4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Environmental Advisory Board  
Monday, November 7, 2022  
5:00 PM  
City Hall Room 244  
1. Call to Order  
Vice Chair Holland called the meeting to order at 530 p.m.  
2. Roll Call  
4 -  
Present  
Vice Chair Holland, Board Member Therrien, Board Member Lafler and Board  
Member Robinson  
3 - Board Member Hall, Board Member Rodriguez and Vice Chair English  
Absent  
Also Present  
Environmental Technician Jeremy Rogus and Recording Secretary Susan Hale.  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Board.  
3. Pledge of Allegiance  
4. Public Comment  
There was no public comment.  
5. Approval of Minutes  
22-3593  
A.  
Approval of Minutes for the September 12, 2022 Environmental Advisory  
Board Meeting.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member  
Lafler, to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously on a  
voice vote.  
6. New Business  
22-3591  
A.  
Discussion and Possible Action to Recommend that the City Commission  
Support Adoption of Water Quality Solutions and Habitat Preservation in  
City Stormwater Design and City Development Regulations.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item and provided a review of the Board's initiatives  
including examples of wildlife corridors, eco-friendly retention ponds, and creating bird  
sanctuaries.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member  
Lafler, to continue Agenda Item No. 22-3591 to the next Board meeting.  
motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
The  
22-3592  
B.  
Discussion and Possible Action to Recommend that the City Commission  
Support the Native Plantings in Public Parks and Spaces (e.g. Bee  
Stations and Butterfly Gardens).  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Discussion ensued regarding bee and butterfly stations in City parks, volunteer help to  
move the initiative forward, Butler Park being the first location, North Port Parks for  
Pollinators Bio-list program being spearheaded by the Parks and Recreation Department  
in conjunction with The North  
groups.  
Port Environmental Conservancy, and efforts by other  
PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Allain Hale: the Environmental Conservancy, properties in North Port not contiguous for  
consolidation purposes, Gopher Tortoise relocation efforts, and parks as preservation  
sites for animals.  
Mr. Rogus noted that the Parks and Recreation Assistant Director will attend the  
December Board meeting.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member  
Lafler, to continue Agenda Item No. 22-3592 to the next Board meeting, including  
an update pertaining to the response from the Parks and Recreation representative.  
The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
22-3262  
C.  
Discussion and Possible Action Concerning a Recommendation to the  
City Commission Regarding Potential Uses of Tree Fund Monies.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Discussion ensued regarding forwarding the Board's recommendations to Commission,  
beneficial business alternatives to clear-cutting trees, focusing on larger scale  
environmental projects, North Port's tree canopy count, planting trees on empty lots,  
acreage needed for Gopher Tortoise protection, and utilizing fund money to purchase lots.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member  
Lafler, to continue Agenda Item No. 22-3262 to the next Board meeting, including  
an update concerning the Commission Workshop's response regarding the Board's  
recommendations. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
7. Updates  
22-3594  
A.  
Report from Attending the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting  
(Kathleen Therrien)  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Board Member Therrien provided a report including the positive reaction of the Parks and  
Recreation Advisory Board regarding  
a
bee sanctuary park, Commission's past  
discussion regarding advisory boards, partnering with the library system to house the  
historical paperwork, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board being combined with  
the Environmental Advisory Board.  
22-3595  
B.  
Contact with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board' Liaison Regarding  
a Partnering with the Board's Bee Pollination Stations and Butterfly Parks  
(Jeremy Rogus)  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
This item was discussed under Agenda Item No. 22-3592.  
22-3596  
Memo Regarding Pesticides Used in Sarasota County (Erin Hall)  
C.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Board Member Hall was unable to attend the meeting and the item will be placed on the  
December meeting agenda.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member  
Lafler, to continue Agenda Item No. 22-3596 to the next Board meeting, to include  
the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) list of pesticides used in Sarasota County.  
The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
22-3597  
D.  
Commission Response to the Environmental Advisory Board's Formal  
Request to be Included in the Review of Requests for Waivers to Open  
Space and Park Requirements Contained in Section 37-14 of the Unified  
Land Development Code (Jeremy Rogus)  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Ms. Lafler reported the Commission's direction was to attend Planning and Zoning  
Advisory Board Meetings, the Board having no jurisdiction regarding waivers, and  
speaking as a public individual.  
Discussion ensued regarding the Woodland development's reduction of green space,  
perusing Planning and Zoning Advisory Board agendas for trigger phrases regarding  
waivers, and continuing this discussion each month.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Lafler, seconded by Board Member  
Therrien, to continue Agenda Item No. 22-3597 on each month's Board agenda as a  
report by Board Member Lafler. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
8. Future Agenda Items  
Future agenda items include the Agenda Item Nos. 22-3591, 22-3592, 22-3262, 22-3596,  
and 22-3597.  
Discussion ensued regarding weekend clear-cutting trees without permits, green signs for  
clear-cutting unenforced, spreading awareness of clear-cutting, and City's website link to  
determine lawful permits.  
9. Public Comment  
There was no public comment.  
10. Adjournment  
Vice Chair Holland adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.  
_________________________  
William "Chuck" English, Chair  
Minutes were approved on the ___ day of __________, 2023.  
UPCOMING EXPIRATION DATES FOR BOARDS AND COMITTEES.  
December  
Peter Bartolotta (Charter Review Advisory Board) 12/8/2022  
Nothing in January  
February  
Christine O’Neal (Police Pension Memberchosen by Board) 2/4/2023