Environmental Advisory Board March 23, 2016 Agenda

Transcription

1 Environmental Advisory Board March 23, 2016 Agenda Chair Curtis Byrd Member Kelli Hunsucker Member Patti James Member Alex Manns Member Jeff Foss Alternates: Frank Thomas and Theresa Goldenberg Staff Liaison/Public Works Director Dan Rocque Interim Town Clerk Nancy Wilson The Environmental Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on March 23, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Meeting Location: Town Hall Masny Room 507 Ocean Avenue The public is advised that members of the Town Commission may be in attendance and participate in proceedings of the board. Attorney General Opinions (AGO) AGO 91-95, AGO 98-14, AGO PURSUANT TO SECTION , FLORIDA STATUTES, THE TOWN HEREBY ADVISES THE PUBLIC THAT: In order to appeal any decision made at this meeting, you will need a verbatim transcript of the proceedings. It will be your responsibility to ensure such a record is made. Such person must provide a method for recording the proceedings verbatim as the Town does not do so. In accordance with the Americans with Disability Act and Section , Florida Statutes, persons needing special accommodations for this meeting shall, at least 5 days prior to the meeting, contact the Office of the Town Clerk at (321) or Florida Relay System at 711.

2 I. CALL TO ORDER II. III. ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. February 24, 2016 Minutes IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. EAB logo b. Articles c. Grant Calendar d. Final Review and Discussion FLDEP paragraphs e. Hot-Wash of Sea Oat Planting V. NEW BUSINESS VI. VII. ACTION ITEMS FOR THE EAB AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING VIII. TOWN COMMISSION NOTES IX. ADJOURNMENT

3 PUBLIC NOTICE Environmental Advisory Board Regular Meeting Wednesday February 24, 2016 Masny Room, 7:00 PM MEETING MINUTES I. Call to Order a. Curtis Byrd called a regular meeting to order at 7:05 pm. II. III. IV. Roll Call a. Curtis Byrd, Chair b. Patti James, Member c. Frank Thomas, Alternate Member d. Tim Day, Melbourne Beach Town Manager e. Rosalie Byrd, Guest Approval of Minutes a. Approval tabled to March meeting since they were not available. New Business a. Frank Thomas requested that New Business be moved to top of agenda since he had to leave early. b. Oldest and largest native tree in Melbourne Beach, Founders Day photo contest Frank Thomas: Board discussed this initiative and decided to change the name to Most Impressive Native Tree in Melbourne Beach, Founders Day Photo Contest which was suggested by guest, Rosalie Byrd. Patti suggested awarding a native plant/tree as a prize and she would be happy to donate one. Curtis suggested collaborating with the Park Board on this. Was decided we would discuss this more at next EAB meeting. V. Unfinished Business a. Logo: Curtis will contact Laura Daur to determine status of design. b. Articles: Curtis wrote an article on invasive plants and will submit it to the town for the Beachcomber. Frank will write an article on The Most Impressive Native Tree Contest and Patti will write an article on Sea Turtles.

4 c. Grants: All board members are asked to research possible grants and time frames. d. Final Review and Discussion FLDEP Paragraphs: Curtis read the paragraphs that Patti assembled, corrections noted, and Patti said she would correct. e. Hot Wash of Sea Oat Planting: Curtis shared the Sea Oat Planting held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 was a huge success. 1,248 individual sea oats were planted in the dunes of Loggerhead Park and in the beach accesses at Sixth and B Avenues. Curtis thanked the Sea Turtle Conservancy and the Town of Melbourne Beach for purchasing the sea oats and KBB and Brevard County Natural Resource Management Department for helping to arrange this program. VI. VII. VIII. XI. Action Items a. All members will research possible grants and time frames b. Curtis will follow up with Laura Daur regarding the logo. c. Curtis will submit an article he wrote on Native Plants d. Frank will write and submit an article on Most Impressive Tree Contest. e. Patti will write and submit an article on Sea Turtles. f. Patti will make corrections to the FLDEP paragraphs and submit to town. g. Curtis will contact local schools including FIT/EFS for April beach cleanup. h. Patti will type minutes Agenda a. EAB Logo b. Articles c. Grant Calendar d. Discuss FLDEP Paragraphs e. April Beach Clean Up Town Commission Notes a. Sea Oat Planting Letter sent to Town Manager b. Preparing for the April Beach Clean Up c. Assembled list of Past and Current Practices of the EAB Adjournment a. Next meeting is March 23, 2016 at 7:00 in the Masny Room. b. Patti Motioned to adjourn. Curtis second. All in favor. Meeting ended at 8:00 pm.

5 Town of Melbourne Beach Environmental Advisory Board Past and Current Activities Grants Loggerhead Park Preserve Grants Developed and submitted grant application to purchase two ocean front lots. Received grant and created the Loggerhead Park Preserve in Melbourne Beach. Since 1991, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Communities Trust have assisted Florida communities by providing grant funds to acquire land for parks and open spaces. As Florida continues to grow, these lands are crucial to protecting the state s precious natural, cultural and historical resources. Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever funds awarded by the Trust have resulted in a collection of local and regional parks as diverse as Florida s communities, such as our beachfront park, Loggerhead Park Preserve. This wonderful location offers a wide range of passive recreational opportunities like bird watching, beach overlook and native plants. The park provides visitors with the chance to experience nature first-hand. Loggerhead Park Preserve was open to the public in April This small 'pocket park' holds a fabulous view one of the prime nesting areas for Loggerhead Sea Turtles in the Western Hemisphere. Over 500 feet of raised boardwalk constructed of recycled plastic weaves above the coastal strand and dunes leading to a crossover to the beach. Melbourne Beach Calendar Grant Received grant and created Melbourne Beach Calendar which featured native plants and animals of our community. Beautification Projects For the past 33 years, individuals and groups have joined Keep Brevard Beautiful in our community to help clean up unsightly litter. They help remove debris from neighborhoods, parks, roadsides, shorelines and wherever litter is found. By providing an example of positive behavior, volunteers help change attitudes about litter. As a result of the action taken by volunteers during Trash Bash, our Melbourne Beach community looks clean and beautiful and there is a sense of community pride. The best reward is NO UGLY LITTER. 1

