Environmental Advisory Board - Regular Meeting

Alright. Call to order meeting for the environmental advisory board, Monday, 02/02/2006. It's 05:30 in Room 2 44. We're gonna do a roll call. All members will state their names.

Casey McGowan. Jessica Ike.

Tim Drum.

Robin Sandicente.

Paul Drackerman. Stefan Kaleb, board liaison.

Very good. And Diane Stark is not present yet. We're going to do the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of

The United States Of America

and to the republic for which it stands,

Good.

Were there any public comments?

Very good.

Need to approve the minutes of last month's meetings.

I'll motion to approve the minutes from January 5.

Seconded.

All All in favor? Aye. Motion is approved as presented. All right.

Excuse me, Chair. Have a point of information, if I could, please.

Yes, ma'am.

On the agenda, I'm just wondering, how come we do not have an agenda category for old business?

Most of the old business is typically resolved, but we can have a motion to add any old business that has not been addressed

to the Can

I make that motion?

It's okay. Typically, we do always have an unfinished business, but if when the agenda is generated, if there are no items to go under that So every time it loads in originally, it always has the unfinished business and updates. But if there's none for this meeting, we delete those. So it's not extra on the agenda.

I was not here at the last meeting and the meetings prior to. So I have some items that I would like to bring up.

You could order the future agenda items if you'd like to bring those up, and then we could get them back on the agenda for the next meeting.

Okay. Thank you. You.

Alright. Let's go through the new new board member items. Alright. So the new advisory board member introduction. I guess at this time, Stephan, do you want us to go through and introduce ourselves and get a little bit?

Yeah. That's exactly what I had in mind, Chair. We have a few new members. Unfortunately, one of them is not here, fairly new. She was here last time, our Vice Chair, Dan Stark. But we have our new member, Robin, Sami Sante.

So I thought that there would

be a good opportunity for all of

you to get to know each other better.

Okay. I can go first. My name is Tim Drum. I'm the chair of this board. I'm also a professional engineer. I do residential, mainly engineering for homes here in North Port, Port Charlotte, surrounding areas. So I've lived here since 2006, grew up in Port Charlotte, so I know the area well. And this is where I raised my family. So that's where I'm

at. Nice

you too, Robin. You. Jessica I'm Ike, I'm very retired proud too, of native Floridian. And I do love nature, passionate about keeping our environment as healthy as possible. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, Robin.

I'm Paul Jackman. I'm also on the environmental the Parks and Rec Board. I'm the liaison between the two boards. I've lived here since 2001, and I've been in the area since '78, raising my family and, enjoy nature myself.

Wow. Nice to meet you. I'm Robin San Vicente. On a personal level, I've lived here twenty seven years, married one son in his forties. Professional experience, you name it, I've done it, from hospitality to management to ten years legal experience.

I'm an environmentalist and naturist. I have over twenty years of field experience and education in the environment. I work with several organizations outside the city. And I hope to bring my expertise to the board, and also to see if we can balance the development with the natural environment.

Very good.

All right. A few words about me. Stefan Califf, as I said earlier, I'm the Board liaison. I currently am privileged to be the Manager of Natural Resources, our fairly new division. I have been with the city about two years. I have over fifteen years of background in the environmental field, some in the private sector and some in the public ones, state level, county level. And now I'm here with the city. Good to see you here, Robin.

Thank you. Good to be here.

Yep. Other questions about this topic? Alright. Moving on. 260268. Discussion and possible action regarding update from Parks and Recreational Advisory Board liaison.

Thank you, chair. Really, last month's, meeting with the Parks and Rec Board, which we will be going to every other month. So we won't be meeting again until March, but we did our sunshine training, had a discussion with the report PD on e bikes and the problems that we are facing. There are a lot of rules and regulations that are coming up, policies that the county neighboring jurisdictions are doing. They're all working in conjunction with it.

We have DFI Summit, youth summit with, Charlotte Lee and Collier Counties. Also, Boca Chica Environmental Park, not yeah. Environmental Park will be opening if the end of this month, if not March 1 or just week they were just waiting on the playground. We our new chair is Joan Morgan, and Donald Chives is our vice chair.

Very good. Diana has joined us.

Sorry. I apologize.

So if it's all right, I'd like to go back and let her introduce herself. We have new board members.

Hello, everyone. I'm Diane Stark.

If you can just get a little bit about yourself.

Sure. I've been in Northport since the 2018. I have a son at middle school, about to go to high school, musician husband, big German shepherd rescue dog.

That's really

it. Happy to be here.

Very good. Alright. So that was also our update from Parks and Rec. Alright. Moving on to item 26 dash zero two seven zero. Discussion and possible actions regarding the draft 2025 annual report to the city commission.

Thank you, chair. So for this item, I did upload a draft with some of our accomplishments, the Board. And as far as the goals for this year 2026, I left that blank as the most appropriate way to complete that would be for the Board members to add their items and goals in mind. And of course, each member hopefully was able to review the accomplishments. Perhaps they may have some others in mind that I may have missed, but I think that this would be the best time to complete or perhaps propose some goal ideas for this year.

