[00:00:03]
THE TIME IS NOW 6:00. I WILL CALL THIS SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING TO ORDER.
THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE RISE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MAY WE HAVE ROLL CALL. DOUG HOOKE. PRESENT. MARVIN.
TEDDER. PRESENT. EILEEN. SEP. PRESENT. ANTHONY.
ABADIE. KRISTEN. LANSANA. PRESENT. REBECCA. ZIEGLER.
[ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
WE WERE PRESENTED OUR MINUTES FOR TONIGHT. WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE MINUTES THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA.DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. I WOULD LIKE A MOTION.
TO MAKE A I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 2ND 025 MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND.
I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE SECOND SET OF MINUTES? WHAT ARE THE DATES? THE SECOND DATE. OUR SECOND SET OF MINUTES IS A REGULAR MEETING.
2025-12. DECEMBER 16TH, 2025. MOTION TO APPROVE ALL UNAPPROVED MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS. JUST A QUICK REMINDER THOSE INDIVIDUALS SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT CARD TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE MR. BILL BATTEN. BILL BATTEN 586 OCEAN SPRAY STREET, SOUTHWEST.
I JUST WANT TO WELCOME THE NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD.
GOOD LUCK. HAVE FUN. BUT KEEP IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT 100% IN FAVOR OF THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT REASONS TO DO AWAY WITH INSTEAD OF REASONS TO KEEP.
SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. THAT MEANS SHINE AND KEEP DOING IT.
AND I HOPE YOU CAN FIND A MECHANISM THAT HELPS PAY FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S YOUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS HOW YOU CAN DO IT.
AND DOUG, IF YOU NEED SOME HELP, I DON'T KNOW WHO THE TREASURER IS.
I'LL TRY AND STEP FORWARD AGAIN. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.
OUR SECOND PUBLIC SPEAKER TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE MISS LYDIA BARBER.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEM, I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THEM AT THAT TIME.
SO ARE YOU GOING TO ADDRESS ALL THE THINGS THAT I HAD GIVEN YOU ON MY LIST? THERE ARE IS GOING TO BE AN OVERALL DISCUSSION ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD BRINGING MEMBERS TO OUR NEW MEMBERS UP TO SPEED.
SO ALL THESE ITEMS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA. BUT WE MAY JUST BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THEM.
IF YOU'D LIKE NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL GO THROUGH MY WHOLE LIST THEN.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO START WITH THE INVASIVE PLANT LIST.
JESSE VERY NICELY PRINTED IT AND ATTACHED IT TO THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING.
WHAT I'VE DONE IS I HAVE PRINTED IT IN BOOKLET FORM WITH THE IDEA THAT WHEN THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD PRINTS IT, THAT'S THE WAY THEY WILL PRINT IT AND STAPLE IT SO THAT HOMEOWNERS CAN TAKE THIS WITH THEM WHEN THEY GO TO THE BIG BOX STORE AND IT'S IN COMMON PLANT LIST NAME, COMMON NAME OF A PLANT SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT THE PLANTS THAT THEY ARE BEING OFFERED AND AVOID BUYING
[00:05:07]
ANYTHING THAT'S ON THIS LIST, BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL EITHER NOXIOUS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE STATE TELLS US THAT WE CANNOT HAVE THEM OR THEY'RE CATEGORY ONE, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE VERY BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.AND THEY'RE IT'S ILLEGAL FOR US TO HAVE THEM.
CATEGORY ONE ARE AFFECTING ECOSYSTEMS. CATEGORY TWO ARE PROBABLY ON THEIR WAY TO BEING AFFECTING.
AND MANY, MANY OF THESE PLANTS ARE BEING SOLD IN BIG BOX STORES, WHICH IS WHY.
I. AND THERE ARE 174 THAT WERE ON THE INVASIVE LIST.
I THINK IT WAS ANOTHER 38 THAT WERE ON THE NOXIOUS LIST.
AND WHEN I PUT THEM, WHEN I SORTED THEM BY COMMON NAME, THEY WENT OVER 200.
SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF PLANTS AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEM.
AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT MISS BARBER HAS PUT A TON OF PERSONAL TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS, AND GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED THE PALM BAY SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD TO USE HER EFFORTS, AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. IT BECAME WHEN WE MOVED HERE IN 2019, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT ONE OF THE GARDEN CLUB MEMBERS TALKED TO ME ABOUT BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE.
HAVE NO CLUE. OKAY. SECOND THING. CAN EACH OF HER ITEMS GET THREE OR JUST HOWEVER YOU WISH TO PROCEED? OKAY. I THINK BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO TALK ON THREE DIFFERENT THINGS.
GIVE THREE MINUTES EACH. YEAH, WE'LL GIVE HER THREE MINUTES EACH. NOT A PROBLEM. BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, I WANTED TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD HAD ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT ITEM THAT YOU FIRST BROUGHT UP, THE INVASIVE SPECIES LIST. ANY CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION FROM MISS BARBARA REGARDING THE INVASIVE SPECIES? I DO. THE AUSTRALIAN PINE LISTED HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY'S RULES ARE, BUT SOMEBODY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR AMERICANA FROM WHERE I LIVE NOT ON AMERICANA, BUT ON THE SIDE STREET, THEY LINED ABOUT SIX INCHES FROM THE STREET, ABOUT 15 OF THEM GOING AROUND THE CORNER OF A STREET OF A PROPERTY.
OR MAYBE IT'S ONLY TEN, BUT THEY'RE WAY TOO CLOSE TO THE STREET.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE A LITTLE NOW, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STAY LITTLE, AND I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO HOW THE PROPERTY OWNER IS GOING TO MANAGE THEM, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY COME UP FROM TAPROOTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE YARD.
IF YOU DON'T MAINTAIN THEM, THEY JUST. AND THEY KILL EVERYTHING.
THEY KILL. YES, THEY KILL EVERYTHING. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE SOLD THEM TO THEM.
AND THEY'RE RIGHT ON THEIR THEY'RE ON WHAT? THIS IS ACTUALLY CITY OWNED PROPERTY BECAUSE THERE'S A SETBACK FROM THE STREET EDGE, RIGHT FROM THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT TO THE HOME.
THERE'S A RIGHT OF WAY, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT AFTER THE MEETING.
OKAY, SO THAT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY IS I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD.
I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THEM ARE, BUT THEY SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE TO PUT A CAUTION ON THEM THAT THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE, NOXIOUS, AND NOT THEY'RE NOT ILLEGAL, ACTUALLY.
THANK YOU. THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN BUY THEM IS BUYING THEM FROM SOMEONE OUT OF STATE, PROBABLY THROUGH A WEBSITE, BECAUSE NO ONE IN THE STATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEM WITHOUT HAVING A PERMIT OF SOME KIND.
BUT YOU SAID THE BIG BOX STORES STILL SELL THEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY SELL AUSTRALIAN PINE. I KNOW THAT THEY SELL A LOT OF THE INVASIVES.
YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW THE CITY OF PALM BAY IS WORKING ON A CODE CHANGE.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO EXPLORE, WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PROHIBIT NOXIOUS PLANTS AS PART OF THAT CODE, SINCE THEY ARE STATE LISTED AS BEING NOT PLANTABLE AND NOT SELLABLE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS IS AMAZING. YOU DID A REALLY GREAT JOB.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AUSTRALIAN PINES WERE NOXIOUS.
IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST METHOD TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE HERE AT THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. ANYTIME YOU HAVE WE HAVE A MEETING, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE, HOPEFULLY. WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT AT LARGE TO THE REST OF THE CITY.
UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. POSTING IT ON THE WEBSITE WOULD BE TERRIFIC. YES.
YES, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY. SO I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A COMMENT.
[00:10:01]
THERE'S A COMMENT HERE SAYING IT'S ILLEGAL TO CULTIVATE, INTRODUCE, COLLECT OR TRANSPORT.SO IF THEY'RE PURCHASING THESE ITEMS FROM OUT OF STATE.
SO THEN THEY HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE BOX STORE.
SO THAT'S NOT ONLY FOCUS ON BOX STORES BUT OTHER STORES AS WELL.
SO THE TRANSPORT WOULD BE DEEMED AS ILLEGAL. SO THAT THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO CAPTURE THESE THESE TARGETED ITEMS PRIOR TO THEIR BEING PLACED ON THE STORE SHELF. RIGHT. RIGHT. WELL, OR THEY COULD SOMEONE COULD ORDER IT ONLINE FROM ANOTHER VENDOR OUTSIDE THE STATE.
OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. BUT STILL, IT HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED.
AND IT'S ILLEGAL TO DO THAT WITHIN THE STATE.
EXCELLENT. SO YOUR NEXT TOPIC IF YOU WOULD LIKE THREE MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT. GLASS RECYCLING. THIS IS ANOTHER TOPIC THAT BECAME NEAR AND DEAR TO ME AFTER WE MOVED HERE, BECAUSE IN 2020, PALM BAY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC ELIMINATING GLASS RECYCLING.
AND I'VE WRITTEN ARTICLES ABOUT THIS, GIVEN IT TO TWO CITY MANAGERS.
WE HAVE HAD PLANS TO ATTEMPT TO DO A TRIAL THAT HAS NOT REALLY MATERIALIZED YET.
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A BIN SET UP SOMEWHERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BRING THEIR GLASS. BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN I STARTED RECYCLING IN THE 80S.
THOSE BINS HAD LIDS ON THEM, AND THE BINS THAT INDIAN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY HAVE AT THEIR RECYCLING CENTER HAVE LIDS. SO I'M GOING TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING WHERE THEY GOT THOSE AND HOW THEY WENT ABOUT GETTING THEM, BECAUSE SIBILIO IS THE COMPANY THAT THAT TURNS GLASS INTO CULLET, WHICH IS WHAT'S USED THEN TO MAKE NEW GLASS. AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BINS WITH LIDS, WHICH I THINK IS VERY INTERESTING.
SO I THINK THERE ARE OTHER RESOURCES THAT WE CAN FIND.
AND ONCE THE BIN IS FULL, HAVE IT TRANSPORTED TO SIBILIO.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THAT'S GREAT. EXCELLENT.
YES. TO KIND OF SPEAK ON THAT JUST REAL QUICK, I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO MR. MORTON, CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS ITEM BECAUSE MISS BARBER HAD BROUGHT THIS UP AT OUR PREVIOUS SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AND SAID THAT SOME FUNDING MAY BE AVAILABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES NOT APPEAR AT THIS TIME THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
BUT I DID KIND OF TALK TO MR. MORTON, AND HE DID SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT REPUBLIC MAY BE OPEN TO LISTENING TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD, AND MAY BE A GOOD FIRST STARTING POINT AS TO GETTING THIS PROGRAM INTO PLACE.
I KNOW IT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT LAST MONTH DURING THE BOARD MEETING, THAT THERE WAS A NON-COMPETE IN PLACE AND THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. BUT MR. MORTON SEEMED TO THINK THAT A REPUBLIC, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT DO GLASS RECYCLING, MAY BE AMENABLE TO SUCH A THING, HAVING ANOTHER PARTNER COME IN AND WORK WITH IT.
SO I WAS GOING TO TRY TO REACH OUT TO REPUBLIC SERVICES MYSELF, SEE IF I CAN GET CONTACT WITH THE CITY'S LIAISON AND SEE IF WE CAN START BUILDING ON THAT RELATIONSHIP AND SEE IF WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WAY. AND SINCE THEY ARE USING THE SAME MRF THAT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IS USING, THEY HAVE A CONTACT THERE AND THEY DO COLLECT GLASS AND DELIVER IT TO INDIAN RIVER COUNTY.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THEY'LL, THEY'LL HAVE ACCESS TO BINS AND MIGHT BE WILLING TO TRANSPORT FOR US.
EXCELLENT. AND I DID A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK ON THIS.
IN OTHER STATES IT'S AT THE SUPERMARKETS. ANY PLACE WHERE YOU SELL FOOD, IT COULD BE IN PARKS AND THEY GET A CREDIT ON WHAT THEY DO IN THOSE STATES IS THEY CHARGE $0.05 EXTRA PER BOTTLE.
BUT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING LIKE GIVING THEM CREDITS TOWARDS EVENTS OR WHATEVER.
[00:15:01]
BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE THE MONEY AND THE STATISTICS ARE THAT THE RECYCLING OF GLASS IMPROVED 29.1% IN STATES WHERE THEY DO THAT. AND WHAT'S NICE ABOUT THE MACHINES IS IT CHOPS IT UP. SO IT'S MORE COMPRESSED. IT'S NOT TAKING A LOT OF SPACE.AND THERE'S A LOT OF RECYCLABLE USES FOR GLASS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S HELPFUL IF PEOPLE CLEAN IT BEFORE THEY RECYCLE IT.
BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD BE AN OPTION TOO, BECAUSE IT INCENTIVIZES, LIKE I SAID, THE LAST TIME MY NEPHEW LOVED WHEN I EMPTIED OUT MY TRUNK OF ALL THE BOTTLES THAT I COLLECTED AND HE HAD A, YOU KNOW, A FEW BUCKS TO SPEND, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE LESS COSTLY IN THE LONG RUN IF WE COULD GET A BUY IN FROM PEOPLE WHO SELL BOTTLED GOODS.
SO THAT'S MY $0.02. DOUG, I SENT YOU A WHILE BACK THE WRITE UPS THAT I DID.
WOULD YOU SHARE THOSE WITH THE, WITH THE NEW MEMBERS AS WELL? BECAUSE IT ADDRESSED SOME OF THOSE SAME ITEMS. I DIDN'T KNOW THE 29.1% THAT'S USEFUL TO KNOW.
IT'S ANY STATES THAT HAVE THESE RECYCLING MACHINES.
IT'S IMPROVED. THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM. NEW YORK IS ONE.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT. EVEN THOUGH THEIR GARBAGE CAN BE RECYCLED, THEY STILL CHARGE THE $0.05 AT THE THE PURCHASE POINT AND THE MACHINES ARE THERE AND THEY'RE MAINTAINED BY THE STORES AND YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY'RE BROKEN UP. IT COMES IN A CLEAR PLASTIC BAG AND THEY BUNDLE IT UP AND SELL IT OR DO WHATEVER, LIKE BIG BLUE THAT'S IN FLAGLER COUNTY, FLAGLER BEACH.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT. SORRY. OKAY. THAT'S A MACHINE WHERE THEIR RESIDENTS TAKE THEIR GLASS.
AND I KNOW IN NEW YORK THEY'RE IN EVERY SINGLE SUPERMARKET.
THEY HAVE, LIKE A SEPARATE ROOM FOR IT. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO KEEP THEM CLEAN BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CLEAN THEM OUT, AND THEN IT GETS STICKY AND SPILLS OR WHATEVER.
BUT YOU KNOW, AND I DO LIKE THE PROGRAM WE HAD WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, 35, MORE THAN 35 YEARS AGO WHERE WE HAD A SEPARATE BIN FOR PLASTIC NEWSPAPER AND GLASS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY EVER STOPPED THAT.
SINGLE STREAM WAS SUPPOSED TO. HAVE MACHINES THAT WOULD SEPARATE EVERYTHING.
BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT SINGLE STREAM CONTAMINATES BOTH THE GLASS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT WORKING. MR. CHAIRPERSON, IF I MAY INTERJECT JUST A COMMENT ON WHAT YOU HAD SAID PREVIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT WAS SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, I DO JUST WANT TO REITERATE, TOO, THAT THE NON-COMPETE CLAUSE IS STRICTLY FOR THE CITY IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY, SO WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO AGAINST REPUBLICAN, SAY, GO TO WASTE MANAGEMENT IF THEY WERE WILLING TO DROP OFF A BIN, COLLECT THE GLASS, WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT AS VOLUNTEERS, AS INDIVIDUALS, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION FOR YOU TO GO SOMEWHERE LIKE, AS I SAID, WASTE MANAGEMENT, EVEN IF THEY COULD DROP OFF A COMMUNAL BIN.
THAT'S, THAT'S TOTALLY AN OPTION. IT'S JUST THAT THE CITY CANNOT DO IT IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY.
OKAY. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WOULD THAT MEAN THAT PARKS WOULD BE OUT FOR PLACES TO HAVE PARKS OR FIRE STATIONS OR POLICE STATIONS WOULD BE OUT AS A POSSIBLE LOCATION? NOT NECESSARILY. THE CITY HAS HAD ORGANIZATIONS COME IN AND PARTNER WITH US BEFORE WHERE THEY HAVE ASKED TO PUT BINS, WHETHER IT'S DONATION BINS OR RECYCLING BINS BEFORE AND UTILIZE CITY PROPERTY.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DOES OCCUR. IT'S JUST THAT WE CAN'T MANAGE THAT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MANAGE. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A COMPLETELY. YEAH.
BUT WE THE TALK OF USING CITY PROPERTY IS DEFINITELY UP FOR DEBATE FOR SURE.
YEAH. SO, SO LIKE I HAD EVEN SAID LAST MEETING, EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO DO EVERY SIX MONTHS, YOU DO A HUGE VOLUNTEER EFFORT AND HAVE PEOPLE COME TO LIKE FRED POPPY PARK AND PEOPLE BRING IN THEIR GLASS WASTE BY THE, YOU KNOW, TRUCK FULLS AND EVERYBODY SPENDS THE DAY SORTING AND GETTING IT READY FOR COLLECTION.
I DON'T SEE WHY THE CITY WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU THAT VENUE.
[00:20:07]
OKAY. YEAH. OKAY, GOOD. YEP. OKAY. SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THERE'S THE THE TWO OPTIONS BEING DISCUSSED.YOU DISCUSS AT THE AT THE INITIAL PORTION OF DISCUSSION ABOUT A PUBLIC COLLECTION SYSTEM ON SOME SORT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN PALM BAY VERSUS THIS GLASS RECYCLING MACHINE KIND OF CONCEPT.
AND YOU THEN MENTIONED BIG BLUE, FLAGLER COUNTY.
AND I WANT TO SEE HOW, WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE, BECAUSE YOU THEN MENTIONED YOU HAD SOME WRITE UPS. AND THEN ON THE SECOND OPTION, IT SEEMED TO BE MORE FEASIBLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN IN EUROPE MANY RECYCLING MACHINES THAT ARE EMBEDDED INTO GROCERY STORES.
AND IT'S JUST A, IT'S A COMMON KNOWLEDGE. AND THEY USE IT AS KIND OF LIKE A CREDIT.
SO I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR WRITE UPS THUS FAR. MY THOUGHTS WERE BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE RECYCLING WHEN I STARTED RECYCLING AND WE CARRIED OUR STUFF TO BE RECYCLED.
AND THIS WOULD BE A REPEAT OF THAT UNLESS WE COULD WE COULD GET SOMEONE TO DO A DUAL STREAM PICKUP OR MAYBE HAVE. SO WE'VE REALLY GOT OPTIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WILL WORK BEST.
AND IF WE CAN USE CITY PROPERTY, THAT'S AN OPTION.
AND I LIKED THE SUGGESTION OF DOING IT LIKE THEY DO PAPER RECYCLING EVENTS THAT WOULD WORK.
BUT I ALSO LOVE THE IDEA OF IT BEING WITH, WITH THE GROCERY STORES.
AND THAT WAS IN MY WRITE UP. THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I MADE FOR CONSIDERATION.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO TRY, WE'VE GOT TO START BY TRYING SOMETHING.
AND WHAT IT IS WE'RE GOING TO TRY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEPEND UPON HOW WE CAN FUND IT AND WHAT IT WHAT IT WILL COST US, BECAUSE THE COMPANY THAT AGREED TO GIVE US A BIN, NOT GIVE US A BEAN.
BRING US A BEAN AND LET US FILL IT AND THEN TAKE IT AWAY.
IT WAS GOING TO BE AT LEAST $700 AND THAT WAS BEFORE GAS WENT WILD.
SO IT WAS GOING TO COST US THAT AT LEAST JUST FOR ONE BIN.
AND THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT GOOD. IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIN SITTING OUT SOMEWHERE.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY WORTH LOOKING AT, BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF PERHAPS STARTING WITH EVENTS, BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD SEE IF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DO THIS.
OKAY. I LIKE THAT, INDEED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE GLASS RECYCLING WITH MISS BARBOUR? I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF, IF I MAY. QUESTION YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS NON-COMPETE WITH THE CITY.
SO HOW LONG IS THIS CONTRACT WITH REPUBLIC? IS THERE A TIME FRAME ON IT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK? CUSTOMER SERVICE HANDLES THE CONTRACT FOR PUBLIC.
I UNFORTUNATELY DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. OKAY. SECONDLY, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IN THE IN THE PAST OR MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE COULD HAVE IN PUBLIC LOCATIONS, AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAY PEOPLE IN BAYSIDE WOULD HAVE A SPOT NEAR PUBLIX WHERE THEY DROP OFF THEIR GLASS, KIND OF LIKE WHERE WE HAVE NOW CLOTHING AREAS WHERE YOU CAN DROP OFF OLD OR UNWANTED CLOTHING ITEMS. COULD WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE CITY? COULD ASSIST IN THAT IN THAT ENDEAVOR THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF REPUBLIC SERVICES IN THE FUTURE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T OWN THOSE PROPERTIES AND THOSE COMPLEXES AND THOSE BUSINESSES AND STUFF, SO WE CAN'T ANSWER FOR THEM OR GIVE THEM YOU GUYS PERMISSION TO USE IT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EASEMENTS NEXT TO ANY OF THESE. GROCERY STORE WHERE THE CITY WOULD HAVE PROPERTY, WHERE YOU COULD PLACE A BIN OF SOME SORT. TYPICALLY, THE CITY OWNS THE AREA NEXT TO THE ROAD, LIKE THE RIGHT OF WAY WHERE WATER FLOWS, STUFF LIKE THAT.
NOT NOT NECESSARILY IN BUSINESS, PARKING LOTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SIMPLY BEING IF THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, ARE YOU TRYING TO HAVE REPUBLIC RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PICKUP AND COLLECTION OF THAT, OR. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN NOT HAVE TO GET MORE MONEY BECAUSE HE TALKED ABOUT THE BIN CAUSING $700.
[00:25:05]
SO IF WE COULD BAKE IT INTO THE REPUBLIC CONTRACT WHERE WE COULD PLACE THIS ITEM.BUT THEN I SEE THE, THE, THE DIFFICULTY WITH IF WE DON'T OWN THE PROPERTY OR DON'T HAVE ACCESS, IF IT'S NOT CITY PROPERTY. RIGHT. I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS COVERED BY THE BOTTLING COMPANIES. WHEN YOU DO THIS, IF YOU'RE CHARGING SAY $0.05 PER BOTTLE, THAT HAS TO BE ON THEIR LABELS.
IT DOESN'T USUALLY INCLUDE WATER. BUT IF IT'S ONE THAT'S REFUNDABLE AND THE PROBLEM WITH BRINGING FULL BOTTLES IS THE VOLUME IS WAY TOO MUCH.
WE ARE A BIG CITY. WHERE WOULD YOU PUT IT? I MEAN, THOSE THINGS, EVEN THE ONES WHERE THEY BREAK THEM DOWN, THEY FEEL GIGANTIC, GIGANTIC BAGS AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A DAY FOR EACH MACHINE, SOMETIMES MORE, DEPENDING ON HOW BUSY IT IS. SO IT THAT WOULD PROBABLY NOT COST ANYTHING.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF A MANDATE FOR THE CITY.
SO THEY NEED TO RECYCLE IT. I THINK PROBABLY IT HAS TO BE, IT HAS TO GO TO THE STATE THOUGH, BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY A STATE MANDATE ON CHARGING FOR RECYCLING.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD BE A CONVERSATION FOR A STATE LEVEL, UNFORTUNATELY, TRYING TO GET THE BOTTLES BECAUSE AS YOU SEE, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S LISTED, IT'LL SAY NEW YORK WHEREVER WE WOULD HAVE TO GET FLORIDA ADDED TO THAT LIST.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP, BECAUSE IT WAS ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT. I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT DOES RECYCLE ALL OF MY THINGS, AND I WASH IT AND BREAK THE BOXES DOWN.
DOES THAT CONCLUDE QUESTIONS FOR MISS BARBOUR ON GLASS RECYCLING? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES ON THE REMEMBRANCE GARDEN.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND MY THREE MINUTES IS JUST A QUESTION.
WHERE ARE WE? I CAN ANSWER THAT ONE. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A BIT OF A HOLDING PATTERN.
WE HAVE TWO GRANTS THAT WE HAVE APPLIED FOR. WE ARE LOOKING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE STATUS IS OF THOSE GRANTS ARE, I BELIEVE ONE IS GOING TO BE COMING IN SOMETIME MID TO LATE MAY.
WE WILL FIND OUT HOPEFULLY SOME INFORMATION ON THAT ONE.
THE NEXT ONE, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY FIRM DATE ON.
THAT'S THE LOWE'S GRANT THAT WE APPLIED FOR. THE LOWE'S GRANT THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THEIR PROGRAM GUIDELINES, THEY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN AUGUST.
SO I'M HOPING SOMETIME AGAIN, MAY TO JUNE WE'LL HEAR SOMETHING ON THE LOWE'S GRANT.
SO WE HAVE APPLIED FOR A FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION GRANT THAT'S GOING TO BE MID TO LATE MAY.
HOPEFULLY WE HEAR BACK AND THEN THE LOWE'S GRANT WOULD BE SOMETIME LATE SUMMER.
OKAY. OKAY. AND WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE PLACE BESIDE BETWEEN THE CITY HALL AND THE POLICE.
CORRECT. WHEN I MADE MY PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THEY SEEMED AMENABLE TO THAT IDEA.
