The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About10-02-2018 NRB Agenda NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD AGENDA REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, 2018 - 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 our natural resources” 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – ACTION ITEM August 7th, 2018 Meeting Minutes 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS a. Open Positions on the NRB 6. PUBLIC INPUT 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. OLD BUSINESS Item A. Community Oyster Garden i. New Oyster Garden Intern: Savannah Summers, a recent FIT Marine Biology Graduate ii. We have already begun booking for the school year and have had a couple successful homeschool site visits. iii. This Thursday, October 4th, we are partnering with S.E.A. Difference Organization, serving as an environmental sampling site for their “A Day in the Life of the Indian River Lagoon” Event. We encourage Board Members to come out that morning from 8AM- Noon and help out. Item C. Sustainable Business Initiative i. Discussion of Outline for Sustainable Business Initiative ii. Discussion of Example Resolution to acknowledge sustainable businesses. Item D. Role of Natural Resources Board i. Guest Speaker Schedule: Speakers needed that provide current information, which can assist with the design and roll-out of the Sustainable Business Initiative. 8. MEMBER MATTERS 9. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA: a. November 6th: Sustainable Business Initiative Roll-Out Plan - ACTION ITEM 10. ADJOURNMENT ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE ON THE ABOVE MATTERS, WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH APPEAL IS TO BE HEARD. SAID APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WITHIN TEN DAYS OF THE DATE OF ACTION. (286.0105 F.S). IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA), ANYONE WHO NEEDS SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THIS MEETING SHOULD CONTACT THE CITY'S ADA COORDINATOR AT (407)-589-5330 AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING. TWO OR MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY BE IN ATTENDANCE. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD AGENDA TRANSMITTAL FORM Council Meeting Date: October 2nd, 2018 Agenda Item Title: 4. August 7th, 2018 Meeting Minutes Recommendation: Submitted for Board Member Approval Background: If Agenda Item Requires Expenditure of Funds: Total Cost: n/a Attachments: 1. Natural Resource Board, Minutes of Regular Meeting, August 7th, 2018 City Manager Authorization: ________________________________ Date: _________________ NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD AGENDA TRANSMITTAL FORM Council Meeting Date: October 2nd, 2018 Agenda Item Title: 8. Item B. i. Discussion of Outline for Sustainable Business Initiative Recommendation: Submitted by Board Chair, Nicole Mosblech for Board Member Review Background: Compilation of suggestions made by Board Members during August 7th Meeting If Agenda Item Requires Expenditure of Funds: Total Cost: n/a Attachments: 8. Item B. i. Outline for Sustainable Business Initiative City Manager Authorization: ________________________________ Date: _________________ Sustainable Business Initiative City of Sebastian Natural Resources Board Objective: Incentivize city & local businesses to participate in existing sustainable business programs & adopt practices which emphasize resource conservation & reduce waste production Background Information:  Current consumption relies largely on single-use items, particularly those made of plastic and expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam), which can create large amounts of waste for local landfills, create potential pollution of nearby marine ecosystems, and introduce plastics into the marine food chain  Impacts of current plastic usage are wide-ranging, but can significantly impact local economics from the necessary cleanup efforts, loss of fisheries, and potential health care costs  The city of Sebastian and surrounding regions represent the ‘front line’ of marine plastic pollution as many local businesses are located right along the Indian River Lagoon estuary  Programs encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices already exist (Litter Quitter & Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants), though obstacles still exist to their adoption, including lack of information regarding cost comparisons, lack of access to alternative options for single-use plastics, or lack of awareness that such programs exist Initiative Tasks: 1. Create information packet for business owners, which includes: a. Existing sustainable business programs & details of their existing benefits b. Cost comparisons for alternative items (biodegradable utensils, paper straws, paperboard to -go containers, etc.) c. Recycling service options & cost comparisons d. Providing vouchers from CRA funds for program registration fees, upfront costs to switch to sustainable options, installing recycling dumpsters, etc. 2. Highlight participating businesses with: a. Providing banners to advertise a business’s initial adoption of program b. Providing signage unique to City of Sebastian (“Sustainable Sebastian”?) as window decals for front doors/windows and table signs describing program information & benefits c. Invite business owners to City Council meeting to recognize a ‘Sustainable Sebastian’ business of the month d. Providing advertisement through City of Sebastian newsletters e. Discounts on participation in annual Holiday Light-up Night and Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration 3. Institute policies for City events to reflect sustainable practices a. No single-use plastics (straws, bags, cups, bottles) at city-sponsored events at Riverview Park 4. Create community ‘task force’ involving city employees, NRB members, local organizations