MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

This memorandum is made between the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and State Representative Ron Saunders. The parties agree as follows:
1. DEP is the state agency responsible for the operation, and maintenance of state parks, including Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park located in Key West, Florida.
2. State Representative Ron Saunders represents District 120 in the Florida House of Representatives, Fort Taylor Park is located entirely and solely within the boundaries of House District 120.
3. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park contains Australian pines (Casuarina equisetifolia) that have been in the park for many years and provide shade for visitors. Although DEP has a policy of eradicating Australian pines in state parks, DEP agrees to the following policy, which shall be unique and applicable only to the Australian pines located in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
4. DEP will remove existing Australian pines in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park only if the pines have died, are toppled by windstorms, or constitute a public safety hazard. No Australian pines will be removed for building, landscaping, or hardscaping purposes. The existing pines shall remain unencumbered on the property until their natural death. DEP, at their discretion, may remove new Australian pine seedlings.
5. DEP shall use due care to avoid damaging any of the existing Australian pines. Within one (1) month of the date of this memorandum DEP shall carefully remove any overlaid calcium compounds or other introduced materials from the tree flare without damaging the existing roots or flare. Existing standards and practices shall be adhered to regarding the health and maintenance of the existing pines.
6. DEP now has a GPS survey indicating the location of each existing Australian pine in the park. Within three (3) months of the date of this memorandum, DEP shall conduct an update of the survey, with participation extended to members of the interested public, to determine the number, location and apparent health of all Australian pines in existence. Notations shall be made to the current survey in the event that any trees have been or should be removed. Copies of the current annotated survey shall be made available to the City of Key West and the office of the undersigned on an annual basis.
7. A copy of this memorandum will be included and incorporated in the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Unit Management Plan.
On this date, the language above is adopted as the Division of State Parks' policy regarding Australian pines in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and any changes to this policy shall only be made upon the agreement of DEP and Monroe County Representative Saunders or his successor in office.
Dated this 19th day of March, 2008.
_______________________________________
Bob Ballard
Deputy Secretary for Land & Recreation
Department of Environmental Protection
Ron Saunders
State Representative
Florida House District 120
cc: Governor Charlie Crist
Secretary Michael Sole, DEP

 

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