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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-2025 NRB MinutesIV. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2026 Chairperson Stadelman called the Natural Resources Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pledqe of Alleqiance was recited by all. Roll Call Present: Ms. Ware Ms. Thompson Mr. Carrano Mr. Stadelman Also Present: Mr. Bruggen Mr. Trinkle Mr. Krauss Ms. Shellenberger (a) Felicia Gordian, Environmental Technician Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Janet Graham, Technical Writer Approval of Minutes A. October 7, 2025, Natural Resources Board Meeting Minutes All having indicated they had reviewed the Minutes of October 7, 2025, Mr. Stadelman called for a motion. A motion approving the Minutes of October 7, 2025 as presented was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Mr. Trinkle, and approved unanimously via voice vote. V. Announcements Ms. Gordian pointed out that there are flyers provided along with this evening's agenda regarding upcoming opportunities that all the Board members might be interested in, and staff is promoting these opportunities to the public. The first one is on Sunday, November 9, 2025. It is a landscaping tour with the Florida Native Plant Society Conradina Chapter. This is an event that the public is welcome to attend. This is a great opportunity for people to explore native landscaping in our region. The second opportunity is regarding a tour -and -learn opportunity with ORCA for the Riverview Park buffered and living shoreline. That is on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to engage with ORCA on the project that was installed at Riverview Park. She asked that any board member who attends to please send her any feedback that you have from either of those events. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2025 PAGE 2 She added that she had the opportunity to attend the Low -Impact Development Conference hosted by the Marine Resources Council. If anyone is interested in any of the notes that she took during the conference, she would be happy to share them. VI. Agenda Modifications -- None VII. Public Input -- None Vill. Unfinished Business A. Sustainable Sebastian 1. Goal 7 -- Invasive Species Removal Updates a. Filbert Street Park Invasive Species Removal -- an Urban Forestry Grant Project Ms. Gordian stated that the Filbert Street Park project is something that was recently brought to her attention by Richard Blankenship, the Parks and Recreation Facilities Director. He was able to obtain an Urban Forestry Grant which was initially intended for another site, and they have now had to pivot because of the amount of funding that was provided to the Filbert Street Park. She added that, if you have not had a chance to visit the site, there are a lot of Brazilian peppers and some other invasive exotics such as air potatoes that are taking over the site. What they are looking to do is to remove the invasive Brazilian peppers, not in their entirety, but they are looking to take out a large portion of the Brazilian peppers from this site. Then, after they have been removed, they plan to replant with more native trees. Those trees have not yet been acquired because they are still in the early stages of the invasive exotics removal. There are gopher tortoises on the site, and once the invasives are removed, hopefully this will open up the site so we can find a better habitat for the gopher tortoises. Mr. Trinkle asked where the invasive Brazilian peppers are located. Ms. Gordian said most of the Brazilian peppers are surrounding the trails themselves. The workers are going along the inner edge where most of the Brazilian peppers are, trying to take some of them out, and potentially going along the roadside as well. b. Air Potato Round -Up Planning -- Saturday, February 14t', 2026 Ms. Gordian said staff is continuing to move forward with plans for the next Air Potato Round -up on February 14t'. There will be postcards coming out shortly. There are a couple of events that Pelican Island Audubon Society is hosting, and staff is looking to NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2025 PAGE 3 Distribute those postcards. Staff is also going to make sure that those postcards are prepared for the Christmas Parade, and we will distribute those during that time. Mr. Bruggen said we are waiting for those postcards because Donna Halleran of PIAS offered to help. He said she has a fundraiser going on at the Portside Pub & Grille, and she said she would be happy to distribute the postcards there as well. She also has another event in December. There will be awards given out at these events. She is trying to get some funding for these awards and gifts. He added that he is trying to get some air beetles for the round -up this year. He is also coordinating with the Solid Waste Disposal District to request that they provide the dumpster. They may be there as well. Mr. Carrano asked who the fundraisers are for. Ms. Gordian said the fundraiser is the Pelican Island Audubon Society for their organization, and they are our partner for the Air Potato Roundup. So they would be willing to help distribute information on the Air Potato Roundup. There was discussion among the Board members and Ms. Gordian regarding these matters. 2. Goal 15 -- Food Security Updates Mr. Bruggen said they met with Treasure Coast Food Bank in the middle of October. He said Krista Garofalo is the Chief Strategy Officer for the Food Bank. There was a meeting with her, Ms. Gordian, Mr. Blankenship, and Lisa Phillips with the Parks Department. They had a lengthy conversation. He said he and Ms. Gordian had a conversation regarding a short-term source for people in need. He went over some of the subjects were that they discussed. 