Environmental Advisory Board - Regular Meeting

Alright. Let's call this meeting to order. Today is Monday, 03/02/2026. It is 05:30. We are here in Room 244 at City Hall, and I call the Environmental Advisory Board meeting to order. Roll call. If you could please state your name.

Jessica Ike.

Casey McGowan.

Robin San Vicente.

Tim Drum. Dorian German.

Thank you. Before we get to public comment, I just wanted to mention a couple things to help the meeting run a little bit smoother. During the process, we need to have just one person speaking at a time out of a for respect for one another and also for the recording device. It cannot catch two people talking and and record it correctly. So in order to help with this process, if you would like to make a comment, please raise your hand.

I will acknowledge you and you can speak. If I happen to miss, just wave at me. But everybody will get to speak and, yeah, we're just gonna try to keep it a little bit more orderly. And, with that, we're gonna going on to public comments. No public comments. Alright. We need to, approve the minutes from the previous February 2 meeting. I need a motion.

I approve them as presented. Seconded.

Alright. All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

All

right. So it passes. All right. Moving on to new business. We're going to start with, item 20 six-four 33, new environmental advisory board member introduction. So for this, if we could have the new members or actually, we can all just go through and kind of introduce ourselves briefly. Just kind of state your name, why you're here, and any other information you'd like to add to it. Ms. Diane Stark has now joined us. So Jessica, if you wouldn't mind starting us.

I'm just I have lived here in Northport for about ten, eleven years. I'm a native Floridian. And I'm passionate about keeping our environment green and wonderful and a good place to live for the city.

Jason McAllen. I've been here about five years and what she said about the environment.

I don't what she said.

Robin Sanderson. I've been here twenty seven years with a background in environmental and wildlife.

Diane Stark. I've been here eight years this summer. I'm extremely passionate about conserving and preserving the environment.

Name is Tim Drum. I basically grew up here, but lived in North Fork for the last twenty some odd years. I also do engineering, so I'm very familiar with environmental building department type rules.

I'm Doreen German. I've been here more than a quarter of my life, which is over twenty six years we've been here. I live a mile from the new Boca Chica Park, so we're happy about that. And we belong to the butterfly Sarasota Butterfly Club. So yeah, we're into environmental issues. Welcome aboard. My

name's Megan Taylor. I was born here, so I've been here all my life. And I just love the outdoors. And I would love to help protect and promote the environment that we have here.

Welcome aboard. Good to see somebody from the high school with us.

Thank you. Welcome

new members. A few words about myself as well. My name is Stefan Califf. I'm the staff liaison with the Environmental Advisory Board. I have been in Florida for over twenty years and in the environmental field for over fifteen years, passionate about making a difference and always seeking balance between development and our natural resources. And we're lucky to have both here. So looking forward to some great discussions with the new members.

Good. Alright. Moving on. Item b, 26 dash zero four three four. Discussion and possible actions regarding the draft of 2025 annual report to the city commission. Attachment as well.

Hopefully, you can all see this.

Yes.

Real quick, if I may. This is part of the annual report for the environmental advisory board. You can see the listed accomplishments of the EAB for year 2025, and I can then move to the goals of the environmental advisory board for 2026. I was able to compile a list of goals based on the productive discussion from the past few meetings and the accomplishments. Basically, this is what the Board was able to achieve last year.

If you have any edits or if you would like to add something on this list, now is the time to do it.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. Just a question or clarification. At the last meeting, had mentioned that it would be in our best interest for everyone to familiarize themselves with the ULDC that's pertinent to the Natural Resources Division so that we understand the different areas within the city that are conservation zones. There's different protections in place. I think if we all educated ourselves, we can have more in-depth conversation as to maybe certain projects that might be is this me?

That might be becoming before the Board, for our input, consideration, concerns. I think that's a major educational material that we should all take a look at seriously so we are aware of what's going on and what guidelines, again, in conservation areas, we need to be careful and we need to seriously be looking at.

All right. Seems like that could be something that we want to put in there under our goal for 2026 is to, improve our educational knowledge of the codes.

Yeah. Yeah.

Anybody else that has, anything that they would like to add to our 2025, accomplishments? Casey or, Jessica, since I believe you both were here. Can you join me

track, like, what the economic impact of natural resources is?

Currently, no. As part of the part of the tree canopy assessment, there's an economic benefit of trees and tree question. I is

Understood. I think that the might first be worth considering for a goal, right, if we're going to want to be able to make recommendations and check action, the world talks in money.

Okay. So like another thing we can add to the 2026.

All

right. Any other questions from the board members? Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Just a question with a clarification on the scorecard with protected species. It would be nice to know exactly how many protected species are impacted. Do we track that? I know we get permits and there are permits that are required for go for relocations, scrubbed J permits and so forth, indigos, all that. But do we track how many are being issued for compliance issues and protection issues?

We track that internally and we plan to include that in the next year's, scorecard.

Okay. So we show the opportunity to review that and look at it.

Correct.

Okay. Great. Thank you.

You're good. Thank you.

Very good. All right.

Do we have any public comments? I just wanted to make sure perhaps for these two items, we can vote just to make sure that we want them to be added on the list of goals. This way, for next month, we can have the goal list finalized, and we can move forward with the next step, which would be to schedule a joint meeting with commission.

Okay. So Casey, your point that you wanted to add to the 2026 was again?

How do we measure the economic impact of the natural resources?

I would second that. All

in favor? Aye. It's okay.

Then I would make another motion to have updates on the scorecard regarding protected species, number of permits issued, and what the impact to specific areas within our city is as a result of relocation gopher tortoises and so forth. I don't quite know how to word that.

Whether they live or die or move or something.

Would just say that probably for the first one, it's not technically a goal for the environmental advisory board.

