jeff Shimonski, a well-respected local arborist (former head of horticulture for Parrot Jungle, and he also writes the horticulture article for the Biscayne Times), to inspect the trees. On camera, he says they are vigorous and healthy, and he sees "absolutely no reason to remove them". Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 130 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Watch the 2 - minute video An appealed to the proposed tree removal was send to the Miami City Commission, and it will be heard on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. The item is number 19 on an agenda Which will begin after 3 pm. It will probably be a long agenda, going on into the night. Please help save these beautiful trees. Our tax dollars should not be wasted on cutting down or removing beautiful healthy trees, then replacing them with new trees. Thank you in advance for helping protect Morningside's trees! Cheers ' • ' ' Joyce E. Nelson 305-505-1147 "Be good, be giving, be a good citizen, and be a good friend... therein all honor lies." John Fonville We never touch someone so lightly that we don't leave a trace. "There are three apples that changed the world: Eve's, Isaac Newton's, and Steve Jobs'." One drop of water per second from a leaky faucet wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year.' Who owns the water? Only 1% of water on earth is drinkable. The first medicine on this planet is water. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 131 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez. Eleazar From: Marlene Nece <mnece@bellsouth.net> i Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 2:52 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Morningside Trees Ken, Please vote to save these trees, there is no reason to remove them. We need more trees, not less. Thanks Marlene Nece 4030 Hardie Av Coconut Grove 33133 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 132 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, IEleazar From: Alyce Robertson <robertson@miamidda.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 2:26 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Morningside Monkey Pod Trees Attachments: Russell Monkey Pods.pdf Please end the failed experiment with Morningside Monkey Pod trees. Details attached. Alyce Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 133 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: maderalmd@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201612:33 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Morningside Trees Please save the 2 trees in Morningside Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 134 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Dino G. Galardi <petitions-noreply@moveon.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 10:47 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 55th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 56 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here:'http://petitions.moveon.orgLt;Lrget talkback.html?tt--n-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in -Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: They pave paradise and put up a parking lot... To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?job id=1715023&target type=custom&target id=65853 To. download a.CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf html?iob id=1715023&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Dino G. Galardi Coral Gables, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionsgmoveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: httn://petitions.moveon.orQ/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1nYW1nZ29 2LmNvbO--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 135 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <petitions@moveon.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:48 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: 56 signers: Please Save Morningside's Trees! petition Dear Ken Russell, I started a petition to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, the petition has 56 total signers. You can post a response for us to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.orWtarget talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom-65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." To download a PDF file of all your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://i)etitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1715024&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or /dg eliver pdf.html?iob id=1715024&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Thank you. --Elvis Cruz Ifyou have any other questions, please email netitions&moveon.org. The links to download the petition as a PDF and to respond to all of your constituents will remain available for the next 14 days. This email was sent through MoveOn's petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. Ifyou don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: http://Vetitions.moveon.org/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOGInYWIDZ29 2LmNvbO--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 136 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Mario S. Cano < petitions-noreply@moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:44 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 54th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 54 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.org/targ_et talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: As a Miami native, I urge the preservation of these lovely and historic trees which, due to their uniqueness, only serve to geace the neighborhood. To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?iob id=1715015&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf html?job id=1715015&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Mario S. Cano Coral Gables, FL This email was sent through Move Ons public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents of petitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionskmoveon. orP. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: http://Vetitions.moveon.orQ/delivery unsub.html?e=eWiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw30TOtSd 7VzZWxsOG1nYW1nZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 137 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Toni Manning < petitions-noreply@moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:40 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 50th signer. "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 52 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://yetitions.moveon.orgLtarget talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Save the Trees To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://t)etitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf html?job id=1715005&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a•CSV file of all of your constituents who -have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://t)etitions.moveon.or deliver pd£html?job id=1715005&tares tme=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Toni Manning Homestead, FL This email was. sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitions@moveon.org. Ifyou don't want to receive further,emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: httn://netitions.moveon.orzldelivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1nYWInZ29 2LmNvbQ--& petition _id= 104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 138 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Michele Rivera < petitions- noreply@ moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:32 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 46th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 47 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.orgd4rg_et talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: PLEASE SAVE Morningside's Trees! To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: hLtp://vetitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714996&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714996&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Michele Rivera Ft. Lauderdale, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitions@moveon.org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: http://Vetitions.moveon.orgldelivery unsub.html?e=eWiiwnvv6VXvz,4wNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOGInYWIDZ29 2LmNvbQ--&pe1i1ion id=104811. Submitted into the public record for items) PZ.6 139 on 02125/2016 City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 Melendez, Eleazar on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. From: Candice Cobaugh <petitions-noreply@moveon.org> - Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 10:24 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 45th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 45 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.ora/target_talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Cut down these shade trees ... whose idea is that??? I visit Morningside often due to close friends that live there. I love each street and the park and find it hard to believe you want to remove such beautiful trees from the Median. I have a Samanea Saman in my mom's yard and find this to be a beautiful shade tree. If its good enough to plant in the front of the Pearl Harbor entrance in Hawaii ... why would you want to cut them down here? I strongly ask that you reconsider your decision to cut these beautiful trees down. Your actions -will ultimately result in agreat disservice to both the Morningside community and our city's tropical ambiance. PLEASE DON'T CUT DOWN THE SAMANEA SAMAN TREES! To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://t)etitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?job id=1714974&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/�deliver pdf.html?job id=1714974&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Candice Cobaugh Miami, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionsgmoveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: 140 http://petitions.moveon.org/delivery unsub.html?e=eWiiwnvv6VXy zAwNOw3QTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1pYWIpZ29 2LmNvbO--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 141 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Martha M Chisholm < petitio ns -no reply@ moveo n.o rg > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:24 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 43rd signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, . I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save MornjWside's Trees!. So far, 45 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here:'http://petitions.moveon.orgLtLrget talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Stop cutting trees down, fools!! To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://Petitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf html?job id=1714973&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a. CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf html?iob id=1714973&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Martha M Chisholm Coral Gables, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents of petitions posted on our public petition website. Ifyou have any questions, please email petitions@moveon.org. Ifyou don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: httv.//petitions.moveon.org/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdUVzZWxsOG1DYWIPZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 142 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Carlos Iglesia <charly.church@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:17 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: "Trees; Samaneas" Hey Ken, The Arborist is absolutely correct. (be sure to watch the video on the Grapevine). These trees are great, wide Canopy too, deserve a chance. Best, Carlos Iglesia Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 143 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Christine Sana < petitions-noreply@moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:14 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 37th signer. "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 39 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.orgtarget talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Listen to the experts -let the trees stay and thrive! Thank you To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: hllp://i)etitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714909&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your, constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://i)etitions.moveon.org/deliver ]2df.html?job id=1714909&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Christine Sana Omaha, NE This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionsgmoveon.org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: httn://netitions.moveon.orgldelivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1nYW1nZ29 2LmNvbO--&petition_id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 144 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Carlos Iglesia < petitions-noreply@moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 10:14 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 39th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 39 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.org�gdt-talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Samanes are great. To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?job id=1714911&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download -a-CSVfile of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: htti):Hpetitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714911&tares type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Carlos Iglesia Miami, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents of petitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitions@moveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: httD:11,vetitions.moveon.org/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdUVzZWxsOG1vYWlvZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition=id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 145 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Ramon Lopez de la Vega < petitions-noreply@moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 10:14 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 38th signer. "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 39 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.orgLtarg_et talkback.html?tt=-tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: It would be a crime to remove those beautiful tree. Let's keep Miami beautiful. To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver-Ddf.html?job id=1714910&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: hqp://t)etitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714910&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Ramon Lopez de la Vega Doral, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitions&moveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: http://0etitions.moveon.or-ldelivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOGInYWInZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. ' Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 146 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez. Eleakar From: Ralph Miranda < petitions- noreply@ moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:14 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 36th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 39 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://t)etitions.moveon.org/target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Save these trees To download a PDF file of all of your. constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?job id=1714908&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf html?job id=1714908&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Ralph Miranda Diluth, GA This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents of petitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionsna,moveon.org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: htty:Ilnetitions.moveon.org/delivery unsub.html?e=eWiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1nYW1nZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 147 on 02/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Carmine Citro <petitions-noreply@moveon.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 201610:14 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 35th signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 39 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.orgLtarget talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Please save these trees, thank you. To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: hiip://I)etitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf html?job id=1714907&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition; including their addresses, click this link: htti)://vetitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714907&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Carmine Citro Miami -Coconut Grove, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. Ifyou have any questions, please email petitionsgmoveon.org. Ifyou don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: http: //petitions. moveon. org/delivery unsub. html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWzsOG1 DYWI DZ29 2LmNvbO--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 148 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Corinna Moebius < petitions- noreply@ moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 9:58 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 33rd signer: "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save MorninQside's Trees!. So far, 34 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking bere: hqp://yetitions.moveon.or /g target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65 8 5 3-20260126-r9 V 9 W I The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Why waste taxpayer money cutting down beautiful shade trees? To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: htip://petitions.moveon.orL/deliver pdf.html?iob id=1714862&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: htt-p://Petitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?job id=1714862&t4metet type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Corinna Moebius Miami, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionskmoveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: htty://netitions.moveon.orQ/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdkWzZWxsOG1vYW1nZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 149 on 02 25 2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Eileen Diamond < petitions-noreply@moveon.org > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 9:45 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 31st signer. "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 31 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.org/target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Save the Trees To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://i)etitions.moveon.org/deliver pdf.html?ob id=1714852&target type=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your. constituents who have signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: hM://petitions.moveon.or deliver pdf.html?job id=1714852&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Eileen Diamond Miami, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents ofpetitions posted on our public petition website. If you have any questions, please email petitionskmoveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: htty://Detitions.moveon.org/delivery unsub.html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdYNzZWxsOGIvYWIDZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 150 on 02/2 W2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Alina VanTassel < petitions- noreply@ moveo n.o rg > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 9:38 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: I'm the 29th signer. "Please Save Morningside's Trees!" Dear Ken Russell, I just signed a petition addressed to you titled Please Save Morningside's Trees!. So far, 29 people have signed the petition. You can reach me directly by replying to this email. Or, post a response for MoveOn.org to pass along to all petition signers by clicking here: http://petitions.moveon.org/target talkback.html?tt=tt-104811-custom- 65853-20260126-r9V9WI The petition states: "Help stop the City of Miami from removing two healthy and thriving tropical flowering trees (Samanea saman) in Morningside, Miami's First Historic District, in the median of NE 6 Court between 57 and 58 Streets. Experts say this non-invasive shade tree is an excellent choice for this location." My additional comments are: Please save the Samanea Saman trees in Morningside. To download a PDF file of all of your constituents who have signed the.petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.or deliveri)df.html?job id=1714846&target tApe=custom&target id=65853 To download a CSV file of all of your constituents who have -signed the petition, including their addresses, click this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/deliver12d£html?job id=1714846&target type=custom&target id=65853&csv=1 Alina VanTassel Miami, FL This email was sent through MoveOn's public petition website, a free service that allows anyone to set up their own online petition and share it with friends. MoveOn does not endorse the contents of petitions posted on our public petition website. If you. have any questions, please email petitionskmoveon. org. If you don't want to receive further emails updating you on how many people have signed this petition, click here: htty: //petitions. moveon. orQ/del ivery unsub. html?e=e Wiiwnvv6VXvzAwNOw3OTOtSdXNzZWxsOG1 nYWI nZ29 2LmNvbQ--&petition id=104811. Submitted into the public record for item (s) PZ.6 151 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 8:36 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Santamaria, Ed Subject: The political situation regarding the Samanea saman trees in Morningside. Dear Commissioner Russell, It was said at this past Sunday's (Jan 24) Morningside Civic Association (MCA) meeting that the MCA had asked the city to remove the two Samanea saman trees. Please know that was the first time it was revealed to the neighborhood that the MCA was behind the action. I had previous indications, but nothing official. Yesterday I obtained a copy of their letter to you requesting same. It was a small number of MCA members that initiated the removal request, and they decided to do so without having heard my side of the story. So now I understand your position, from a political viewpoint. There are some important political facts you should be aware of - 1. f 1. We have a Google Group here in Morningside, with over 400 subscribers, where neighborhood news is routinely posted, yet at no time did the MCA tell the neighbors that it was quietly working to remove those trees. This has been a stealth operation. 2. I asked the MCA to let me read any letter that they might send to the city about removing the trees, before it was sent, back in February, 2015, when I first heard that was a possibility. I was told I would be allowed to read such a letter, but afterwards there was no communication to me from the MCA about the topic. The MCA has not given me the courtesy of presenting my side of the story. There has been no due process within the MCA on this issue. 