Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-03-2021 NRB MinutesNATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 3, 2021 I. Chairman Stadelman called the Natural Resources Board meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. IL Pledoe of Alleoiance was recited by all. III. Roll Call Present: Ms. Callaghan Dr. Carrier (a) Ms. Valenzuela Mr. Carrano Mr. Stadelman Ms. Ware (Zoom) Dr. Mosblech (Zoom) Ms. Lovell (Zoom) Absent: Mr. Bradley (a) — Excused Also Present: Ms. Kim Haigler, Environmental Planner Mr. Brian Benton, Leisure Services Director Mr. Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Ms. Janet Graham, Technical Writer (Zoom) IV. ADDroval of Minutes — July 6. 2021 All Board members having had a chance to review the Minutes, Mr. Stadelman called for a Motion. A motion to approve the Minutes of July 6, 2021 as presented was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Dr. Cartier, and approved unanimously via voice vote. V. Announcements -- None VI. ADenda Modifications Mr. Stadelman asked for an agenda modification under Item VII, Item A. City -Wide Demonstration Garden Initiative. He asked to table that item until next month's NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 2 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 meeting. It was the consensus of the Board members that this item should be tabled until next month's meeting. VII. Public Input -- None Vill. New Business A. Stormwater IPM Plan Draft Review Board Members to vote in support of Plan for presentation to City Council on August 25", 2021 Mr. Benton reviewed that he has been included in this process since the beginning. The IPM for parks and properties was the first project. Then the document that is in front of the Board tonight was worked on. He thanked the Sub -Committee members: Mr. Carrano, Mr. Stadelman, Ms. Callaghan, and Ms. Lovell, who are members of the Natural Resources Board. There were also members of the community who played an integral part in it: Nickie Monroe from the University of Florida, IFAS, and Dr. Graham Cox, scientific advisor, played a part. He also recognized Ms. Haigler for the job that she did. She has put a lot of time and effort into developing this document. As to abstaining from voting, there is a Florida statute that prevents one from abstaining from a vote if that person does not have a conflict of interest and has filled out a conflict of - interest form. At this time, Mr. Stadelman called for questions/comments/input from Board members Ms. Lovell: • Stated she has no further comments. She thought that everyone did a great job Dr. Mosblech: Said it is a very comprehensive document. The thought that went into it is admirable. She asked for a date that the glyphosate was stopped from being sprayed on the City properties. Ms. Haigler stated that the City stopped using glyphosate on City properties in November of 2019 with the moratorium. Staff and the Sub - Committee worked on the IPM Plan for parks and properties and found that WOW was a great equivalent. She does not believe that the City has returned to using it on the City's properties. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 3 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 • Asked regarding Ms. Haigler as the IPM Coordinator being notified before any product is put into the water or on the ground. Mr. Benton explained that the contractor provides the City staff with notice. They try to do it a week prior, but due to weather conditions they cannot always know what specific day they are going to be doing it. Ms. Ware: • Brought up the subject of homeowners and their quarter -rounds. She stated the majority of homeowners in her neighborhood spray their quarter -rounds. She stated the document is an excellent one, and she appreciates that a lot of work went into it. Ms. Haigler stated regarding residential swale maintenance, that the communication is there, but she thinks it could be emphasized a bit more. She will add it to the Stormwater website. Ms. Valenzuela: • Alluded to a section in the document that left room for adjusting and changing the document going forward. Ms. Haigler stated that will be done following each annual review, when the Sub -Committee reconvenes. • Addressed the signage to notify the public when spraying was going to be done. In the effort to increase public outreach, that sign should be on a permanent structure to let people know each year how much is sprayed. Ms. Haigler said there is a QR code on the sign that directs the public to the IPM website. If they follow the OR code, that will take them to where the information is posted. Those signs would just be posted at the access points for the waterways, not on any private properties abutting the waterways. Mr. Benton stated that the sign which Ms. Valenzuela is speaking about is the sign that would go up when the contractor is actually applying the product. It would give the specific details on what is being applied, where it is being applied, and why it is being applied. However, in the parks there is a standard metal sign on a metal post that informs the public that at times pesticides are applied to those locations. That is just to inform the public that those products are applied to those areas. Staff could do that at all of the access points to the waterways. Ms. Valenzuela asked why the signs are posted for only two days. Ms. Haigler explained that the temporary sign is because there is a reentry period after which that chemical's half-life is broken. Actually, it reads two days or by label, depending on reentry period. Mr. Carrano added that if the sign is posted all the time, the public will think the City is spraying all the time. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 4 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 Ms. Valenzuela's concern is regarding community outreach and the City providing more information to the public. Dr. Carrier agreed that to give the impression that there is continual spraying could cause fear in someone using the City's waterways. One of the points that the Plan makes is that the herbicides that are chosen are ones that have very short biological half-lives. They are functional for a short period of time, enough to do the task and, as such, they meet one of the criteria that define a good pesticide. It needs to be ultra -specific; it needs to be strong, and it needs to have a short biological half- life. Suggested there should be more than one event such as Earth Day. Ms. Haigler described that it has been suggested that the NRB have more exposure at City - sponsored events such as Shrimp Fast, etc., not more NRB-sponsored events, as that is a huge undertaking. Regarding future recommendations, where it mentions skimmer devices, she asked if these are things that are possibly able to be introduced in the future. She asked for a timeline. Ms. Haigler said that it will be as needed. The skimmer device in particular is only effective on floating vegetation, and it would be something that would be put in a pond. At this point, it is not needed in the City's systems, but it works well and is a feasible option in the future should this be a concern. Mr. Carrano said that the idea was to look at mechanical means instead of purely chemical means. Some of those mechanical means are very specific for a type of vegetation and will not work on others. Some of the mechanical means are extremely cost prohibitive on occasion, but they were left in our toolbox should better technology come out in the future or if there happens to be a major duckweed bloom, for instance, and something is needed to clean up a pond. Ms. Haigler stated that the City is already using pathogens. There is a system where it is applicable, and it is being used in the Garden Club Park pond right now. Regarding fountains in the ponds, they run on electricity unless it is a solar fountain. She asked if, as technology grows is there room for the City to try a solar fountain or solar -powered bubblers to aerate the water to reduce the muck. Ms. Haigler stated that will all be addressed at the annual reviews. Mr. Carrano added that if after a spraying incident we end up with a lot of dead fish in the water, the next time spraying has to be done an aerator may be put in so that we do not have a fish kill. Ms. Valenzuela said that was her only concem—as technology grows, is there room for us to keep up with that in our plan. Mr. Carrano: NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 • Stated that he is aware that this is not a perfect document. However, he is for allowing the public to have access to it, for the elected officials to have access to it, and after that there will be a public hearing. If need be, then the IPM Sub - Committee should reconvene and look at what changes might be made. At this point, he opined it is as good a document as the team could have made, and it should move forward to the next level. • As to outreach, Mr. Carrano suggested that businesses that sell these products put signs out telling people that there is a fertilizer ban during certain parts of the year. • Inquired as to when the public will be able to see this document. Ms. Haigler stated she will post it after this meeting and before it goes to Council. Ms. Callaghan: • Stated the Sub -Committee should be proud of this document, and she applauded the effort and hard work by Mr. Benton and Ms. Haigler. • Regarding the presentation to City Council, she volunteered to be present at the City Council meeting should this move forward from this Sub -Committee. Ms. Haigler stated she will be making a Power Point presentation at that meeting, which she will be sending out to the Sub -Committee members and asking for some feedback. Mr. Stadelman volunteered to be at that meeting also. • As to outreach, she stated that outreach is one of the actionable items in the Sustainable Sebastian project, and she suggests that it will be addressed further as the Sub -Committee goes forward. Dr. Carrier: • Stated the document is sound. Regarding skimmers, he is aware that this is a potential