Very good.

Question? Yes.

Is it possible you can put that up there with your draft? Yeah, absolutely.

If you give me a minute. I wanted to ask a quick question to the Board. Would you say that you will be helpful in the next meetings for me to have some printouts for some items like this? Or are you all able to access them on online?

I've got mine online.

I've been able to access them online this past one.

It was a busy day, I didn't get to it today.

You might consider always putting it on the screen, though.

Right? Yeah. Right?

Are you able to see that Okay?

Yep.

Yeah.

It's right now. Is it alright? Yeah.

Let me know if I can do it.

So these are the and if you don't mind, I can go over what I drafted. These are the accomplishments for 2025. They include completing the annual session training in February 2025, discussing considered possible action on proposed future projects in Northport. This was ongoing throughout 2025. Board members voted to take this item off the agenda in 2026.

We also held a discussion and possible action regarding North Port's air quality monitoring efforts that was following an installation of the monitoring station here at City Hall on June 5 completed the 2024 North Port environmental scorecard, including refinement of criteria identified and pointed out by the Board that happened back in September, streamlined and implemented updated procedures for introducing new environmental advisory board members, something that I believe is an important step to make new members feel welcomed to the Board that happened in September. Discussed Northport's mitigation fees and the three removal process occurred November 2025 initiated monthly updates from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair starting in December 2025. This is an ongoing item discussed and made recommendations regarding potential acquisition properties, which were incorporated by the Natural Resources Division that occurred in late twenty twenty five. And the last one that I have made a recommendation regarding possible action for the city's land acquisition program back in December. The only goal for 2026 because I drafted this last month was the completion of the annual search engine training, which is already accomplished.

Very good.

Do I have to make a motion to discuss the goals for 2026? Or can I

That's the current item?

At this

point, because the item all members the members are free to start discussing proposing goals.

I think we should our goal should be to have an annual update of the scorecard. We have 2024, what happened in 2025. I'd like to see that, and I'd like to see it more publicized somehow. Not spending money, but maybe popping it into a instead of providing just the link, providing, hey, we have this in our monthly bulletin or something.

Would second that motion of having an update on the scorecard, at least on an annual

we'll that.

Do

Good evening, everybody. Hello. Glad to see you all. My concern is, and I'd really like an explanation why the second item on the list was removed, the review of projects, which are definitely under the duties and responsibilities of this Board. It took a year and a half of work to put this together. And I really would like to know the reasoning for its removal. I can speak to

that since I believe I'm the one who made the motion. I had made the motion to remove it. So that's why I'm gonna speak why I made that motion previously. This far as I'm aware, this board has no, say over what can and cannot be developed here. So for this board to just be informed of things that we have no control of, I believe it was not the best use of our time here at the board or Stefan's time to put that all together. So that was my reasoning behind the motion to remove it.

Yeah. And I seconded that because they were all things that had already been done to your right to build on what Tim said.

I'd like to Which kind of gets

me to one of the goals I thought maybe is how do we figure out how to get ahead of these things, where it always seems like and I'd use the ULDC as a perfect example. It was like we were an afterthought before we saw any part of it. I'm not sure how you go about that and if that's the right wording or not. But there's got to be some sort of mechanism that gets us an opportunity to look at things early on in the process as opposed to when the ships left the port.

Well, I'd like to address the underlying reasoning, which is that we have no control over it. We don't have control over anything the city commission does. We only have recommendations, okay? And as a recommendation, I would like to see our review of upcoming projects, that the natural resources division will address, you know, like, I wanna know what I want I would be curious about is that, you go out to projects that are going to be developed and, assess, you know, the trees and the things out, you know, the gophers and things like that. And I would like to know before they start construction, what just what they I just said as a point of knowledge, what they agreed to do or disagreed to do or what they would okay, we're going to pay the fines and we're going to do this before they actually do it.

Not that we would stop it, but it would be nice. I mean, you know, it would just be nice to have some forewarning of what is upcoming, and that can lead us into, looking to see what we have left and what we can do to protect it. But just driving and you just see stuff happening, I think is hard to sometimes stomach with at least some of the public, which is us knowing. And if somebody asks, we could say, well, this was approved and explain the process. And I know people wanna do what they wanna do with their property and they pay to have things done.

But I mean, I went up to drove up River Road to East Venice Avenue today. And, honestly, you know, coming back, it's just like a hellscape. Right now, I know it's gonna be nice, you know, and all that. But, I mean, it's just stomach churning to see, you know, thousands of acres just turned up, you know. And, it's just a lot of people that live here.

They like it because they like the nature, and that's just all there is to it. That's why we have this this board. So I would like this to see to at least have knowledge of things. And if, you know, somebody asks us, happens to ask us something, we can say, well, blah blah blah. Or, you know, it would be in the sit it would be in our minutes that this was going to happen. That's all. I don't know if anybody wants to discuss it any further.

