4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Environmental Advisory Board  
Monday, January 9, 2023  
5:30 PM  
City Hall Room 244  
1. Call to Order  
Vice Chair Holland called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  
2. Roll Call  
5 - Vice Chair Holland, Board Member Hall, Board Member Therrien, Board Member  
Lafler and Board Member Robinson  
Present  
2 - Board Member Rodriguez and Vice Chair English  
Absent  
Also Present  
Assistant City Clerk Adrian Jianelli, Environmental Technician Jeremy Rogus and  
Recording Secretary Susan Hale  
3. Pledge of Allegiance  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Board.  
4. Public Comment  
There was no public comment.  
5. Approval of Minutes  
22-3756  
Approval of Minutes for the November 7, 2022 Environmental Advisory  
Board Meeting.  
A.  
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.  
23-0142  
Approval of Minutes for the December 5, 2022 Environmental Advisory  
Board Meeting.  
B.  
A motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member Hall,  
to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously on a voice  
vote.  
6. New Business  
23-0153  
Assistant City Clerk Adrian Jianelli: Chair/Vice Chair Training  
A.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Ms. Jianelli provided training including officer responsibilities, presiding over and  
conducting meetings, keeping discussions on track, prohibited communication among  
other Board Members, vice chair duties in chair's absence, meeting procedures, and  
legislation governing the Board.  
23-0143  
Election of Chair and Vice Chair.  
B.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item and stated nominations were in order for the  
office of Chair.  
Board Member Hall nominated Jackie Lafler as Chair.  
Vice Chair Holland queried if there were any further nominations. Without objection, the  
nominations were closed and a vote was taken.  
The nomination of Jackie Lafler as Chair carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
Chair Lafler then requested that she preside beginning next meeting.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item and stated nominations were in order for the  
office of Vice Chair.  
Chair Lafler nominated Desiree Holland as Vice Chair.  
Vice Chair Holland queried if there were any further nominations. Without objection, the  
nominations were closed and a vote was taken.  
The nomination of Desiree Holland as Vice Chair carried unanimously on a voice  
vote.  
22-3856  
Approval of the Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Schedule for  
2023.  
C.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Chair Lafler, to  
approve the 2023 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Schedule as presented.  
The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
7. Unfinished Business  
22-3581  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Draft of the Unified  
Land Development Code Chapter 1 - General Provisions Relating to the  
Adoption of the ULDC, Zoning Districts and the Official Zoning Map,  
Concurrency Management, and Transfer of Development Rights  
A.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Discussion ensued regarding Commission recommendations duplicated by Parks and  
Recreation Department, finalizing review of the Tree Ordinance, natural resources  
language a separate chapter in the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), waivers  
negating conservation of parkland, Board Member review of presentation, Board  
responsibilities and guidelines, commenting on revisions of Chapter 1, and further  
discussion next month.  
motion was made by Chair Lafler, seconded by Board Member Therrien, to  
A
continue agenda No. 22-3581 to the next meeting. The motion carried  
unanimously on a voice vote.  
22-3592  
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).  
B.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the meeting.  
Discussion ensued regarding  
Department.  
a
similar program by the Parks and Recreation  
A
motion was made by Chair Lafler, seconded by Board Member Therrien, to  
combine agenda No. 22-3592 with No. 22-3596 for discussion.  
unanimously on a voice vote.  
The motion carried  
Discussion continued regarding inviting representatives from Parks and Recreation  
Advisory Board to a future meeting.  
A
motion was made by Chair Lafler, seconded by Board Member Therrien to  
invite a representative of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to provide an  
overview of their Board at a future meeting. The motion carried unanimously on  
a voice vote.  
Discussion continued regarding the pesticide memo being sent to Commission and the  
Parks and Recreation Department and requesting a reply.  
A
motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Board Member  
Robinson, to forward the memo regarding pesticides to the City Manager and the  
Commission through Mr. Jeremy Rogus. The motion carried unanimously on  
voice vote.  
a
8. Updates  
22-3596  
Memo Regarding Pesticides Used in Sarasota County (Erin Hall)  
A.  
B.  
This item was discussed with No. 22-3592.  
22-3597  
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.  
Discussion regarding Commission's response, individuals observing when waivers are  
scheduled for Commission review, making public comment in Commission meetings,  
requesting  
a joint meeting with Commission, City's Conservation Officer, Southwest  
Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) retention pond meeting, and further  
discussion next month.  
A motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Board Member Lafler, to  
continue agenda No. 22-3597 to the next meeting.  
unanimously on a voice vote.  
The motion carried  
22-3754  
Recommended Uses for the Tree Fund Monies (Jeremy Rogus)  
C.  
Vice Chair Holland introduced the item.  
Discussion ensued regarding status of the Tree Fund, shrubbery being a traffic safety  
hazard, planting oak trees in appropriate places, planted oak trees, planting indigenous  
plants, trees and foliage, a wildlife corridor under I-75, Commission discussion, and  
further discussion next month.  
A motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Chair Lafler, to direct  
Mr. Rogus to contact Anna Duffey to reintroduce the Tree Workshop. The motion  
carried unanimously on a voice vote.  
A motion was made by Board Member Robinson, seconded by Chair Lafler, to  
continue agenda  
No. 22-3754 to the next meeting. The motion carried  
unanimously on a voice vote.  
9. Future Agenda Items  
Future agenda items include continuing agenda No. 22-3581, No. 3597, and No.  
22-3754, inviting a representative of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to a  
future meeting, scheduling a joint meeting with Parks and Recreating Advisory Board, a  
discussion regarding making retention ponds beneficial to wildlife, and  
regarding the possibility of an I-75 wildlife corridor.  
a discussion  
10. Public Comment  
11. Adjournment  
Allain Hale: developing environmentally friendly retention ponds.  
Vice Chair Holland adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m.  
_________________________  
Jackie Lafler, Chair  
Minutes were approved on the ___ day of __________, 2023.