{Photo Courtesy Coral Springs Save Our Trees}
By Bryan Boggiano
Ahead of the June 19th Coral Springs Improvement District Board election, Save Our Trees is pushing to cross the finish line with another opportunity to engage with potential voters.
Save Our Trees will host a virtual community meeting on June 15 at 6 p.m. to mobilize voters and discuss alternatives to the Coral Springs Improvement District’s flood mitigation project to remove certain trees from canal rights-of-way in southern Coral Springs.
Those interested in attending the meeting can do so here.
Save Our Trees has three candidates running in the June 19th CSID election: Curt Tiefenbrun, Stephen Lytle, and Ben Groenevelt.
According to Lytle, the final community event will feature various group members speaking out about the flood mitigation project’s potential consequences and possible alternatives.
CSID states the purpose of the flood mitigation project is to prevent trees from falling into canals and causing water damage to adjacent properties and infrastructure. According to Michael Cobelo, a spokesperson representing CSID for the project, Hurricane Irma’s impacts helped jumpstart the conversation on potential flood mitigation initiatives.
He stated CSID communicated information about the project through a newsletter to residents, publicly advertised board meetings, a presentation to the city commission, and through the district’s announced budget.
Cobelo said the project aligns with similar initiatives the South Florida Water Management District, municipalities, and flood control districts have undertaken.
Still, Save Our Trees volunteers and candidates explain the project will hurt the environment and city aesthetics, among other impacts.
“The impending election is a critical turning point in halting the clear-cutting plan, and it’s important that every property owner in Coral Springs realizes their potential to impact this outcome,” Lytle said.
According to Lytle, Save Our Trees hopes to equip residents, property owners, and others in the district with the necessary information, motivate eventgoers to vote, and encourage others to spread the news on the election.
“We’re hopeful that the information shared and discussions held during this meeting will lead to a higher voter turnout, which can halt the proposed clear-cutting project,” Lytle said.
Besides the project, Lytle said Save Our Trees’ goal is to bring back decorum to the CSID Board and build relationships with local government organizations.
He said, “We also want to advocate for responsible planning and sustainable practices in all aspects of how the CSID operates, in contrast to the execution of this particular project to date.”
The CSID election will take place on June 19th, starting at 4 p.m., at Maplewood Elementary. In-person votes and proxy votes are acceptable. More information on proxy votes can be found here.
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