Yeah. I'd like to comment if I could. I worked with Chuck on trying to get that for almost a year and a half. The problem is we don't have any say so. Once everything is compliant with the ULDC and the complaint and everything, we have no control over that. However, there's been a lot of land and parcels that have just skipped by us all in the name of economic development that are sensitive habitats in nature. It's not just about the trees. It's about

the habitat With the wildlife.

And the protected species and everything that live on these parcels. So an example would be the 40 one parcel that it was the recommendation from Parks and Rec. It was a recommendation of staff. And the commission just said, sorry, it's too the location is benefiting us commercially, even though the owner wanted it put into conservation because of all the zoning restrictions and so forth. So that got by us as a board. That should have come before us when it went to Parks and Rec. There should have been some joint Communications. Exactly, between the two boards. Right. So when it came before Parks Parks and

and Rec has requested it to be reviewed by the commission again.

Right. So since they've already voted, now it's going to take a motion to rescind on their part. But it should have come. That's just one example. Right.

So if we can get the development review committee once they have approved everything and it's compliant and so forth, if we could just take a look, even if it means going on a website and looking at the what's come before them and what's been approved, or has the plans been amended? What's going on with this particular? It's another eyeball on that particular parcel or development that might be subject to our review because we have our concerns of where that particular parcel is located and what is going to bring to this particular neighborhood and to the surrounding habitat. So I think it's something that we really need to consider, reconsider looking at. We're not trying to have jurisdiction on the approval of these.

We're just trying to say, Okay, it's approved. Everything's compliant. Now let's just take a look at it from an environmental standpoint, even though their eyes are looking at it. But it's nice to have a citizen's eyeball

on it. If I may reply, one of the things that I think would the fires really affect the air quality. And is that being monitored as they happen?

Stephan wanted to make a comment, so

let's

Yeah. Open John, I just wanted to make a couple of quick comments, if I may. Firstly, under this item, if the members may please stay on the subject of identifying goals for the year 2026, there will be an opportunity to propose items or to talk about potential future Quick comment just to Member McGowan. Have presented many items in advance to the Board from the ULDC and several others. And I just wanted to let you know that, yes, that's because that's such a high priority to us and to me personally, moving forward, there will be an ongoing item called updates from Natural Resources division.

And my goal is under this item for me to provide the esteemed Board with some of these updates. But again, just a polite reminder to stay on subject of identifying goals for this year.

So to maybe help define that, what I was thinking about in terms of getting ahead of, maybe it's as simple as we should see something before it goes to a vote. Mr. Chairman, may I

finish my comment? Yes. Okay.

I'm sorry. It's just one public comment per item. And it's a consecutive review.

He he referenced my name. I have

a question of policy. If you can make a public comment on the next item if you'd like, but for this one, you already made your initial comment.

Okay. It

it would only be the development review come would come before us before it went into commission.

Alright. So we're on the topic of goals for 2026. So I'll go ahead and piggyback on the comment. Maybe on higher value properties or plain properties that are not as environmentally sensitive, but for maybe lots that have a higher environmental sensitivity for wetlands, animal habitats, those want to be brought to our attention. I don't believe seeing five or 10 general things is going to be the best use of our time, but maybe the more higher level of environmental concern, if that would be acceptable.

So we could see that. And if we saw anything before it went to vote, we could at least make a recommendation before there is a vote.

Or we could go to a city commission meeting. Sorry.

That's the most important thing is before it goes to a commission vote. Exactly. Absolutely. Our recommendation should be heard.

Yeah. Yeah.

So we're Yeah.

The timing of it is the

So is the board proposing every single commercial development or just ones that have a higher level of environmental, which we'd have to come up with a non subjective way to rank that.

So I was thinking more if it's through the process and it's cool with the old, I mean, what are we going to do? Right? That's no different. To me, that's a lot like why we aren't looking at the developments that we have in the last few months.

It still has to go before the commission. Once it's approved through that committee, it still has to go to the commission, right?

The commission doesn't vote for every single commercial project going through, That's

the whole point. A lot of it is administratively approved. Doesn't even go before the commission. Correct. So I feel another citizen's eyeballs should be on those particular parcels. Even if we were to just get a listing of the approved developments, then we can look at it on our own and see if it has potential for us to discuss as a Board. But just to be kept in the dark all the time is dangerous in my eyes.

And I think to people know that there is oversight, they're less likely to be not to call somebody corrupt, but just following the proper channels and making sure the approvals, I mean, that's what this Board is for. So I would think a higher sensitive, environmental, like you were saying, would probably take priority. But, yeah, I think the more eyeballs on it, particularly from this Board, the better. It certainly can't hurt, I think, is really important. I have a

question of procedure of order of the same it's my understanding that a development first goes before planning and zoning. Right? And then once it passes, gets there okay, then it goes to the commission. So there's at least a month in there. If we could follow-up with planning and zoning and know what they have approved to go before commission, then we would have a chance to look at it and, you know, before it's approved.

I mean, just like eyes on. And then if we wanted to, we could, you know, do what we wanted to do at a commission meeting, you know, speak for or against the project. But we would also be able to address it here in our meeting and, make a recommendation before the commission as a group if we wanted to do that.

Go ahead, So if I may, remember, we have some statutory as far as the review process with these projects. The review process varies for each of these depending on the scale of the projects and its alignment with our Unified Land Development Code comp plan. But as far as the Board's involvement is the idea is that before these projects go to commission, we have these statutory deadlines. And also, it is not in the purview of this Board to make any comments regarding these projects. However, in the past, there was a concern expressed that many time the Board members are feeling blindsided about some of these, and this is why we initiated this reoccurring item.

But I also want to mention that usually, all these meetings and all these discussions and all these projects are shown online. We have a development map that shows proposed and ongoing commercial or larger scale project developments. We also have, of course, our system with all the meetings and all the items listed. There's agendas, there's site plans. So there is each member, in theory, has the ability to follow these.

But I wanted to just clarify that in the past, for this item, it was simply for the Board members to be informed of what's coming and what is being reviewed by the Natural Resources Division.

Okay. And as a Board, I think we need to be taken more seriously. If we're an environmental advisory board and we're a citizen based board, we're tired of being blindsided. I'm gonna use that word again, blindsided. And we have genuine concerns of particular parcels.

And again, maybe it's what you had recommended, a order of importance where these particular parcels are located. Just so we have another set of citizens' eyes on this. We need to be taken more seriously as a board with our recommendations and really have a job to do. And as a goal for 2026, this is exactly what I'm trying to recommend, that we are taking more seriously and have more input on these parcels that are either administratively swept in or they go to before the Commission and we don't even have our eyes on it. And it's a particular parcel that has a lot of sensitivity to it.

And again, there's that 41 parcel. It's not all about economic development. There has to be some kind of a balance that we should have some kind of an input as a Board and say, hey, let's please consider this coming from the Environmental Advisory Board that this particular parcel maybe needs to have A, B, C and D done to it or move it back from the Myakka River before it messes up the river. Because we're going into places because of our population, and we're heading into places that we really shouldn't be going into, all to make room for these multi uses developments now that are now gonna be adding destruction to the Myakka River, to the islands within the river. So there's a lot of things we could be looking at that we just don't get before us.

And then nobody takes us seriously. It's okay. Well, it's not in your purview. Yes, it is. Because everything has a domino effect. We need to be looking at certain things. So I don't know if if there's a way for you to we all can look at the development review committee, and then I do that regularly to see what's going before. Anything that is sensitive, I will go before the commission. I will make my comments. Are they really being considered?

But as a board, we need to be taken more serious and say, hey, all of us are looking at this parcel. And I think the commission needs to just, without randomly saying, yeah, Okay, because it's better economically, and we can get more tax revenue based commercially than if this was in conservation. That's what I'm trying to say. We need more eyes on what's going on and not bypassed and not taken seriously.

So if I may just add that any Board member as a citizen of Northport can make the request to commission to where the duties of this Board are amended to where this could be a possibility. At this point, what and that would be a decision by the Board. Is potentially any of the members would like to still see these projects just like what we have done before. Ultimately, it was the will of the Board to remove this item. But we are, again, discussing the goals for this year 2026.

And I believe that at this meeting, will be more opportunities to continue this discussion.

Okay.

That was one of my goals for 2026.

Would you like to make a motion perhaps for this?

Yes. Just how would I put that into words? I'll I'll actually kinda make two motions. One one of my motions would be for this board to look at our duties and responsibilities and maybe amend them accordingly to allow us a little bit more oversight than what's being presented to us?

I don't believe we have the ability to mandate more power to us. I'm just

I'm not sure. I

think we do.

It's not in our mandate. Our

Mr. Chair.

I'd like to Yes, ma'am.

Hold on.

May I

be recognized? Lori Barnes, Deputy Director. The board cannot change their duties and responsibilities. The most the board can do is make recommendation to the city commission to amend the EAB's roles, responsibilities, and duties in the city code. And then it would be to the commission to decide if they want to expand your roles and responsibilities or decline to amend the city code.

Thank you. That's exactly what I was heading for.

I have a question. I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

I just have a question that's relevant to this. Are we still sending a memo every month to them, the commission?

So you have that ability.

But I mean, weren't we doing that? Weren't we sending memos monthly?

Yeah.

They weren't reading them? Right. Right? So are we still doing that? I assume that we were, but sounds like I need to ask.

You have that ability to send memos and make recommendations to our commission. But just wanted to if I may again bring it back to now would be the time to identify some potential goals. Also, if you have any that come to mind over the next couple of weeks, you can send it my way, and I can compile something on behalf of the Board. But now would be the time to discuss the goals.