6 Town of Melbourne Beach Environmental Advisory Board Past and Current Activities Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB): Trash Bash beach clean-ups for the past 20 plus years. Indian River Lagoon 2015 also incorporated an Indian River clean-up. Clean Up of Ocean Avenue Collaborated with the Melbourne Beach Public Works Department to organize a beautification of Ocean Avenue, the main thoroughfare in town. Volunteers from the community and local schools joined in this effort to pull weeds, trim shrubs and remove trash. Exotic Plant Removal, Native Plantings, and Beach Dune Restoration at Loggerhead Park and Ocean Park Sea Oat Planting For the past 10 years: working with Sea Turtle Conservancy on planting over 20,000 sea oats. Volunteers help protect our dunes which provide an excellent nesting area for Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback Sea Turtles. Every February for the past 10 years, helpers have made a difference in the habitat along the Melbourne Beach coastline. Sea Oats are now well established on the dune line and thrive in protecting the dunes from erosion. Removal of Invasive Plant Species from Town Properties. These properties have included public parks, (Ocean Ave and Loggerhead Park) as well as a well-traveled intersection in the town of Melbourne Beach (Ocean Ave and Oak Street). Plants that have been removed include Brazilian Pepper, Hawaiian Half Flower, Soda Apple, and Mother in law tongues. Volunteers included members of the EAB, the local community, church groups, and students from Melbourne Central Catholic High School, Eastern Florida College and Florida Institute of Technology. Community Education Popcorn Science In 2012, the EAB started the Popcorn Science seminar series to educate the community about the local environment. The purpose is to increase awareness and interest in the local environment and educate the community in a casual setting in which they can actively participate. Each seminar features a topic presented by a local expert or scientist in the field. Snacks and drinks are provided to the group, 2

7 Town of Melbourne Beach Environmental Advisory Board Past and Current Activities providing a family friendly environment. The first Popcorn Science Seminar was given by Dr. Zack Jud, a Lionfish Biologist, and had over 50 people in attendance. Since then, there have been several seminars a year, which have included topics on, Bats, Lionfish, Gopher Tortoises, Oyster-Mat Making, Crabs, Rain Barrels, and Native Plants. Founders Day Information Table Maintains information table at the annual Melbourne Beach Founders Day Celebration to disperse materials related to environmental issues. Organizations such as KBB (Keep Brevard Beautiful), National Geographic, Native Plant Society and the Barrier Island Center donate educational handouts on topics such as the benefits of native plants, disadvantages of invasive plants, recycling, sea turtle safety, and dangers of plastic on the beach. Melbourne Beach Environmental Advisory Board Calendar of Events are also dispersed during the celebration so that residents are aware of upcoming events. Native Plant Tours Organizes Native Plant Bicycle Tours biannually to educate the community on the benefits of using native plants when landscaping to maintain biodiversity. The tours include information on identifying and caring for native plants as well as how to incorporate them into the landscape. A resident and member of the Native Plant Society demonstrates how to propagate plants and provides helpful tips for planting. Environmental Articles The MBEAB drafts articles on a myriad of environmental topics in an effort to educate the community on environmental sustainable practices. Articles are published in the town s Beachcomber, an online publication as well as the Melbourne Beach Wave, a community newsletter. Below is a listing of the articles that have been written and published: 1. Creative Ways to Reuse and Recycle Plastic Bags 2. Dangers of Fertilizers 3. Disposing of Toxic Substances 4. Environmental Advisory Board Sea Oat Planting 5. Energy Saving Tips 6. Everything You Wanted to Know About Storm Water But Were Afraid to Ask 7. Help Florida s Endangered Sea Turtles 8. Help Restore Oyster Reefs 9. Holiday Sustainability 10. Hung Out to Dry 11. Is Trimming Palm Trees Harmful? 12. Marine Debris on Your Beach 13. Melbourne Beach Becomes a Certified Wildlife Habitat 3

8 Town of Melbourne Beach Environmental Advisory Board Past and Current Activities 14. Recycle to Keep Melbourne Beach Beautiful 15. Recycling 16. Sea Oats 17. Sea Turtle Awareness 18. Sea Turtle Nesting Season 19. Sustainability 20. Sustainability Tip: Organic Weed Killer 21. What is a Community Wildlife Habitat? Native Plant Advisor for Town of Melbourne Beach The MBEAB advises the town on replacing invasive plants with native plants on a regular basis. One example of this collaboration is when plants were needed to camouflage restrooms in Ocean Park from adjoining Avenue A residences. The Board suggested the town plant sea grapes and the town commission approved the purchase and the MBEAB and other community volunteers planted them. The MBEAB also advised the town on the planting of Sunset Avenue which has a grassy median. The board suggested they use a variety of natives in this public area. Muhly grass, wild coffee, beauty berry, coontie, firebush, sunshine mimosa and dune daisies were all incorporated into this planting site which is a city block long. 4