acquisition somewhere in the future. He asked regarding the protocol where a skimmer might be recommended, when such circumstances might lead to that recommendation, and where would such a recommendation originate, and if the NRB has any role in that. Our annual reviews may tell us that we have a problem with certain vegetation, so his is more of a procedural question for down the road. Ms. Haigler stated that this document is a guidance document. A lot of it feels educational, but this is a guidance document for City staff and contractors. In putting the input into this document, we are giving them the information they need to make the best choices. • As to the document describing the outreach that is going to be necessary for the City's fertilizer ordinance, he suggests this is fraught with a lot of difficulties. He does not think the average citizen has a clue that fertilizers are restricted in some NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 6 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 ways. We know that nutrient load is critical for clogging our drainage systems. How do we get the information out? The perfect solution would be to ban the use of fertilizers that do not meet certain criteria. Ms. Haigler stated that the County takes on the primary role of education regarding the fertilizer ordinance. It is also posted on the City's website and on its Facebook page. She puts bumper stickers in the new homeowner folders. She puts the IPM outreach materials into the folders. She also does the last inspection at new houses, and she leaves the materials in the houses. Dr. Carrier suggested attempting to come up with a way to get to more of the citizens so that they know that there is actually an ordinance on the books. Ms. Haigler said there are environmental groups in the County, and outreach is one of their goals. Mr. Carrano added that seasonal fertilizer bans are in place in lots of states. Dr. Mosblech: Inquired if there are any outreach programs focusing on the landscaping companies. Ms. Haigler said that the City has developed specific outreach for landscaping companies who are registered in the City regarding fertilizer application. Mr. Stadelman: • Is in favor of sending this document forward to City Council. There being no further questions/comments from the Board, Mr. Stadelman called for public comment on this item. Dr. Graham Cox: Gave a statement regarding his involvement in the sub -committees for the Parks and Properties IPM Plan as well as the Stormwater IPM Plan. At the last Stormwater Sub -Committee meeting he expressed his concern that we were putting way too much emphasis on chemical pesticides. It was agreed that we are implementing mechanical means of eliminating the vegetation in the waterways. At that meeting, he abstained from voting on approving this document. He did not vote no because he sees it as a valuable first step. He did not vote yes because he sees the document as a constant reliance and emphasis on chemical -control methods. He understands why, and he thinks there should be more emphasis on public education. He reviewed the recent starvation of manatees due to lack of sea grass. He also mentioned the book, NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 7 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 "The Monsanto Papers." He suggests this document be sent to City Council, but he asks that the NRB ask City Council to keep the moratorium on the use of glyphosate on City properties. Mr. Benton commented on what has been discussed regarding glyphosate. He stated that in the list of chemical options glyphosate is included. There have been numerous discussions when implementing both the Parks and Properties IPM Plan as well as the Stormwater IPM Plan. The City is not currently spraying with glyphosate. It has not been used since sometime in October -November of 2019. He also stated that there have been discussions with many professionals, including the University of Florida WAS Extension. A tool in one's toolbox should not be eliminated if one could potentially have to use it in the future. That is the reason glyphosate is included in this document. It is not possible to state that it will never be used again. There could be an invasive that develops that glyphosate is the only way to get rid of it, and it is currently clogging all of our dams, weirs, etc., and it is affecting our entire stormwater system. The Sub -Committee chose to allow it to be in the document. All the members voted on June 28 h, 2021 to approve the chemical list as presented. Dr. Cox voted in favor of the chemical list at that point. He did abstain at the last meeting, and Mr. Benton wanted to make it clear that there is a Florida statute that prohibits someone from abstaining from a vote if that person does not have a conflict of interest. He wanted to make sure that each member here tonight, if he or she has any conflict, will need to disclose it. There is a form that will need to be filled out. He thanked Ms. Haigler for all her work on this project. He is