THE BIGGEST HURDLE THAT WE HAD WAS THAT $4,500 FUNDING GAP.
THERE IS SOME CREATIVITY THAT POSSIBLY COULD COME INTO PLAY.
WE HAD CONFIRMATION THAT THE SOLARIZATION MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE.
ONE OF THE LARGEST COSTS TO THE PROJECT WAS RE SOLARIZING IT.
AND OUR PARTNER WITH THAT NATIVE BUTTERFLY FLOWERS, THEY WERE WILLING TO DROP THE PRICE DOWN ON COMING OUT AND REPOLARIZING IF THE MATERIAL WAS STILL AVAILABLE. THERE IS SOME CREATIVITY THAT WE MAY DO IF WE CAN GET A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OR VOLUNTEER SESSION TO PUT TOGETHER TO WHERE WE MAY HAVE VOLUNTEERS USE THAT POLARIZATION TO POLARIZE EVERYTHING AT NO COST, AND THAT WOULD PRETTY MUCH CLOSE THE FUNDING GAP FOR US IF WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE MAIN CONCERN WOULD BE TRYING TO ORGANIZE THAT AND HAVING THE EXPERTISE ON HAND.
HOPEFULLY PUBLIC WORKS MIGHT HAVE SOME EXPERTISE ON POLARIZATION.
KEY WORD IS INFRASTRUCTURE. YES, I HAVE I HAVE SOLARIZED PART OF MY YARD WITH TIM AND ANNA'S INSTRUCTIONS, SO I KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND THERE ARE GARDEN CLUB MEMBERS, AND THERE ARE CONRADINA MEMBERS WHO WOULD DEFINITELY BE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH THAT. EXCELLENT. YES. SO THAT WAS MY LAST. ALL RIGHT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD ON MISS BARBARA REGARDING THE REMEMBRANCE GARDEN? THAT'S SOMETHING I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON LATER ON TONIGHT. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE A MORE THOROUGH REFRESHER,
[00:30:02]
WE CAN TOUCH ON THAT LATER ON THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I, I DID HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
COME IN. WHILE WE WERE TALKING MISS BETH BLACKFORD.
GOOD EVENING. I'M BETH BLACKFORD FOR 86 NOGALES AVENUE, NORTHEAST IN PALM BAY.
AND FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND HELPING US IMPROVE PALM BAY.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED SECOND OF ALL, I WANTED TO GIVE KUDOS TO LYDIA FOR ALL THE REALLY HARD WORK SHE PUT INTO THE LIST, THE PRODUCT THAT YOU HOLD IN YOUR HANDS, THAT IS A GREAT TOOL.
IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE VERY STRONG EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TOOL FOR MANY OF US.
MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL HAS A PROGRAM TO ERADICATE INVASIVE SPECIES AND THEIR INCLUDING BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREES. LEARNING HOW TO DO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT NEXT STEP, I THINK, FOR THE CITY'S UNDERTAKING.
ALSO THE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY CONRADINA CHAPTER WILL BE FEATURING THAT SAME BOOKLET OR A VARIATION OF IT AT ITS NOVEMBER LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVES YARD TOUR THIS YEAR.
SO WE REALLY SEE THAT GETTING A LOT OF PUBLICITY AND HOPEFULLY BEING A TOOL THAT HOMEOWNERS CAN USE.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AHEAD INTO AN ENFORCEMENT STAGE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO DEVELOP A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NURSERIES AND WITH THE PRODUCT MANAGERS IN THE BIG BOX STORES.
SPROUTS MARKET WAS CONFRONTED RECENTLY ABOUT SELLING SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE NOXIOUS LIST, AND THEY QUICKLY RESPONDED REMOVING IT FROM THEIR SHELVES.
I THINK JUST A LITTLE BIT OF COOPERATIVE FINESSE THERE.
WE CAN PROBABLY ESTABLISH THAT WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE TOES OF CAPITALISM.
LET'S SEE. WHEN YOU HAVE WORK PARTIES, EITHER UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD OR A PARTNER ORGANIZATION YOU CAN DO A WHOLE LOT OF TRAINING AND THOSE PEOPLE GO FORTH AND SPREAD THE WORD TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
WHAT I LIKE TO REFER TO AS CROSS-POLLINATION AND THE PUN IS INTENDED.
I ALSO WANTED TO DISCUSS THE GLASS RECYCLING.
AND JUST TO ELABORATE A LITTLE FURTHER ON WHAT EILEEN TALKED ABOUT, THERE CURRENTLY ARE TEN STATES IN THE US THAT HAVE WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS A BOTTLE BILL. FLORIDA IS NOT ONE OF THEM, BUT YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT WE DID HAVE A BOTTLE BILL FROM 94 TO 95.
IT WAS REPEALED BECAUSE OF INDUSTRY PRESSURE.
SO GETTING THAT IMPRINTED ON BOTTLES IS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN HERE.
SO PALM BAY COULD GRAB THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE WAY AND STEP FORWARD AND TAKE THE LONG VIEW.
IF WE DO HAVE A GLASS RECYCLING PROGRAM. WE MIGHT VERY WELL MODEL IT AFTER WHAT WE FIND IN EUROPE, WHERE ESSENTIALLY STORES OFFER AN ATM SPIT CASH RIGHT OUT TO YOU FOR RECYCLING YOUR GOODS.
SO WE JUST SIDESTEP THE WHOLE ISSUE FROM INDUSTRY THAT WAY.
LET'S SEE, JUST AS A WARNING, YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP, BUT I WILL EXTEND YOUR TIME JUST A BIT.
OH I'M SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN. YOUR THREE MINUTES HAVE PASSED, BUT THAT'S FINE. I WILL GIVE YOU SOME EXTRA TIME. YEAH, WELL, I HAD TWO TOPICS TO. OKAY. AND THE LAST TOPIC.
SO ANOTHER THREE MINUTES HERE. THE SUSAN CONNOLLY MEMORIAL GARDEN IS NOT MOVING RAPIDLY, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ALL SORT OF EXPECTED. I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE STARTING TO FLAG THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HER DEATH DAY AS
[00:35:03]
A MOTIVATION TO TAKE ACTION MORE PROMPTLY. IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING FOR THAT TO GO BY.AND THE DEATH DAY IS NOVEMBER 13TH OF THIS YEAR.
I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD FOR MISS BLACKFORD? I WOULD SAY BECAUSE 30 YEARS AGO THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WOULDN'T PUT IT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING FL ON THEIR LABELS TO GET INDUSTRY SUPPORT FOR THE BOTTLES THE BOTTLE RECYCLING AND YOU COULD ALSO DO PLASTICS, WHICH WOULD MITIGATE SOME OF THE PFAS THAT'S GETTING INTO THE AIR BECAUSE IT'S AN ENCLOSED CRUSHING MACHINE. SO I WOULDN'T GIVE UP ON THAT.
AND IT'S THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO DO IT. ALL RIGHT.
[NEW BUSINESS]
FOR OUR NEW MEETING MEMBERS. WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AND AGAIN THANK YOU BOTH FOR APPLYING BEING INTERESTED IN HELPING SERVE THE BOARD.AND I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD AND WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO IN THE FUTURE. OKAY.
HI, MY NAME IS KRISTEN LANSANA. I GOT INVOLVED FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
LIKE I SAID, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE RECYCLING. WHEN I SAW THE GLASS GOT TAKEN OUT, I WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE WE DOING? SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A QUESTION OF LIKE, WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE? SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET INVOLVED IN THIS WAY.
SO I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH SUSTAINABILITY.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE WAY MORE IN DEPTH THAN I AM.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO START LEARNING FROM EVERYBODY HERE. AND JUST TO UNDERSTAND REALLY WHAT OUR BOARD'S GOALS ARE AND TO START GETTING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS MOVING ALONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LANSANAH? NO, SIR. WELL, I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS MARVIN. AND VERY FEW POINTS. FIRST, I WANTED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE AN IMPACT.
I'VE BEEN GONE FOR MILITARY, BUT ALWAYS. PALM BAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOME FOR ME AND BEING RAISED HERE.
WE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT. SO THAT CONCERNS ME. AND THEN LASTLY, OUR ENVIRONMENT.
THE IMPACT. I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT OCCURRED. AND I'M SURE I'LL LEARN AS AS TIME PASSES.
BUT THE GUARDS ARE RECYCLING METHODS AND PAPER.
PLASTIC. GLASS. WHAT'S GOING ON? THERE MUST BE A VALID REASON FOR THAT.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE WE DO PROVIDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS COGENT.
AND THEN LASTLY, I'VE COME HERE TO LEARN AND TO SERVE.
SO I KNOW I'M REPEATING THE FIRST GOAL, BUT I THINK THAT BY LEARNING, I CAN SERVE BETTER.
SO I WANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. TEDDER? NO. SEEING NONE. I WANTED TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MISS REBECCA ZIEGLER IF SHE WANTED TO SPEAK.
I KNOW SHE IS NOT NEW TO THE BOARD, BUT SHE IS STARTING HER NEXT TERM AT THE AT LARGE POSITION.
THANK YOU. AND BRIEFLY, I'LL SAY I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FROM TALKING TO DOING.
AND I HAVE TIME TO. GO TO EVENTS AND RIGHT NOW I AM TRYING TO EDUCATE THE KIDS THAT I WORK WITH AND THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH ABOUT EFFORTS. AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS PUBLIC WORKS OPEN HOUSE.
WHEN I TELL THEM ABOUT THEIR THINGS LIKE THIS, THEY GO, OH, SO THANK YOU.
YES. A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEW MEMBERS.
ALL RIGHT. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER ONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS DISCUSSION FOR VICE CHAIR. I REQUESTED THIS BE PUT ON THE AGENDA, SO I WILL SPEAK ON IT.
I KNOW LAST MEETING, WE HAD A A LOT OF TURNOVER ON THERE.
[00:40:03]
AND AS SUCH, THE ONLY RETURNING MEMBER THAT WE WERE GUARANTEED WAS COMING TO THE BOARD WAS MISS EILEEN SEP.DOUG, DID YOU WANT TO GO OVER YOUR YOUR LIST? I WAS GOING TO DO THAT ON NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER THREE.
OKAY. SO I WANTED TO OPEN THAT DISCUSSION UP.
FIRST OFF, TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT MISSTEP IS WANTING TO CONTINUE ON WITH THAT VICE CHAIR POSITION.
OBVIOUSLY WE VOTED HER IN AS VICE CHAIR LAST MEETING.
BUT IF THAT IS NOT SOMETHING SHE IS INTERESTED IN, I DO NOT WANT HER TO CONTINUE.
SINCE YOU'RE HERE ALL THE TIME. I THINK IT'S SAFE.
I WON'T HAVE TO DO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH MISS.
DOWN ON THE BOTTOM SECTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW ALONG TO SEE KIND OF WHAT ALL THE BOARD IS LOOKING AT OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR NEW MEMBERS TO THE BOARD WE NEED TO TRY TO GET THEM UP TO SPEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO THE FIRST THING OBVIOUSLY WE TALKED ABOUT THREE OF THEM DURING OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THOSE ARE PROBABLY OUR THREE THAT ARE MOST DEVELOPED.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE PALM BAY REMEMBRANCE GARDEN.
I DID MAKE A TEN MINUTE PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THEY DID SEEM AMENABLE TO THAT PROJECT. THE NUMBER ONE THING AS ONE OF THE COUNCILMAN SAID, IS WE HAVE IT TO LIKE THE THREE YARD LINE. WE JUST GOT TO FIND THE FUNDING TO GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE ACROSS THE GOAL LINE.
SO THE REMEMBRANCE GARDEN IS DEDICATED TO THOSE PALM BAY CITIZENS WHO HAVE PUBLICLY ADVOCATED HERE AT CITY HALL FOR VARIOUS THINGS WITH A FOCUS ON REMEMBERING THEIR DEDICATION AND THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF PALM BAY.
LONG TERM WE FEEL THAT HAVING A NATIVE PLANT GARDEN IN THE SPACE CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER BETWEEN CITY HALL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO BE MEMORIALIZED AND HAVE A LONG TERM PERMANENT PRESENCE IN THE CITY OF PALM BAY.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DEAL WITH THAT.
THE DESIGN HAS BEEN LAID OUT AND HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE 2023.
ONCE BUILDING E WAS COMPLETED, THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD KIND OF PICKED THAT PROJECT BACK UP AND TRIED TO REVITALIZE IT. WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WITH THE CONRADINA CHAPTER OF THE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY WHO ARE HOLDING OUR FUNDING FOR US.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SOME GRANTS. WE HAVE ABOUT 71% OF THE PROJECT FUNDED AS, LIKE I SAID TO THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN I MADE MY PRESENTATION, WE JUST HAVE A REMAINING $4,500 GAP THAT WE NEED TO FILL.
