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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04-2025 NRB AgendaMYOF SEBASTL HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD AGENDA REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 4T", 2025 - 6:00pm 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 Item A. February 41", 2024 - Natural Resources Board Meeting Minutes 5) ANNOUNCEMENTS 6) AGENDA MODIFICATIONS 7) PUBLIC INPUT 8) UNFINISHED BUSINESS Chairman announces the title of the item Staff Presentation Public Input Staff Summation Chairman calls for a motion Board deliberation and roll call vote Item A. The Great Air Potato Round -up Debrief Item B. Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration — Saturday, April 26t", 2025 9) NEW BUSINESS Chairman announces the title of the item Staff Presentation Public Input Staff Summation Chairman calls for a motion Board deliberation and roll call vote 10) ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA AND DATE: Tuesday, April 1 ", 2025 Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration Planning 11)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 MAYBE IN ATTENDANCE. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025 Chair Charles Stadelman called the Natural Resources Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. Pledqe of Allegiance was recited by all. III. Roll Call Present: Mr. Bruggen Mr. Carrano Ms. Ware Ms. Billman Mr. Krauss Mr. Dovell Mr. Stadelman Also Present: Alix Bernard, Community Development Director Felicia Gordian, Environmental Technician Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Janet Graham, Technical Writer IV. Approval of Minutes A. January 7, 2025 -- Natural Resources Board Meeting Minutes All having indicated they had reviewed the Minutes of January 7, 2025, Mr. Stadelman called for a motion. A motion approving the Minutes of January 7, 2025 as presented was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Ware, and approved unanimously via voice vote. V. Announcements A. Mr. Stadelman announced that as of January 8, 2025 City Council has appointed Mr. Paul Dovell as a regular member of the Natural Resources Board. B. The City of Sebastian staff is looking to pursue a Recreational Trails grant to make upgrades to Garden Club Park. The grant would be used to complete the trail around the park, improve pond management, add new site furnishings, upgrade the parking lot, and continue efforts to update the landscaping on site. The City staff is seeking support from the Natural Resources Board at this time. We have here tonight a letter to the Director NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025 PAGE 2 of Parks and Recreation Department, Mr. Richard Blankenship, regarding this matter. Mr. Stadelman read the proposed letter aloud (SEE ATTACHED). The proposed grant is in the amount of $360,000.00. He called for input from the board. Ms. Ware stated she thinks it is a great idea, and the Natural Resources Board needs to support it. Mr. Stadelman agreed, and the totality of the Board agreed. Mr. Krauss suggested that there be more women involved, and therefore Mr. Stadelman's title be changed to "Chair." Mr. Stadelman stated he would sign the letter and forward it to the Parks and Recreation Department in support of this project. A motion supporting this project was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Mr. Dovell, and passed unanimously. Ms. Billman asked how the board members should contact the appropriate staff members in order to make suggestions for where/how this money will be spent. Ms. Bernard said that right now it is for a grant application that will be submitted. We will have to wait a period of time to see if it actually gets funded. If the project does get funded, it will be a part of a bigger conversation. VI. Aqenda Modifications -- None VII. Public Input Brent Wohlenberg, Sebastian, described the problems with the lagoon. He repeated that it is his opinion that, when the blue crabs are gone, the whole cycle will collapse. He has placed four dozen more of these crabs in the lagoon. He stated that a lot of fishermen are gone, but he still fishes here, and more fishermen will have better fishing during February and March. He advised fisherman to release some speckled trout, if possible. He described the habitat in the lagoon and the life cycles of the blue crabs and other species of fish inhabiting the lagoon. Mr. Stadelman thanked him for his comments. Ray Osborne (Zoom) Sebastian, stated he is very interested in hearing about the Air Potato Roundup. He has invited some people to participate, and he asked where the staging area would be, etc. He also described his study of the air potatoes using Artificial Intelligence. He is also attempting to find out if there are any harvesting uses for the air potatoes. He also held a webinar at the Sebastian Library on floating vegetative islands. He is also studying the retention ponds and found that they are very dead. He added that fountains aerate the water and make it more suitable for biodiversity and bio life. He offered anything he could do in the way of putting on seminars, etc. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025 PAGE 3 Mr. Krauss appreciated Mr. Osborne's perspective, which is to study different methods for addressing invasive species. Mr. Krauss also asked a goat organization to find out if goats could eat the air potatoes. In many areas, goats are used to eat the other invasive species. The organization which he reached out to did not respond. He will keep trying, and he feels we need to take a look at different methods of looking at the invasive species problem. Mr. Stadelman said that subject will be discussed a little later in this meeting. Vill. Unfinished Business A. The Great Air Potato Round -up -- Saturday, February 8th, 2025 Ms. Gordian reviewed that this event will be held at Stormwater Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 8th. There will be three shifts, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. shift. Staff is inviting all members of the public to come out and join in the event. She described that prizes will be given out to people who find the largest, smallest, etc. air potatoes. She also noted that the National Invasive Species Awareness Week is from February 24th to February 28th. There will be a City Council proclamation regarding the Great Air Potato Roundup and the Invasive