Then Robin, I believe you made a motion to send a request to the city commission to expand our oversight of environmental projects being Is that what your motion is?

To have a discussion within the board to see how we can expand it and what we would want to expand and then make that recommendation to the commission. Because they will be having an upcoming workshop on advisory boards soon. And I think that needs to be on their list.

Okay. If I may, at the end of this meeting, there will be a future agenda item to where any items can be proposed by any member. And then if these items are proposed, I will include them on the next month's agenda as long as they're relevant to the board's mission. Okay.

I'd like to make a motion that as a goal, we set up a certain month for the annual distribution of the scorecard.

I second.

All in favor?

Aye. Are

there any other goals?

I would like to see the inclusion on the scorecard of the effects of the burning, developmental burning. And also, if there are any wildfires, I would like to see the effect of burning on our air quality. Because when huge tracks or wildfires happen, particulate matter gets pretty bad. And I know personally because I have lung problems. And so I would like to know, how often we get into the refresh my memory.

We can look at the meters daily somewhere on the website.

Are you talking about the air quality ones?

Think we can, can't we?

There's on the city's website, there's air quality. But also, the fire department has a space within there that you can check out their air quality and so forth.

There are several ways to check air quality. We have our air quality sensor. That data is available on our webpage. Also, there's other sources that are quite easily accessible. But I certainly can work with this information to compile a goal related to environmental scorecard for 2026.

Okay.

Good. I don't have any more.

Paul, do you have any recommendations for No.

Actually, that was continuing the usage of the air quality on the environmental scorecard. That was right along with Jessica. Any

additional gold, Robin?

I have a question, Stephane. Do we track heat island effects within the city?

Track what?

The heat island. The heat island. You know, all these parking Oh, the island. Yeah. Okay. Is there any way for us to track that and then say, this particular area, heat island effect is this percentage. Therefore, we need more trees, more something planted in this particular area?

So that's a great question. Thank you. We are actually planning to do for this year our biannual canopy study that we do internally, and that takes into account the canopy of the city and it relates it to the key that way. It touches on that. So we are doing this every other year as internally with our natural resources team. And the plan is to have one completed this year.

So would that be incorporated into the annual scorecard thing? How would that

Usually, there is some data incorporated from the tree canopy study to the environmental score card.

Where we can say, does it show that this is 85% heat island effect in this particular area? Therefore, we need to look at this particular area and focus on this area for canopy coverage?

Yeah. We focus exactly on that. And instead of we pay attention to the canopy coverage. And so the less canopy coverage, the more prone the area is for that heat island effect.

Okay. Thank you.

Diane, did you have any goals that you would like to?

Don't have honestly, no. I'm sort of taking this all in because I'm very new. But I have a question separate of related to, obviously, to the board. But how much weight do we have when we look at something, we make a recommendation? I mean, is that somewhat heavily considered by commissions? Or is it just like, Okay, nice. Thank you. Know it's hard to put a percentage. But I mean, does it and is there a way to make it? Well, I guess that kind of ties into her goal of giving us more oversight and maybe proposing to have more involvement in reviewing tracks and whatnot.

We can add that as a future item to discuss, but we're just a recommendation so the board, the commissioners can take it or leave it.

And perhaps that could be a good opportunity for the board to discuss in the future ways to strengthen the recommendations because the more a recommendation is supported, the more factual information there is, the more research, homework by the, so to speak, by the members, the more likely this is something that will be considered in my personal opinion.

I agree.

And then the only other goal that I would like to propose is my future item about making a proposal to commissioners about funds that are raised and what percentage goes back towards planting new trees and other things. So just give them a recommendation so we have almost like a budget of where that money goes. X amount goes to new trees, possible buying new land.

We just like to see an accounting of how it's being spent. Yeah.

Instead of just a open budget of Yeah. Where the money is and

Yeah. It's

a little bit

more specific. Correct.

If I may, on that same subject, during the budget process that the city goes through, the tree fund as a item, I think it would, be in our best interest to look at the budget, the proposed budget and see where those allocations are going to be. Because everything changes on a year to year basis, especially with capital improvements and so forth. So maybe a goal would be for us to really seriously look at the proposed budget and how the tree fund fits in and what's being revenue versus expenses and so forth and then make our recommendations at that time. So when they are actually discussing a budget, we can have our input into that.

I like that. I'll second that for a goal. Pardon me.

Very good. Any other comment from the board for goals?

I just wanted to make make a comment that I will probably need to do a little bit of research of what would be an allowable action and what would go beyond the scope of AB. But it's something that I can certainly look into and provide that information to the members.

I have one thing for the future. I would like to discuss and investigate ideas to make keeping the tree canopy as much as possible to make it economically viable for the city, just as economically viable as cashing in on fines. I would like to find a way to give them an incentive and not just have it be a hazy area. Oh, people like this. This is what they want.