3. I asked the Public Works director to contact me so I could give my side of the story, before any decision was made. He wrote that he would, back on February 18, 2015. But when the time came, he forgot to contact me, Public Works made the decision, and so I had to file an appeal to be heard. 4. The neighborhood at large would still not know about the tree removal had I not taken it upon myself to inform them and ask them to contact your office with their objection. That is why you began receiving emails of objection on Jan 21. 5. Most importantly: 20 neighbors living nearby the trees in question signed a petition to keep the trees. You saw, and have, copies of that petition. -- - - - Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 152 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Again, I understand your position, but please know that a strong majority of the neighbors most affected want the trees to stay. Many have told me it makes no sense for the,city to be spending time and money to remove two healthy trees, that it is a waste of resources. I certainly agree. , So that's the political situation. I gave you some of the botanical information already, and look forward to giving you more at the hearing on Thursday. Sincerely, Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz@mac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. 153 Melendez, Eleazar From: BRUCE MATHESON <bcm09@bellsouth.net> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 7:16 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: SAVE the SAMAN TREES. KEN, PLEASE SAVE THE SAMAN TREES IN MORNINGSIDE. THANK YOU, BRUCE MATHESON Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 154 on 92/25/2016, City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: SARAH WILLITS <sallywillits@icloud.com> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 5:18 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: Save trees Please save the seminanea trees in Morningside. Thanks Sally Willits Sent from my iPad Air Sally Willits Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02 25 2016 City Clerk.. 155 Melendez, Eleazar From: Blanca Padron <blanca@unimercio.com> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 4:54 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Subject: FW: Samanean Trees Cutting? -NE 6th Court 57&58 streets -Agenda 19 Jan 28th Importance: High Dear Commissioner Ken Russell, Happy New Year to you, Juliana and your beautiful girls. I'm writing today to encourage you to save these 2 Samanean Saman tree located in the median of NE 6 Court, between 57 and 58 Streets. Not sure why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees but it would be a shame to destroy them as we need every single green leaf left in our community to combat the carbon monoxide from our ever growing automobile traffic. Please just vote NO at the commissioner's meeting of January 28th to cutting these trees. If for whatever reason they must leave that particular location then they must be relocated, but never destroyed. Brickell Watch Inc. 1925 Brickell ave Ph -07 Miami, FI 33129 305-613-1921 httos://www.facebook.com/brickelI uniteswww.brickellwatch.com 156 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/20.16, City Clerk. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ -6 157 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Al Sasiadek <phizzle@aol.com> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 4:18 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed Cc: ZZZ-ElvisCruz (Zoning) Subject: Re: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Commisioner Russell and Mr. Santamaria, I do not understand why the city would incur the expense of removing these two healthy Samanea saman trees AND the expense of replacing them in the canopy. Have you not listened to the commentary of world renowned arborist and Biscayne Times contributor Jeff Shimonski in the 2 minute video link below? These are healthy thriving trees. And why only these two trees? Did you not know that there are two more healthy Saman trees in the median two blocks to the south at 6th Ave and 55 Terrace, and at least 6 more thriving in Morningside Park? They are not on the County's Prohibited Plant Species list. Removing them can't be just because they are non-native or else you would be going after the thousands of Delonix regia (Royal Poinciana) trees that beautify the City of Miami. Morningsiders love their trees. In 2007 the MCA at its own expense, hired an arborist to survey all trees living, dead or removed, in the medians and swales of the historic district. We obtained a $30,000 grant to buy over 100 trees in a recommended variety and in a wonderful partnership with the city digging holes, 65 MCA volunteers planted them. At that time, at his own expense Mr. Cruz obtained a permit to buy and plant Samanea saman trees. These particular two that you that you want to remove are replacements of the originals which died because of Mr. Cruz's over application of herbicide around those two with the intention of keeping city crews with weed whackers from damaging the. bark. He replace the.same kind of tree covered in his original permit. This was all discussed in our annual MCA meeting yesterday and Mr. Cruz announced a wintwin proposal to wit, if these two trees die of their own accord again, he at his own expense , will replace them with any species of tree that the city desires. Commissioner Russell, when you knocked on our door while campaigning, you struck us as a man with common sense and purpose. That is why -we voted for you. Please accept Mr. Cruz's proposal and leave these two trees in. place. Sincerely, Alfred Sasiadek 463 NE 55 TER MCA Treasurer The world needs changing, participate now. 158 Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. -----Original Message ----- From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz@mac.com> To: Morningside Google Group <Morningside@googlegroups.com> Cc: Ken Russell <KRussell@miamigov.com>; Ed Santamaria <ESantamaria@miamigov.com> Sent: Thu, Jan 21, 2016 11:22 am