I think it's a goal. If we need if we want to ensure Okay. The protected species are actually being what the impact is to the constant relocation, to the constant mitigation of certain species like the Florida Scrub Jay, then we need to know how certain areas within our city is being impacted by the constant relocation or mitigation of our protected species.

Yes, Jessica.

So when you say what the impact is, is this to humans, animals, economic value, how would you measure it? Mean, it's

a good question. What I was trying to clarify with Stefan is how does that resource division track that? Because you can wipe out a whole area with constant relocation and mitigation of species. And the habitat is already so fragmented within our city that what is the actual impact of the continued relocation mitigation of these protected species? Is it leaving a whole area blank of what I'm trying to say?

So perhaps the goal would be to suggest to natural resource to the natural resources division to, track the, listed species impact throughout the city of Fort Worth, something like that.

Yeah. Like short term and long term predictions of, like, how is this impacting and what's being done to modify it or, you know, further protect it? Because I know when I talked to, what do you call it? One of the FWC officers that came out to my area recently, she said that they're literally running out of places to relocate the gopher tortoises, too, because it's just everything is being leveled and cleared and cleared, and there seems to be no restrictions on what can be cleared anymore. So it's just land for sale. And then it's lovely that you're moving the tortoise, but, you know, she has no more places to put them. And she also said it's an extremely traumatic process, and a lot of them don't survive it.

That's my major concern, is the actual impact to the protected species. And because I don't believe we have an area within our city yet to relocate.

Yeah, we don't.

So I think we really need to continue to monitor and look at that and what the impact is to the species.

Yeah.

And what areas are of a major concern because of I mean, you still have on-site relocations of the gopher tortoises. And one example is the Bisking Church.

Yeah.

Okay. So I know that they were relocated on-site, but, I was talking to Jennifer Krasurer, and she said that the 10 gopher tortoises are now at the back end of that parcel. Wow. But how do we continue to maintain protection when there's a whole bunch of building going on and land being vibrated and impact to the existing on-site location Because they can't,

obviously, protect themselves. They're just trying to stay alive, but it's just encroaching on them everywhere.

I just think we need to have better monitoring and oversight and see exactly what the impact is. Yeah. So I I kinda leave it up to you, Stefan,

to I word think that I can I can come up with something that does not go beyond the dudeness

because I don't know

how to word it? Environmental advisory board. But I I will I will definitely add something addressing the listed species. And at this point, we can see if there are any additional goals. And if the Board would like, you can just approve the report as amended. Okay. Great.

Do you have a sense when it will be ready?

The scorecard or scorecard, I would say, September should be ready. Thank

you. Alright.

Very good.

So Go ahead. Does that need to be a motion, or can you word it for me so we can vote on it?

Yeah. I would say to continue to provide feedback to the natural resources division regarding listed species ongoing listed species protected throughout the city of North. The

impact to?

And the impact to

Okay. I will make that motion.

Okay. Second by Diane?

Yes.

Very good. All in favor?

Aye.

It's okay. All right. Is there any public comment?

No.

Alright. Let us move on. Item C26Dash0436. Discussion of possible action regarding the update from Park and Recreational Advisory Board liaison.

Thank you, chair. Unfortunately, he's not here today. I have not received any email updates from him. So I'm sure that he'll have more for us next month. Month.

All right. We'll probably just push that off to next month's meeting. Yes, ma'am.

On that agenda item, at the last meeting, it was good to hear from him regarding that advisory board. However, I would like to know, and here's an example, the 41 parcel, again, we're going to bring that up, that's within the conservation zone that the city did not want to commission voted against it to protect it. That came before the parks and rec. And I understand why it came because of the parkland and the county. However, I feel that this board, if there's a topic like that where it overlaps into our purview, then we should not be left out of that conversation.

We should be maybe jointly having a discussion or it should jointly appear on our agenda item. So both boards have input on a particular parcel of concern that falls within the conservation zone. Because that didn't even come before this board.

Which is weird if it's an environmental.

I know both advisory boards sometimes overlap together. But if we could have a better coordination since he's our liaison, maybe he can let us know that, hey, this is coming on the agenda and make the recommendation to Parks and Rec and to us that we should be taking a look at that as well. Okay. So I guess projects that are of a mutual concern should come before this Board also, not just Parks and Rec. Okay.

So when Paul is present, I believe what would be an appropriate item for him to discuss with him is if he can make a motion on the Parks and Rec board to include environmental advisory board on lands that have environmental impacts so that we can weigh in. So I believe we can add that as a item to discuss when he's present.

Okay.

And that could also be brought during the future agenda items.

Yeah. Okay. Sounds good. Thank you.

Very good. Any public comments or excuse me, any other further questions from the board about this topic? Any public comment? Very good. All right. Moving on, item D26-four 37, discussion and possible action regarding future utilization of the Environmental Protection Fund.

Alright.

Can you

put it up there?

Because I am having trouble this afternoon right now downloading the PDF attachment. I don't know why. Absolutely. It's never caused me problems before.

All right. Thank you, Chair. So during, I believe, three meetings ago or so, you've proposed this item for discussion. And you have outlined some of your thoughts about potential future utilization of the Environmental Protection Funds. So at this point, although this is technically not discussing the Environmental Protection Fund is not specifically mentioned in the city rules and the responsibilities of the Environmental Advisory Board, technically, it can be implied that it's a relative topic.

And you, the Board members, can discuss it and can make any recommendations to our commission. It will be at your will. And I can pull up the if you would like, I can pull the attachment with some of your ideas.

Yes, sir. I believe Jessica was asking that we could have that up there because her front wasn't. If not, I can go through some of my items verbally with you if you'd It's

good to have it up there. I do.

Yeah. Thank you. It's just, I tried to get it before today, obviously, and it wasn't I've never had problems with them before, so I don't know what is going on. It's just me messing up. I don't think it's anything else.

