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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-2016 NRB MinutesOn Or HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 2016 - 6:00 P.M. "To improve the quality of life in Sebastian by nurturing the balanced relationship between our citizens and our environment by protecting, preserving and promoting our natural resources" 1. Chairman Millar called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: George Millar — Chairman Jim Clifton Rose Glaser Andrea Ring Vicki Tunker - Alternate Members Not Present: Gil Gordian - Vice Chairman Bob Progulske Keerthi Weragoda — Alternate City Staff Present: Frank Watanabe, City Engineer Michelle Stromberg, Environmental Technician 4. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: None IT informed the board that the meetings will no longer be broadcast. The meeting will continue to be recorded and minutes taken. 5. MEETING MINUTES —Approval/Discussion Changes to the December 01, 2015 amended meeting minutes? None Jim Clifton Motioned for approval of minutes Rose Glaser 2nd the motion, December 01, 2015 amended meeting minutes. Changes to the January 05, 2016 meeting minutes? Jim Clifton asked about Page 3 — look under the Second the motion Natural Resources Board Meeting February 2, 2016 Page 1 Per Chairman Millar — Will note the missing vote January 05, 2016 meeting minutes approved unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Item A. Oyster Restoration Project Update (LPOH): • The City submitted the draft application, talked with Tamy Dabu and SJRWMD (Saint Johns River Water Management District). • Meeting is set with SJRWMD and with the Army Core for Tuesday February 09, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. for a joint review of the draft submittal and receive comments and small changes to the attachments. Chairman Millar will be attending along with the City. This meeting is to review the draft submittal. • The board called upon John Giordano (Boy Scout) to give him the charge to start preparing the Oyster bags for implementation. • Implementation of the bags is targeted for Late March 2016 or early April. • Once permit is hand we will be able to transport the bags for implementation. • John Giordano, Paul Giordano and Vice Chair - Gil Gordian went to the compound and cleaned the shells. There are approximately enough shells to fill 80 bags. Item B. Champion Tree Update: • Mr. Clifton reviewed the brochure, i.e. NRB Mission statement, information from the NRB website are within the brochure. • Mr. Clifton placed the NRB Mission Statement and other Information in the brochure that has been utilized from the website. The historic Oak story has been placed in the brochure as well. • Any other information from the NRB is welcomed. • The NRB approved the brochure. The production of the brochure will commence. Item C. Earth Day Event 2016 Update: • Youth Board update - Ms. Ring and Chairman Millar went to the meeting. The youth council will participate in the event. The City will provide the Youth Council a tent, table and chairs. They are creating a flyer with a Mission statement and what the do. Ms. Ring may take the lead and attend the next Youth Council meeting. The City will provide the Youth Council with a tent, table and chairs for the event. • Sponsorship Update — There is a company here in Sebastian that would like to sponsor music. If someone wants to volunteer the food, the music that is ok, but to put the donors name on a banner, (considered form of advertisement) is not endorsed. NRB felt it would be wise not to open that door. • If someone wants to donate money to the NRB budget without getting in return that is ok. If an individual or company wants to donate door prizes that is ok. Reviewed the item and the consensus was to utilize the money from the budget to pay for the music. If someone wants to donate money to the budget and not receive anything in return that is ok. • Recycling Dumpster — Waste management will donate a dumpster. Place the dumpster on a hard surface. Place on Harrison Street. As the event nears placement will be determined. Chairman Millar spoke of KIRB (Keeping Indian River Beautiful) (772) 226-7738 - www.kirb.org . Ms. Glaser has reached out to them. Natural Resources Board Meeting February 2, 2016 Page 2 Food Vendors — Have 21 vendors and 5 of them are food vendors. Usually all the food vendors line up along the sidewalk from the bathroom straight over. Inquired about the electrical outlets for the food vendors. The map of the park will show where all the electrical outlets are. All electrical is 110. A vendor has a generator and has requested 220. The City will look into the stage for this. If a vendor uses a generator or any cooking they need to have their own fire extinguisher compliant with everything. Chairman Millar will be looking into getting the permit with the Fire department. Reviewed the budget for the music to get approved. Last year $50 was paid per musician. The 1St band has 1 member the second one has 2 and the closing band has 4 members. The music is $350.00 at this point having 3 bands. The current NRB budget is $923.47. Expenses will also be for the sandwich boards and printouts which says who is going to be there. The budget for the NRB was primarily for Earth Day. Mr. Clifton made a motion to move for the budget to remain as was last year. Mr. Tunker