HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Environmental Advisory Committee_4/12/2023 MINUTES
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EAC) MEETING
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FL
APRIL 12, 2023 2:00 PM VILLAGE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Bob Shaw at 2:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by
Deputy Clerk Mary Ann Grieser.
Present were:
Chair Thomas Bradford, Vice Chair Robert Shaw, Member Brad Freese, Member Jill Wenta, and
Member Clay Damon.
Member Jessica Namath arrived via Zoom at 2:12 PM, she then arrived in person to the meeting
at 2:54 PM.
Absent were:
Member Russ Redman.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Member Freese made a motion to approve the agenda; Member Damon seconded the
motion. Carried unanimously 5-0 (absent: Member Redman and Member Namath).
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS
There were none.
PRESENTATIONS
There were none.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. MINUTES: March, 2023
MOTION: Member Freese made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented;
Chair Bradford seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0 (absent: Member Redman
and Member Namath.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
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REGULAR AGENDA
OLD BUSINESS
2. Re-visit of Draft Recommendations on the Transportation Element of the VOT
Comprehensive Plan for Consideration of the Planning and Zoning Board, Village
Council and Staff
The Committee agreed that the recommendations looked fine. Vice Chair Shaw mentioned
that the transportation element needed an environmental component to it. He suggested
adding the phrase "environmentally sensitive" with the objective reworded to include
"encourage EV use".
MOTION: Member Freese made a motion to approve the transportation element with the
proposed changes to goal number one and objective number 1.1.0; Vice-Chair Shaw
seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0 (absent: Member Namath and Member
Redman).
MOTION: Member Freese made a motion to approve the housing element from the prior
meeting, with changes made by the EAC; Vice-Chair Shaw seconded the motion. Carried
unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Redman).
NEW BUSINESS
3. Update on Possible U.S. Green Building Council Presentation to the EAC on
Community and Private Sector Rating System and Ways to Facilitate Home Builder
Involvement
Member Wenta shared that there was a blanket email response from LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) and USGEC when she had reached out to them. In
her research she learned that certification could cost somewhere between $10-12,000
dollars. Mrs. Wenta would reach out to neighboring municipalities for more information,
with the hopes that ultimately someone would be able to speak to the EAC on the subject.
Preservation of land, recycling, water efficiency, planning, and natural resources were part
of the correspondence from LEED. Another idea was to speak with Building Director
Rodriguez.
4. Development of a List of Green House Gas (GHG) Reduction Options for EAC
Preferred VOT Municipal Corporation GHG Reductions and a Communication Plan
for Newsletter and Social Media w/ Article in Smoke Signals for Introducing the
Community to GHG Reduction Plan
Chair Bradford asked the Committee Members for input on greenhouse gasses. Recent
cost increases were a concern in working on water and wastewater greenhouse gas
reductions. There were current plans in place for reducing Village water treatment plant
green house gas emissions within the next year.
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Chair Bradford encouraged the Village to offer charging stations for what he felt was a
wave of EV (electric vehicles) coming forward; with street trees being another important
component to encourage a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Member Wenta felt recycling, reusing and renewing was an important component of GHG
Reductions. Native landscaping was also another important way of reducing greenhouse
gasses.
Member Damon and Freese agreed that electric vehicles were not efficient or practical
enough to have the Village provide multiple charging stations just yet. Biking around the
Village was agreed upon as a popular and "green" pastime. Vice Chair Shaw believed
adding the wording "plug-in hybrids"was advisable. He also felt that solar was an important
aspect of reducing greenhouse gasses.
Manager Allen informed the group that the Village was looking into charging stations and
fleets.
Member Namath spoke on the topic of seagrass growth, with an emphasis on depth
increases and seawalls.
Placing an article in Smoke Signals on green initiatives around the Village was mentioned.
Chair Bradford asked the group to send additional suggestions to him via email.
COMMENTS OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS, VILLAGE COUNCIL LIAISON AND STAFF
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ANY OTHER MATTERS
5. Meeting Task Assignments
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:32 PM
MOTION: Member Namath made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Member Damon seconded the
motion. Carried unanimously 6-0 (absent: Member Redman).
_VAt
Lori McWilliams, Village Clerk
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