Okay. Files. Yeah. Okay.

Oh, and I am afraid that we also may have missed an item, chair. That that was the update from the natural resources division. I just realized that that's further

It'll be further down. So you'll

have Okay.

Yeah. Yeah. It's kinda. Yep. Yeah.

Okay. That makes sense. I apologize.

Alright. So I'll kinda go over the or if Stephan wants to go over it or I can read off what's there.

It would be all you, Chair. Thank you.

All right. So my concerns were in regards to the money that is raised from the I don't believe the tree fund is the proper terminology for it anymore, but the money is raised by the fees incurred by, new construction or having to pay to remove trees to ensure that that money, goes back towards planting new trees or to buy lands that are environmentally sensitive that could be used possibly for turtle relocation or things like that. Just really wanted to go over that, and then I kinda laid out some items where I thought that that could be applied, which is completely up to discussion and then whether we can make this recommendation to the commission or anything. We'll see if that can be done. But as you can see, I had done some breakdown.

So if you'd like to open it up for discussion at this time.

Board members?

Yes, Ms. Robert.

Thank you. I believe at the last meeting, I had mentioned the budget with the city when they actually will be starting their budget workshops, which I believe is next week, the thirteenth, I think. It would be, I think, again, educational wise for us to understand the particular process and what is taken out of the natural resources department in the first place. What are the expenditures and what is the revenue? Once we take a look at because it changes each year.

And now that they have instituted the, program for sensitive land, program by the Natural Resources Division, if we're going to if the division is going to start buying these parcels where the seller is obligable, then that could be a $2,000,000 $3 $4,000,000 purchase. And then if we're looking at our total budget, let's say it's $7,000,000 we have in the fund, and it's going to cost us 2,000,000 to $4,000,000 for this one parcel that is really sensitive in nature, well, that's going to leave us with such and such a money left. Now what do we do with that for the rest of the year? Because there's capital projects, there's programs. Like there's so many different aspects of the environmental fund that I think we need to all look at first.

What's being actually what are the revenues going into that fund? What are the expenditures? What are the proposed capital improvements? Then we'll know what we have left. These are all great and should be part of that fund.

But how do we increase that fund to offset the sensitive land purchase program that they have instituted? Because I'm afraid that's going to be taken up a large chunk. If we really want to do and protect and we have willing sellers, then what are we going to be left with to deal with the projects, the programs, the ongoing that the Natural Resources Division is currently doing? I think we need to understand or maybe look at this upcoming budget, see how it's been broken down, what is on the list to come out of that fund. And then look at this that you supplied us with and say, okay, that's feasible.

Maybe that percentage is a little off, but all these categories definitely fit within us to take a look at. That would be my personal recommendation for us to fully understand how it is being utilized and what's coming in and what's going out before we assign percentages.

Understood. Any other comments?

I read it kind of as we're taking natural resources and putting them in general population for lack of a better phrase, right, because they're being funded out of this fund right now, correct?

General fund as in?

I mean, just regular departmental funds. The way I read this is that, and I could be mistaken, is that we weren't going to cover the cost of the natural resources division under this fund anymore. Did I read that incorrectly?

I was making the proposal in order to ensure that the department is funded, that they're not funded solely by this fund, which could technically dry up if development stops, so to speak, that I believe that, in order to keep it going that it should be funded through more of the general funds as well. That's my That's

what I'm asking. Right?

That's my I was proposing.

I don't see that listed there.

I think it might have been the same.

No. Not bad. Well

It's getting towards the top.

It's all there.

I need to raise my hand. I don't see that it it just says, I propose the environmental department is funded by the city's general funds just as other departments in the city of North Port are funded. You believe it's needed for long sustainability in the environmental department. There is no mention of keeping the tree fund. There is no mention of keeping the setup the way it is right now, which is pretty much a tit for tat.

You cut down trees, you're gonna pay some money, and we're going to use it to buy new trees. I don't see any mention of that there. So will that you be willing to add that to there? There should be an addition to the tree fund and leave the tree fund alone because the way it is now, it looks like there is going to be no more environmental fund that is funded by fines on cutting down trees that are too large right now to be cut down. I believe a compromise might be, accomplished by looking at the size of the trees that are being fined for cutting down.

What are they? 30 inches now? So

for the protected trees, they would be 12 inches or

greater. Or

greater. So I believe that would be a more beneficial and and I would be a happier camper to look at something like that if you wanna mitigate the cost of clearing a lot. Okay? So I would propose that we add the two items I just mentioned to this budget proposal. And I would make a motion to do that.

All right. We're not quite there. I'm going to respond real quick to her comment, if you don't mind. My first point is proposing that 100% of the funds raised from the things. I'm not proposing that they're being changed in this agenda item. I'm just saying that the funds that are raised from it, we ensure that they go towards the things that we're saying that they're going towards. So that was what my statement was at the very first statement. So I wasn't

So proposing see, to got remove SIR DOT.

The very first point I made proposed that 100% of the funds raised from the tree funds so I'm not proposing to remove them, but I'm just saying to that those funds go towards the environmental sensitive lands purchase or planting new trees and less to staff pay because I believe this taking it from the general fund would help with stability. And again, this is all just recommendations to be discussed amongst us to see if we can even propose something. Casey?

So back to why I was asking originally. If I'm reading that right, that means we're essentially spreading that burden across all of the tax base as opposed to just people moving in. That's a little rough around the edges, right? But that's essentially what it is.