made a 2"d, The board voted unanimously. • Ms. Ring inquired about the drum and flag line from Sebastian High School. Chairman Millar will contact Sebastian High School. Chairman Millar will contact the group. • The NRB will hand out flyers. • Ms. Glaser will work on the advertisement. NRB discussed utilizing the budget for advertisement. Ms. Ring will look into online bulletin boards. Vero Beach news and Sebastian News will allow advertisement 2 weeks before. Calendar(a-)-vero.com , TC Palm weekly, Vero Beach Flash will allow NRB advertisement. Chairman Millar will inquire with Win Dixie, Publix and Walgreens on putting up a flyer. • Fat Bike Tire Challenge — Not discussed Item D. Water Way Herbicide Spraying: Applied Aquatics is the firm that does the spraying of the canal system and the City will contact them again to see if the manager would be able to come out at some point. Chairman Millar discussed in regards to the recent rains, understand about the water flow, percolation and the Z -Virus gravitating this way. Standing water and non-moving water is an important topic and keeping those water ways clear. If spraying was done away with, and if there is new vegetation growth would happen in those places they would then turn into a wetland. That is why the agencies requires the areas as such to be maintained as a man- made water way not as a natural growth area (cut it, spray it, trim). Per the council the City will move forward with a more man made approach, next year the spraying will follow. Per the City, if the growth were to grow into a wetland it would be a huge determinate to our canals and water way, then area could no longer be managed and the road ways would be damaged. This year $750,000 was allocated for major road repairs. The City will soon be spraying on their own and are currently having employees trained, certified and the ability the mix the product. The City will continue to spray to stay ahead of the growth. Per Ms. Ring — inquired if the products being used are biodegradable and not harmful to the fish. Per Ms. Tunker — has a sample of what is being used and it states it is harmful to humans and animals. Natural Resources Board Meeting February 2, 2016 Page 3 The board discussed the variety of ways to remove the vegetation and trees and what is being used. Asking the cocktail being used could be looked at and formatted to be less harmful to people, animals and effective in maintaining the waterways. Apple Cider vinegar? NRB posed to the City if it would be possible to look at alternative spraying products. The City will touch base with Applied Aquatics. The City is mandated by SJRWMD to keep the waterways open. Item E. NRB Budget: $923,47 and will utilize this for Earth Day. The city asked the NRB to give Michelle an update. Item F. Recycling Efforts: Waste Management will bring a dumpster over at no charge. They will drop off on Friday and pick up on Monday. 7. PUBLIC INPUT Mr. Stevens spoke about the effort on fixing the lagoon and the spraying the water ways. Spoke about Grant $$. The meetings say wake the people up. Local guys could work to help. Spoke of his observation of the birds eat the fish and get sick. Look into WE programs and 40 companies that are willing to help. Spoke about the lagoon meetings The meeting with the Lagoon Council for today was in regards for a Grant for the sewer systems. The money is not unlimited. The people at the meeting were not from all over the Country but from different Counties in Florida. Comes down to give and take. 8. NEW BUSINESS Environmental Learning center: NRB to participate in Eco fest: Chairman Millar is going to withdraw the application. Stonecrop Clearing: Per the City Engineer Watanabe discussed the environment of Stonecrop, a permit will be needed. All the Cities waterways discharge into this area. The Park and Rec board have requested the NRB to clear the area. The goal is to turn the area into a park. A majority of the parks in Sebastian are storm water parks. Chairman made a motion not to address the issue. The 2nd was made by Mr. Clifton. Sewer Hookups: Ms. Ring stated that the gentleman will come and speak. The step system, replacing your septic fields with a pump. Moving the water is easy. The goal is to get the water out and not get into the drain field. Per the City Engineer Watanabe discussed the process. delimit is on cost. Sebastian does not have the pipes needed. The County is designing for the River Front a gravity force system. We do not have the tax base to support this. Per Mr. Clifton - When they did the feasibility study did they consider vacuum sewers? 9. STAFF MATTERS 10. MEMBER MATTERS Natural Resources Board Meeting February 2, 2016 Page 4 A. Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve is a having Oyster Bagging February 19 and 20. B. Jack Lampiasi resignation acknowledging. Chairman Millar made a recommendation to the board for Ms. Tunker to become an active member. Mr. Weragoda absence was excused due to being out of Country. 11. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA Item A. Oyster Restoration Project (LPOH) Update Item B. Champion Tree Update Item C. Earth Day 2016 Event Update 12. ADJOURNMENT: Being no further business Per Chairman Millar adjourned the Natural Resources Board meeting at 7:50 p.m. By. �lU C.VI .GLS, V Z v c� C� Chairman Date Natural Resources Board Meeting February 2, 2016 Page 5