proud of the Parks and Properties Plan as well as the Stormwater Plan that is presented tonight. He emphasized that if someone would go back and read the information from past meetings, if they look at the factual numbers, the majority of liquid coming out of the hose is water. Those are public records as well as the chemical data sheets that are provided to City staff through the contractor. All the facts show the small amount of chemicals that are currently being used, and that is the plan for the future. He is proud that in the future Sebastian is going to have a Parks and Properties IPM Plan as well as a Stormwater IPM Plan. There are not many communities that have either one of those. Most communities say they use best management practices. He can say here in Sebastian that not only best management practices are used, but IPM Plans have been developed by members of the NRB as well as consultants that have assisted in both projects. Ms. Haigler added that her job would have been easier if she could have found a plan that looked good, and she could just follow their formatting. That did not exist, and she spent a lot of time researching. So she had to start from the beginning. She is extremely proud of it. She is aware of the concern about the outreach element. She NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 8 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 has already distributed 500 of the new homeowner folders this year. Every element regarding outreach has been implemented to the public except to the landscape contractors, and she is working on that. She opined that people do know what is happening out in the City, and they have asked questions about it. Hopefully, staff can continue to come up with new ways of getting the message out. Mr. Carrano: Added that for the people who believe that spraying is significant, they are not going to like this plan, and they are going to say so. For people who have waterfront along the canals, they might have a different opinion. This plan is not perfect, but a lot of work went into it, a lot of thought and research went into it. Now it is up to the public and the elected officials to either move it forward or send it back to us for changes. Ms. Haigler added that 80% of this Plan talks about non -chemical methods as opposed to chemical methods. There being no further discussion, a motion approving the Stormwater IPM Plan draft and sending it to City Council was made by Mr. Stadelman, seconded by Mr. Carrano, and approved unanimously via voice vote. IX. Old Business A. Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup Event Recap Amount of waste collected Ms. Haigler stated the July 24t' event was well attended. She thanked Mash Monkeys for providing shade and plastic -free flavored water and fresh fruit on ice. There were 20 volunteers who participated for an estimated time of 90 hours. The length of shoreline that was covered was just over a mile from Fishermen's Landing to Riverview Park. Some of the boats went out to the spoil islands. Thirty-five bags of trash were filled, and there was 350 pounds all together. Ms. Callaghan asked when the numbers for the entire Indian River will be available. Ms. Haigler said usually by the end of August, and it is usually at the September meeting that she brings those numbers. Mr. Stadelman stated it was a pleasant experience, and all involved accomplished a common goal. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 9 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 Ms. Haigler mentioned that in September there will be the Keep Indian River Beautiful's international coastal cleanup event. It is not something that the NRB is sponsoring or running, but she always participates in it. It is a huge event, and there is plenty of garbage to go around. Ms. Lovell asked if the NRB has to wait until it gets to the Litter Quitter initiative to approach City Council with the idea of using nets for the restaurants and making that a requirement. She asked how the NRB can push that forward, assuming the Board wants to take that on and make it a requirement for businesses to have measures in place to help prevent the trash from going into the water. This would help to prevent the trash from going into the waterway. Ms. Haigler said this is something that has been suggested in the past by Sebastian's Community Development Director. This is something that the NRB would consider as part of its Sustainable Sebastian program. She does not think the NRB has to wait for Litter Quitter, and it may actually be something for which funding can be found. She will put it on the agenda for discussion next month. Ms. Haigler added that this is something that also touches on one of our other initiatives, which is support for the "Leave No Trace" program that is actually sponsored by the Aquatic Preserve's program, led by Emily Dark. Ms. Haigler will try to get Ms. Dark to come here to speak. ii. Suggestions for next year Ms. Haigler said she likes having the booth sponsored. She also likes the station for people