Yes. Since the whole city of Northport is benefiting from the saved trees and the new lands to put the shared responsibility and enjoyment of paying taxes that they get a benefit off of that it comes from the general fund. Yes, that was

understood. I'm sorry. I would write my counter to that would be it seems like we do an awful lot to draw in more population. I don't know that we need that, right? I mean, we aren't hurting for growth. And the people that are already here, we've already made a big investment in the community. I have no problem with new homes having to pay. And I bet most homeowners wouldn't either because I imagine they'd rather have one of these empty lots next to them than a house right next to them. All

right. Thank you. Originally, the National Resources Division was going to be funded through the tree fund for two to three years to kick it off, so to speak. And that's totally typical, and that's normal within a municipality doing that. However, as we continue to grow as a city, again, we will just get rid of whatever we got in that tree fund by continuing to fund the Natural Resources Division, continue to adequately, purchase sensitive lands that would be exhausted, that tree fund, within no time whatsoever.

So again, I think these are all great topics to look into and and and and recommend. But I still think in order for us to fully understand, we need to look at the budget this year that they're going to be discussing for next year so we can look at the revenues versus the expenditures. Are there other income sources that we can add to the tree fund? Are there expenditures that should be removed from the budget? What capital projects are on the list?

I mean, what does it take to fund all of these resources through that fund? And how can we better ensure the stability of that fund with us growing at such a fast pace? I really think I would make that recommendation for us to really get more involved and to see how this budget upcoming budget, expenditures versus revenues, where can we change, where can we amend, what can we strengthen, what can we remove. Because, again, I'm going to mention the conservation officers in the police department. That's coming out of the tree fund.

I know you had mentioned, yes, they use drones and they help us. Okay. All right. But they use drones for every other department with rodent drainage and stuff like that. So sometimes there's mixtures going on between the different departments. But do we really need to pay the salaries of these two conservation officers. Why isn't that being handled and being taken out of the way the other police officers get paid? They're police officers first. Then they step into the conservation area. But again, they're restricted with what they can actually do for gopher tortoise protection.

They have restrictions. They can only do state law. So again, we need to really take a look at everything and understand and then make our recommendations to amend or to change or to remove. I think that would behoove us first.

Very good. We'll definitely add that as a future agenda item when the time comes to add. Ms. Jessica, I believe you wanted to speak again.

But it fits in with this. Does. Can go back. We could use, in your proposal here, if you would please modify the language to reflect the department formal names, which is the Department of Natural Resources.

Yeah. Natural Resources division.

I'll It's part of

development services.

Tree is that what you mean by tree fund?

Yes. When I wrote this, this was, I believe, the proper terminology for it at the time. It or Iris wasn't aware that it had been changed, so my apologies.

And the environmental department is the Department of Natural Resources?

Correct.

Okay. So tree funds environmental department are the same thing. Right? No. I mean, you and your thinking. You you wrote this. Right?

The tree funds was the funds raised

Department of Natural Resources is both the tree funds and environmental department are one and the same.

I don't believe they are. I believe the tree funds are what's brought in. Not the actual

Department of Natural Resources. From

the language in the proposal drafts, the way that I interpret it is the tree funds are the environmental protection funds, and, environmental department would be the natural resources division. Okay.

So let's Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. We can change

Oh, yeah. Yeah. This is just all

for just That's like because that confuses me. Yeah. It's easily confused anyway. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. This was just something to get out there so we could discuss it. This was not like a I wanna vote on this right now. This was a conversation starter since this wasn't

Well, I'd like to add the two things that I want to agree. I want the clarification that the funds, go are not, it's contradictory to me. The first says, we have a 100% of the funds from the tree funds. The second one says, well, we're gonna completely, fund it by, the general funds. And to me, that means the elimination of the tree funds.

And I don't like the way that's worded. If that's what you mean, that's fine. That's what you mean. But if the second bullet ignores the trade fund.

Yeah. We can definitely propose that. Believe as the board, we don't have actual authority to tell them to remove a fund or something.

Making a recommendation to somebody for the budget. Right? And you're on the economic board too. Right?

I just joined that one. Yes, ma'am.

Yeah. So you want to take this to be or how would you handle this budget proposal? How would you do it? Would you send it into the commission first?

I just joined the board. There's I've had one meeting, and it meets quarterly. So I don't even I haven't even gotten involved in the board to know how to answer that at this time.

Well, how are you hoping to handle it? I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I have no idea. Like, what would be the next step? Let's pretend that everybody got what they wanted. We had the tree fund and you had your, okay, well, as a, you know, we're also also going gonna to fund it through the general fund too because eventually, the tree fund will come to an end as it's fully developed out. So how is it going to be funded if we're going to fund it?

At this time, I don't have any speculation on what my goals are to propose to anybody at this time. Once those become more available, I will update the board on

I thought your goal was to not have people have to pay for cutting down trees in their yard. That's when you came in here the first time. You were like, I have 19 people that have this is costing them thousands of dollars, you know, to have trees removed. And, that's fine.

But I do not

believe I is said that not a goal of yours anymore?

I do not believe I said that that funds no fees need to be there. I believe my concern with my clients was the amount of money maybe something should be looked at

Right.

In comparison to other jurisdictions.

Okay. So my second suggestion was let's look at, the mitigation costs Perhaps we could meet in the middle there and say, instead of a 12 inch tree, we'll go to a 14 inch tree or something like that. Give a little bit more leeway. And I want so so I'm I'm just just making a motion that we include those two things in the future.

Believe that there are two separate items. This is an item in regards to our recommendation on how the funds are to be used, not necessarily how the funds are to be accumulated. I believe that could be a separate agenda item if you'd like to make it as such. But once we get to the new business, I think we can make I it up

think this is separate item. It's already in place. There's already mitigation for the trees through developers and then having to pay fines. So I don't think that's a new issue. I think we should just fold it into this discussion. But that's me.

If I may, Chair Jessica, just to make sure, are you potentially proposing another point to go within this proposal, which

That's fine. Yes, sir.

That will be up to the board.

Yeah. I am.

