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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-03-2023 NRB Minutes w/ AttachmentNATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2023 I. Chairman Stadelman called the Natural Resources Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. III. Roll Call Present: Mr. Charles Stadelman (chair) Ms. Ruth Callaghan Ms. Donna Ware Ms. Sherida Billman Mr. Thomas Carrano Ms. Sarah Haggerty (alt) Not Present: Dr. Nikki Mosblech Dr. Jeff Carrier Also Present: Felicia Gordian, Environmental Technician Brian Benton, City Manager (Zoom) Barbara Brooke -Reese, MIS Manager Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Nick Ladyman, AV Technical Assistant Dominic Adams, AV Technical Assistant Jeanette Williams, Recording Secretary IV. Approval of Minutes A motion to approve the minutes of September 5, 2023 as presented was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Ware, and approved unanimously via voice vote. V. Announcements The Environmental Technician announced that she would be out the week of October 12-18 for vacation and following that she would be attending the Marine Resources Council Low Impact Development Conference from October 19-20 at the Center for Collaboration, in Rockledge. The Environmental Technician reported that at the September 16th International Coastal Cleanup there were 2,094 lbs. of debris collected to include an abandoned boat hull, by 1,070 volunteers countywide at 21 locations, with 115 volunteers from Sebastian. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2023 PAGE 2 She invited the board to attend the free Florida Climate Week Virtual Event taking place from October 2Rd to the 8th. Further information could be found at hftps://floridaclimateweek.org/virtual-events/ VI. Agenda Modifications - None VII. Public Input - None VIII. Unfinished Business A. International Coastal Cleanup Results Previously announced at the beginning of the meeting. B. Sustainable Sebastian The Environmental Technician explained that a new fiscal year has begun and as they move forward there will be pressure to . use the money allocated for Sustainable Sebastian. She asked the board members for ideas on how to improve their plan of attack on the initiatives and if the approach isn't working, to re-evaluable it. The City Manager confirmed that $15,000 did carry over for LID initiatives and approximately $10,000 for Sustainable Sebastian plans. He cautioned that any expense over $15,000 would have to go to Council for approval in accordance with the City's procurement policy. i. Goal Updates ii. Review of Task Assignments Goals 1 and 2 - Reduction of Single -Use Plastics The Environmental Technician advised that she has met with the Facilities Maintenance Technician to learn more about the supplies ordered for staff at City Hall and shared that information with Ms. Haggerty. Ms. Haggerty said she has spoken with a representative from Sysco who advised there are multiple tiers of products and noted that the most compostable/biodegradable items are the most expensive. She asked for help in understanding the different types of plastic used in the items. She also said the number of items provided at City Hall is rather short and recycling rehabilitation would be more of a challenge as they go out to the public. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2023 PAGE 3 She pointed out that she found a lot of Styrofoam cups at City Hall that can be returned to the vendor to be recycled and there is grant funding is available to start a recycling program in the community. Ms. Haggerty said encouraging the use of reusable products is the way to go. Ms. Callaghan said there was an information packet to present to event vendors to include cost information on the items and the idea was that the City was to set the example. Ms. Callaghan said she knew of a former Brevard Zoo employee who is knowable about composting and offered to have her contact Ms. Haggerty. Ms. Ware asked that that individual come to the board to give a presentation. Chairman Stadelman encouraged them to complete the comparison sheet by the next meeting. They asked if they could meet to go over the items and asked if that would be a Sunshine Law violation since they would be voting on it in the future. Ms. Haggerty asked if the Technician could set up a Google_ Drive list that they could all see. Chairman Stadelman suggested the City Attorney could come to advise them on what is permissible. Ms. Callaghan said she developed a PowerPoint presentation to use when they go out the public to promote their efforts and asked Ms. Ware for her assistance in making it more presentable. Ms. Ware said she would be happy to help. Goals 5 & 6 — Native Landscapinq The Environmental Technician advised that $15,000 has been budgeted for Native Landscaping and Low Impact Development and the parks identified for improvement are Garden Club Park, Riverview Park, and the Bark Park. She noted that she does have a meeting set up with City Staff to understand the current regime of park maintenance. Ms. Billman said she wasn't a proponent of putting things in pots. There are native plants that you can put in the ground that will work such as the plants in the courtyard of City Hall. She said there were other alternatives as well that she could discuss when they meet with City staff. Mr. Stadelman commented that most people don't care for native planting because they are scrubby but it is tough for other plants to grown in Florida. Ms. Ware said one of their main goals was to get the public understand what the native plants will save them and asked that they stay with encouraging native plants. Discussion followed that they include signage or a kiosk to educate the public on the benefits of native plants. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2023 PAGE 4 The goal for the next meeting is to find out what City staff is willing to do with the plants and where they would be located. Ms. Billman offered to get a price from a Brevard nursery for the plants once they know what they would like. The Environmental Technician suggested that they also include Ms. Munroe with OF/IFAS. Goals 9 — Tree Protection & Landscapina Ordinances The Environmental Technician advised that Mr. Carrano is to shadow her when she is planning to do some tree inspections to have a first-hand look at the practical application of the code for tree removal however, there haven't been any inspections coming up. Mr. Carrano said he would like an initial outline of what the code is going to look like before the next meeting. He said it might include a section for vacant land and what must be done for developed properties. Goal 13 — City Resource Conservation The Environmental Technician said she was still researching recycling protocols at City Hall and the new Public Works Facility (compound). She noted that recycling is picked up once a week but she wasn't sure what happens at compound. She said she hoped the City would help set an example for businesses with their recycling and to find way to take care of overflowing bins in Riverview Park. Chairman Stadelman called for a recess at 7:55 pm and upon return at 8:07pm, all members were present. Ms. Ware discussed developing a questionnaire for people to answer in the building and suggested that posters be placed over the bins in City Hall to indicate the need to have the liner replaced. The Environmental Technician suggested the e-mail blasts could go out to employees to suggest they print double -sided and use smaller margins on their documents. Ms. Ware offered to come up with a list to help employees think about conservation and recycling. Goal 16 — Green infrastructure plan The Environmental Technician advised that only City staff could visit and inspect the City's tracts for liability issues. She said she did inventory Friendship Park with Dr. Mosblech. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2023 PAGE 5 The Environmental Technician said she plans to ask that Dr. Mosblech upload the data she has gathered to the Google drive for any of the parks she has conducted site visits for. Goal 18 — Bikeways & Sidewalks Chairman Stadelman said he recently attended a meeting with the Technician and learned a lot. He encouraged board members to attend any future meetings that might be planned with the County. The Environmental Technician said she plans to discuss a walking audit with Chairman Stadelman. Ms. Callaghan offered to help with input on the bike lanes in Sebastian. Chairman Stadelman asked if the City was going to do any more on promoting nature based tourism. The Environmental Technician suggested looking into that as we move further into this goal. Ms. Billman suggested making a trail and bikepath map for the City, maybe titled, "Explore Sebastian." The Environmental Technician said she has been in discussions with the City's GIS Technician to create something like that. Chairman Stadelman thanked everyone for their work on the Sustainable Sebastian initiative. IX. New Business A. Sebastian's Christmas Parade i. Save the Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. ii. Participation Planning The Environmental Technician asked the board members if they would like to participate in the parade. MOTION by Chairman Stadelman and SECOND by Mr. Carrano to participate in the Christmas Parade to market themselves which passed with a unanimous voice vote. Chairman Stadelman described their previous participation using a large flat-bed trailer with large presents and trees presenting the gifts that the board offers to the residents. They handed out information and seed packets. The Environmental Technician offered to research what would be available to for the board to participate in the parade such as the flat-bed trailer or golf carts and in the meanwhile the board members would send her ideas. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2023 X. Adiournment PAGE There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:38 p.m. was made by Ms. Ware and seconded by Mr. Carrano approved unanimously via voice vote. By: <" /v/� Date: