HomeMy WebLinkAbout09062011NRBHOME OF PELICAN ISLAND
NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
MINUTES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 - 6:00 P.M.
City Council Chamber, 1225 Main Street, Sebastian
1. Chairperson Graves called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. ROLL CALL:
Present:
Robin Graves - Chair
Albert Alvarez
Jane Schnee
Eric Spokas — Vice Chair
Ann Lucier
Lori Bender
Excused Absence: Un- Excused Absence:
Hank Kriss Gilbert Gordian Jr.
Staff Present: Donna Cyr, Recording Secretary
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 2, 2011 regular meeting
MOTION by Mr. Alvarez and SECOND by Ms. Graves to approve the August 2nd, 2011
minutes as written, motion carried.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ms. Cyr informed the members that Tara Howe was resigning from the board due to
scheduling conflicts.
6. PUBLIC INPUT:
No public input.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Florida Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17th, 2011: The board
reconfirmed that the members will meet at the Main Street boat ramp at 8:00 am on the
17th. KIRB is supplying all the bags, gloves, recycle bags, etc. Ms. Cyr will confirm with
Ms. Sieferd that the board will be able to use the City boat to haul garbage.
B. Friends of St. Sebastian River "Family Fun Under the Sun" event on October
22nd at Friendship Park: Ms. Schnee let the board know that the name of the event was
changed to "Get Out Doors Sebastian ". Ms. Graves talked about the letterbox program.
The members will meet on Thurs., Sept. 22nd at 6 pm to survey the area of Friendship
Park to determine where the sample letterbox could go. Ms. Schnee will contact the Tim
Glover to find out where our table will be located. Ms. Graves will try to make a gopher
turtle stamp for the letterbox. Ms. Schnee had a flyer from MRC (Marine Resource
Natural Resources Board Meeting
September 6, 2011
Page Two
Council) on Phosphorous in the I. R. Lagoon that she presented to the board (see
attached). She would like to have this flyer available at the boards table. Ms. Graves
has a flyer on Natural Florida Yards from the State that she will bring to the October
event also. Ms. Cyr will ask Ms. Sieferd to see what literature she has from the City for
the event.
C. Speakers for meetings: Ms. Graves said she spoke to Charles Johnson of Clean
Marina Program and he would be thrilled to be a speaker. Ms. Bender said her husband
Is a botanist for Fish & Wildlife and he could speak on native endangered plants in
Florida. It was determined that Mr. Bender would be the November speaker. Ms.
Bender will get Ms. Cyr the information on her husband and a tentative topic title. It was
suggested he speak on endangered species of plants — preserving natural areas. It was
decided that the talks would be around 20 minutes at the beginning of the regular
Natural Resources Board meetings. Ms. Cyr will email all the board members a copy of
the Audio Visual System policy for their speakers. Mr. Spokas offered many
suggestions of speakers such as:
Sherry Bowen, Biology Chair IRSC
Dale Armstrong, Senior Forester
Cindy Lott, DEP Wildlife office
Bob Day, SJRWMD — fertilizer use — nutrient pollution problem (phosphorous)
Kathy Hill, SJRWMD fertilizer use
Elisabeth Melvin, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office — could speak on
Stormwater Runoff
Bill Cosy - Possible speakers at IRSC for general talk on ecology
Ms. Schnee mentioned that Council member Coy was interested in having speakers at
Council meeting talking about 5 — 10 minutes on what the public can do on different
areas of the environment. Members should contact Council member Coy regarding
possible speakers. Dr. Richard Baker, President of Audubon Society, will speak for 5
minutes at the September 28th Council meeting at 6:30 pm with Ms. Schnee talking
about scrub jays. City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday
of each month. The talks will be beneficial to educate citizens. Ms. Spokas suggested
having a letter of invitation and a written reply to formalize it so flyers can be done and
posted.
D. Champion Tree resolution change: Ms. Cyr presented the board with a revised
resolution for the Champion Tree program explaining the only change was to the
awarding process. The old process had the board giving all the paperwork to Council
with their recommendation and then Council determine which tree is designated a
champion. The revised process has the Natural Resources Board determining the
Champion tree and Council issued the Proclamation at a Council meeting. The board
approved of the revision.
8. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Earth Day 2012 — Vacation to "The Great Smoky Mountains" door prize. The board
was excited about the door prize offer. The board secretary will contact the company
and get more information.
Natural Resources Board Meeting
September 6, 2011
Page Three
9. MEMBER MATTERS:
No member matters.
10. STAFF MATTERS:
Ms. Cyr relayed a message from the Board Liaison regarding the cement slab in front of
Squid Lips restaurant. Ms. Sieferd confirmed that the slab is privately owned and on
private property.
11. Being no further business, Ms. Graves adjourned the meeting at 6:34 p.m.
Gf2
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How You Can Help
Unknowingly, homeowners along the Indian
money to do damage to the Indian R'
cheapest fertilizer for your yar .
the lagoon instead of yo
only a little more and
fertilizers do not
the Indian Riv _
lagoon. Al!
Algae als
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life a
exa
th
0
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aying good
n all like most fertilizers
pound of fertilizer will grow over 500 p
to seagrasses which are the lagoon's most impo
of oxygen overnight causing fish kills. Some algae lik
d other animals and triggers red tides and respiratory
shellfish poisonous to eat. Fertilizers are labeled
e first digit is the amount of nitrogen, the second the
unt
Nitrogen and
are poisons to
fiver Lagoon and
ashed into the
levels over 200%
an the lagoon can
d without its
s becoming
d. The EPA
tes that the
River Lagoon
s over 400,000 pounds
phorous per year, over
0 pounds more than it can
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Stop
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us and experts
phorous is
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of the
oon!
0
s in
e
omeowners unknowingly pay for and apply over
formulations when most Florida soils do not need
to apply phosphorous unless soil tests prove there is a
I for flowering and fruiting plants and not helpful for
with 0 as its second digit and help save the lagoon!
n River Lagoon receives over 3 million pounds of nitrogen per
e than what it can absorb and still maintain its functions. Much o
uick release fertilizers that dissolve in the first rainfall and wash •
istakes that fertilizer the lagoon instead of your yard is app
rainy period or applying them near any waterbody or drainag
hen you need them and where you need them and not spr
ed is a nice way of saying herbicide and fertilizer. Herbici
Id only be applied when needed and only to the
poison the lagoon?
or eliminate your law
y.
thi •
into
fertili
Always
everywhe
poisons an
are needed.
Want to be a re
plants. Many native
flowers, and provide ne
especially important if you live
pesticides or fertilizers once they a
buttonwood and spartina grass are the best wa
cities were saved in hurricanes and tsunamis by a
solutions have never survived category four or higher
for millions of years.
•
•
• •
tive
eautiful
e plants is
need watering,
plants like mangroves,
your property from erosion. Entire
healthy native plant barrier. Man -made
hurricanes while mangroves have done it
• -
•
WS
OF
THE
INDIAN
RIVER
LAGOON
SUMMER
2008
VOL 23
No. 2