Make sure.

Yeah. So if you would like to make your motion to I guess it's It's

two points, so it's Okay. One like to make a motion that the tree funds raised by mitigation of the trees tree cutting by developers. I'd like to propose that that stay in place, and that is is the the second second point that's not quite clear on this budget proposal right now. To me, it contradicts it. It's funded by the city's general fund.

Doesn't say anything about in addition to. I would like to see the phrasing change. And, my other one is, my other I would like to see another point on, discussing, the size trees that are being fine for removal. Just this is these are just two discussion points.

Alright. Can I

get That's a my motion?

Can I get a second, please?

I just wanted to check first if anyone else may have any other comments regarding this item before the motion to vote on it takes place. Now now would be the

time to discuss it. That's right.

Yes. Thank you. Another category. Again, I'm gonna make the same statement. You have to look at what is currently being taken out of the tree fund, the environmental fund, and what is the revenues going in to fully understand what is being allocated and where it's being allocated.

Another bullet point would be you have all the programs that the Natural Resources Division does. That takes money. You have vehicles. There's so many things that come out of that fund that are necessary for the operation of the Natural Resources Division, for the arborist to go out and look at these properties, check for gopher tortoises. So there's a lot of things that could be added to this topic like land acquisition program, budgeting, watershed protection, community programs and education, equipment and supplies for site visits, events.

I would like to add all that. Yeah. Because it's not listed.

And, Robin, if I may, my point was that perhaps Jessica can bring one point that she would like to add, and then the board can discuss both on it, then go go with the other one, and then perhaps it can be your turn. And also this item, because of its complexity, I'm sure that we will be discussing as a board this item for at least few more meetings.

Yeah. Yes, sir.

So, there will be that opportunity for for you.

I have a question. Can we just vote on, whether we want to go through this or not? Can we take the can I make a motion to do we want to continue looking at the budget or not? Can I make a motion for that?

So it would be continued by default.

So you don't need this?

For for this item, but you can you can add or you can amend it and propose changes to it as you all see fit. Yeah.

We can definitely do that. Again, this was not a I'm trying to get you guys to vote yay or nay on this right now. This really was a discussion to get your input, and then we can add, evolve this, so we can present this as a recommendation. But Casey, believe you wanted to say something.

Echoing what you're saying, I don't think we're anywhere near a recommendation, right?

No, sir.

I think the first question you have to ask yourself is, are there things in it that you'd like to change? And if there are, then it merits discussion. If you don't want it, then you don't have to.

But again, I will reiterate, until there's a full understanding of the fund,

you cannot make proper recommendations. Can we table it for now and move on?

Yeah. We can definitely table it. And this will be, like Stephan mentioned, an ongoing discussion we have.

Yeah. Can I just off of the back of what I just said, is it possible, Stephan, that you could supply the board with a allocation versus revenue of that fund so that the board can fully understand expenditures versus revenues and then take a look at it as a Board and see where we can amend, change, remove, whatever we might want to do?

I'm in favor of that.

Is that possible?

Absolutely. I can send you those details from from the finance department. Perfect. Everything's correct.

Can that be a new agenda item for next time? Or how we

That will be up to the board if you would like Do

you want

to make a

motion on that

or what?

I believe that has to be under the new Other future Yeah, future. So we'll definitely bring

that up.

Okay. Sounds good.

Okay. Any other discussion at this time about this topic? Okay. I believe we're going to table it for now. This will be an ongoing conversation. Is there any public comment on this? Very good. Moving on item e 26 dash zero four three eight. Discussion of possible action regarding reinstating a reoccurring agenda item on potential future development projects in the city of Northport. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Oh, yes, ma'am.

That my item at the last meeting. Yes, ma'am. It is not within the purview of this particular board to be involved in the process

of

reviewing development projects that is handled by the city and all the pertinent departments. However, this used to come before the board on just for us to have a citizen's oversight to what projects are coming within our city that might we might want to take a look at because of the location and other criterias that will have an impact on the environment. So it's just a citizen's oversight to see, okay, these are the projects that are coming before the development review committee. Once they're approved, everything is in compliance. We should just have a citizen's eyeball, in my opinion, so we're not surprised with, hey, what happened over there?

Like the 41 parcel. I'm going to keep bringing that up. There are plenty of other sensitive parcels, and there are other sensitive areas where development projects are going and taking place. You could have a data center coming into this city. How are we gonna know about it until the last minute?

Because there's nondisclosure agreements on almost everything. So how do we not get surprised as a board, as citizens, with all of a sudden, hey, did you hear that we got a data center coming up in the Yorkshire area? Or hey, they just removed this property from conservation even though it's in a protected zone? How do we how do we find out about all of this? So when this was removed from our review, I wanted to bring it back up with more people for us to consider, should we continue to have our eyes on these particular projects as a board?

It takes time within our allotted time. Or should there be a person like myself who review it all the time, look at the current projects that are coming under the development review committee's agenda items. And then if something pertinent, I feel is of a concern, then bring it to this Board's attention. Because I don't want to allocate a half an hour of just going over all these development projects because I think that was the problem last time. Was just taking up too much of the Board's time.

So maybe, I could be maybe a liaison for that and take a look at it and bring things to your attention so that we're not missing anything. Okay. That would be my recommendation. Allocate me. All right.

Any other comments or questions from the Board? I'll make one. I don't know what the authority, environmental advisory board has over what we have input onto for new projects. If we have any rights at all to speak on it, I don't know if Stephane can kind of let us know where our Board like, do we have?

I'm going to answer to that because it is actually within our responsibilities.

All right.

Okay? Not that we had to say so as to what projects are going to go forth or whatever. That we have no control over. That's not within our purview. However, if you look at the responsibilities of this board, we are to deal with citizens' concerns that affect the environment and wildlife habitats.