FINDING THOSE CREATIVE OUTLETS TO GET THAT FUNDING GAP WOULD BE PHENOMENAL.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE APPLIED FOR TWO DIFFERENT GRANTS, THE FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION GRANT, I BELIEVE IS UPWARDS TO $2,000. THE LOWE'S GRANT IS UPWARDS TO LIKE $100,000, BUT WE ONLY ASKED FOR 5000 BECAUSE THAT WOULD COVER US AND HOPEFULLY MAKES US A SMALL LITTLE BREADCRUMB IN THEIR OVERALL FUNDING, AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A LARGE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AS WHOLE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PALM BAY REMEMBRANCE GARDEN FROM ANY OF OUR NEW MEMBERS? WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT ABOUT THE TWO GRANTS? LIKE I WAS SAYING IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION, HOPEFULLY THE FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION WOULD HAVE A RESPONSE TO US BY MAY.
THANK YOU. I DIDN'T CAPTURE THOSE DATES. I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE $4,500 FUNDING GAP.
YOU SAID THAT THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH LIKE REPOLARIZING.
WHAT IS RESOLOR? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. SO THE PROJECT BACK IN 2023, BEFORE BUILDING E WAS APPROVED, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR PARTNER, NATIVE BUTTERFLY FLOWERS PAY.
WE PAID THEM FOR THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT AND THEY CAME OUT AND LAID DOWN SOLARIZATION.
[00:45:01]
THAT WAY WE WOULD HAVE A BLANK CANVAS ON THAT.AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO DO BUILDING E AND THAT SPACE WHERE THAT WAS WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE FIBER OPTIC LINES GOING THROUGH THERE. AND THAT WE WOULD NEED ACCESS TO THAT.
SO WE PULLED UP THE SOLARIZATION, STUCK IT INTO STORAGE.
AND SO AS PART OF REVISITING THIS PROJECT, WE DID GO BACK TO NATIVE BUTTERFLY FLOWERS AND ASKED THEM FOR AN UPDATED BUDGET ON WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR THEM TO COME BACK INTO IT. THEY SAID THAT IF WE HAD THE SOLARIZATION, THEY WOULD DROP THE PRICE DOWN.
I BELIEVE IT WAS LIKE $800. BUT MOST OF IT IS IN LABOR.
SO THE PRICE DIDN'T REALLY CHANGE TOO INCREDIBLY MUCH.
WE CAN POTENTIALLY FIND VOLUNTEER LABOR FOR THAT.
OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING IF SOLARIZATION WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO ON OUR OWN.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT UP ON THE LIST IS THE SUSAN CONNOLLY AWARD.
THIS IS KIND OF IN A CONCEPTUAL PHASE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FOLLOWING MISS CONNOLLY'S PASSING AND NOVEMBER THERE WAS A LOT OF MOTION AND STILL IS A LOT OF MOTION TO RECOGNIZE THE LONG STANDING AND OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT THAT MISS CONNOLLY HAD ON PALM BAY AND BREVARD COUNTY AT LARGE.
THE CITY COUNCIL KIND OF TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY CREATING A SUSAN CONNOLLY AWARD THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO A CITIZEN OF PALM BAY WHO EXEMPLIFIED PUBLIC SERVICE DEDICATION TO THAT IN A PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY AND LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THAT WAS A LARGE PASSION FOR MISS CONNOLLY. SHE WAS A LONG STANDING MEMBER OF THE PALM BAY SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD AND WAS ALWAYS OUT ADVOCATING FOR LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT. WE HAD BEEN TARGETING AT THE TIME TRYING TO GET THAT IN OUR, THE FIRST ONE CREATED IN JUNE.
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE.
THE SITUATION THAT, THAT WE HAVE KIND OF FALLEN INTO IS WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT KIND OF CRITERIA WE WANT TO DO, HOW WE WANT TO CREATE THAT AWARD, HOW WE PRESENT IT.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT.
AND THEY WANT IT, THEY WANT A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO WHERE IF THE BOARD DOES HAPPEN TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN CONTINUE TO PRESENT THAT AWARD INTO THE FUTURE.
EVEN IF THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.
THE HARD PART IS WE NEED TO PROBABLY REALLY GET TOGETHER AS A GROUP, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR NEW MEMBERS ON THE BOARD, SET A DATE FOR ONE OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS AND HASH OUT THE HASH, OUT THE PROJECT, THE CRITERIA AND EVERYTHING ON IT. IT MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE WE WANT TO DEDICATE THE ENTIRE MEETING TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO HAVE THE OPEN DISCUSSIONS THAT WE ARE NEEDED TO PLAN A PROJECT LIKE THAT.
OUT IN THE OPEN, OUT IN THE SUNSHINE DURING A BOARD MEETING.
I THINK THAT IS AN UNREALISTIC GOAL. SO I DON'T WANT TO SET AN UNREALISTIC GOAL FOR OURSELVES.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS.
AND WE CAN POTENTIALLY FOCUS ONE OF OUR MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE SPECIFICALLY ON THAT PROJECT.
I THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I WAS SITTING HERE TRYING TO WORK, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING? AND WE HAVE ONLY ONE MORE MEETING AFTER THAT. BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE OR TAKE CARE OF THAT GAP WITH THE FUNDING, WE COULD TRY TO HAVE THAT GARDEN STARTED THIS YEAR.
SO WE DON'T MISS THAT ONE YEAR MARK OF HER, OF HER LEAVING US.
AND THEN I THINK JUNE NEXT YEAR, THAT WAY WE CONTINUE TO HONOR HER.
YES, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I DO THINK THAT IS A GOOD TIMELINE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE SUSAN CONLEY AWARD? WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED COST FOR IT? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT AS WAS KIND OF TOLD TO US BEFOREHAND WHEN WE FIRST BROUGHT THIS UP. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF PLAQUES, AND THEY JUST KIND OF STICK THEM BY THE WAYSIDE.
SO WE WERE THINKING OF DEVELOPING JUST A WAY OF HAVING A CERTIFICATE PRESENTED IN KIND OF A FOLDER SIMILAR TO WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES WITH PROCLAMATIONS, AND HAVE THAT BE THE AWARD.
SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE AN IDEA AS TO WHAT THAT WOULD COST, BUT TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY, WE WOULD PRESENT IT HERE AT THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. DURING ONE OF OUR NORMAL MEETINGS. WE WOULD HAVE THAT PRESENTATION DONE IN A COST EFFICIENT WAY AND AGAIN,
[00:50:02]
IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO WHERE WE ARE NOT GIVING SOME PLAQUE OR RECOGNITION TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM AND DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO CHERISH THEM.AND THEN NOW WE'VE CREATED JUNK AS A SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM MISS LYDIA BARBER.
LYDIA BARBER 1638 FORK TERRACE, SOUTHEAST. IT'S NOT A QUESTION.
WHEN YOU PUT DOWN SOLARIZATION CLOTH, YOU LEAVE IT DOWN FOR MONTHS.
AND I'M DIGGING IT UP RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S STILL SOME THERE.
SO THANK YOU. THE SOONER WE CAN GET THAT PROJECT.
YES. AS MISS BARBARA SAID, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH SOLARIZATION AND TORPEDO GRASS.
LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT SEEN TORPEDO SIGNS OF TORPEDO GRASS IN THE SITE THAT WE ARE AT.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN TORPEDO GRASS DOES NOT EXIST THERE, BECAUSE TORPEDO GRASS EXISTS ALMOST EVERYWHERE. BUT THE SOONER WE CAN GET THAT SOLARIZATION DOWN. THAT'S KIND OF. I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO WANT TO PLANT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT SOLARIZATION DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THAT'S GOAL NUMBER ONE IS ONCE WE HAVE THAT IN THE GROUND, THAT SETS OUR DEADLINE MOVING FORWARD. ALL RIGHT.
THE SECOND ITEM ON THE LIST IS OUR GLASS RECYCLING PROGRAM.
AND THERE WAS GREAT DISCUSSION ON THAT. SO IN THE SPAN OF TIME LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I DID SPEAK TO MR. MORTON, OUR CITY MANAGER. HE DID SEEM TO THINK THAT THERE WERE SOME IDEAS AND DID GIVE ME PERMISSION ON THE CITY TO REACH OUT AS THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD TO REPUBLIC SERVICES AND SEE WHAT KIND OF ENGAGEMENT REPUBLIC MAY BE WILLING TO HAVE WITH THE CITY IN THAT REGARD.
THE NEXT ITEM AND THIS ONE ACTUALLY IS VERY EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO UPDATE ON.
THIS IS THE TURKEY CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY AT GOOD PARK.
TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS DONE IN 2023.
THERE WERE SOME PROJECTS ON THERE THAT SEEM WELL OUTSIDE OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD'S ABILITY TO IMPACT SUCH AS REMOVING SPOIL ISLANDS COMPLETELY IN TURKEY CREEK. I THINK WE ARE AMBITIOUS.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO AMBITIOUS FOR US.
AGAIN, SOMETHING I WOULD BE WILLING TO DO. IT'S NOT SOMETHING I IMAGINE MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO DO IS KAYAK OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF TURKEY CREEK AND START CUTTING BRAZILIAN PEPPERS IN MASS. BUT THE THIRD THING THAT WAS ON THERE THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE, ESPECIALLY AS THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD WAS GOOD PARK.
LARGEST IMMEDIATE PUBLIC IMPACT. AND WHAT THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS PUTTING IN A BUFFERED SHORELINE OR A LIVING SHORELINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL THERE AT GOOD PARK, TO WHERE IT WOULD CATCH ANY OF THE RUNOFF AND THE NUTRIENTS AND THE GRASS CLIPPINGS FROM WHEN WE DO MAINTENANCE AND WHATNOT BEFORE IT REACHES INTO THE THE TURKEY CREEK ITSELF.
I HAD REACHED OUT AT THE TIME PREVIOUSLY TO ORCA DOWN IN INDIALANTIC.
THEY ACTUALLY CAME AND DID A PRESENTATION TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD REGARDING THAT.
ORCA WOULD LOVE TO MOVE UP INTO BREVARD COUNTY.
THEY PRIMARILY FOCUS ON INDIAN RIVER COUNTY. AND THEY, THE CONCERN WITH THEM WAS THAT THEY ARE PRIMARILY PRIMARILY ABLE TO GET FUNDING FOR A LIVING SHORELINE. THE AREA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HAS A SEAWALL IN THERE AND A SEAWALL IS TYPICALLY NOT CONDUCIVE TO A LIVING SHORELINE.
SO THEN I REACHED OUT TO BREVARD ZOO'S RESTORE OUR SHORES TO SEE IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN DOING A BUFFERED SHORELINE PROJECT WITH US, AND WE COULD DO A LIVING SHORELINE WITH ANY WITH WOOSH ORCA.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THERE. BUT AGAIN, THE FUNDING IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
WE WERE UP AGAINST DEADLINES FOR WRITING GRANTS AND WHATNOT.
MISS CAMILLE HADLEY IS A FORCE OF NATURE, A PHENOMENAL FORCE OF NATURE.
[00:55:04]
AND I RECENTLY VOLUNTEERED JUST TO DO IT. THAT WAS IT TO DO A FOOD GARDEN AND NATIVE PLANT GARDEN THAT LITTLE GROWERS IS DOING OVER IN THE CITY OF MELBOURNE. AND I WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH MISS HADLEY AND ACTUALLY YESTERDAY, SHE SCHEDULED AN HOUR WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS GOOD PARK PROJECT.SO WE ACTUALLY HAD A HOUR LONG CONVERSATION WITH HER, HER TEAM AT THE LITTLE GROWERS.
AND THEIR DESIGN FOCUS. THEY HAVE GRANTS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, THIS MOMENT TO CREATE AND DESIGN AND PLAN SOME KIND OF PROJECT AT GOOD PARK. THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT IT AT THIS TIME.
BUT THEY DO HAVE THE FUNDING TO DESIGN A PLAN WITH THAT.
SHE GREW UP IN THE AREA AND HAS STILL OWNS A HOME NEAR THAT AREA.
WHICH DOES TIE INTO ANOTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT COUNCILMAN JOHNSON HAS BROUGHT UP BEFORE, WHICH IS GRASS CLIPPINGS REACHING THE TURKEY CREEK.
THAT WAS JUST YESTERDAY, SO I'M STILL AWAITING SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REALLY GET GOING ON THAT, ESPECIALLY ONCE THEY GET A DESIGN.
LITTLE GROWERS IS PHENOMENAL AT GRANT WRITING AS WELL.
SO THEY MAY BE ABLE TO FIND FUNDING SOURCES FOR PART OF IT.
WE DID SPEAK TO MISS HADLEY AND WE KIND OF SPOKE ABOUT IT AT BEING HAPPENING IN PHASES.