I would like to maybe we could do a little research, see if there's anything out there on cities that are actively pro environment with their trees and their wildlife and those that are, you know, kind of open, zoning or no zoning, just sort of anything goes, you can do what you want with what you own kind of thing and see what attracts more people to an area to live there and what is a detriment when people don't wanna live. Because the city is used to a lot of money from, you know, the fines, the tree fines. And I think it's in their interest to go ahead and approve these developments. And we have to fight back. I fight back, that's a bad word.

We have to provide an alternative that says, hey, look, this may not be immediately available in your tax fund, but more people wanna move to a place that is pleasant and green. You know, we don't wanna make this Arizona, you know, which, you know, at least has no humidity. Imagine this place with all of our humidity and it looks Arizona. No. We wouldn't want that.

But we have to somehow figure out how to make it attractive economically to them. And I think that would that involves a lot of hard work and research on, you know, everybody's part if we wanna see that happen and make this a nice place to live, a pleasant and green place to live, unlike all the other cities in Florida.

That's definitely something we can discuss in the future.

So And it's going to be a year long thing at So least, I

can we finish out the goals and the 20 six-twenty seven item? Any more comments? Okay. So that is done. Moving on to the next item, 20 six-two 71, discussion of possible action regarding the future utilization of the environmental protection Fund, which I believe we've kind of wandered into. Yes. It's good.

I didn't realize that.

Yeah, not a problem. So it sounds like, based upon our discussion, that more research should be done on our part as the board and maybe also finding out what is allowed by the board to make comments into this process. So if I can make a motion to have Stefan find out what legally we're allowed to do as far as I mean, of course, we can make a recommendation always, but if we have any input on, like, percentage of funds being used for a certain way or not. Is that it?

So thank you, Chair. There is a definition of what the environmental protection funding can be used for, and this is included in the Unified Land Development Call. Generally, the idea is that the Natural Resources Division is the main stewards of that funding. And there are some guidelines as far as what the funding can be used for, and they are quite specific. But meanwhile, as far as percentages, is normally defined and decided by the Natural Resources Division and the Development Services Department.

So we could make a recommendation.

The board can always

make recommendations

to commission.

And if you do want to make a motion, just so you remember, the chair isn't allowed to make the motion. But you can pass it to the vice chair to make the motion for you.

Understood. Thank you.

Point of information on that. The ULDC Chapter six Article one Section six point, that's the Environmental Protection Fund. The ordinance twenty twenty four-thirteen, expressly states how the funds may be used, one of them to support the Natural Resources Division, which is one of your things to look at. Additionally, on top of that, we're still paying for two environmental officers coming out of the tree fund. Why? They're police officers. I think we need to look at that also.

What are we doing?

We're paying for two police officers that are classified as environmental officers. Meanwhile, they really have no jurisdiction on the environment because they can only institute state laws. So why are we still paying for these environmental

The county or Northport, please?

City Of Northport.

If if I may, I just wanted to explain that, these officers, the amount is relatively trivial compared to their salary. So it is I don't want to be quoted on values here, but it's close to $250 per year or something like that. But I can provide that information and just wanted to explain to the Board that the environmental officers assist us with quite frequently actually from usage of drones and serving of larger areas with their drone equipment that they have to keeping our inspectors safe in some cases of where the site can be more precarious. And just a minor also correction that the three fund is no more. It is currently known as the Environmental Protection Fund.

So it's used interchangeably now, but it is now the Environmental Protection Fund.

True. I'm looking at the 2026 proposed budget, which was adopted. Personnel expenditures are almost $1,500,000 basically, 1,402,000.000. That's a lot of money. If we're only getting revenue from certain categories in order to purchase land acquisition, one parcel could be almost $3,000,000 And if we're taking away $1,400,000 in paying the Natural Resources division, we're going to be shortfalled as we grow.

Can a motion be made, I'm just putting this out there because I can't make the motion, that we can review the budget for the environmental and weigh in on

it? I second it.

I can't make it. You can make it.

Okay. Yeah. What you said. I think she recorded that. So I would make that motion.

We need a second.

Second.

All in favor? Aye. All right. Any other discussion at this time on the utilization of the environmental protection funds?

If we're I'm sorry. Have news. Are

we looking at what you had proposed here?

We can.

I just think this is great, by the way, and thank you for even taking a look at it. I just still think that we should look at the budget when it's being proposed because it's hard to put into percentages on a regular basis and stick to those percentages the way that they're laid out without really looking at what's going to be proposed because everything changes on a year to year basis. And we're not taking into consideration programs, educational seminars and so forth, and everything else that the Natural Resources Division does that changes on a year to year basis. So to maybe take a look at that and maybe incorporate that around budget time, so we can really eyeball it and see how we can break it down to better the environment is what I'm saying.

Thank you.

So this is the discussion part, yes?

We still have a couple minutes left.

I have a question.

All of our funding come from fines. So does all of the Natural Resources Division's funding come from fines? No. Okay.

No. We have plan review and inspection fees that also are part of the Environmental Protection Fund. So it's not just mitigation fees that make up that Environmental Protection Fund.

