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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2016 NRB MinutesCUM 03 HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MEETING MINUTES REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY July 05, 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. Vice Chair Gordian called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL Members Present: Gil Gordian — Vice -Chair Jim Clifton Rose Glaser Bob Progulske Andrea Ring Vicki Tunker Ann Lucier - Alternate Members Not Present: Keerthi Weragoda — Alternate City Staff Present: Frank Watanabe, City Engineer Michelle Stromberg, Recording Secretary 4. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS: 5. MEETING MINUTES — Approval/Discussion May 03, 2016 meeting minutes • Mr. Progulske —Made 1" Motion • Ms. Tunker — Made 2"d Motion • NRB approved with changes 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Item A. Elect New Chair: • Vice -Chair Gordian — We need to nominate a new chair, with the nomination first • Ms. Lucier nominated Vice -Chair Gordian • Chair Ring nominated herself. • Vice Chair Gordian nominated — Ms. Lucier and would like to remain Vice -Chair • Ms. Lucier declined. • Vice -Chair Gordian requested to stay as Vice -Chair. • This new chair will go until new election later this year. • Chair Ring is now the Chair for the NRB until annual October elections. • Congratulations Chair Ring. Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 1 Item B. Champion Tree Update: • Mr. Clifton — Have some funds remaining in the budget, considering using part of that for brochures. • Ms. Tunker — $286 remaining in budget. • Chair Ring — There is $2,500 in the budget per the City manager for the NRB to use without needing approval. We can get this printed without asking anybody. • MS. Glaser- How did we get the extra money? • Chair Ring — It was put into our account a couple of months ago. It was there for Earth Day. I'm very upset for not knowing that this has been in our account for months. • Mr. Watanabe — I will verify. All I knew $1,000 dollars was set aside that has been utilized by the NRB. $2500 was set aside for the Boy Scouts. • Chair Ring — I was told $2,500 dollars was put in our account, we could use it and don't need to ask anybody to use it. • Mr. Watanabe — I will verify that is the full amount. Whatever charges that were used for Earth Day will be deducted. • Mr. Clifton — We made some brochures printed in house. Any idea if they been picked up by the public? • Mr. Watanabe — They are displayed, but not keeping a head count. • Mr. Clifton — Maybe have a 100 printed would be sufficient. • Chair Ring - Are we going to have to do that or can we really get you to do it this time? Because the last three months we have been promising this brochure would be printed. • Mr. Watanabe — As long as you get it to us we will take care of it. • Chair Ring — You have it. • Mr. Clifton — They were printed, but they were printed in house, because the cost. Initially I estimated a number that was way higher than demand actually requires. Reality, 100 would last several years. Look into cost and bring it back to the next meeting. • Chair Ring — On the paper the City uses? • Ms. Stromberg — Per the meeting minutes from May, if you look, under Mr. Clifton, it said, "suggested waited to the next meeting before we allocate funds for printing professional brochures". We did not have a meeting in June so here we are now. • Chair Ring — Yes I know we did not have the meeting in June. • Ms. Stromberg — Right, so if you look in the meeting minutes, Mr. Clifton said, wait until the next meeting to allocate those funds, so this is what we are doing right now. • Chair Ring — Then let's allocate them and make sure it gets done this time. • Ms. Stromberg — This is what we are doing and if you reflect on the meeting minutes you can see what's been said and agreed upon. • Chair Ring — Thank you I appreciate it. • Mr. Progulske - Point of clarification, the City has the master and they just need to know how much to print? • Ms. Glaser — Basically do we just need to get an estimate, anyone of us can do that. • Mr. Watanabe - Make sure what paper you want then run the 100 copies. NRB can take the lead and have the brochures printed. • Mr. Clifton — The ones from Earth Day is exactly what we want. Will go to Total Print to get the details and cost and bring to the next meeting. • Mr. Progulske — How many brochures do we have on hand now? Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 2 • Mr. Clifton — There's approaching 100. There will be a paragraph in the next paper on the Champion Tree program. • Ms. Tunker — Could approval be made to have them printed? • Ms. Glaser — I don't think there is an urgency? Item C. Pilot Project Update: • Vice -Chair Gordian — No report currently. • Chair Ring — What was the pilot project? • Vice -Chair Gordian — To come up with a new idea on the water system. • Chair Ring — Per the last Council meeting, we use to put fish in the canal. Pilot project for this. Not sure what happened or a viable option but it used to keep the vegetation down. • Mr. Watanabe - Our canals are freshwater, so whatever can survive in freshwater system. There is a lot of fish small and big. Maybe at one time it needed to be placed in there to get it going. • Chair Ring — Are they algae and vegetation eaters? • Mr. Watanabe - There is a lot of wildlife, Mother Nature is doing good on its own. • Mr. Progulske — There is a Plecostomus fish, which is an algae eater, which unfortunately has been released. Have them 3' feet long in our canal system and algae eaters. Most are not plant eaters. The one fish that a lot of places use when they have Hydrilla is a Triploid Grass Carp which cannot reproduce, that's usually when you have a lot of vegetation; don't think it would be good to put in here. • Mr. Watanabe — Vegetation on the banks. • Chair Ring — Anybody else have ideas for a pilot project, research? • Ms. Glaser — Discussed looking into the fertilizer, going to stores, trash after the fireworks, make people aware to pick up after themselves. • Chair Ring — I went to the Indian River Lagoon council, Scotts have agreed to work with the Council and to develop a fertilizer for this area, looking into slow release, and going to work with the lady from the college, something would be specific for this area. At least they got someone to respond. Do not know how it would get done. • Ms. Glaser — Saw the County spraying along US 1, during the rains. Called the office and they did not have any report of that being done. It wasn't scheduled. • Mr. Watanabe — Had other reports but I believe they are exempt. • Mr. Clifton — Made 1s' Motion to take it off future agendas until we have a future project. • Mr. Gordian — Made 2"d Motion • NRB approved with changes. • Chair Ring — We now have money. • Ms. Glaser — It doesn't take money, it takes a plan and labor. • Chair Ring — Maybe a cleanup project? • Mr. Watanabe — The City has an ordinance for cleanup. Vacant lots, do due diligence to the lot owners, notify them give them a chance to respond. The ordinance says the side person bears the responsibilities to chop the trees • Ms. Glaser — Just side of the property or the front? • Mr. Watanabe — All varies if there is a vacant lot. Ordinance is being looked at, FPL came through with their cutters and now they are leaning to the sideways. We are aware of this and working on it. • Mr. Progulske — Are there any municipal ordinances that you are aware of? • Mr. Watanabe - We have a nuisance ordinance. • Mr. Progulske — I was wondering if any municipalities have a model ordinance. Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 3 Item D. Invasive Plant (Brochure): • Ms. Glaser in contact with Jane Schnee and she will forward us a copy and is working with different groups and originations through the State to do one for our area. She asked if she would work with her and pass it out. Ms. Glaser will follow up with her. She is working with Saint Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)and University of Florida. When it comes to funding she asked we handle it. Ms. Glaser will update and send email to Michelle. Ms. Glaser will be absent from the next couple of meetings. Item E. Working Waterfront Oyster Bag Update (Mr. Watanabe to update): • Mr. Watanabe — SJRWMD and Army Corps did a site visit. Their input was very positive. We have a Grant coming from the Indian River Lagoon Council. Went to Council, Council accepted the award of the money. We have some dialogue with ARC for creating the bags. Using the first pilot project as a starting point. ARC will be on the production point of it. This project has $24,000. A lot of this budget was designated to be used on in-kind services. Some of the money can be used toward the education process. Can be tied into all that NRB does. Right now we are working on getting the permit. Once we get the permit we will bring you all on board. Open items the commission could work on. • Mr. Progulske — How