WE KIND OF BROKE IT DOWN INTO FOUR PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT DURING THAT PROJECT, THERE'S ACTUALLY ALREADY A STORM DRAIN THAT FEEDS INTO TURKEY CREEK THAT HAS A LOT OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN THERE, BUT ALSO WAY MORE NATIVE SPECIES THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MAY DO AS A LOW HANGING FRUIT TO CREATE SOME EXCITEMENT AROUND THAT PROJECT, WE MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO HOSTING A VOLUNTEER EVENT, ESPECIALLY THROUGH A PARTNER AND GOING INTO THAT SOIL, CLEANING IT OUT OF INVASIVE SPECIES. AGAIN, THAT'S MOSTLY A LABOR BASED PROJECT THAT DOES NOT COST THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD OR THE CITY ANY MONEY.
THAT'S A MATTER OF ORGANIZING IT AND GETTING IT GOING AND TRYING TO GET THAT GOING.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDED TO THE AGENDA SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE POTENTIALLY AT THE NEXT MEETING ESPECIALLY AS I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MISS HADLEY AND LITTLE GROWERS ON WHAT THE NEXT STEPS MIGHT BE AND WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE US.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE TURKEY CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY? ALL RIGHT. I NEEDED A YES. THE OTHER. SO THE FIRST PHASE WAS GOING TO BE CLEANING UP THAT STORM DRAIN THAT ALREADY FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO TURKEY CREEK.
PHASE THREE WAS GOING TO BE A BUFFERED SHORELINE THERE WHERE THE SEAWALL IS.
AND THEN PHASE FOUR WOULD LEAD INTO THE LIVING SHORELINE SIDE OF THINGS.
DOUG, THAT STUFF THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT NOW, THAT STUFF THAT YOU SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. YEAH, I DON'T REMEMBER READING THAT IN THE TURKEY CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY.
I THOUGHT WE WERE JUST GOING TO DISCUSS ON A SWALE IN GOODY PARK.
THAT WAS WHAT I HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUT ORIGINALLY.
AND THAT'S THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THAT. BUT MISS HADLEY IS A VISIONARY OF HER OWN.
SO AS SOON AS WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT SWALES, SHE STARTED THINKING ABOUT A LARGER PICTURE FOR GOOD PARK ON HOW WE COULD IMPLEMENT OTHER THINGS. ONE OF THE OTHER PHASES THAT SHE KIND OF THREW OUT IS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ALONG THERE.
AND WHEN SHE ZOOMED OUT OF THE MAP, SHE SAW THOSE TWO CONNECTED LAKES AND TALKED ABOUT DOING INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT WITH NATIVES AROUND THERE AND HOW TO CLEAN THE WATER WITH THAT. AND I KIND OF CHIMED IN EXCITEDLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T EXPECT HER TO GO THAT ROUTE AS WELL, AND SAID THAT THAT MAY BE A GOOD EDUCATION AND DEMONSTRATION AREA FOR HOA'S WITHIN THE CITY OF PALM BAY.
[01:00:01]
IN THE PROCESS OF. I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE THING LEFT ON THAT LIST THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.BUT MOST OF IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. AWESOME.
THAT IS GREAT TO HEAR. NEXT UP ON THE PROJECTS IS NEMO GARDENS.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT'S KIND OF IN A CONCEPTUAL PHASE.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY COUNCILMAN HAMMER.
NEMO GARDENS IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN CITY OWNED SPACE THAT ABOUT A DECADE AGO THE RESIDENTS IN THE NEMO GARDENS AREA WERE ABLE TO CLEAR THAT OUT OF INVASIVE SPECIES, USE IT AS A COMMUNITY GARDEN WITH FOOD AND PLANTS AND DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
INTEREST HAS KIND OF WANED THROUGH THAT AREA.
SO IT HAS GONE OVERGROWN. IT'S GOT A LOT OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN THERE.
I WENT BACK IN THERE AND IT IS FILLED WITH COGON GRASS AND WEDELIA TO THE BRIM.
SO WE'VE KIND OF BEEN TOSSING ABOUT AN IDEA AS THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD OF HOW CAN WE REENGAGE THIS COMMUNITY GARDENS PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY OF PALM BAY? WE DO HAVE A LOT OF POCKET PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PALM BAY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE SMALL AND OWNED BY THE CITY.
SPACES. IF WE ARE ABLE TO USE NEMO GARDENS AS A BLUEPRINT, DEVELOP A PLAN AS TO HOW TO ENGAGE THESE COMMUNITY GARDENS, HOW THEY CAN BE USED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. I FEEL THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN THEN SPRINGBOARD AND TAKE OFF AND START SHOWING UP IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PALM BAY. EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR GREEN SPACE IN THEIR AREA AND HOW IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DEVELOPED.
THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT GREEN SPACES DON'T GET DEVELOPED IS BY HAVING A VIABLE USE FOR THEM.
AND HAD JUST HAVE THIS COMMUNITY DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S A PERFECT PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PALM BAY.
LONG TERM, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE WHERE WE MAY WANT TO, IN THE FUTURE CHOOSE A MEETING AND DEDICATE A LARGE PORTION OF THE MEETING TO FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ON THE BOARD IS A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE BOARD IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE OUT IN THE SUNSHINE, NOT NECESSARILY A PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A HINDRANCE.
WE HAVE TWO HOURS A MONTH TO TALK THESE THINGS OVER.
AND THEN BEYOND THAT, WE AS A BOARD CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT ANYTHING OR PLAN ANYTHING ON OUR OWN.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY HOSTING WORKSHOPS AND FINDING WAYS TO DO STUFF IN THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A CORRECT SOLUTION THAT WOULD SATISFY SUNSHINE LAWS.
BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO MY POWERS AND TIME AND ENERGY.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ON REAL QUICK. SO MY FAMILY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GOING OUT THERE AND CUTTING THE GRASS AND KEEPING THE TRAILS KIND OF CLEAN TO TRY TO WE'VE TRIED TO PLANT A PUMPKIN GARDEN OUT THERE, BUT THERE'S NO WATER ACCESS. SO THERE'S REALLY NO WAY THE PUBLIC, EVEN IF WE WERE TO OPEN IT UP, JUST AS THE PUBLIC TRYING TO BUILD IT BACK UP, THERE'S NO WATER ACCESS, SO WE CAN'T GROW ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. LIKE YOU SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF INVASIVE SPECIES OUT THERE. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS, LIKE YOU SAID, GROW BECAUSE I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT UTILIZATION OF OUR GREEN SPACES AND SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS A GARDEN IN THE PAST. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS MORE CLOSED OFF TO THE LOCKHART ESTATES GROUP ONLY. BUT HAD I KNOWN ABOUT IT BACK IN THE DAY, I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF IT. SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN MY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT I RUN WITH, THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE COMMUNITY GARDEN BACK UP AND RUNNING. SO I LOVE THAT THIS IS ON THERE.
AND IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO SPEARHEAD IT, I MEAN, I DO HAVE A LOT ON MY PLATE, BUT I AM WILLING TO TAKE ON NEMO GARDEN. THAT CAN BE MY PROJECT. I'LL TAKE THAT. I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THAT ONE ON AS THE KIND OF CHAMPION FOR THAT ONE.
YES, SIR. NIMMO GARDEN. THE COUPLE ISSUES THAT THEY HAD WAS PARKING.
OTHER THAN THAT, THE RESIDENTS LOVED THE IDEA OF THE GARDEN BEING THERE.
THERE IS A WELL THAT'S ON SITE. I SAW THAT IT'S BEEN CAPPED BUT IT'S EASILY CUT AND PUMP CAN BE INSTALLED WITH A GENERATOR THAT CAN BE PORTABLE OR WHEELED IN AND OUT. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE IDEAS LIKE THAT TO GET WATER THERE.
AWESOME. I DO WANT TO SAY THE LAST TIME I WAS OUT THERE, ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE ARE UTILIZING IT AS A HOME DEPOT AND COMING TO STEAL PLANTS.
I FOUND LIKE 10 TO 12 EMPTY BOTTLES, GLASS BOTTLES THROWN AROUND.
SO WE'VE JUST BEEN TRYING TO KEEP IT CLEAN. AND I LET HER KNOW THAT WAS WHY I WAS OUT THERE. BUT JUST JUST SOMETHING ELSE TO BE AWARE OF IS PEOPLE ARE STILL ACCESSING THAT AREA EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO PARKING SIGNS AND ALL OF THAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO,
[01:05:01]
AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS ONCE BEFORE AS PART OF MY MASTER NATURALIST CLASSES AND PART OF MY COMMITMENT TO CONRADINA CHAPTER.I WANT TO, IN KIND OF, AGAIN, TYING IN THE PALM BAY SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD TO IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO A NATURE HIKE AT NEMO GARDENS.
FOR THE COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MEMBERS OF CONRADINA CHAPTER, WHATNOT SPEAK TO HOW THE UPLAND SYSTEM THAT USED TO WORK IN THAT SYSTEM IS WHAT THE NATIVE PLANTS THAT YOU FIND IN THERE.
WHEN I WENT BACK THERE AND DID KIND OF A SITE VISIT I SAW WHERE THERE WAS A FIRE THAT HAPPENED.
I'VE SINCE LEARNED THE, THE HISTORY OF THAT FIRE.
BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT FIRE IS IT ACTUALLY PROVIDES A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
PARKING IS A CONCERN. THAT'S THE THE MAIN HURDLE THAT I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S LIKE THAT ONE SIDE OFF TO THE EDGE WHERE THERE'S LIKE A CLEARED OUT SPOT.
I BELIEVE THAT MUST BE WHERE THE SHED USED TO HAVE BEEN.
AND I MEAN, CARS CAN GET UP THERE TO PARK IN THAT LITTLE CLEARED AREA.
SO WE COULD MAYBE DESIGNATE THAT AS LIKE, I KNOW WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO HAVE PARKING SPACES.
WE WANT TO HAVE A GARDEN, BUT IF THAT GETS THE CARS OFF THE ROAD AND HELPS ALLEVIATE THE PRESSURE FROM THE NEIGHBORS, I THINK THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO UTILIZE THAT AS A SPACE.
WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO KEEP OUR EVENTS KIND OF SMALL, MAYBE LIMITED. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE NATURE TRAILS OUT THERE. I KIND OF WENT AND DID A LITTLE STUDY OF MY OWN. I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL, BUT I TOOK PICTURES OF ALL THE PLANTS AND I MADE LIKE LISTS OF INVASIVES AND NATIVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I WAS TRYING TO KIND OF GO THROUGH AND, AND JUST GET AN IDEA OF FULL PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE WE CAN GO WITH THAT. EXCELLENT. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THERE IS A GAS LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE PROPERTY.
SO WHERE THAT CLEARED SPACE IS PROBABLY IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DRIVE OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, YOU WOULD. WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A PIPE INSTALLED IN THE SWALE AND A CONCRETE APRON AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL THE BASES WITH THAT.
UNDERSTOOD. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ON THE LIST IS AN ONGOING THING THAT WE HAVE STARTED TO DO, WHICH IS TREAT SPEEDS AND EATS, AS EVERYBODY IS PROBABLY WELL AWARE AT THIS POINT, THE TREATS, BEATS AND EATS IS HAPPENING MONTHLY.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS A TOUCH A TRUCK OUT THERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY MONTH.
THEY HAVE GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD TO BECOME A PART OF THAT EVENT.
I WAS THERE LAST MONTH. WE TALKED ABOUT GOPHER TORTOISE DAY.
I GAVE OUT A BUNCH GOPHER TORTOISE TATTOOS TO SOME YOUNGER CITIZENS.
I THINK IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EVENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO AS A BOARD IS, AGAIN, NOT DEDICATE TOO MUCH TIME TO IT, BUT COME UP WITH A THEME FOR EACH ONE OF THE MONTHS.
THAT WAY WE ARE ABLE TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO THAT MONTH.
SO LIKE LAST MONTH WAS GO FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO FALL ON GOPHER TORTOISE DAY.
SO OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A PERFECT THEME FOR ME.
BUT IF WE LOOK AT MAY, JUNE, JULY, MOVING INTO THE FUTURE WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THE, WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THAT TIME FRAME FOR TREES, BEATS AND EATS, OR IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING GOING ON SPECIFIC KIND OF PICK A TOPIC THAT RELATES TO SUSTAINABILITY AND TRY TO USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
NOT ONLY OF US AS A BOARD BUT OBVIOUSLY WHATEVER THE TOPIC IS AS WELL.