to gather and count the trash, because she thinks there were more data cards gotten in that manner. She brought a tablet so she could sign up people on the spot as they were going out in their boats, and there were some extra people gotten that way. X. Member Matters Dr. Mosblech inquired regarding the plastic bottlecap program. She wonders if this is something the NRB could do. She has lots of bottlecaps in her classroom that could be used. Also, she was not at the meeting last month, but she read that there was some discussion of the landscaping ordinance. She wanted to call attention to the urgency for moving that up. She has seen several lots in the City being completely cleared. She feels that some of that destruction of native species could be prevented. She has also observed trees that have been put in when the house was built being taken out shortly thereafter. Ms. Haigler reviewed that regarding the bottlecaps, MRC had a talk from a great research project where plastic bottlecaps were used to house the bacteria that breaks down the nutrients. That might be a good thing to add to baffle boxes. They need to have constant water flow, and the City does have one that qualifies at Davis NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD PAGE 10 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 Street. She is going to reach out to MRC and see if they are interested and if Sebastian can be a test subject. Regarding the landscaping ordinance, once the IPM project is completed, the landscaping ordinance is going to be addressed. A large part of the landscaping ordinance is commercial. It has become one of her responsibilities to review the commercial landscaping ordinance. The Senior Planner, Dorri Bosworth, has recommended that Ms. Haigler work with her and better learn to assess the commercial section so that it can be presented better to this Board. The residential section is a small part of the ordinance. The landscape ordinance is a top priority, and she thinks that it will be brought out right after Christmas. Dr. Mosblech asked if it would be possible to split the two in order to have residential done and passed and then focus on the bigger commercial section later. Ms. Haigler said that there will be a sub- committee started for that project. Ms. Valenzuela asked regarding the landscaping ordinance. She asked, as it stands now, what is the rule regarding trees. Mr. Stadelman stated this Board is actually going to engage that issue in the not -too -distant future. Ms. Haigler has a structured plan for us to get through December. Ms. Haigler said that she has a brochure that summarizes the ordinance very well, and she will provide Ms. Valenzuela with one. Mr. Carrano mentioned that it is very hard to do limited tree clearing on a 10,000- square-foot lot with the house, the septic and leaching field, the pool and cover, etc. By the time all those are put in, there is not too much room left for trees. Mr. Stadelman thanked City Council for bring this very important issue to the NRB and for setting up the sub -committees to address this. He has asked City Council that, when things come up for new sub -divisions and matters that are within the natural resource scope that match our sustainable agenda, they have the Board address it. XI. Staff Matters Ms. Haigler thanked everyone for their role in this whole IPM process. Everyone did a great job doing peer -review research. Everyone brought great ideas to the table, and they have all been addressed in the Plan, and it is a great case for the use of sub- committees. Mr. Benton seconded what Ms. Haigler said. It was a pleasure working with many of the Board members through the IPM process, both in Parks and Properties and in Stormwater. He thanked the entire Board for all the hard work that it has done and continues to do. He asked that the members build upon their ideas. Ms. Haigler is a NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2021 PAGE 11 great asset to have, and from City staffs standpoint, they will continue to support as much as possible the NRB in its relationship with these IPM Plans. XII. Items for Next Aaenda A. Sustainable Sebastian Plans for the rest of the year B. City -Wide Demonstration Gardens Initiative (tabled from this Agenda) Ms. Haigler stated she has scheduled topics for the rest of the year. At the one-year anniversary of the five-year plan being adopted by City Council, she wants to approach them and review that the NRB has 50% of these things already underway. Another big item is that in October she will be attending a Low -Impact Development (LID) conference hosted by MRC. It is in Brevard County. In December the NRB will host a workshop for LID here for the public. One of Sustainable Sebastian's initiatives is the LID toolkit, and that will be a chance for everyone to learn about it and look at different best management practices and what has worked in different areas. XIII. There being no further business, Mr. Stadelman adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. By: NJ J � Date: jg