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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05012012NRB�� � � . . �I � HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 (772)589-5330 Phone NATURALRESOURCES BOARD REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012 - 6:00 P.M. MINUTES "To improve tf►e quality of life in Sebastian by nurturing the balanced relationship between our citizens and our environment by protecting, preserving and promoting our natural resources" 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 Hank Kriss Ann Lucier Jane Schnee (A) Eric Spokas - Vice Chair Gilbert Gordian Jr. Members Absent and Excused: Alan Northcott (A) Staff Present: Donna Cyr, Recording Secretary 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A�ril 3, 2012 reaular meetinq MOTION by Ms. Graves and SECOND by Mr. Kriss to approve the April 3, 2012 minutes as written was passed. 5 PUBLIC INPUT: No public input. 6. OLD BUSINESS: A. Recaq of Earth Day — Saturdav, Aqril 21. 2012 - Everyone felt the event was great considering the bad weather. Ms. Schnee suggested that next year we work from a check list or schedule so we are better aware of what everyone is doing and when things should be done. Ms. Graves suggested that maybe next year we try to see if we can get a corporate sponsor, someone that is environmentally conscious, that would like to contribute to the event. She also suggested maybe approaching the Pelican Island Preservation Society to combine Earth Day with the Wildlife Festival. There was discussion on this and Ms Lucier thought it was a good idea. Mr. Kriss thought that maybe partnering with them would double our vendors and that would be good. Ms. Graves thought getting more food vendors and local produce vendors would be good. Natural Resources Board May 1, 2012 Page Two Ms. Schnee, Mr. Spokas and Mr. Gordian felt we should keep it our event separate. The board liked the idea that the NRB have a table at the Wildlife Festival to get the word out about our Earth Day. The board decided to start working on Earth Day earlier than January. Bruce Zingman, Sebastian, thanked the board for a fine job on Earth Day. He also thinks that the Wildlife Festival and Earth Day should be separate and bring back the Champion Tree program as part of Earth Day. Mr. Gordian wanted to thank Bruce Zingman for his participation with the Shoreline Clean up on Saturday. He also wanted to thank Ms. Sieferd, Sebastian Environmental Specialist, for the thank you letter to the Sebastian River High School Green Club. He wanted to thank the Green Club for their participation in Earth Day. Ms. Graves asked the board to think about how they wanted to see Earth Day proceed, how they felt about corporate sponsors and any other ideas to make it grow. She also wanted to thank Michael Burke, a professional DJ that hetped us out. Ms. Graves will get thank you letters emailed to Shady Grove Nursery, the Junior Girl Scout troop and the Cub Scout troop that helped with the board's craft table. Anyone that wants a thank you note sent to a vendor let Ms. Graves know and she will send one out. B. Recap of Spoil Island Cleanup — Saturdav April 28 2012 — The board thanked Mr. Gordian and Mr. Casselberry for the use of their boats to run volunteers back and forth to the spoil islands and they thanked the City for the use of their boat to haul the garbage back to shore. Ms. Cyr said they picked up between 350 and 400 pounds of trash and she will turn in the numbers to DEP in the morning. Everyone felt that IR1 and IR2 (aka Bird Island) were relatively clean. Ms. Lucier wanted to thank her group of volunteers that worked on cleaning up IR5 & IR6. She said there was a lot of garbage such as beer bottles on those islands. Ms. Schnee said she had the names of a couple of teachers whose students needed volunteer hours during the year and they would be a good source to use for island cleanups and other board activities. Ms. Schnee said she will contact the teachers. Mr. Zingman thanked the Natural Resources Board and all the people that participated in the Day of Service and he had around 75 people from Sebastian. Mr. Zingman also wanted to thank Dunkin Donuts for the donuts, Walgreens for donating bottled water for the volunteers and KIRB for providing the bags, gloves and other cleanup items. C. Finalize Plans for Tree Plantin4 on Saturdav. May 5th, 2012 — The tree planting field trip will be rescheduled to Saturday, June 9th. There are three parks receiving the trees. Mr. Gordian asked about volunteers for the project but it was decided that it probably wasn't necessary because there were only 50 trees and it would only take an hour or two to plant everything. Mr. Spokas asked if George Park is one of the three parks. D. Book Sqeakers for June, July & Auaust meetincts: Ms. Graves asked to bring this up under member matters. 2 Natural Resources Board May 1, 2012 Page Three 7. NEW BUSINESS: No new business from the board. Bruce Zingman said he was looking for volunteers to help out at the Main Street Post Office to help out on the U.S. Postal Carriers Food Drive. The food drive is Saturday, May 12th starting at 9:OOam. Lunch will be provided by local restaurants. 8. MEMBER MATTERS: Ms. Graves said she would like to start using the monthly speakers to educate people on the use of fertilizer. She suggested utilizing channel 25 by showing slides and video clips and asked the other members to start putting together information that could be used. Ms. Schnee said she has a lot of good information on fertilizer and that the Marine Resources Council has a good powerpoint presentation. Ms. Graves recommended that the board share their information through email and they can choose the best material. Mr. Spokas wanted the board to know that Dr. Brian Lapointe of Harbor Branch, will be giving a talk at the North County Library on Tuesday, May 22nd at 7:30pm about nutrient pollution and the impact on the IR lagoon. Ms. Graves said she would ask Dr. Lapointe if he had any public education material that we could use for the website and/or channel 25. Mr. Gordian said he would contact Marc Virgilio from DEP to come speak at the board's June or July meeting. His talk would probably be about island restoration, some of the plantings that he's been doing, and the volunteer services. Ms. Schnee mentioned that she did an inventory of IR1 and 90% of the plants were invasive species and she is interested in how this was being handled. Ms. Graves said that you have to plant new growth before you can remove the invasives. Mr. Gordian said Spoil Island people are worried about the Brazilian Peppers. He also said that he did some plantings on IR11 and half of the plantings didn't survive. The sea grapes and half of the red mangroves survived. Campers are also taking down parts of the trees for fire wood. Mr. Kriss said he would talk to the Lagoon Watch people because he knows they do plantings on the islands. Ms. Graves asked him to see if they would come speak at a future meeting. 9. STAFF MATTERS: Ms. Cyr asked if it would be possible to reschedule the August 7th meeting to July 31 st to accommodate early voting being held in the Chambers. The members agreed that the meeting could be cancelled. 10. Being no further business, Chairperson Graves adjourned the meeting at 6:48 p.m. Natural sources Chairperson Signature Date