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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 02_9/8/2021Agenda Item #2. Draft MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EAC) MEETING VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FL AUGUST 11, 2021 2:00 PM VILLAGE COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chair Thomas Bradford at 2:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Deputy Village Clerk Mary Ann Grieser. Present were: Chair Thomas Bradford, Vice Chair Robert Shaw, Member Frank Harding, Member Maria Pearson, Member Russ Redman. Late were: Member Jessica Namath Absent were: Member Marguerite Wilson APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Member Pearson made a motion to approve the agenda. Vice -Chair Shaw seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0 (absent: Member Namath and Member Wilson). Member Namath arrived at 2:02 PM COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS There were none. PRESENTATIONS There were none. CONSENT AGENDA 1. MINUTES: July 14, 2021 MOTION: Member Harding made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Vice -Chair Shaw seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Wilson). P.-98P 1Dfi56 Agenda Item #2. Draft END OF CONSENT AGENDA REGULAR AGENDA OLD BUSINESS 2. Update on Facilitation of Greater Recycling Participation, With Benefits of Doing the Same. Member Pearson had reached out to the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) and was willing to supply information to the Village. The Village website mirrored SWA. The SWA public affairs and relations group did a great job supplying information and the Committee agreed mirroring their information was best. The committee would research public initiatives to reach the community including public education at local Village schools and using the new Recreation Center upon its completion. The Clerk's office would continue sharing recycling information as frequently as possible. All Village parks and the new Recreation Center would also include recycling cans. 3. Recommendation to the Village Council on a Request for a Letter of Endorsement for the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative Mr. Bradford summarized his research and communication with the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Board. The initiative was to buy 139 acres of land, raise the water table in Martin County, and divert water to the St. Lucie River. Most endorsements were from Martin County entities and none from Palm Beach County. The Loxahatchee River district had also refused an endorsement. Mr. Bradford felt there were to many unknowns and was not recommending an endorsement. The committee agreed there were many unknowns and wanted to invite Loxa-Lucie Headwaters to the next EAC meeting to present information. MOTION: Member Pearson made a motion to invite the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative to the September EAC meeting; Member Namath seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Wilson). 4. Village Request for the EAC to Develop a Race to Zero Like Plan for Tequesta Mr. Bradford summarized a request from Village Manager Jeremy Allen to propose a plan for the Village to informally participate in the Net Zero Carbon Footprint Challenge. The group understood that to formally participate required substantial monetary investments. A friendly competition between local municipalities showcasing their cities involvement in climate neutrality was suggested The Committee discussed a need to establish the Village carbon footprint before proceeding with the creation of a plan. Ms. Namath would reach out to the Palm Beach Chamber Sustainability Committee for suggestions and help. Mr. Shaw was summarizing data from the Race to Zero webinar. The committee further discussed options for carbon Pa@eg1E22)fi66 Agenda Item #2. Draft footprint reductions including tree canopies and waiving of fees for solar panels. Mr. Bradford would share ideas with Manager Allen. NEW BUSINESS 5. Discussion/Updates on Remembrance Park and Tequesta Park Utilities Director Matt Hammond provided an overview of groundwater to the Committee. He detailed the three wells located on the western boundary of Tequesta Park. These wells were tested bi-annually and their levels of nitrates and nitrites were at non -detectable levels following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. The committee asked further questions regarding salt -water intrusion and water depletion. Mr. Hammond explained that the water supply was adequate. The Committee questioned whether he was concerned the proposed park plan would contaminate or effect the wells; Mr. Hammond responded he was not concerned. Mr. Bradford discussed the tree -planting program for Remembrance Park. He found a presentation to Council from August 2019, which was more natural and included porous parking. Mr. Shaw expressed the need for this to be back on a Council agenda. Council Member Laurie Brandon was working on having this placed on a future workshop agenda. The Committee discussed Tequesta Park. They were concerned with the natural habitat including the Gopher Tortoises, butterflies and native species. The plan reviewed by Committee members was not to scale and they were concerned with the design elements, demand analysis, and maintenance expenses. MOTION: Member Pearson made a motion for Mr. Bradford to relay to Council a requested delay in action on Tequesta Park due to pollution, traffic, well issues, lack of design elements, resolution language, impact to native species plants and animals and and improper process; Member Namath seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Wilson). 6. Draft Recommendations to the EAC on the Utilities Element, Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Sub Element, of the Comprehensive Plan for Consideration of the Village Council and Staff Per Request of EAC Members Mr. Bradford asked if there were any concerns for the plan, the committee had none. He also explained conservation was the next element of the comprehensive plan. MOTION: Vice -Chair Shaw made a motion to approve the draft recommendations on the utilities element, and the natural groundwater aquifer recharge sub element of the comprehensive plan for consideration of the Village Council and Staff; Member Namath seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Wilson). COMMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VILLAGE COUNCIL LIAISON AND STAFF Agenda Item #2. Draft FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ANY OTHER MATTERS 7. Meeting Task Assignments ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 4:32 PM. MOTION: Member Namath made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:32 PM; Member Pearson seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Wilson). Lori McWilliams, Village Clerk Pa@egl bfD56