We are to safeguard environmental quality for the future. Well, those two things alone requires citizens' eyeballs on what's going on with this city. Every board is comprised of citizen oversight or we wouldn't have these boards. And then we can make a recommendation through memos to the commission that, hey, we took a look at this particular project just like the Parks and Recs Advisory Board does, just like every other board does, to make a recommendation and say, hey, this please slow down on this particular parcel because these are our concerns with this particular project. We don't have enough information that's supplied to us that is available at the development review committee attachments to really make a proper evaluation of, hey, this parcel shouldn't this project shouldn't be here.

This data center shouldn't be coming anywhere within our city. I mean, there's so many issues that just require citizen oversight in my opinion.

Okay. And I do believe Stephan mentioned last time that there is some time sensitive issues with the permitting process even that are regulated by the state agencies among turnover time. So Stephane can probably speak more into that and the complications arising from that, which I mean, I'm not disagreeing with there should be oversight, but I don't know in a timely fashion, to not violate state rules. I don't believe the Board can say, hey, we need to put a pause and break on things. I think that would be opening up probably lawsuits. But I'll let That step

is not what I'm saying at all because that's not within our purview. I'm saying that once we know of a project coming before the city, it's already been approved, we should just have second eyes to say, hey, we have concerns. Is there a way that maybe something like this can be curved or an easement could be made larger? We can have input on that. It doesn't mean they have to follow it.

It doesn't mean we're telling them what to do. It doesn't mean we have jurisdiction in that particular authority. It's just eyeballs from the citizens' point of view to look at a particular project and say, And then through a memo, issue it to the commission. It's up to them to say, No, not really. Or, Yeah, you know what? Maybe we have the same issues. We never thought of that. That's all I'm trying to say. Second eyes on it from a citizen's perspective, and that's it.

Okay. Yes, Ms.

Well, if we wait till the commission approves it, that's pointless. We need to get in there before it's approved. Hence, memo In between planning and zoning and the commission voting on it. And so we would need to write our memo before they meet and bring up all of our things too. So we need to be expedient. And I've got try our heels with we need to take a look at something and say, hey, we have concerns here. We hope that you are adjusting them.

Could you please give a little insight into the process and how it's handled? I will let our deputy director perhaps start, and

then I will have a few things to add as well.

Lori Barnes. I'm the deputy director of the development services department. I'm also a certified planner. To the commentary about the EAB input on development projects, there are statutory timelines that we must meet. One hundred and twenty days for projects that require administrative review and one hundred and eighty days for projects that require public hearing approval.

More often than not, due to the process, the review, advertising, the scheduling of Planning and Signing Advisory Board and Commission, we are often at the line on those development review timelines. Moreover, every year, the Florida legislature adopts legislation that pulls back more of our home rule authority. Every year, there are more and more projects that we are being directed by the state to approve administratively. So while I understand you'd like to give that input to the commission, I'm not sure that the timing of such is going to provide that opportunity in advance of a commission approval. Moreover, Florida is a very strong private property rights state.

And any action of the city to require something above and beyond what is in our current ULDC can be considered a taking under the Burt Harris Act, for which the city would then have to compensate the property owner. So I just wanted to make sure that you understand that there's a lot of moving parts when it comes to this board making recommendations. And sure, you could make a recommendation to commission on particular project. But if that goes sideways with any of the property rights law, the Burt Harris Act, that input is not going to be effective in making change on that development proposal as it moves forward without putting the city risk of litigation. I have

another question. Are we still sending out a monthly memo, or has that ceased?

A monthly memo Yeah.

We used to put out a memo monthly from the board to the commission. And are we still doing that? Even though there's a big move this year earlier. Last year, there was a big deal because, a former board member mentioned they hadn't even read them. And there was

Oh, oh, so so that

Those kind of things. Are are you are are we still doing that?

Are we still that are voted by the environmental advisory board get to the

So it's not a monthly memo.

Oh, okay.

It was memos of the Environmental Advisory Board making recommendations to the city commission would move forward to them. And yes, there was some concern that they weren't being received or addressed by the city commission. So they've changed that process to where these are actually an agenda item instead of a consent item or a email sent out from the clerk's office with your memo. So they've changed the process.

Okay. So as soon as we vote on a memo, it goes all right. I understand now. Thank you.

Very good. Thank you. Is there anything else you'd like to add, Stephane?

Yeah. I believe Deputy Director Barnes mentioned what I was going to say. And as a board, you can write any memo that you would see fit and is meeting the rules of the city and is within the city code. So this is something that you can do. So it would be your will.

Okay. One more thing, Jerry, if I may. If you go and I will be sending this information separately, but there are some convenient online sources where you can see projects that are proposed for development within the city limits. And also our Development Review Committee meetings, these projects, they're also listed online. So they are publicly accessible to all members.

Very good. Ms. Rabbit?

Nobody looks at them. I look at them all the time. I'm up to date on the ULDC. I'm up to date on all the codes, all the ordinances. And I'm up to date on what's going on with the development review committee and projects that might have an issue, in my opinion, or might just need to have a citizen's eyeball on.

So I don't know how much time everybody allocates to the seriousness of this board to really be educated on all of the documents and the codes ones that fall under our purview. Again, the ULDC, we need to be knowledgeable on the ULDC. We need to know the areas within city that are protected. We need to know that so we can make proper decisions and have proper discussions and informed discussions. We need to know what's going on in our city with the development review committee on the projects that are coming to the city.

If nobody has the time to do that, and I don't want to waste the Board's time with half an hour on this, I can be the one to review those projects and then bring it to this Board's attention that these are the concerns, this is the area that this project's going into. Should we have citizens' eyeballs on it or not? Or if there's nothing on the upcoming agenda for the development review committee, then there's nothing. That's for that's worth our discussion. There's plenty of those projects. It's not even worth our discussion. But somebody should have their eyes on what's going on within this city, just as citizens' oversight. That's all I'm trying to say.