Subject: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Dear Friends and Neighbors, The City of Miami's Public Works Department wants to cut down two healthy, thriving trees in Morningside. These are two Samanea saman trees. You've probably never heard of that species; it's almost unknown in Miami. But if you've ever been to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, you've seen it decorating some of the most sacred ground in America, at the Arizona Memorial: Our two trees are in the median of NE 6 Court, between 57 and 58 Streets: Submitted into the public record for items) PZ -6 159 on 02 25 2016 City Clerk. U .01 ONC i- c7z 61' E i'ty This one is the second tree from the south end of the median. Why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees? Misinformation. It's a long story, but the short version is that these are non-native trees that the city is not familiar with, and there is misinformation about them on the internet. They make an excellent street tree and shade tree. There are over a thousand of them planted on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii. You can see hundreds in medians just like ours, on Google Street View. Here's an example: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 161 on 02 25 2016 City Clerk. Submitted into the public Extensive research was done before the trees were planted. Experts were consulted. recently asked , a well-respected local arborist (former head of horticulture for Parrot Jungle, and he also writes the horticulture article for the Biscayne Times), to inspect the trees. On camera, he says they are vigorous and healthy, and he sees "absolutely no reason to remove them". Watch the 2 - minute video Aisa Michel (who lives right next to the median) and I have appealed the proposed tree removal to the Miami City Commission, and it will be heard on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. The item is number 19 on an agenda which will begin after 3 pm. It will probably be a long agenda, going on into the night. Friends, I hope you also like trees and don't think they should be cut down because of misinformation. Please help save these beautiful trees. Please take a moment to send an email to City Commissioner Ken Russell. You might also CC the Director of Public Works, Mr. Ed Santamaria. His email is esantamaria(cDmiamigov.com 162 Please ask them to save these trees. If you're pressed for time, you can simply forward this email to them. Thank you in advance for helping protect Morningside's trees! Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz(a)_mac.com For more options, visit this group at hftp://qroups.google.com/group/mornin-gside?hl=en For recommendations from your neighbors visit "Morningside Recommends" at http://morningsiderecommends.yolasite.com You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Morningside Civic Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to morningside+unsubscribe(cD-googleg roups.com. To post to this group, send email to morningside@googlegrouPs.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 163 on 02/25/2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Blanton, Sharie Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 3:24 PM To: James Kruse; Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Gutierrez, Eli; Meregildo, Brenda; Melendez, Eleazar; Santamaria, Ed; Rebel Owens; Acosta, Vanessa; Oguntoyinbo-Rashad, Quatisha; marc.billings@gmail.com Subject: RE: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Mr. Kruse, I spoke with Quatisha Oquntoyinbo, Chief of Environmental Resources today about this issue. The item is on Thursday, Jan 28th PZAB agenda # PZ 19 http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/meetings/2016/1/2992 A City Commission 16-01-28 Meeting Agenda (Long).Pdf Even the city must get a tree removal permit which it is seeking and Mr. Cruz is appealing. This hearing is meant to give everyone involved due process. Feel free to attend the meeting, speak on the record, review the backup documents in the attachment and contact your commissioner's office with your concerns. Kind regards, Your link to the Magic City Sharie Blanton I Administrator Upper Eastside NET City of Miami 6599 Biscayne Blvd Miami, FL. 33138 New Office: 305.960.5118 sblanton@miamigov.com A Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail. Tell us how we are doing HERE From: James Kruse [mailto:eyescape2@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2016 2:09 PM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussell@miamigov.com> Cc: Blanton, Sharie <SBlanton@miamigov.com>; Gutierrez, Eli <EliGutierrez@miamigov.com>; Meregildo, Brenda <BMeregildo@mia.onmicrosoft.com>; McQueen, James <JMcQueen@miamigov.com>; Keon(commissioner) Hardemon <khardomon@miamigov.com>; Russell, Ken (Commissioner) <krussell@miamigov.com>; Santamaria, Ed <esantamaria@miamigov.com>; Rebel Owens <o.rebel @gmail.com> Subject: Fw: Please help save two trees in Morningsidel 164 Everyone: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. This has come to my attention from Elvis Cruz! This seems a very serious CONCERN for all communities if the Public Works can just come to neighborhoods and destroy the flora that we so desperately need! If there is -a reason for these trees to be removed; all communities need to be notified, meetings established and all people concerned, including city officials, need to be present! This is an terrible.and ALL CITY OFFICIALS have to be accountable for their actions and decisions to OUR COMMUNITIES! Public Works Director: Mr. Ed Santamaria should address this concern with all concerned in the Morningside Community! CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OUR TREES AND OTHER PLANTS IS THE UP MOST IMPORTANCE OF EVERYONE! Regards, James Kruse Community Activist: Historic Palm Grove Community! ---- Forwarded Message From: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz0.rnac.com> To: Elvis Cruz <elviscruz(&-mac.com> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2016 11:25 AM Subject: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Dear Friends and Neighbors, The City of Miami's Public Works Department wants to cut down two healthy, thriving trees in Morningside. These are two Samanea saman trees. You've probably never heard of that species; it's almost unknown in Miami. But if you've ever been to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, you've seen it decorating some of the most sacred ground in America, at the Arizona Memorial: 165' lljl'� -17 Z`4 Ilk -A '7341 fjw yyIA, ' fir. n• i�, f + � �. � '�� , '� . t - t .. � 't` •d�' � I _ .i ,.