Okay. Are there any percentages roughly roughly ballpark?

I do not have that information.

Because it just sort of seems like we're eating our own tail.

To your point, there's finite number of trees and inspections and all that you're gonna do. Is anybody, like, modeled out? This is right? At our current development rate, these are all the places that are gonna get developed. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. The life has a the fund has a pretty finite life. If you're only gonna build out so much

Well, it just seems ironic. I'm just asking if that It seems ironic if we protect trees and they don't develop it, we don't get any money. I mean, that's really

That's my point. We have a fine amount of land. At the end of a certain period of time, it'll have developed as much as it can.

Oh, they'll just go out to Big Slough or something. They'll build a highway Right. Across the

So based on whatever, you can pull your development rates. We should be able to model out what the actual life of this fund is and what the dollars are in each of those years. You're going to get to a point where you may not be able to fund this Well,

my suggestion is, one future agenda is to look for additional means of funding our Natural Resources Division besides in addition to the mitigation and the other fees. Is that within our power to do?

You can under future agenda items,

so you

remember, you can propose that item and have it for discussion.

Good. Okay. I'd like to propose that then. I don't need to make that.

So, it sounds like we're wrapping up on this item, so we can move on.

Sure. Just if I may, I wanted to answer and give a little bit more details to member McGowan. I know that there, I don't have specific data other than currently we are at 35% development. And I believe that there I have encountered some estimates that say that likely the area will be developed within seventy five years, give or take. Of course, that can vary. No one has a crystal ball, but that's one number that I've heard before, and I wanted to share it with the board. All right.

So we're moving on. We can do some future items later to address this topic. But then updates from '20 56, update from the Natural Resource Division.

Yeah. Thank you. Just a moment. So I briefly mentioned at the beginning of the meeting that we are we conducted our first free giveaway for year. This year, we gave away 100 trees that went towards North Port residents.

There has been some constructive feedback and some ideas on how to make this event even more I'd say even more successful next time. So we'll definitely take these into consideration. So that occurred earlier in January to celebrate Florida Arbor Day. We also have recently heard received the good news of being allocated $230,000 from the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership. It's a funding opportunity that will enhance our Warm Mineral Springs area.

The funds will be used towards invasive vegetation removal, tree planting. I wanted to emphasize that these funds are not a grant. They are basically direct fund allocation towards environmentally beneficial projects. And our city scored first in Sarasota County. They allocated six of these for six counties in Southwest Florida.

And with our partnership with Parks and Rec and our work with Natural Resources, we were fortunate to get this funding. More details to come on exactly what we will be proposing. But there's a lot of as you all may know, there's plenty of invasive species and plenty of opportunities to enhance that area. So that's a great additional funding resource that Congratulations. We Another grant of $38,500 was received by the Board of Forest Service.

And there is a match funding from our Environmental Protection Funds and the trees will go along Sumter Boulevard and we'll be enhancing some of these voids that were left by the recent hurricanes. Also, I wanted to specify that we have a resource online where any citizen can follow stats by the Natural Resources division and some of the stats involve how many events has the natural resources division attended, how many trees were planted, how many citizens were engaged, how many golfer tortoises signs were placed, how many golfer tortoises tortoises were relocated. And I can gladly send that information to our members so each of you can easily track that. But as far as updates, that's all I have.

Thank you.

Good. You're passionate.

Public comment. That's the next. Oh, so not number nine going

Future agenda.

Oh, sorry. Future agenda.

Can I have a point of information on what you just brought up, Stephane? More than a clarification, I think. We were discussing fines. And maybe this is for future agenda items. I'm not sure where it falls into what category. But other than the tree fines, the removal thereof, we also offer credits. So they don't necessarily have to pay a poultry fine if they want to mitigate, let's say, a whole lot.

And the land is available, they can go down to zero. But there's no credit back to them. Can get to zero.

Think, what about the gopher tortoise, fines?

We currently do not have any. The process is regulated by the state.

So FWC comes in if there is gopher tortoises. I'm looking at some of the lots that were legally cleared, as you know. So the Gopher tortoises and scrub jays, they're mitigated. But what if, again, a developer comes, is that FWC only and the city doesn't get any part of the fines collected?

If I may answer real quick, and then this it wouldn't be the the right time to discuss this.

Yeah. I don't know where to bring it up.

State state is usually for gopher tortoise, and then US Fish and Wildlife, which is a federal entity, for Scrub Jay. And we make sure that every the process is coordinated when we communicate with them. But just wanted to answer the question.

I don't know where to bring it up.

Yeah. For under future agenda items, you you can bring it up, ma'am, and we we will then include it on the next agenda or the one after, depending if if we have enough.

Okay. Alright.

Would you like to make that a point for future?

Yeah, please. I would like to discuss the structure of the fines and if the city gets anything from the illegal gopher tortoise relocations. So we can have a discussion on that, exactly the process and where does the city fit in. Because we would issue a stop work order, and I'm sorry to get off the motion. I'm trying to form it.