So is it in our rights to ask for a board member to be able to look at projects a little bit more closely as they're going through the development process.

You don't need an order.

No. I'm just looking I'm just looking at what's on the agenda for the development review committee and what attachments they have. I'm not looking to go beyond that.

Okay.

Just what's there? Ma'am.

The board doesn't need to vote to delegate Ms. San Vincente as the DRC liaison. How the process could work is we know very well you keep a close eye on these DRC meetings. And so if you see a project that is of particular concern to you, you could contact the city clerk, request that she had add an agenda item to this board's next meeting for discussion. And that is how I envision the process working. Any board member can request the city clerk to put an item on the agenda for discussion. So you see a project that has environmental concerns and you want to bring it to the board's attention, then

you add it that way.

Yeah. That sounds good.

Thank

you.

And technically, you can also propose that as a future agenda item for the next meeting, which would be dedicated for you updating the environmental advisory board with some of your some of the projects that you may like to discuss.

I would like to see that as an ongoing agenda item. And if there's nothing, there's nothing. And if there's something, Okay, let's look at it.

Sounds good.

Being new, I'm not sure how everything goes. But is there a reason that we don't have a board member on our from our board going to all the other voluntary boards observing what they're going through and what they're doing? And then we can report back. It sounds like we got a bunch of little boards doing their own thing, and nobody is finding out what each other's doing until it might be too late.

Is

there a reason why we can't sit in? We don't have to have a voice or anything but sit in on the other boards, they could sit on our board and see what we're doing?

They're public meetings.

So anybody can go to any advisory board. So if we're interested in knowing what's going on, we should maybe all take a different board meeting every month and go visit.

Can I speak on that? Yeah. Every board has an agenda. And that's published on the city's website. Okay. So everybody on this board should be concerned and look at everything because that's what we should be doing as a board. And look at the agenda items that are on the other boards. What's coming before them? And if we see something that should be discussed here, then we can always bring that up at our meeting and say, hey, I saw this on such and such a board. Let's I think we should take a look at this.

That way, we're all informed and we all have eyes and we're a better board for it. We're a more professional board once we know how everything operates and if we're just actually looking at it, you know.

And they're published a week before their meeting.

Okay. Cool.

And also, we are lucky to have now two members who are also parts of two other boards. One will be Chair Drone with Economic Development Advisory Board and another member, Mr. Jacobin, who is with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Thank you for educating me.

There's also, as these items, as these members take place, there's recording of each session where you can find the agenda and you can also listen in on the meeting as well. Yeah. That's what

those little devices are for, recording us.

Thank you.

All right. Is there any more discussion on that topic?

Okay. So

We can make it on the new business. Yeah, I believe that's the proper. So moving on, our public comment? No. No. Thank you. Item let's see, where are we at? F 26-four 37, discussion and possible recommendations regarding additional opportunities for funding toward the environmental protection fund. I believe this was

Yeah, I think we covered that to Ed. Yeah.

Okay. All right. So is there any more discussion that we would like to have on this topic at this time? Good. Any public comment? No. Alright. Very good. Moving on. Item number seven, updates. A260435, update from Natural Resource Division.

Alright. Thank you, chair. Couple of quick updates from the Natural Resources Division team. We now have our new environmental specialist joining us who filled in for previous vacancy. So we're back to being fully staffed as a team, which is wonderful.

The new environmental member is his name is Jim Morris, and he comes with fantastic background with the State Park system and Department of Transportation as well. All right. So another update is regarding the initiation of a landscape compliance program where the Natural Resources Division will now monitor the condition of existing landscaping around commercial properties as well as large scale residential developments. Many of these have planted certain amount of trees and shrubs as part of their landscape plan. And over time, some of this vegetation may have deteriorated.

For example, businesses usually are supposed to maintain this vegetation in past.

And we

the have And are to monitor and reinvigorate our local businesses and their landscaping as well as some of those HOA developments.

Very good.

Several events coming up in March that we're going to participate, and I can gladly provide those details perhaps at the next meeting. But March is going to be a busy month. It's a division we're trying to promote some of our efforts out there. I will be sending you the development review map and development review committee links for your information. This way you will be able to access some of these resources.

We are working on ensuring that new development and new projects is properly installed route barriers. So this is something that we verify with all new projects. Our team, they go into this on daily basis. And we believe that that's not just a requirement, but an investment for our community as root damage can cause significant issues for some of these projects if barriers are lacking. We are finalizing our Tree City USA application.

So this would be a twenty fifth year anniversary of North Port being a Tree City, a designated Tree City USA recipients if we get the award this year. But we are finalizing that, so I wanted to update the Board. And last but not least, an exciting item, we were finally able to get in touch with our state biologists from FWC. FWC and we have an appointment with her later in March. And one of the questions that we will ask her would be whether there are any opportunities to partner or to even consider a potential local Gopher Tortoise mitigation area.

Perfect.

We

are very far from anything manifesting at this point, but the first step was the first step finally occurred, I must say, that member member Stark actually assisted us a bit to get in touch with them. We're not listening. Yeah. I it was not easy to to reach out to their to reach their out statewide biologists. That was quite a challenge, but thankfully we're there and we're looking forward to establishing those channels of communication.

Some of them are definitely more responsive than others, I noticed. So have you to know who to talk to.

Yeah. So we're excited about that. That's all I have. Question?

Yes, sir.

Anything ever come with a micro forest thing?

It's on the list for this year's projects. I will definitely be updating the board when we have any developments.

Cool. Thank you.