and participating business owners for the purposes of: a. Training individuals in the goals and practices of the city initiative b. Raising awareness within the community as task force members introduce Sustainable Sebastian initiative & related informational packets/advertisement opportunities to business owners c. Aiding business owners with compliance verification with existing programs d. Educate business owners of City requirements to remain participant as ‘Sustainable Sebastian’ business, including requirement of maintaining existing sustainable business practices for minimum of 3 years, requirement of adding at least one additional sustainable business practice after 3 years, and additional requirements? NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD AGENDA TRANSMITTAL FORM Council Meeting Date: October 2nd, 2018 Agenda Item Title: 8. Item B. ii. Discussion of Example Resolution to acknowledge sustainable businesses. Recommendation: Submitted by Board Chair, Nicole Mosblech for Board Member Review Background: Resolution approved by the Town of Melbourne Beach, FL If Agenda Item Requires Expenditure of Funds: Total Cost: n/a Attachments: 8. Item B. ii. Example Resolution to acknowledge sustainable businesses City Manager Authorization: ________________________________ Date: _________________ A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH, FLORIDA SUPPORTING AN INITIATIVE TO RECOGNIZE BUSINESSES THAT FORMALLY COMMIT TO VOLUNTARILY REDUCTIONS IN THE USE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS AND EXPANDED POLYESTERSTYRENE (EPS) PRODUCTS WHEREAS, the Town of Melbourne Beach is diligent in its efforts to preserve the beautiful environment which supports an environmentally sound, clean and healthy community; and WHEREAS, an environmentally sound clean and healthy community is vital to the quality of life in Melbourne Beach; and WHEREAS, the Town of Melbourne Beach recognizes that our beaches and the Atlantic Ocean are a primary natural habitat for sea turtles and other marine life; and WHEREAS, the Town of Melbourne Beach is in close proximity to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and our beaches are renowned as an area where large numbers of sea turtles choose to nest in the natural habitat, and WHEREAS, single-use plastics include plastic beverage bottles, straws, lids, bags, and utensils; and WHEREAS, EPS products include Styrofoam “to-go” containers, leftover food containers (“clamshells”), and drink and frozen dessert cups; and WHEREAS, plastics and EPS products are not biodegradable (only breaking down into smaller pieces which become ever more difficult to manage), litter our landscape and beaches, pollute our ocean and lagoon, kill or injure an estimated one million or more sea turtles, seabirds and other wildlife annually, pollute the environment for generations, take 500-1000 years to decompose and, if ignored, create permanent damage to the environment; and WHEREAS, scientists estimate that, at the current rates, there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the oceans by 2050; and WHEREAS, an estimated 500 million straws are used daily in the United States; and WHEREAS, only 31.1% of all plastic bottles sold were recycled, leaving approximately 34,000,000,000 (34 billion) plastic bottles to be littered or placed in landfills; and WHEREAS, the financial cost to make our beaches, the ocean, and the Indian River Lagoon clean and safe increases due, in part, to the need to collect and remove single-use plastics and EPS products; and . WHEREAS, the Town of Melbourne Beach supports efforts and initiatives by the Surfrider Foundation, the Town of Melbourne Beach’s Environmental Advisory Board, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Keep Brevard Beautiful, the Brevard Zoo and local merchants and residents to reduce the use of single-use plastics and EPS products in the Town of Melbourne Beach; and WHEREAS, this initiative encourages the replacement of single-use plastics and EPS products with reusable products and serves as evidence of the Town of Melbourne Beach’s commitment to the sustainability of our planet and to provide an environmental model for other cities and towns across the state; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN of MELBOURNE BEACH, FLORIDA that the Town Commission of Melbourne Beach: 1. Does hereby recognize the efforts and initiatives of the Surfrider Foundation, the Town of Melbourne Beach’s Environmental Advisory Board, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Keep Brevard Beautiful and the Brevard Zoo and local merchants and residents to reduce the distribution and use of single-use plastics and EPS products; and 2. Does hereby urge all citizens and business owners to voluntarily participate in this initiative to reduce the use of single-use plastics and EPS products and packaging while remembering the Environmental Protection Agency’s hierarchy – a. REDUCE the use of single-use plastics and by selecting appropriate alternatives b. REUSE items whenever possible, and c. (if it can’t be reduced or reused), RECYCLE items appropriately 3. Will officially recognize those businesses within the Town who support, initiate and commit to a single- use plastics and EPS reduction program through the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants program and/or Keep Brevard Beautiful and the Brevard Zoo’s Litter Quitter program and/or equivalent formally established program. This recognition will consist of a Town Proclamation of Appreciation and Recognition which will be in place so long as the business demonstrates their involvement and continuous support. This resolution is ADOPTED in Regular Session of the Town Commission for the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida, this ____ day of ____________, 2018. _____________________________ ATTEST: James D. Simmons, Mayor _________________________ Nancy Wood, Town Clerk (SEAL)