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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_7/31/2019_EAC(Approved) MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FL JULY 31, 2019 2:30 PM CONFERENCE ROOM CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Village Clerk, Lori McWilliams at 2:30 p.m. A roll call was taken by Village Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Member Frank Harding, Member Maria Pearson, Member Resa Listort, Vice -Chair Robert Shaw and Chair Tom Bradford. Absent were: Member Lisa Krimsky. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Bradford made a motion made a motion to approve the 7/31/2019; Member Pearson seconded the motion. Carried 6-0 unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Krimsky). COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS There were none. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Member Introductions Each member provided a short introduction, qualifications, and interest in servicing on this committee. 2. Review of Committee Purpose, Scope and Authority, and Procedural and Ethical Laws Village Attorney, Keith Davis provided an in depth overview of committee purpose, scope, authority, and review of the Sunshine and Ethics laws. Attorney Davis asked individual inquiries in regards to personal scenarios and Sunshine questions in general. Page 1 of 5 Resident Mark Sapirie asked about filing documentation after a meeting if member violated Sunshine Law. Attorney Davis responded with "as long as the committee members did not exchange ideas and/or information". This would not constitute as a Sunshine Law violation. The committee members involved should be up these ideas that were discussed at the next scheduled Environmental Advisory Committee for further discussion. 3. Appoint a Committee Chair Vice -Chair Shaw made a motion to appoint Tom Bradford as Chair; Member Namath seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Krimsky). 4. Appoint a Committee Vice -Chair Member Namath made a motion to appoint Robert Shaw as Vice -Chair; Member Harding seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Krimsky). 5. Appoint a Representative to Serve as an Alternate to the Village Council Representative on the Palm Beach North Environmental Committee Subgroup Village Clerk, McWilliams explained the Palm Beach North Chamber requested the Village Council appoint a representative and an alternate to serve on the Environmental Committee Subgroup. Council's representative is Council Member Brandon. Council wishes for the alternate to be a Village of Tequesta Environmental Advisory Committee member. Committee Member Jessica Namath volunteered to serve. Member Pearson made a motion to appoint Committee Member Jessica Namath as the Alternate on the Palm Beach North Environmental Committee Subgroup; Vice -Chair Shaw seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Krimsky). 6. Discuss Committee Direction and Tasks Chair Bradford presented his proposed Tequesta Sustainability Plan as possible direction. He suggested members direct their focus at the conservation and coastal element of the Comp Plan. Chair Bradford also suggested the low hanging fruit as it would provide credibility of the committee. Chair Bradford handed the discussion over to Vice -Chair Shaw. Mr. Shaw had a conversation with David Brown, Utility Director from Town of Jupiter and they discussed Loxahatchee Perseverance Initiative Grant (LPI) for storm water improvements. Vice -Chair Shaw asked about the process for the Committee to propose to Council a Ordinance? Attorney Davis responded the Environmental Advisory Committee would discuss their findings and hash out their ideas. After which, the Committee Members would develop their Ordinance recommendations; then, it proceeds to the Village Clerk and the Village Attorney to research any legal issues. Finally, Attorney Davis would draft the proposed Ordinance. Page 2of5 Committee Member Namath requested clarification on whether the Environmental Advisory Committee should meet to discuss their ideas and invite topic experts to attend the discussions. Attorney Davis confirmed Namath's suggestion. Village Clerk McWilliams explained Council Member Laurie Brandon would be Council's Representative for the Committee; and would be attending the meetings to inform Council of Environmental Advisory Committee updates. Chair Bradford went on to explain the process to present to Council from his perspective. Committee Member Pearson inquired on how the Committee came about and what overall goals should they strive to achieve? Vice -Chair Shaw answered by stating he was approached by the Mayor once he presented some environmental issues such as energy, conservation, water pollution, etc. The Mayor requested he formed a committee and get Mr. Bradford involved as well. Committee Member Pearson noted top issues that needed to be addressed were fertilizers and cancerous herbicides. Committee Member Namath added further to this discussion by stating the committee needed a list of priorities and suggested reaching out the neighboring municipalities' Environmental Boards to ensure all efforts were coordinated. Resident Mark Sapirie commented on additional priorities for the Environmental Advisory Committee (low hanging fruit): the public needs education on pesticides and nature plants benefits. In addition, he recommended that Remembrance Park should be a green space, adding trees for shade on Old Dixie and native Florida wildflowers in the swales. He also requested the Committees' email addresses for further communication. Village Clerk McWilliams stated she would follow up with IT to create Village emails for the Environmental Advisory Committee, and the IT Director would need to approve this request. Vice -Chair Shaw went on to discuss communication he had with Town of Jupiter Council Member Ron Delaney about the Reasonable Assurance Plan and a coordinated effort between Jupiter and Tequesta. Council Member Namath commented on the importance of public education and awareness being crucial for the Committee as well as added needed public pressure to comply. Vice -Chair Shaw suggested each member document for their vision (long and short term goals) for the Committee. Village Clerk McWilliams followed up by stating this should be provided to her so that she could include this information in the agenda packets for the next scheduled meeting. Chair Bradford made a suggestion about the golf course run-off concern and suggested reviewing the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program certification. Page 3 of 5 Resident Margery Gray had a question for the Committee on the septic tanks in the Village. Chair Bradford and Vice -Chair Shaw responded they believe all the properties were on centralized sanitary sewers. 7. Discuss Resident Communication regarding Garbage in the Loxahatchee River Chair Bradford and Committee Member Pearson believed this was a result of bad behavior of boaters on the river and that boater safety rules were not being followed. Some issues that were discussed during the meeting were: • Committee Member Namath brought up the drenching that Jupiter Inlet District was doing and the Environmental impact. Public education on the environmental impact component to people's actions. • "No wake" zones and how a large volume of boaters anchoring in the same place was creating a negative impact on the water quality. Further discussion ensued on should the Committee address this issue. • Combining the Environmental Advisory Committee efforts with the community would to help get the message out to the public. • Debris in the storm drains that discharges into the river. There was a filter fabric pilot program that would prevent this issue. David Tinoco, the new Superintendent, Water Distribution & Storm Water in the Water Distribution department, would be working on this. • Dover Ditch on Seabrook to the river. Chair Bradford explained that it's on the boundary with the Town of Jupiter and the large drainage ditch hasn't been managed in 15 to 20 years. The mangroves were creeping up on Riverside and not allowing the rain run-off into the river. Committee Member Pearson suggested this issue needed to be brought to Council for budgeting either this year or next year. 8. Set Standing Meeting Date Schedule The topic on how many times the committee should meet was discussed. Chair Bradford and Vice -Chair Shaw suggested in the first month, the committee should meet in 2 weeks; and then for the first four months meet twice a month and then meet monthly after that. The committee agreed to this suggestion. The committee agreed to meet twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 9:OOam -11:00 am. ADJOURNMENT Page 4 of 5 (Approved) Chair Bradford made a motion made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:09 pm. Vice -Chair Shaw seconded the motion. Carried 6-0 unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Krimsky). Lori McWilliams, MMC Village Clerk Page 5 of 5