I WAS GOING TO SAY ON THOSE DATES THAT THERE DON'T ALIGN WITH THE HOLIDAY OR WHATEVER. WE COULD PROBABLY UTILIZE MAYBE ONE OF OUR SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND JUST KIND OF A COMMUNITY UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AND HOW WE COULD UTILIZE HELP AND HOW THEY CAN GET INVOLVED. YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
IF WE COULD JUST MAYBE JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO KIND OF LIKE FIREHOSE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW EVENTS, BUT JUST KIND OF CAPTURE, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO SECTION ONE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD AND, AND JUST KIND OF LOOKING IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. SO MAKE SURE I'M TRACKING WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR TASKS ARE. AND MY 5050 METER QUESTION IS GOING BACK TO THE TURKEY CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT I THINK THE DOUG MENTIONED WAS ALMOST DONE, EXCEPT FOR ONE FINAL THING IS WHERE CAN I ACCESS THIS STUDY? SO THAT I CAN REVIEW IT. SO I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO, TO PARTAKE IN, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED, YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE ONLY ONE PERSON, WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE. AND I'M GLAD THAT I CAN, I CAN ASSIST, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT A FULL UNDERSTANDING BEFORE I CAN SAY, HEY, I CAN HELP HERE. AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN THE DEEP END HERE.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME OF WHAT I'M ASKING HERE, ONE, WHAT'S OUR WHAT'S OUR ROLE HERE AS A SUSTAINABLE ADVISORY BOARD? I HAD AN UNDERSTANDING PRIOR TO COMING ON AND WHAT'S OUR MISSION AS WE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN LINE WITH THIS SECTION ONE OF THE ARTICLE ONE OF SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
[01:10:07]
BYLAWS. I'VE I'VE BEEN SENT. AND THEN TWO, WITH THAT IN PLACE, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE REMAINDER? BECAUSE YOU SAID WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW WE HAVE TO DO THAT UNDER THE SUNSHINE LAWS. WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW AND DISCUSS THAT. AND THEN THREE, TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT FOR THIS NEW BUSINESS? AND BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE AS IF WE'RE TAILORED IN ONE AREA, BUT I'M NOT AN EXPERT LIKE YOU ARE.AND THEN LASTLY, I WANTED TO GET THAT STUDY SO I CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE TURKEY CREEK, BECAUSE I'M LIKE, WE WANT TO DO THIS COOL THING. THERE'S THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT LITTLE GROWERS, INC., BUT THEN I HEAR IT'S ALREADY BEING DONE. SO THEN WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF TALKING ABOUT THE FOUR PHASES IF IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE? SO A LOT OF MOVING PIECES HERE. SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I PLAY THIS GAME HERE.
UNDERSTANDABLE. I CAN PASS AGAIN LIKE I HAD WITH THE GLASS RECYCLING STUFF.
I CAN PASS THAT ALONG TO OUR STAFF AND SEE IF THEY CAN SHARE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH YOU.
I DON'T BELIEVE GOOD PARK HAS BEEN TOUCHED AT ALL BY THE CITY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THAT AS A SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD IS THAT'S KIND OF THE ONE OBJECT WE CAN KIND OF GET ENGAGED ON AND PROVIDE IDEAS TO THE CITY AND, AND HELP DEVELOP BASICALLY WHEN THEY WHEN THEY DID THE TURKEY CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE ASKED THEM TO DO A CERTAIN AREA OF THE CITY, WHICH WAS THE TURKEY CREEK AREA.
AND THE STUDY BROUGHT BACK ALL KINDS OF IDEAS AND GREAT INFORMATION.
SOME OF IT DIDN'T INCLUDE WHAT PUBLIC WORKS ACTUALLY HAS CONTROL OVER.
SO SOME OF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PARTS WHICH WOULD BE PARKS AND FACILITIES, NOT PUBLIC WORKS.
SOME OF IT WAS PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. SO MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ADVISED ON THE TURKEY CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY, LIKE I WAS STATING, HAVE BEEN DONE THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY, I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE, WHICH IS THAT ONE IN GOOD PARK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO INTERACT WITH OR HAVE THE BOARD INTERACT WITH THE PARKS AND RECS AND WHATNOT, AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO SEE IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN DOING IT. OKAY.
THERE WAS A, THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD WAS TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PALM BAY TO REACH NET ZERO BY, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2036 SOMEWHERE, WHATEVER THAT TIME FRAME IS.
THE ORIGINAL SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD DID CREATE A FIVE YEAR PLAN.
PRESENTED IT TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME. COUNCIL ADOPTED IT.
I THINK THEY DID THAT IN 2025. I BELIEVE YOU WORKED ON IT 2024 AND 2025.
THEY PRESENTED THAT UPDATED VERSION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE CITY COUNCIL WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ADOPTING IT AT THAT TIME.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHEN I ENDED UP BECOMING INTERESTED IN THE BOARD.
AND THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE BOARD'S PURPOSE IS.
WHY EVEN HAVE THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD.
WE HAD HAD TWO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS EVEN SAY THAT THEY WERE NEVER GOING TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO THE ACCOUNT, THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GONE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SERVING A PUBLIC GOOD. SO THEN IT KIND OF BECAME AN IDENTITY CRISIS AS TO WHAT THE BOARD PURPOSE IS.
SO I KIND OF TOOK THAT AS TO BE MORE ACTION ORIENTED.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE ROLE I ENVISION FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD IS.
JUST THIS PAST THURSDAY, I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND SPENT MY THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC SPEAKING ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD TO REVISIT THAT COUNCIL OR WHAT THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD'S CHARTER IS.
THEY LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD IS GOING IN CURRENTLY.
I THINK SOLIDIFYING THAT SUPPORT AND CHANGING OUR PURPOSE AND EVEN POTENTIALLY OUR NAME TO JUST BEING THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD AS OPPOSED TO THE ADVISORY BOARD, BECAUSE ADVISORY KIND OF LIMITS WHAT YOU KIND OF PARTICIPATION YOU MIGHT HAVE INVOLVED IN IT.
[01:15:04]
AND WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF OTHER LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY BOARDS, SUCH AS IN THE ATLANTIC AND MELBOURNE BEACH AND MELBOURNE WHO DO HOLD THESE EVENTS AND THEY DO GARDEN PLANTINGS AND THEY BRING PEOPLE ON IN THE CITY OF ANY ATLANTIC HAS A, I BELIEVE, A MODEST BUDGET OF SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF LIKE $1,200 THAT THEY GET EITHER QUARTERLY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.AND THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS AND PLAN FOR THOSE AND KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE TO CREATE PROJECTS AND BUILD PROJECTS AROUND AND IMPROVE THE CITY OF INDIALANTIC AS THEY BOARD THEMSELVES. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE MODEL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE TOWARDS.
AGAIN, THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE CITY COUNCIL IN.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE AS A BOARD CAN CHANGE OURSELVES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND ENCOURAGE THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION, AND LOOK AT THE CHARTER AND SEE HOW WE CAN MODERNIZE THE CHARTER TO MATCH WHAT THE CITY, THE CURRENT CITY OF PALM BAY LEADERSHIP WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM US.
SO WHEN I HEAR YOU SAYING, IF I'M GATHERING CORRECTLY, YOU BACK BRIEF YOU, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SHIFTING TOWARD ACTION ORIENTED. THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE THUS FAR IS ABOUT THIS OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH REGARDS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THAT THERE'S A CURRENT FLUX RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'RE WAITING ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE YOU THAT GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT THE NEW CHARTER WILL STATE, BECAUSE THEY DID REJECTED WHAT WAS SUBMITTED BEFORE IN THE PAST BY OUR PREVIOUS COLLEAGUES.
YES, YES, YES. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE THAT WE'RE IN WITH THIS.
THE CREATING THE LONG TERM PLAN WAS NOT AN INTEREST FOR THE BOARD.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACTION AND PUBLIC BENEFIT.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO GENERATE AND FIND FIND A WAY TO CREATE THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT AS A BOARD.
OKAY. HAVE WE IDENTIFIED SUSTAINABILITY RISK IN THE CITY OF PALM BAY? ARE WE BROUGHT IN IN THE PAST THIRD PARTIES THAT THAT HELP US DO THAT? IF WE HAVE TO DO THIS ALL IN THIS THIS MEETING, THEN I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS NOW.
AND THEY ARE OUR PUBLIC WORKS PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING A LOT OF THE THINGS ALREADY THAT WERE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REALM OF OUR, OF OUR PLAN.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLY ON, THEY WERE DOING THOSE RIGHT THROUGH THE WHOLE DISCUSSIONS AND FORMALIZING A DOCUMENT ABOUT IT. THEY HAD ALREADY STARTED THE WORK.
BUT THE CITY IS MOVING BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT FLOOD MANAGEMENT.
AND WE KNOW FROM THE CITY MANAGER, THE NEW CITY MANAGER, MR. MORTON, SHOWING UP THAT SOME OF THE MEETINGS ANYWAY, THAT HE'S VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING A MORE IN A PUBLICLY ENGAGED BOARD SUSTAINABILITY BOARD. SO, SO WE CAN BRING THE PUBLIC INTO AN ON BOARD WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE COMMUNITY.
OKAY. YEAH. AND THAT'S KIND OF TO MISS ZIEGLER'S POINT ON THAT LAST POINT.
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT A LOT OF THIS IS KIND OF FOCUSED ON.
WE DO HAVE SOME BIG OVERARCHING PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT A LOT OF THE THINGS ON THESE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED AS ONGOING, THOSE ARE JUST REENGAGING WITH THE PUBLIC AS A BOARD.
BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE MORE VOICES THAT WE HAVE IN THE AUDIENCE, THE STRONGER WE AS A BOARD ARE, THE STRONGER OUR IDEAS ARE, AND THE MORE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SEES THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD MOVING FORWARD. SO A LOT OF THESE ARE KIND OF LOW HANGING FRUIT.
WHAT CAN WE DO AS INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ANY FUNDING? GET THE BALL ROLLING. AND ONCE WE BUILD THAT SNOWBALL UP, HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET LARGE ENOUGH TO WHERE WE HAVE A ROOM OF 50 AND 60 PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO SHOW UP. AND WHEN WE SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO, THEY SHOW UP TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND USE THEIR THREE MINUTES OF PUBLIC SPEAKING TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A COMMUNITY.
SO I YIELD MY TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATION.
YEAH. NO PROBLEM. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE LIST WE WON'T GO TOO MUCH INTO THIS ONE AS WELL BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS IS THE INVASIVE PLANT BOOKLET. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MISS BARBER FOR HER HARD WORK AND EFFORTS ON THERE.
[01:20:01]
VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. SHE, I GET LOTS OF EMAILS ABOUT IT AND I AM HAPPY TO LISTEN TO EVERY ONE OF THEM AND GIVE MY SUGGESTIONS AS BEST I CAN HERE AND THERE.BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT.
SO EVEN THOUGH THE BOOKLET ITSELF IS DONE, IT'S GOING TO BE REVISED.
IT'S GOING TO BE SHARED OUT AND WE JUST NEED TO FIND MORE WAYS TO YOUR POINT EARLIER AS TO HOW DO WE GET THE CITY OR THE CITIZENS OF PALM BAY TO BE ABLE TO FIND IT AND USE IT? SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERING, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE POINT ON THAT AND TO REACH OUT TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORES AND TO SEND THIS BOOKLET, IF IT'S PERMITTED BY THE CITY STAFF, LET ME KNOW IF IT'S NOT PERMITTED IF IT'S PERMITTED TO SEND IT TO THE STORE.
YEAH. I BELIEVE FOR AN ACTION ITEM LIKE THAT, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? SURE. I CAN MAKE A MOTION.
WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS. EXCELLENT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.
SO I BELIEVE YOU NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT PROJECT ON.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ANOTHER ONGOING ONE AND EVENT CALENDAR.
I HAVE BEEN ONGOING WITH IT AND TRYING TO FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO IT, IDEALLY THIS KIND OF A THING, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO MR. MORTON ABOUT POTENTIALLY GETTING THIS MOVED TO THE CITY WEBSITE OR HAVING SOME KIND OF OPEN FORUM FOR THAT.
WE HAVE CREATED AN EVENT CALENDAR AS A SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD.
I THINK IT IS TINYURL.COM/PAB CALENDAR. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT THE PBASAB NEEDS TO BE IN ALL CAPS, BUT IT IS IN ALL CAPS, AT LEAST IN THE URL.
AND I'VE BEEN UPDATING THAT WITH EVENTS FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS CONRADINA AND MRC AND SORREL AND BASICALLY ANYBODY OPERATING IN AND AROUND PALM BAY. JUST TO HAVE A CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? YES, IT IS TINYURL.COM/PBSAB PALM BAY SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD CALENDAR, AND THAT SHOULD TAKE IT TO IT.
I TRY TO MAINTAIN IT PROBABLY EVERY TWO WEEKS, FIND NEW EVENTS AND UPDATE THEM.
SO IF WE CAN CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR WITHIN THE CITY OF PALM BAY.
I THINK THAT PROVIDES THE THE COMMUNITY A PUBLIC GOOD.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR ON THE LIST IS PUBLIC OUTREACH.
WE KIND OF SPOKE ABOUT THAT DURING YOUR QUESTION.
INCREASING THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD'S AWARENESS. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, MORE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE MEANS MORE IDEAS. WE GET MORE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. WE HAVE MORE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON BOARD FOR IT AND MAKE THOSE VOICES HEARD.
SO THAT PUBLIC OUTREACH IS AN ONGOING THING. ALWAYS WELCOME FOR NEW IDEAS.
