Join us!
This month we will again meet in person at the Ocean Park Rescue Squad(OPVRS) building located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Enter door opposite Shore Drive. We also have the option to participate in the meeting by Zoom. (Check email for details.)
View & download Agenda below.
From Clay:
All –
I hope this email finds everyone enjoying the beautiful fall weather and colors we have been experiencing in Virginia Beach! As I reflect back over the past year Friends of Live Oaks has many things we can be thankful for, and our members are at the top of this least! Several accomplishments really stand out:
As we move towards the end of 2021 I am optimistic that these accomplishments and many others will continue into 2022!
Below is the agenda for our next meeting on November 22, 2021 at 4:30 PM. The agenda is organized around FOLO’s priorities for 2021, and specifics on these priorities reflect our focus areas for this year. At this meeting we will look to 2022 and how we want to refine or revise these priorities to keep our momentum as a group. Make sure to bring your input for the times listed under old business, as well as any new business ideas to share.
We will also have a Zoom meeting option. The link to the November 22nd Zoom meeting is as follows will be sent to you after contacting us.
We are meeting in person at the Ocean Park Rescue Squad Building located at 3769 East Stratford Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
I suggest parking in the rear of the building or along a side street. You can enter the building at the rear door located next to the rear parking area. I will put a sign on the door to the room where we are meeting.
Join the Friends of Live Oaks this fall and you will get a free live oak sapling as long as the trees last!
We have lots of little saplings looking for a home. We had planned to give these trees to new members at the tree celebration, TreeTopia, at Mount Trashmore that was recently rained out.
Dues are $25 for individuals and $100 for a business or community group.
Mail a check, payable to Friends of Live Oaks, c/o Clay Bernick, 214 A 84th Street, Virginia Beach Va. 23451.
Give us your name, cell number/email and address and we’ll bring a live oak to you!!!
From Clay:
All –
I attended a webinar with VCN yesterday and received this updated info for the tree legislation status:
House Bill 2042 and Senate Bill 1393 are a little different from each other. They both can be found as follows:
House Bill 2042 – https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?211+sum+HB2042
Senate Bill 1393 – https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?211+cab+HC10205SB1393+SB1REF
A reenactment clause was added to each bill. They will come up again in the 2022 session for reenactment. This clause allows for the bills to remain as they are, or to be changed if desired. A stakeholder group was created at the end of the 2021 session, chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Natural Resources to evaluate the bills further and report its recommendations back to the House and Senate by November 1, 2021. I’ll keep an eye out for this report and pass it along when it is released. The House Bill will be referred to its Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. The Senate bill will be referred to its Local Government Committee.
As of now, the House Committee members for our City are: Askew and Guy
As of now, the Senate Committee members for our City are: DeSteph and Kiggans
There could be changes to these members after the November 2 election.
Actions to Take:
1 – Write members of City Council NOW and ask for them to include support for reenacting both bills in their legislative package – usually adopted by City Council in early November. A list of them and contact info is here: https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/city-manager/Pages/form-of-government-and-city-officials.aspx
Please note the Lynnhaven District seat is currently vacant – City Council will appoint a member to fill that vacancy soon.
2- Write your local House and Senate representatives and ask them to support reenacting their respective bills during the 2022 session. You can find your representatives here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov
There could be changes to these members after the November 2 election.
Hope this is helpful!
Clay
“A. Any locality with a population density of at least 75 persons per square mile or any locality within the Chesapeake Bay watershed may adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacement of trees during the development process…”
“3. That the provisions of the first enactment of this act shall not become effective unless reenacted by the 2022 Session of the General Assembly.”
Learn more from our friends at Virginia Conservation Network.
“In Arlington and Virginia Beach, two of the most recent municipalities to conduct tree canopy assessments, canopy is holding steady on municipal property but trending downward on private property due to infill, redevelopment, and homeowner removal.
Loss of biodiversity is another critical challenge we face which may impact ecosystems as much as climate change, pollution, and other major forms of environmental stress. Trees provide food, habitat, shelter, and breeding areas need- ed to restore and sustain Virginia’s wildlife biodiversity.
SOLUTION
We need to prioritize the preservation of intact forests as well as individual mature trees during development. For example, during the engineering process, consider how to protect natural resources first and adjust site plans accordingly….”
Friends of Live Oaks 
You must be logged in to post a comment.