long of a term to spend the money • Mr. Watanabe — One (1) year • Chair Ring — Can do a video? • Mr. Watanabe - Once we decide what ARC needs, maybe let Comcast create a professional video, which is considered educational. Critical path, Michelle gets the map done, meet with ARC, then bring it back to the NRB. • Chair Ring - Has the boy scouts been counting the Oysters. • Mr. Watanabe — We created an as -built per SJRWMD permit which we submitted the today, it was accepted, and now project can be closed out. 7. PUBLIC INPUT: None 8. NEW BUSINESS: • Ms. Lucier — The cleanup can we do together, • Vice -Chair Gordian — As a individual not as a board • Vice -Chair Gordian — Adopt an island, could we get the City's help • Ms. Tunker — Has a team with the Coastal clean-up. • Ms. Glaser — Have a boat can go along the coast line. • Mr. Progulske — If people are interested whom do they contact. • Ms. Glaser — Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup • Ms. Tunker — e Annual • Ms. Glaser — Is there an island available. • Ms. Tunker - No • Chair Ring - If you can find an Island, I think we be available. Item A. Presentation on City's Water Monitoring and Testing: • Mr. Watanabe — Gave a presentation on City's water testing and monitoring. Jim Clifton initially helped train us on lab testing procedure. The City created an in house lab. Flowers Lab samples and tests the water for the President Street. We have a base line everything on the riverfront have its own drainage systems with 11 boxes. North of 512 discharges out of three (3) areas, everything of 512 goes out to 2 sources, Elk Cam and Stone Crop. A baffle box is a system with Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 4 filters and ways to pick up and reduce Nitrogen and Phosphates uses a large filter. On an annual basis we have to take out the filters. • Chair Ring — What is the suggestion from Florida State? • Mr. Watanabe — Need to continue testing for more than one year, several years. • Ms. Glaser — Cost of a baffle Box? • Mr. Watanabe — About $65K • Mr. Clifton — Are the samples taken under flow? • Chair Ring — The City is supposed to be getting more baffle boxes, is that correct? • Mr. Watanabe — When you get grant money — finish current project, then go after another grant. Everything we have impacting the lagoon is East of the tracks • Chair Ring - New project maybe in regard to the Sewers, we can still do this. The Indian River Lagoon Council says we need to do them differently. The lady has all kinds of idea. She is from Florida University. They have kilroys up and down the lagoon. Sewer is good but to have sewage in one area there is too much phosphorous. She feels is we do not do anything we are going to have massive fish kills for 8 years. The fish die because of lack of oxygen. • Mr. Progulske — There is parts in the City that has Sewer. • Mr. Watanabe — The County came to the City, the City co shared the design but the County wants the City. A small portion. We have a force main line which it means it's under pressure and not gravity sewer. The City will pay a portion if a resident will connect. We received a grant up to 100k for Septic to sewer. • Mr. Progulske — The force main is more expensive? • Mr. Watanabe — Cost a lot to hook up to it. • Ms. Lucier — There is no rules or regulations here. • Mr. Watanabe — When we had the Utility. • Mr. Progulske — Concept of gravity fed system. • Mr. Watanabe — Eventually going to have to get to the lift station, pumps it up and back down. • Ms. Lucier — Do you think the City will ever adopt an ordinance? • Mr. Watanabe — Up to County Health Department. • Chair Ring - Interested in doing some research, Have a septic update. • Mr. Watanabe- Will provide the information — Vincent Burke 9. STAFF MATTERS: Gopher Tortoise Workshop Per Michelle Stromberg — Gopher Tortoise workshop is going to be held on Thursday August 18, from 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. by FWC — lead by Alex Kalfin. Opportunity offered to NRB to attend. If any NRB member is interested, Michelle will give Alex Kahn member information for registration. City invited surrounding agencies. NRB - What would the Gopher Tortoise certification enable you to do? City — This is an education workshop, no certifications will be acquired. 10. MEMBER MATTERS: Chair Ring — Requested to remove Mr. Weragoda from the roll. Discussion on parameters on of unexcused absences and excuse absences. Chair Ring made 1 st motion to make Mr. Weragoda's absences unexcused. Mr. Weragoda has 2 more months. Mr. Progulske 2nd the motion, with the acknowledgement he has until October. Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 5 Ms. Glaser — Per the festival this weekend, question in regards to all the trucks and trailers in the park. Wanted to know if the City had decided to keep them out? Mr. Mr. Watanabe - Will check on this. Ms. Glaser - All the food vendors were parked in the park approximately 17. Per the Council meeting — At City events parking in the park will be allowed. Chair Ring — Concern from last board meeting in June, arrived last meeting 15 minutes early and was told the meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum. When I questioned if the quorum could be determined ahead of meeting time, I was told that the members had emailed and said you would not be coming, even if you send emails, I still felt the meeting should be held to determine if the quorum could be met. The building was locked and I was not let in the building. I was told City Council was very upset we did not meet. Two Question — One can you determine and call it a lack of quorum when there was no meeting to begin with and two if you receive email saying the meeting was cancelled, we need to stop this from happening again. Ms. Tunker — I was prepared to come Ms. Glaser — I was prepared to come Absentee members emailed to let the City know they would not be present. Chair Ring — That is a violation of the Sunshine law. Ms. Glaser — Emailing Michelle? Chair Ring — Yes, you are not supposed to email at all. Mr. Watanabe — To clarify you can always email staff. Chair Ring — We could of still has a quorum if there was going to be five (5). Ms. Stromberg — No there was only going to be three (3) Mr. Progulske — I emailed in the afternoon I was not going to be there due to work. Always used this process (email). Ms. Tunker — How do you get an excused absence if we can't email. NRB Board — We can email Michelle, she is City staff. Chair Ring - The emailing should not be done, not supposed to email. Ms. Glaser — Member to member we are not supposed to email. We are allowed to email staff and that is what we should be doing. Chair Ring — We should of held the meeting anyway. Ms. Stromberg — There were not enough members to have a quorum at the last meeting. Chair Ring — City Council is very upset we did not have the meeting. Ms. Glaser — There is nothing you can if people are sick and they can't make it there. Ms. Tunker — Especially if the meeting is cancelled. Chair Ring — I don't get emails. We need to stop this from happening again. I think maybe we should ask staff not to cancel meetings. You can't cancel meetings until the 6:00 meeting time. What do you do with the Public? Ms. Glaser — They already knew people weren't coming. Chair Ring - You should still hold the meeting, I should have been allowed in and the Public should have been told. You can't cancel the meeting ahead of time. Council was very upset. Ms. Glaser — The staff already knew we weren't going to have a quorum so we couldn't have a meeting. Chair Ring - That is not really right, you can't really determine a quorum ahead of time. Until the meeting time. Ms. Glaser - I will have to look at Roberts Rules. Chair Ring — I will to. Mr. Progulske — I assume there is a consistent rule. Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 6 Mr. Watanabe - I stayed here to inform the public and we knew in advance we were not going to have a quorum. I didn't want to spend anymore of staff time, tax payers time to say we are not going to have a meeting. I stayed here to make sure to let the public know, one person showed up, Andrea showed up. You could of walked in. I let everyone go because I thought it was a waste of tax payers money to have all these government people here that shouldn't be here plus it was a storm day. As a director I made that decision. In the future, I will make sure we have the doors open to make sure if any commissioners or public arrives and then to make a determination of meeting or no meeting based on quorum. Ms. Lucier — Is there any other way to let her know? Mr. Watanabe — This has happened before with the P&Z Chair Ring — I feel better now. 11. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA Item A. Invasive Plant (Brochure) Item B. Sewer Item C. Champion Tree Update — Vote on prices 12. ADJOURNMENT: Being no further business Per Chair Ring adjourned the Natural Resources Board meeting at 7:36 p.m. // By. ` 2 zl Chairwoman Date Natural Resources Board Meeting July 05, 2016 Page 7