THAT'S WHY I RUN AROUND LIKE A CHICKEN WITH MY HEAD CUT OFF IS SO WE HAVE A VISIBLE MEMBER OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD SHOWING UP AT AS MANY CITY EVENTS AS I CAN POSSIBLY SHOW UP TO. AGAIN, ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT.
AND IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, FEEL FREE TO SHOW UP ABOUT IT.
AND TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, BRING AWARENESS TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE HAPPY TO, I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO SAY TO THAT NOTE, DO WE HAVE ANY SORT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY? IF WE GO OUT TO AN EVENT, SAY, IF WE WANTED TO SET UP A LITTLE BOOTH OR SOMETHING LIKE SO WE HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IN THE PAST.
WE DO HAVE ACCESS THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS TO A TABLE AND SOME CHAIRS.
BUT LIKE WHAT I HAD ENVISIONED WAS REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES AND THINGS.
LOGOED WITH THE PALM BAY SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. AND THAT IS NOT AN OPTION AT THIS TIME.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE ABLE TO GET LIKE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OR POTENTIALLY.
SO THAT BRINGS ME TO SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO DISCUSS IN OUR BOARD REPORTS.
[01:25:02]
IF WE HAVE TIME, I NEED TO SPEED IT UP TO GET TO BOARD REPORTS.BUT COUNCILMAN HAMMER HAD BROUGHT UP THE, HOW DO WE FUND THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD? AND HE HAD BROUGHT UP POTENTIALLY THE CITY CREATING A 501 C THREE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ON BOARD DONATIONS FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR OUR PROJECTS.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE MIGHT POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING MORE OFFICIAL ON THE BOOKS AND BRING IT IN HOUSE.
MRC FOR INSTANCE. THE TED MOORE LAGOON HOUSE IS USUALLY PRETTY GENEROUS IN OFFERING PAPERWORK AND OTHER GROUPS, JUST PRINTOUTS FROM, YOU KNOW, OTHER GROUPS DOING WORK IN THE AREA TO SO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE FIVE OF US, THE SEVEN OF US. THAT'S ALSO GOING TO MENTION THAT I KNOW YOU ATTENDED THE YOU ATTEND REGULARLY THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT I GO TO AS WELL.
SO IF YOU WANT, WE CAN SEE SEPARATE WEEK SO WE DON'T GO TO EVERY SINGLE ONE.
BUT I LIKE TO GO THERE BECAUSE WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT ISSUES.
I THINK COUNCILMAN HAMMEL MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT WATER ISSUE AND FLOODING.
SO LOOKING AT THOSE ISSUES AND SEEING HOW WE CAN LOOK AT IT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, HOW WE CAN AID, AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO TALKING TO THE PUBLIC.
YES. YEAH. I HAVE A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE HERE ON THE LIST HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS DIRECTLY, AND I KIND OF BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THE BOARD AND TAKEN A RUN.
THE ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AGAIN, I JUST DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH AND TIME TO DO IT.
I WOULD LIKE US TO BE A PART OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AS WELL IN THE AUDIENCE AND GET INVOLVED WITH P AND Z AND SEE IF WE CAN'T HAVE A KIND OF FIRST LEVEL THING WITH P AND Z WHERE WE CAN SPEAK AS A SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD AND ASK THE QUESTIONS IS, HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY WHEN THESE DEVELOPERS COME UP? WE'VE ALSO TRIED WORKING WITH BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEVELOPERS.
THAT HAS BEEN SLOW. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE ON.
AND IDEALLY WE WOULD HAVE DEVELOPERS COME UP AND PRESENT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD AS TO HOW THEIR, THEIR DEVELOPMENT FITS WITHIN THE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S A LONG TERM DISCUSSION. YES, SIR.
BILL BATTEN 586 OCEAN SPRAY STREET, SOUTHWEST.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO WE'RE WORKING WITH YOUR DEVELOPERS IS THE LOW THE LID, THE LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS PROMOTING, BUT IT'S ALL VOLUNTARY FOR THE DEVELOPERS.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE'S NOT A BIG INCENTIVE FOR IT.
BUT THERE IS SOME THAT SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS ARE SAYING, WELL, WE'LL AND THEY'LL MAKE REFERENCE TO THE LID PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY TO SHOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING BEING DONE THERE. BUT IT'S IT'S ALL VOLUNTARY FOR THEM TO DO IT.
AND IF THEIR INCENTIVES. THEY GAIN A LITTLE, BUT THEY HAVE TO GIVE A LOT TO GAIN THAT LITTLE.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. BUT BUT THE LEAD PROGRAM IS THERE.
YES, SIR. AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETINGS ARE HELD WHEN, PLEASE.
I WANT TO SAY IT'S THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, EITHER THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OR FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. I KNOW IT'S VERY EARLY ON IN THE MONTH. THANK YOU. FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
YES, SIR. I'M GOING TO REAL FAST BLOW THROUGH THESE LAST ONES SO WE HAVE SOME TIME FOR BOARD DISCUSSIONS BOARD REPORTS, DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS. WE KIND OF TOUCHED ON THAT ALREADY.
THEY'RE ALL PROBABLY STARTING TO GET TIRED OF ME.
WE DO HAVE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE CAN LEAN ON AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED BROCHURES.
WE'RE DOING THIS EVENT. CAN YOU GUYS PROVIDE SOME BROCHURES? IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY ON THEIR SPECIAL EVENTS.
THAT IS KIND OF TALKING INTO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AS A BOARD? SO I CREATED AND I AGAIN, HAVE STAFF SHARE IT OUT TO THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I KIND OF CREATED A CALENDAR FOR 2026 AS TO WHAT ALL KIND OF EVENTS ARE GOING ON.
I HAVE SINCE FOLDED THAT ALSO INTO OUR EVENT CALENDAR.
SO WE KNOW, HEY, EARTH DAY IS THIS DAY, ARBOR DAY IS THIS DAY.
[01:30:01]
THOSE KIND OF SPECIAL EVENTS WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD. AGAIN, LOW COST, LOW IMPACT HELPS INCREASE OUR VISIBILITY AND OUR PUBLIC BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. IF WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING GREAT SPEAKERS COME OUT AND TALK ABOUT WHY THESE THINGS MATTER AND HOW IT HELPS OUR CITIZENS.OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS A BENEFIT WE ARE PROVIDING AS A BOARD.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT I WANTED TO TYPE ON.
WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT IT AS A BOARD.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT POPPED UP DURING A RIDE ALONG THAT I HAD WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
AND IT'S KIND OF BEEN SITTING IN THE BACK OF MY MIND ALL ALONG.
AND THEY REGULARLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS DRY AND MOW OVER THIS FIELD.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD DO IS TRY TO IDENTIFY AND WORK WITH OUR STAFF WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO IDENTIFY THESE WATER MANAGEMENT AREAS AND POTENTIALLY PLANT CYPRESS TREES AND DO SOME REWILDING IN THESE AREAS TO WHERE THE CYPRESS TREES ARE GOING TO BE ABSORBING ALL THE MOISTURE ARE GOING TO BE ABSORBING NUTRIENTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING HABITAT. BASICALLY, HOW CAN WE LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE ALREADY DOING GOOD AND MAKE THEM BETTER AND TRY TO HELP THAT OUT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO IN THE FUTURE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MR. ABBOTT, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING BROUGHT UP.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HE IS FOCUSING ON AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
YEP. HE'S FOCUSING ON AND CHAMPIONING. HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM AS A SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE BUILDERS WHO GET CERTIFIED OR GREEN BUILDING CERTIFIED. THAT WAY, WE, AS A CITY, ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR EFFORTS AND PROMOTE THOSE BUILDINGS AND TRY TO GET THAT OUT THERE FOR THEM. I DID, UNFORTUNATELY, CATCH THAT AFTER I TYPED THIS UP AND PRINTED IT AND I WAS LIKE DARN IT.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I SNUCK IT IN HERE DURING THE CONVERSATION ON IT.
I HAD IT COVERED. YES, MA'AM. BETH BLACKFORD FOR 86 NOGALES AVENUE, NORTHEAST. HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. DOES A CITY CITY BOARD HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST GRANTS ON ITS OWN, OR DO YOU KNOW? I DO NOT KNOW. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE STAFF MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER.
MAYBE. OKAY. AND IF IF THE ASSUMING THE BOARD DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST GRANTS, DO ANY OF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST OR EXPERIENCE IN WRITING TO REQUEST GRANTS? AND IF NOT, I THINK I CAN PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES FOR TRAINING.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY OF ADDRESSING SOME SHORT TERM FUNDING PROBLEMS. I THINK YOU'RE THE GREEN BUILDING AWARDS AND THE LEEDS AWARDS ARE PHENOMENAL.
COULD GO EASILY HAND IN HAND WITH SOME PRESENTATIONS FROM FORWARD LEANING DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE EMBRACED LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES. EVEN OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, THERE ARE SOME VERY WELL-KNOWN DEVELOPERS JUST NORTH IN VOLUSIA COUNTY AND SEVERAL THAT HAVE HAD MAJOR STORMS ON THE WEST COAST WHERE THEIR SUBDIVISIONS HAVE SURVIVED BEAUTIFULLY.
THOSE WOULD BE EXEMPLARY THINGS TO HAVE ADDRESS THE BOARD, CERTAINLY, BUT YOU MIGHT GET SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN TO AND EVEN MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING JUST TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT'S POSSIBLE HERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON NEW BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER THREE, DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER ONE.
[OTHER BUSINESS]
JUST REAL QUICKLY I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS SECTION TO OUR NEW MEMBERS.BASICALLY THE BOARD REPORT SECTION OF THE MEETING IS ON THERE EVERY MONTH.
IT ALLOWS US AS BOARD MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON, BRING UP NEW IDEAS, SPREAD SOME INFORMATION. BASICALLY IT'S OUR OPEN FORUM AS BOARD MEMBERS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO.
SO SEEING AS THAT IS THE CASE WE WILL START WITH MRCP.
DO YOU HAVE A REPORT TONIGHT? YES, I DO, I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS FIRST THOUGH, ONE IS I, JUDY RANDALL GOT FROM CHIEF SPEAR'S INFORMATION ON A VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT REGARDING THE PERSON
[01:35:05]
WHO CAUSED THE DEATH OF SUSAN CONNOLLY, LYDIA REYES FIGUEROA.HER NEXT HEARING IS MONDAY AT 9 A.M.. IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING A STATEMENT ON THAT TO SHOW HOW VALUABLE SHE WAS TO THIS COMMUNITY I CAN FORWARD THAT INFORMATION TO YOU WITH, YOU KNOW, AN IDEA OF HOW TO LAY IT OUT AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S NEEDED.
AND WHAT THEY'LL DO IS WHEN THEY HAVE THE VICTIM IMPACT HEARING HOPEFULLY THEY WILL WE CAN DECIDE ON SOMEBODY TO READ, READ THE STATEMENTS OR PRESENT THEM OURSELVES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON MONDAY BECAUSE I'VE GONE TO THE OTHER HEARINGS AND SHE WAS A NO SHOW, SO WHO KNOWS. APPARENTLY THERE'S NO PENALTY FOR THAT.
ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE IS IF ANYBODY ON THE BOARD OR OTHERWISE IS INTERESTED IN ROBERT'S RULES.
THE APOLLO 11 PARLIAMENTARIAN GROUP IS DOING ZOOM CLASSES.
ON THE THIRD SATURDAY AT 10:30 A.M. THIRD SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GET YOUR NAME ON THAT LIST.
I'M ALSO ANNOUNCING THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO BE ON THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD, WHICH IS A STATE BOARD. AND I WOULD BE REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT THAT IS AN ELECTED POSITION.
IT'S AN UNPAID, NOT PAID, BUT IT'S AN ELECTED POSITION.
SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW ONCE I GET THROUGH QUALIFICATIONS.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP AS BEING PART OF THIS GROUP.
GIVE US AN EAR IN TALLAHASSEE. ALSO. I WENT ON A PUBLIC WORKS TOUR WITH ERIC AND DEREK AND IT WAS I WISH I HAD DONE IT SOONER.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I LEARNED.
ONE WAS THAT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MONOLITH AND WHAT TO PLANT THERE THEY POINTED OUT THAT A NUMBER OF CARS HAVE DRIVEN INTO THAT MONOLITH BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE IT. THE TURN IS VERY NARROW.
SO YOU SEE IT, BUT MY GUESS IS THE ACCIDENTS PROBABLY HAPPEN AT NIGHT.
SO I HAVE A SUGGESTION THAT MAYBE WE DO SORT OF AN ARTSY REFLECTOR THING, MAYBE THERE'S FOUR BOXES.
INSTEAD OF DOING PLANTS. WE WE DO SOMETHING LIKE A BIG WELCOME WITH REFLECTORS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN'T MISS IT. AND THE SIDE BOXES COULD BE SAYONARA OR WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW, JUST PUT SOMETHING IN THERE THAT PEOPLE SEE IT SO THEY KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A ROAD YOU CAN'T DRIVE INTO IT.