�. J of ` .. �y.1., This one is the second tree from the south end of the median. Why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees? Misinformation. It's a long story, but the short version is that these are non-native trees that the city is not familiar with, and there is misinformation about them on the internet. They make an excellent street tree and shade tree. There are over a thousand of them planted on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii. You can see hundreds in medians just like Morningside's, on Google Street View. Here's an example: Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 168 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Submitted into the public Extensive research was done before the trees were planted. Experts were consulted. I recently asked Jeff Shimonski, a well-respected local arborist (former head of horticulture for Parrot Jungle, and he also writes the horticulture article for the Biscayne Times), to inspect the trees. On camera, he says they are vigorous and healthy, and he sees "absolutely no reason to remove them". Watch the 2 - minute video Aisa Michel (who lives right next to the median) and I have appealed the proposed tree removal to the Miami City Commission, and it will be heard on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. The item is number 19 on an agenda which will begin after 3 pm. It will probably be a long agenda, going on into the night. Friends, I hope you also like trees and don't think they should be cut down because of misinformation. 169 Please help save these beautiful trees. Please take a moment to send an email to City Commissioner Ken Russell. You might also CC the Director of Public Works, -Mr. Ed Santamaria.. His email is esantamaria@miamigov.com Please ask them to save these trees. If you're pressed for time, you can simply forward this email to them. Thank you in advance for helping protect Morningside's trees! Elvis Cruz 631 NE 57 Street Miami, FL 33137 305 754 1420 ElvisCruz(a)-mac.com Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 170 on 02/25/2016. City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From:. Elvis Cruz. <elviscruz@mac.com> Sent: Monday, -January 25, 2016 12:29 PM To: Anne Robertson Cc: Morningside Google Group; Russell, Ken (Commissioner); Santamaria, Ed Subject: Re: Facts about the illegal trees Thank you, Anne! I certainly agree with you about that! All the best, Elvis On Jan 25,2016, at 10:10, Anne Robertson <annekrobertson@gmail.com> wrote: > Thanks Elvis. We agree on more things than we disagree on. > Best wishes, > Anne > Sent from my iPhone Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 171 on 02/2 i 2016 City Clerk. Melendez, Eleazar From: Barry Miller <barry@savinomiller.com> Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 11:57 AM To: Russell, Ken (Commissioner) Cc: Santamaria, Ed Subject: FW: Please help save two trees in Morningside! Dear Commissioner Russell and Mr. Santamaria, I am writing as a Miami native and Landscape Architect who's been practicing in South Florida for over 30 years to ask that the City reconsider the removal of two Samanea saman (Saman Rain Tree) trees in the median shown below. These trees become beautiful, flowering tropical canopy trees, suitable to our diverse South Florida landscape (you can find one at Fairchild Gardens as well); and are considered non-invasive. I am curious as to what the reason is for removal; is it street reconstruction, or utility installation? If there is concern about future issues such as curb damage form roots, etc., I'd suggest ringing three sides of the tree along the curb with 2' deep root barrier. I'd be happy to discuss the matter further if you'd like. Best, Barry Miller Barry Miller, ASLA Savino & Miller Design Studio 12345 NE 6th Avenue A Miami, FL 33161 O 305.895.9082 x 302 C 305-299-9076 www.savinomiller.com I spavi,no C . ,,'U D i 0 LANDSCAPE' ARGHtTECTUkU1 •URBAN'-OESION :1. `ARC"1TtCTURE From: sheryl gold [mailto:shergoldcom@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 2:20 PM To: sheryl gold Subject: Fwd: Please help save two trees in Morningside! In case you wish to send a letter. It seems that all Public Works departments undervalue canopy trees, not matter in what city. - - - - - - — - - Sheryl Submitted into the public record for item(s) PZ.6 172 on 02/2512016 City Clerk. 't P ''.� �i '� ' �' ` ,V ` i CLQ � •� 4�w �� � `� `�ayr ��� i 'Y - �y�, s,n Z�}7 �'�-• yR 1K^r^3y� �J �� S ]v I tom' �F �.. :'�--+� r •'"Z� kT- J • r B t �. '-� r � � a. !r� E ��%b. - ti. +`�^, _• ,ter". Y . - ,r • _ , � ♦.•,r, ••�ti.4, • _ , r t Nn -'?.. 1. ., t n.: .�'_s .y4��. 13 ` ? _ � � z�•yt ray ��F`ro dot t3 �.d ,,'3�':S �_". „ `A' �,+7-.jt �,y,' `FFi rl/' k�1 5.•"4 �'• ^ f { USS Arizona Memorial y c t - ,. 7 �Ai • r �r.k i.. � .r �•-., a ... Submitted into the public This one is the second tree from the south end of the median. Why does Public Works want to cut down two vigorous, healthy shade trees? Misinformation. It's a long story, but the short version is that these are non-native trees that the city is not familiar with, and there is misinformation about them on the internet. They make an excellent street tree and shade tree. There are over a thousand of them planted on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii. You can see hundreds in medians just like Mon- ingside's, on Google Street View. Here's an example: 175