But if we put in a stop order because it's been illegally cleared, the city does put in a stop order. Correct. Right? And then they're fined by the city for the illegal clearing, which might not just end with trees. They've destroyed habitat as well, almost like, illegal underbrush clearing.

So the underbrush clearing falls into the same category as tree removal. I'm trying to see where we can get more money and have this discussion on how the city implements this and then how we make recommendations for all the other illegal activities that are going on land other than just tree removal.

If I may, ma'am, I can make I heard you I was listening to you very carefully. I can create and add an item to the next month's agenda that relates to these questions. Just wanted to let you know real quick, some of these fees we are preempted by the state. So we have certain limitations that just wanted to answer that real quick.

I just think as a Board, we should be totally informed about what's going on, where the money goes. And does the environmental fund somehow can fit in there? Somehow get in there? I don't know. Something to look at.

Let's see what Stephan presents to us. So then another future agenda item, is just to look at the the budget and to see how things play out and where we can have input in on how the money could be reallocated as a recommendation to the commission?

Yes.

There's no need to make the motion. Just

a

lot things brought up and it's relevant, will

be on the agenda. I'd like to see us put our charter up there and we all kind of look at it at the same time. There seems to be a serious disconnect about it. What's in our charter? I'd like to do the A

charter review and the ULTC.

If you guys are going to move on to the future agenda items topics, then you could just move on in the agenda so we can actually be on that topic.

We We are on that topic. Yeah.

Well, I hope so.

Yes, ma'am.

I would like us to take a look at the ULDC as well. Review our chart.

Let's just review our chart. That's what I'd like to do. Next. Thank you.

And to add to that, the ULDC, the natural resources chapter within that.

Wanted to

Go mention I ahead. Can always bring up the charter and provide details as part of these items. There are certain limitations by the board. And I believe that the charter is be established by the commission. So it's something that can be reviewed and can be discussed. Of course, that's the will of the board. But there are some limitations. Just wanted to give you

a hint.

100%.

Very good. I think, right,

for us to be effective, we all have to be on the same page before

yeah. Well, wait. Okay. I don't I mean, I agree that we should review. But why is are we looking to add things?

The reason my reasoning behind one that on there is that I think it'll help crisp up our discussions.

Oh, no. I believe in having it up there. I'm just saying

I'm not saying we should change it or whatever. My what I'd like to see on there, can change it if we want, is I'd like to just review it so that we all just of

are on the same

page about what we can and can't do.

I agree.

But wait. Stefan just said the city, the commission made the charter. And we can make recommendations to the commission to change the charter. Am I correct?

Yes. Yes. Of course, we can.

US members can make recommendations

to Okay. Yeah, I agree with having it up there at all times. But I would like to say we have it up there to follow it.

That's why we're gonna do go over and discuss it. So we are all on the same page.

We all Word file an agreement.

Yep. I think we're saying all the same thing.

Oh, yeah.

All right. Any other future?

Yeah. I would, again, like to go off of what you had said and include the ULDC Chapter six on the Environmental Protection Fund and actually take a look at that as well. So we're all again on the same page. We know how the money is spent. Is there things we can recommend? Because we can always recommend as a Board. We can recommend it that it be going to the commission to look at these things, and this is what our notes on this subject is. And maybe they will, in turn, recommend it to the Charter Review Advisory Board.

And if I may, just real quick, quick comments. We have the third charter would technically be incorrect here. The we have under Article one and Article nine of Chapter four, we have some of the roles. So this will be under the Unified Land Development Code.

Or

City Code, excuse me.

Well,

I just have a question because I missed last meeting and it might be on the minutes. Was the decision made about the Board going as a group in front of the city to give ideas? We were talking about that in December.

I believe that at this point, the idea is to define the goals and the accomplishments. And then the next step would be to

We set voted for the commissioners

to come set up a meeting, a joint meeting between commission and the EA.

Okay. Thank

you. Last

month was just the legal sunshine law stuff. Didn't

miss. Okay.

Alright. So based upon all the comments, it sounds like if we for the future agenda, like, role next month is understanding what our role is and then also maybe understanding, DULDC and and, how it's all played out so everybody's on the same page. Everybody in agreement that's a good thing for us? Okay. Moving on, public comment.

I mean, again, I'm getting a little old. My hearing may not be very well, but I believe that two motions were made and the motion was not completed. One motion you made and one motion that you made, Mr. Chairman, by accident. Okay. I believe both those motions did not get a second and were not voted on.

I believe she made the motion and you seconded it and we voted on the one item.

The annual distribution of the scorecards McDowell, second by were the only two real motions that

were made.

Were they voted on? Yeah. Both of them were voted on? Thank you very much. As I said, my And hearing's a little

I believe that there are multiple future agenda items that were proposed. Okay.

Thank you.

Very good.

All right.

At this time, we will adjourn. Thank you very much.