ALSO THE OTHER THING I LEARNED WAS THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARDS ARE A MANDATE BY THE STATE.
AND THERE'S THIS FORM MS FOR THAT. THIS BOARD'S FINDINGS ARE USED TO COMPLETE THAT FORM. IT MUST BE FILED EVERY YEAR.
AND THE GOAL OF IT IS TO HAVE LOCAL INPUT ON HOW TO MAKE THIS CITY MORE SUSTAINABLE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PLANTS, IT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, MY PERSONAL FEELING WITH PLANTS IS WHAT WE PLANT SHOULD BE PHYTOREMEDIATION, WHICH I'VE TALKED ABOUT A FEW TIMES, WHICH BASICALLY WELL, MOST PLANTS, THEY SERVE DUAL PURPOSES.
SOME OF THEM CLEAN THE AIR, SOME OF THEM EAT VIRUSES, SOME OF THEM EAT PFAS, SOME OF THEM IF YOU HAVE THE CARNIVOROUS PLANTS AND YOU PUT THEM AROUND STILLWATER PONDS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE MOSQUITOES LIKE TO LIVE.
REGARDING TONY ABADI'S GREEN BUILDING. I WOULD LIKE US TO SEE HAVE A SOLID PLAN AND A LIST OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR WHAT WE CAN CALL A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING IN THE CITY OF PALM BAY AND HAVE A LITTLE PLAQUE TO PUT ON THERE.
[01:40:07]
YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL INSPECT IT OR AND, YOU KNOW, JUST PUT VALUE TO IT.AND I THINK WE SHOULD START DOING THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO I WOULD ASK IF ERIC COULD POSSIBLY EXPLAIN THE MS4.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT AFTER THIS MEETING, I CAN GO AHEAD AND SEND YOU A COPY OF THE MS4.
BASICALLY, EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE AND PROBABLY THE WHOLE UNITED STATES, EVERY ONE OF THEM HAVE THEIR OWN MISS, FOR IT'S A NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT, WHICH THE FDEP REGULATES, AND THE MS4 ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO DISCHARGE THEIR WATERS AND STATE WATER BODIES LIKE THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND THEN TURKEY CREEK, WHAT HAVE YOU. ALL OF THOSE WATERS GO OUT INTO THE STATE AND NATIONAL WATER BODIES.
SO YOU HAVE TO ADHERE TO STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS BY THE FDP.
THE FUNNY THING IS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE DOING YOUR TAXES BECAUSE FDP KNOWS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO, AND YOU KIND OF HAVE TO GUESS. SO WE'VE WRITTEN OUT THE MS4 PERMIT TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE OUTREACH CLEANING OF CATCH BASINS AND, AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, BMPS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE, WATER TESTING WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THEN THEY GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IT. AND THEN IT'S A FIVE YEAR PERMIT.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE MS4 IS. IT'S COMPLETELY STORMWATER RELATED.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO LIKE OUTREACH, THAT'S WHAT THE TREAT BEATS AND EATS DOES FOR US.
AND THEN THAT OUTREACH, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TRACK OF THE PAMPHLETS WE HAND OUT.
WE KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE, ALL THE, THE EVENTS THAT WE DO.
AND THEN WE PUT THAT INTO THE AUDIT FOR WHENEVER THEY COME AND AUDIT US.
AND THEN EVERY FIVE YEARS WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO REWRITE THE PERMIT AND GO ABOVE AND BEYOND.
BUT FOR FLORIDA, IT'S ALL WATER QUALITY, BASICALLY.
WHEN IS THAT NEXT CYCLE? FOR THE FIVE YEARS. WE ACTUALLY JUST STARTED THE CYCLE IN JULY OF 2025.
SO WE ARE IN ITS INFANCY, BUT WE HAVE TO FILE EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? NO. EVERY FIVE YEARS. OH EVERY FIVE. OKAY. I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT WRONG IN THE SENSE THAT WE TAKE EVERYTHING IN BY A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS.
WE KEEP ALL THAT INFORMATION ON A YEARLY BASIS.
SO YOU'RE NOT TERRIBLY WRONG, BUT THE AUDIT WILL COME SOMETIME WITHIN THAT FIVE YEAR CYCLE.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEAR CYCLE WE HAVE TO GET IT RE-APPROVED.
SO OKAY, THAT'S ALL I GOT. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.
JUST A QUICK REMINDER, WE HAVE ABOUT 17 MINUTES LEFT IN THE MEETING.
SO I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY WANT TO TALK.
NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T.
DON'T KNOW, MISS FOUR IS A SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEMS. SO THE STORM WATER AND THE SEWAGE WATER NEVER COMMINGLE.
VERY GOOD. YEAH. AT LEAST IN YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PLAN.
CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS A HAND IN IT. WE DO ILLICIT DISCHARGES.
SO WE KEEP TRACK OF COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN AND THEN ILLICIT DISCHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED, HOW THEY'RE HANDLED. LAND DEVELOPMENT ALSO PLAYS A PART WITH COMMERCIAL PERMITTING.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN NPDES MONITOR THAT'S CERTIFIED BY FDEP ON EVERY COMMERCIAL SITE.
SO WHEN THEY DO THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES OR THE NEW CHIPOTLE THEY HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO TAKE IN THEIR NPDES INSPECTOR'S WEEKLY REPORTS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE FOR THE STATE IN CASE THEY WANT TO SEE THEM.
SO IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.
EVERYBODY ELSE. EVERYBODY PLAYS A ROLE IN IT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FOR THE FIRST BOARD REPORT OF THE NEW MEMBERS?
[01:45:04]
I'LL JUST GO REALLY QUICK. SORRY. I'LL JUST GO REALLY QUICK BECAUSE YOU GUYS TOUCHED ON A LOT OF THINGS. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING ABOUT THE BYLAWS, BECAUSE I HAD SOME QUESTION ABOUT THAT AS WELL WITH THE 2035 GOAL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.MY ONLY THING THAT HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT IS WATER CONSERVATION.
I KNOW THE CITY OF WEST MELBOURNE HAS THIS RAIN BARREL PROGRAM, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD TRY TO INCORPORATE HERE IN PALM BAY. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS FOR OUR GARDENING GROUPS.
YEAH, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS AT A FUTURE MEETING. AND JUST AS A HEADS UP AND I KIND OF WANTED TO BRING IT UP TO FOR MISS IF THERE IS SOMETHING ACTIONABLE THAT WE WANT TO PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FLOAT A MOTION AND HAVE THE BOARD OR THE BOARD VOTE ON IT AND GET IT ADDED TO A FUTURE AGENDA.
EXCELLENT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU.
SO WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADDING A RAIN BARREL DISCUSSION TO NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA SAY I I ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. AND THAT'S ALL FOR ME.
BUT BEFORE I MAKE THAT MOTION, LET ME JUST GO INTO THE SECOND ONE.
WE HAVE FIT IN MELBOURNE. WE HAVE UCF HERE AT EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE.
THEY HAVE A LOCATION NEARBY. SO HAVING INDIVIDUALS LIKE THAT WHO COME SPEAK TO US ABOUT MATTERS OR COULD GIVE US THEIR INSIGHT OR A WHITE PAPER AFTER THEY'VE TOLD US A RISK WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL SO THAT WE COULD KIND OF USE THAT AS THINGS TO DIGEST AS WE GO FORWARD FOR PERHAPS THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT MEETING OR MEETINGS PER SE.
SO WHAT'S THE MOTION THAT IS UP TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD A DISCUSSION.
A MOTION TO DISCUSS ABOUT IDENTIFYING LOCAL LOCAL CLIMATE RISK.
OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ADDED TO THE AGENDA ON LOCAL CLIMATE RISKS.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT. OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO. AND SECONDLY, A MOTION TO.
A MOTION TO DISCUSS CREATING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES IN AND AROUND PALM BAY TO AID US IN OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE AS A SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. EXCELLENT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THAT.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST. WE HAVE MR. MORTON, OUR CITY MANAGER HAS ACTUALLY BEEN AMENABLE TO FIT HAVING REACHED OUT TO THE CITY BEFORE I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET CONTACT INFORMATION FOR WHOEVER THAT WAS THAT HE SPOKE TO. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS WELL BE INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND I CAN, I CAN TAKE THAT ON. EXCELLENT. I ENJOY FIT.
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO TO HAVE THAT ADDED TO OUR AGENDA.
DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR REPORT? I'M GOOD TO GO.
I HAVE NO REPORT. SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER TWO REAL QUICKLY.
WHICH IS UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS OF INTEREST.
I THINK I MIGHT KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING WITH THIS, SO I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I ADD THAT IN THERE.
FIRST OFF, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THERE IS A SEED SWAP HAPPENING AT TURKEY CREEK.
ON MAY 2ND. LET ME CLICK ON MY CALENDAR REAL QUICK TO SEE WHAT TIME THAT IS 9 TO 11 A.M..
IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE SEED SWAP, YOU CAN GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
LOOK AT THE EVENT PAGE. THERE IS SOME CONTACT INFORMATION FOR WHO YOU WOULD WANT TO REACH OUT TO.
REGARDING THE SEED SWAP AT TURKEY CREEK SANCTUARY.
[01:50:03]
THE NEXT EVENT ON THE LIST IS OUR PUBLIC WORKS OPEN HOUSE.WHICH IS HAPPENING MONDAY, MAY 18TH AT 530 TO 6:30 P.M.
AT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT LOCATED AT 1050 MALABAR ROAD, SOUTHWEST.
PUBLIC WORKS DOES PHENOMENAL WORK AROUND THE, THE, THE ENTIRE CITY.
BASICALLY IF IT IS BROKEN AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, PUBLIC WORKS IS PROBABLY THE ONE WORKING ON IT.
IF IT IS FLOODING AND NEEDS TO NOT BE FLOODING, IT IS PROBABLY PUBLIC WORKS WHO IS WORKING ON IT.
SO IF YOU LIKE HAVING A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AROUND AND WANT TO KNOW HOW ALL IT WORKS.
THE. THE OPEN HOUSE IS A FANTASTIC EVENT THAT WE WELCOME THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO PARTAKE IN.
AND THE THIRD THING ON THE LIST IS GOING TO BE TO DO WHAT IS IT? MAY 15TH IS GOING TO BE OUR NEXT TREATS, BEATS AND EATS HERE AT CITY HALL.
AGAIN, THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PARTAKE IN THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE REALLY NECESSARILY HAVE A FOCUS ON IT FOR THIS MONTH, BUT WE WILL SHOW UP AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AND WHATEVER ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK TO US ABOUT. AND BEYOND THAT, I THINK THAT IS IT FOR EVENTS.
I WILL LET DEREK ADD ON TO THE OPEN HOUSE DISCUSSION IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE OFFER TO BOARD MEMBERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES, IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN, WHICH IS IT'S RIGHT ALONG WHERE WE SHOW YOU THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE BMPS CATCH BASINS, THINGS AROUND THE CITY THAT HELP US CONTRIBUTE TO THE WATER QUALITY THAT GETS DISCHARGED OUT TO THOSE NATIONAL WATER BODIES WE TALKED ABOUT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO THAT, JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE, GIVE ME A SHOUT.
UPDATE FOR YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. REGARDING VOLUNTEERS, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AND WHAT THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO DO TO GET VOLUNTEERS. RISK HAS SAID THAT THEY DO REQUIRE THE WAIVER THAT WE HAVE.
YOU SIGN JUST A BASIC LIABILITY WAIVER. EACH VOLUNTEER CANNOT EXCEED TEN DAYS OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO KEEP CLOSE CONTACT WITH YOUR VOLUNTEERS.
YOU'D HAVE TO WRITE DOWN WHO THEY ARE, HOW MANY DAYS THEY WORKED, WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITY THEY DID, AND THEN TURN THAT INTO RISK. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SIR. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT NEWS FOR A WHILE.
YES, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE TEN DAYS. IS THAT LIKE IN A MONTH OR IN A YEAR? HOW LONG? WHAT IS THAT TEN DAYS BASIS FROM? I'M SO SORRY, KRISTIN.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THE TEN DAYS IS. IS THAT LIKE IN A MONTH OR.
AND THEN JUST TO TOUCH ON WHAT DOUG SAID ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE, YOU, THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD IS, IS WELCOME TO COME AND BE THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD AT THE PUBLIC WORKS OPEN HOUSE.
WE CAN SET UP SOME TABLES FOR YOU IN THE LITTLE TRADESHOW AREA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
AND FEEL FREE TO BRING SOME MATERIALS AND CONVERSE WITH THE CITIZENS.
SO I ALREADY PUT IT ON MY SCHEDULE, SO I WILL BE THERE.
YOU KNOW ME. ABSOLUTELY. I WILL NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER EVENTS, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 7:53 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.