On December 14, 2022, at the request of Commissioner Kristen Rosen-Gonzalez, the City Commission referred a discussion item (C4 O) to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee. The item recommended adding shade trees and repaving parking lot P63, located at 4166 Royal Palm Avenue.

The Facilities and Fleet Management Department evaluated the lot for needed repairs and determined the lot was in good condition, but could use some beautification. To improve its appearance, the lot was pressure washed and repainted, resulting in a crisp, clean look. As part of the lot evaluation, staff also reviewed the condition of the adjacent alley and will address its appearance as needed.

The Environment and Sustainability Department evaluated the lot for opportunities to add shade trees and have provided two (2) initial options. The first option is to add medium to large canopy trees. Due to the current lot configuration, lot reconfiguration would be necessary to create planting space to add few but high quality, mature canopy trees to provide substantial shade and grow over time. A suspended pavement system would be needed to provide adequate uncompacted soil volume for the trees to flourish. The fiscal impact and project scope would likely be substantial but could be evaluated as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Capital Budget process.

The second option is to add smaller trees on the eastern side of Royal Palm Avenue. Smaller trees would need to be utilized to avoid safety issues posed by the overhead power lines. This would provide some shade for the pedestrians and improve lot aesthetics. Six (6) small trees could be planted, which would cost approximately $18,000 dollars. The Parking Department has existing funding for this landscape improvement and this improvement could be completed by the end of August.