Species Awareness Week coming up on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025. She has attached to tonight's agenda flyers and sign-up sheets for this event. Mr. Stadelman stated the address of the park is 297 Englar Drive, Sebastian, FI. Mr. Dovell asked if gloves, etc. will be provided for participants. Ms. Gordian recommended participants bring any protective gear they want. She believes there are going to be some protective items on site such as gloves and other first -aid items available. She also asked that board members wear their NRB polo shirts. Ms. Billman asked what the board members are going to be doing. Ms. Gordian stated it depends on what specific needs will be for that particular session. However, staff will ask that board members are volunteer leads, and you may be asked to guide the other members of the public to where the air potatoes are located, etc. Ms. Gordian reviewed where and how the area will be set up for the counting and weighing, etc. of the air potatoes. It is south of the eastern parking lot for the park. There will be a vehicle on site for transporting the air potatoes. She added that there will be tools available for digging up roots, etc. so that the air potatoes do not come back. Ms. Bernard added that there is a sign-up sheet on the City's website. Ms. Gordian reminded all that there are legal rules when it comes to managing air potatoes, and civilians are not allowed to transport air potatoes for any particular reason. She suggested that if anyone sees anyone attempting to take air potatoes off site, they NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025 PAGE 4 be notified that they cannot move the air potatoes off site so that they do not become more invasive. Ray Osborne (Zoom), Sebastian, had some questions regarding the air potato event, which were answered by Ms. Gordian. B. Earth Day & Arbor Celebration -- Saturday, April 26t", 2025 Ms. Gordian called everyone's attention to the staff report that is attached to the agenda. Ms. Gordian reviewed where the chalk -art contest will be situated and what the entertainment will be. Sebastian Daily once again agreed to provide the grand prize for the scavenger hunt. The vendor applications have been available since early in January. She announced the food vendors who have already signed up. There are 13 merchandise vendors and 5 nonprofit organizations. She pointed out that more have come in since this list was initially written, and she will tally up the new vendors so that she has that information for the next meeting. She also offered save -the -date flyers in case anyone wanted some. She will email them to anyone who wants some. Ms. Ware stated that the Charter School is going to do the poster contest again. She will be taking care of that. Ray Osborne (Zoom), Sebastian. He is in contact with a person portraying Teddy Roosevelt who might be available to appear at this event. Ms. Gordian said that the budget may not be enough to have him. Ms. Gordian asked Ms. Billman regarding the person who helped with the butterfly exhibit last year, and Ms. Billman said she would check with her. There was discussion regarding board volunteers, setting up the assigned stations for the vendors, etc., getting prizes for the kids, the bumper stickers for the tortoises, and the tattoos. C. Sustainable Sebastian Implementation Plan 2.0. Ms. Gordian said her goal for tonight is for the board to generally go over each main initiative and discuss whether anybody has any major concerns regarding their particular assignments. The initiatives were reviewed, and the champions for those initiatives were discussed. After an extended discussion regarding Goal D of Initiative III, Ms. Ware suggested that the public poll responses be brought to the board for discussion at the January 2026 Natural Resources Board meeting. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025 PAGE 5 After all the champion assignments were discussed, Ms. Gordian asked if someone would make a motion to approve the assignments of the Sustainable Sebastian Implementation Plan 2.0. A motion to approve the Sustainable Sebastian Implementation Plan 2.0 and the champions who are assigned to it as such was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Ware, and approved unanimously via voice vote. IX. New Business -- None X. Items for Next Aqenda and Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 A. Great Air Potato Round -up Debrief B. Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration Planning C. Sustainable Sebastian XI. Adiournment There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Mr. Dovell, and approved unanimously via voice vote. Charles Stadelman, Chair A Date: CITY OF SEBASTIAN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD CITY OF E$ASTI� N HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY STAFF REPORT DATE Tuesday, March 41h 2025 TO Natural Resources Board Felicia Gordian, Environmental Technician, FROM Community Development Department. SUBJECT Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration Plans Preparations continue for the next Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration, which is to take place on Saturday, April 26t', 2025 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The list below contains updates on the progress of event planning. • Through discussions with fellow staff, it was decided that the Waste Management Shredding and Electronics Recycling event will be held at the Overflow Parking lot on the South side of the Riverview Park Complex this year. The Household Waste portion of the event will still be held at the Barber Street Sports Complex, in partnership with Bike Walk IRC, and both events will run from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM as in previous years. • As part of the entertainment line-up for this year, Ricky Ray will be performing in the 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM time slot. • As mentioned during the last meeting, vendor applications are currently available on the City of Sebastian Earth Day & Arbor Day celebration webpage. Below is the number of current vendors who have applied to participate so far. 0 3 Food Vendors — Kona Ice, Laudato's Boiled Peanuts, & 40 South 0 26 Merchandise Vendors — including some cottage food vendors 0 8 Non -Profits & Organizations o Total: 37 Vendors as of 02-25-2025 ATTACHMENT • Full Event Flyer • ORCA's Buffered Shoreline Planting Flyer