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SEBAST,N
HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND
NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015 - 6:00 P.M.
1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FL
"To Improve the quality of life in Sebastian by nurturing the balanced relationship between our citizens and our
environment by protecting, preserving and promoting ournatural resources"
Chairman Northcott called the Natural Resources Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. ROLL CALL
Present:
Alan Northcott — Chairman
Gil Gordian — Vice Chairman
Rose Glaser
Bob Progulske
Andrea Ring
James Clifton - Alternate
Jack Lampiasi — Alternate
Absent:
George Millar
Also Present:
Frank Watanabe, P.E., City Engineer
Michelle Stromberg, Environmental Specialist
Jeanette Williams, Recording Secretary
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 3, 2015 Regular Meeting
The minutes were accepted with the following amendments:
Page 1, under page also present, it was requested to add the word "Prospective" to
John Giordano, Eagle Scout Candidate
Page 1, change the word "appoved"to "approved"
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chairman Northcott announced former City Attorney Rich Stringer passed away last night.
He also thanked the Board members that staffed their table at the EcoFest.
6. PUBLIC INPUT - None
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. Indian River County Day of Service — April 25. 2015
i. Use of City Boat
The City Engineer said due to insufficient staff, the boat cannot be used for island clean-ups.
Discussion followed on cleaning the shoreline, marking gopher tortoises, or identifying
champion trees. There was no interest in participating with the Day of Service.
B. Oyster Bed Restoration Project Update
I. Spat Viability Report from Matthew Anderson, Indian River Lagoon Aquatic
Preserve Office
Mr. Anderson introduced himself; said he was the oyster reef coordinator for the aquatic
preserve office; described the 2-3 year life span of oysters noting limiting factors are
Natural Resources Board Meeting
March 3, 2015
Page Two
salinity, temperature, boat wave activity, and predators. On the overhead projector, he
displayed photos of a shoreline under restoration, oyster mats that flipped over due to wave
energy with algal growth.
Mr. Anderson displayed an oyster T that can be placed in a potential mat area to check
spat viability. On the overhead, he displayed pictures of oyster shells with a slipper snail,
barnacle and dead oysters so the Board would be able to identify living spat/oysters.
He said the preserve office is discovering the same number of live and dead oysters over
many months on natural reefs in the Indian River Lagoon. The major causes of death are
timing, pathogens (due to water quality), and predation.
He said the permit will dictate that oyster bags should be placed 10 feet from the mean high
water level and subtidal or intertidal oysters could germinate. The intertidal oyster will
adjust to different water periods but survival would be better with more water.
Chairman Northcott noted the areas they identified will be under water. Mr. Anderson said
they would probably get biovalve tunicate oysters; he cautioned that getting the oysters to
the adult stage with cementation and bridging will be a challenge in this part of the Indian
River Lagoon.
Mr. Anderson said they could test the water quality but what comes with the water is
harmful to the oysters such as algal blooms. He said the mats will cover quickly with algae.
His office will be switching from a coconut fiber bag to an aqua culture grade plastic bag for
their restoration. He advised they won't find oysters in high salinity and temperature areas
so they should place their T's where there were oysters as soon as possible. He also
advised that if their mats are not successful, they will have at least created habitats for
other organisms.
The City Engineer stated their shells have been in the sun for a couple of months now and
asked if they needed to bleached. Mr. Anderson said a three month quarantine is needed
and the shells are almost there.
ii. Status of Army Corp of Engineers Permit
6:45 pm
Mr. Progulske said he met with City Engineer; the Environmental Technician will help
prepare the site maps; and he left messages with Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) and St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to see if they
required concurrent permitting. Mr. Anderson said the Army Corp of Engineers requires a
permit because of the navigable waterway; the state agencies are concerned with existing
sea grass or oyster reefs.
He also reported the Army Corp permit has not been submitted at this point; even though
the mats might be placed in the shoreline, the regional Army Corp permit will still be
required.
Mr. Gordian suggested they do the pilot testing with the T's and have the kids construct and
store the mats. The Prospective Eagle Scout Candidate will make the first round of material
purchasing with oversight by the Board members.
Natural Resources Board Meeting
March 3, 2015
Page Three
C. Earth Dav Plannina —
Mr. Gordian said he submitted a draft donation letter and asked if they could seek
donations. (see attached) The Environmental Technician advised them to draft a letter and
submit it for approval to the City Manager and City Clerk. Mr. Gordian asked if they could
use the letter he already submitted. The City Engineer said he did not read the submitted
letter but did not see a problem with producing approved letters.
MOTION by Mr. Progulske with a SECOND by Ms. Glaser to have Chairman Northcott draft
and sign a letter passed with a voice vote of 6-0.
Assign members to write door prize letters
Chairman Northcott will draft the letter.
iii. Assign members to do follow up vendor phone calls
Mr. Gordian reported that to date, they have about 18-20 vendors signed up for Earth Day
with 6-8 food vendors; he suggested having Members follow up with the vendors before the
next meeting; and he has recruited three performers.
The City Engineer let them know they might see construction by the Splash Pad and
overflow parking during their event.
MOTION by Mr. Lampiasi and SECOND by Mr. Progulske to have Mr. Gordian provide a list
of vendors to each member (one-way communication) for them to follow up with before the
next Board meeting passed with a voice vote of 6-0.
The City Engineer said there are two Tupperware boxes of Board supplies they are
welcome to use for the event and he will have the PW Department hang their road banner.
8. NEW BUSINESS
7:10 pm
A. Review of Board mission statement and support by City staff
The City Engineer gave a brief Board history and said the mission statement is meant to
encourage and support environmental issues. He said the Environmental Technician will be
the Board's liaison, he will help with higher issues/City resources, and the Recording
Secretary will provide the minutes and agenda. He explained the Technician will support
the Board as a whole, not individual members, and needs to report/receive authorization
from him.
Chairman Northcott said the Board should be involved in other ways beyond the planning of
Earth Day and cleaning spoil islands. He asked the Board what they thought when they
would be doing when they joined the Board.
Ms. Ring noted the North County Sewer Project will only benefit Roseland and a small
portion of businesses; she would like to give residents an incentive to hook-up to sewer.
The City Engineer suggested the Board re-agendize the project to come up with
recommendations for Council. Ms. Ring said incentive might be found in Code Section 102-
33 that improved property must be hooked up to the system within 30 days of installation of
meters.
Natural Resources Board Meeting
March 3, 2015
Page Four
Mr. Progulske said he thought the Board would put on Earth Day and use their collective
expertise to advise Council on issues such as sewer, landscaping codes. The City Engineer
agreed some of the codes will be reviewed in the next few months and the Board will look at
some of the issues that will also go to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
In regard to their $2,500 allotment in the City FY15 budget, the City Engineer advised them
that they could use it educate the public with brochures, banners, name plates and
marketing tools. He advised that gas reimbursement would be a grey area and they should
steer towards promotional items such as a portable booth for festivals, posters, kid trinkets,
etc.
Mr. Progulske asked if it would have been appropriate to ask Council to reconsider Jane
Schnee's request to environmentally burn her property.
The City Engineer said if the Board thought as a whole, they could give some guidance but
ultimately Council would make the call. The City Engineer said Council is watching the
meetings, reading the minutes and if the Board would like to agendize a recommendation it
could be done and then taken to a City Council meeting.
Mr. Clifton said the Board should be the clearing house for environmental natural resources
type of questions and based on the Board's resolution then they should go forward to
Council. Chairman Northcott said the Board could set general guidelines and negotiate with
the Planning and Zoning Commission. The City Engineer said the Board could make
recommendations but would not have authority over Planning and Zoning's actions.
Mr. Gordian asked how they could limit Brazilian peppers on City property. The City
Engineer explained there is insufficient staff, it would require permitting/licensed herbicide
sprayers, desired plants could be removed by accident; he said the City does not have the
resources at this time to remove Brazilian peppers unless City Council would like to provide
revenue. Mr. Progulske suggested an alternative might be to educate and encourage
citizens to remove the peppers.
Chairman Northcott asked the Board to continue their discussion on education to the next
meeting. Mr. Progulske said there are many resources to help educate what is native and
non-native vegetation.
9. MEMBER MATTERS
Chairman Northcott noted the Environmental Learning Center was charged for use of the
City's bandshell at the Ecofest and asked if non-profit entities were in fact charged for use of
the City's bandshell. The City Engineer said he thought it was loaned to other agencies and
would check on it.
The City Engineer said he would see if the Board could use the P.A. system for Earth Day.
10. STAFF MATTERS — None
11. Being no further business, Chairman Northcott adjourned the Natural Resources Board
meeting at 7: 51 p.m.
By:C
Chairman Alan Northcott Date
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Limiting Factors for Oysters
(Sources of Stress)
■Salinity Extremes <10 or >25 PPT(measured in parts per thousand)
■Temperature Extremes
■Catastrophic Events -Storms and Hurricanes
■Water quality
■Disease
■Habitat Loss -Degraded Quality of Reef Substrate
■Recruitment Limitation- Fewer Offspring added to Population
■High Wave Energy (Boat Wake)
■High levels of Predation
Benefits of Oyster Bars
■Provide Habitat for other Organisms (Keystone Species)
■Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration
■Improve Water Quality -Water Clarity
■Great to Eat
■Economic Benefits for Communities
■Food for other organisms
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Life on an Oyster Bar
Mollusks
• Gastropods
Southern Oyster Drill
(Florida Rock Snail
Stramonita haemastoma
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Jeanette Williams
From: Susan Gordian <chooboo1727@att.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 11:49 AM
To: Frank Watanabe; ann lucier, Michelle Stromberg
Cc: Alan; Bob Progulske; George Millar, James Clifton; Jeanette Williams; John Brady; Rose
Glaser
Subject: Re: Earth Day Participation
Feb 18 RE: Earth day>>
Hello to all . last year we did receive a few door prizes from local venues around the city!
Once again I would like to have a brief note to send out to those venues again! ( note the letter would be written
with the city's logo on top)
Please let me know how speedy we can expedite this letter.
Thank you.
Sample letter:
Material Donations City of Sebastian, Florida.
Earth Day Event 2 015 .
Dear Business Manager,
The Natural Resources Board of Sebastian Florida,is hosting
the annual Earth Day Festival in River -view Park on
Saturday, April 18 th 2015.This is a fun family fun free
event for all ages!
The Event will be professionally emceed by a local DJ or our
local band. (stage area)
During the event we will offering /free giveaways
prizes!(door prizes) to the attendees periodically
throughout the event.Its nice to have our local venues
involved in our event!
If you are interested in donating a door prize- ,you will
be
publicly thanked from our stage along with an
explanation
of your business and its purpose and location.! ! !
The City of Sebastian s Natural Resources Board of
Sebastian
is non profit organization .
All donation for the event are Greatly Appreciated!
Thank you in advance for your participation...
Sincerely.
Capt Gil Gordian.Jr.
Volunteer -Vice Chair.
Natural Resources Board
City of Sebastian ,Florida.
772 -453-7331
e-mail= choobool727@att.net