3. Goal 19 -- Marketing Parks & Green Spaces Update a. Little Free Libraries -- Endorsement by Natural Resources Board Ms. Gordian said that, as part of marketing our parks and green spaces, Ross Kelley approached her about the Story Map he created inspired by the Little Free Libraries program. She pointed out that there are several of these little libraries spread across the City of Sebastian, and she mounted a map on the screen showing where these libraries are located. Mr. Stadelman and Ms. Gordian discussed some ways to get the word out on these libraries. Ms. Gordian asked someone from the Board to make a motion officially endorsing the Little Free Library story map. A motion stating that the Natural Resources Board endorses the Little Free Libraries story map was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Thompson, and approved unanimously via voice vote. NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2025 B. Event Debrief PAGE 4 1. Garden Club Park Weeding Day -- Saturday, October 11 t", 2025 Ms. Gordian thanked everyone for being at the workday. It turned out really well. There were so many weeds and invasive exotics removed that day. She asked for any feedback from board members that can help to improve any of our native planting projects going forward, or if there is anything to improve our weeding days and workday efforts in situations like this again. She noted that there was some feedback regarding the mulch that we brought onto the site and what possibilities there could be for the site. We also may have some public input on this. Ms. Thompson stated that she thought the event was a great success. There was a good turnout with the Girl Scouts. There were a lot more invasives than we had thought. She added that Ms. Gordian and she discussed doing this more often than once a year. She suggested doing it pre summer and then after summer, perhaps doing it in April and again in October, just to keep up with the weeds. She also suggested advertising the event a bit more in the actual park, because there are many people who recreate in that park who go fishing, walk their dogs or just walk. Some of those people might be interested in participating as well since they use the park on a regular basis. Ms. Gordian stated that it may be worth considering using different types of mulch, and Mr. Stadelman thanked Mr. Richard Blankenship for his help. Mr. Stadelman called for public input. Nora Fosman stated that she was at the weeding event. She said she had also met Ms. Donna Ware, and they met at the small garden outside of the Art Club Center. She described that a couple of years ago she got involved with the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department where she needed pine needles for mulch for her community, and they had a problem with getting rid of pine needles. She has been volunteering to go into the different gardens that are overrun with pine needles and clean them out. At the same time, she has been weeding and cleaning up those gardens. She stated that taking away the pine needles was not the answer. They are a very good source of mulch. Unlike any of the hardwood mulches or the mulches that you can get in a bag, they do not compress. You can pile them up, and they are very good at shading out the invasive exotic weeds. They do not matt down and shed water like the other mulches do. She reviewed the other issues she has with the hardwood mulches. She suggested using the pine needles in some of the beds in the public parks. She understands that the public is not a big fan of using the pine needles. However, regarding the Garden Club Park, once you disturb a site, whether planting or doing anything else, the weeds come in like crazy. She NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2025 PAGE 5 volunteered to do a small demonstration area by bringing the pine straw in and putting it on at least a section of the garden after weeding it and seeing if that may change people's minds regarding the pine straw. Ms. Ware agreed. A. Event Preparation 1. Christmas Parade -- Saturday, December 6th, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. a. Seed Packet Work Day -- Solidify Date and Time Ms. Gordian stated that tonight we need to discuss the date and time for the seed packet workday. She suggested that the best opportunity would be the week before Thanksgiving. She suggested either Tuesday or Thursday of that week, which would be the 18th or the 20th. However, she believes that there is an event being hosted at the Art Club until late evening that Thursday. After discussion, a voice vote was taken, and Tuesday, the 18th, was approved unanimously. Ms. Gordian said she will look into pricing the envelopes and seeing that the order is placed. She will send out a notice to the board members a week before that. b. Board Member Parade Attendance Mr. Stadelman asked how many board members will be able to attend. Most of the board members said that they would be there. Ms. Gordian said that the board members who are participating in the parade need to get together a couple of hours before the parade starts to decorate the float. The parade organizers want everyone in line by 5:00 or 5:30 c. Give -Away Options Ms. Gordian stated that we need to decide what type of candy we will use. After discussion, she asked the board members send her suggestions. Mr. Bruggen said he sent away for more stickers. IX. New Business Mr. Trinkle asked Ms. Gordian if working on stormwater issues is still planned. Ms. Gordian said yes, we will continue. She said they are in a waiting period right now before the stormwater fee credit program is officially updated. However, if the board members would like to continue moving forward with that, we can develop outreach that is more specifically directed towards homeowners as a set of recommendations. Ms. Thompson reviewed that she emailed to Ms. Gordian the deadline for the Tree City USA application that is coming up. Ms. Gordian said she spoke with Ms. Bernard, and NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2025 PAGE 6 she has the ability to apply. She added that this must be handled on the staff side as far as the application itself goes. She asked Ms. Thompson if she could compile the data for the Growth Award portion that she has and send it to Ms. Gordian. That will help immensely in streamlining that process. X. Items for Next Agenda and Date: Tuesday, December 2"d, 2025 A. Sustainable Sebastian Mr. Krauss stated that he has been working on the poll. He has been working on how the poll was to be distributed, who gets a copy, etc. He sent that to the staff. However, he would like to sit down with them a little bit first and walk through those items. At some point, he may be sending those ideas to the board members and asking for their feedback. Mr. Stadelman stated that he has some testing and some baseline data that he needs for his report, and he will have to request some funds. He would like to have this put on the next agenda to get that process started. This relates to the Al presentation. Ms. Gordian indicated to him that a discussion will need to be held with staff before adding it to the agenda for the next meeting. B. Preparations for Upcoming Events 1. Christmas Parade XI. Adjournment There being no further business, Mr. Stadelman called for a motion to adjourn. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Thompson, and approved unanimously via voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. By: Chairperson Stadelman jg Date:!'