Any other comments or questions from the board? All right, is there any public comment? Very good. All right, moving on, item eight, future agenda item. This is the time we've all been waiting for to add all this stuff. So have a

Okay. Don't know if it falls on there were so many. The education on familiarizing ourselves with the ULDC so that we have a full understanding of the areas within the city that are environmentally sensitive and have certain protections in place. I think we all need to educate ourselves on that to be better informed and educated and have better conversations.

So are we proposing, as an agenda item that maybe Stefan can present the information?

Well, there's a lot of sections of the ULDC, so maybe Stephane can present us with those sections. And then since they're available on the city's website, we can then educate ourselves at our own pace so that we can then be better informed.

Okay.

Stephan and Siddi did a presentation either last year or the year before on this very thing. It was very informative and very good. And

I

don't know if it's possible to get a transcript of the recording of what we did and looked at. Or how would we go? It was our way back machine. Machine.

Yeah. Yeah. Can Should

be on the can send

you I can send you a link with that agenda.

It was really thorough.

Yeah. That meeting recording. Yeah. I can definitely email that to to all members. Yeah.

It was really good. It was very thorough.

Yeah. I'm I'm familiar with it. Yeah. I just would like us all to educate ourselves on the different sections of the ULDC. In an easier way On our on the whole At our own pace.

That's all. If you want do another presentation at school, too.

Okay. So are we asking for another presentation or just the information we link

or yeah.

Then if we want to talk about it on another item, Alright. We So that one's not an agenda item for the future, but I believe you wanted to have maybe other ones that To be memorable.

Designate me to review the development review committee's projects. And if I see something that is of concern, or we should have a discussion on it to bring it before the board and have it as a continuing agenda item. And if there's something, there's something. If there's nothing, there's nothing.

I believe Ms. Barnes mentioned we don't have to nominate you. But as a continuing agenda item? Yeah. As a continuing agenda item, maybe it could be worded such that any board member can bring up an item that they've reviewed it to be discussed.

And maybe this is something, since it's a agenda item, it doesn't like, each project doesn't have to be brought up at the board's meeting prior the month because now we're talking about timelines. So maybe if someone reviews it and we either send a call or email to you, that would that can just be added, try to expedite the process. Because if we have to wait till next month's meeting to say, hey, I want to talk about this one, that just makes the process even longer. So is there a way that we could word this motion that it's an item to discuss it? And then anybody, any board member can bring an item? Ms. Barnes. Hi.

All right. Discussion of possible action regarding development on DRC.

You're close. You're close. A recurring agenda item for discussion and possible action of, projects on the DRC agenda that are of environmental concern.

I like it. Thank you.

Thank you. So I believe Robin made that motion.

Yes, thank you.

Second it.

Second? All in favor?

Aye. There's no need to even vote on it. As long as it's proposed, we can include it on the agenda.

Very good. All right. Any other future agenda items from the board at this time?

I believe I think another educational process was the budget for us to look at the Stephan was going to supply us with the revenues versus the expenditures of the current environmental fund so that we can take a look at it and see and compare it to what you had recommended in that and see where we can be of value. Got it?

It's on there already.

Do I

need to get a second vote on it?

Second. Very

good. Any other new agenda items?

Without me intervening, chair, I just see that there's we have various experience amongst our members. So I'm thinking that it may be a great idea to perhaps have an opportunity for all members to discuss a bit more freely and ask questions on various environmental topics where you can teach each other and get each other on the same page. Just a thought.

Okay. Is that something that we would need to add a motion? Or is that something that you just add?

Something that I'm just mentioning. And if anyone would like

That's to more about the process of making No, a that's

your call.

Well, I have a a wish.

Yes, ma'am. Go

ahead. You know, every year that when we do the tree giveaway, you know? Mhmm. I mean, I got here an hour after it opened and it was closed already. So and it was open from one to six, and at two, it was all gone. So I'm trying to figure out how we can increase volume for for the tree giveaway. Because a 100 trees at 90,000 people a year.

Have many more trees

at Even if we just get little sand, you know, seedlings that are

Where will it be?

Where is it?

It's going to be here.

Here. Went to them one year. It was at the library. I don't know if that was through you guys or but they were giving away

It's probably that was why it's the beginning.

Think it is.

And 50 this year, and we are trying to come up with ideas to potentially accommodate our working class

because we're really busy. Do, like, three gallon, five gallon pots or something. But even if you just gave away a tray of seedlings or something I could think of. Yeah. I've done that before. Cool. You know? We can have our own little mini forest. On

that same subject, you just gave me an idea. Can you coordinate your tree giveaway with, let's say, a nonprofit, like the Neighborhood Land Conservancy? So it's a bigger, giveaway because they're doing native plantings, seedlings, everything. And And it promotes them as well as the city's joint coordination. Is that possible? Or does it have to just be a city thing?

No, it doesn't. Yeah. There's always way to coordinate.

Make it a big tree giveaway of just not trees, but you also have native

Maybe species, not just once a year.

And just saying that we're at future agenda items, so that

could be

an item that you would like

to propose

to discuss.

Would you like me to?

Yes, sir.

All right. Second, I'm assuming?

Yeah.

All right. I'll

update No. Good afternoon, for an agenda item, I didn't Okay.

Thank you. I got a nap. All right. Public comment?

We have one public comment.

Good evening. I'm Chuck Ingers. Been listening to a lot of this and I keep hearing a recurring theme. Robin wants to take over the development review aspect of something. All right. Someone else like Jessica or Casey, the water. The point I'm trying to get to is maybe each one of you take a specific area of the environment that you care about and become the what's the word I'm looking for? Subject matter

a question.

And think expertise that you could share and educate the board as you go. That's all I got. Thank you. And by the way, very nice meeting all of you.

All right. I believe at this time, the meeting is adjourned unless there's anything else. Thank you.

Thank you.

Great meeting.