4970 CITY HALL BLVD

NORTH PORT, FL 34286

City of North Port

Meeting Minutes

Environmental Advisory Board

Monday, July 10, 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

6 -

Present

Chair Holland, Vice Chair English, Board Member Therrien, Board Member

Robinson, Board Member Hall and Board Member Eik

Also Present:

Environmental Technician Jeremy Rogus, Recording Secretary Matthew Powell, and

Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Trish Sturgess

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

23-1017

Approval of the June 5, 2023 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting

Minutes

Vice Chair Holland announced the item and requested a motion.

motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member

English, to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously on

a voice vote.

6. Presentations

23-0927

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Native and Pollinator Plantings

at City Parks and Recreation Sites (Parks and Recreation)

Vice Chair Holland announced the item.

Ms. Sturgess provided

presentation including parks, pollinator species, projects,

website overview, data applications, and goals.

Discussion took place regarding Hope Park, pollinator applications, wildlife effected,

inclusion of existing parks, potential plantings, cost requirements, pesticides, donation

process, potential collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, timeline,

watering requirements and potential solutions, park size, seeds, tree fund money usage,

pollination

stations,

reducing

mowing,

Natural

Resources

Division,

community

involvement, programs and events, and habitat restoration.

7. Unfinished Business

23-0466

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Finalizing the Board's Annual

Report to the Commission (Jeremy Rogus)

Vice Chair Holland announced the item.

Discussion took place regarding priorities, timeline requirements, review process,

postponing discussion, and potential for a special meeting.

motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Board Member

English, to postpone Item No. 23-0466 to the August 7, 2023 Environmental

Advisory Board Meeting. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

23-0742

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Implementation of Additional

Community Gardens (Lola Robinson)

Vice Chair Holland announced the item.

Board Member Robinson spoke to the item regarding proposal, funding, tree fund usage,

benefits to community, potential locations, and recommendations.

Discussion took place regarding transmitting

memorandum to City Commission,

proposal process, recommendations, survey options, existing community gardens,

Morgan Family Community Center (MFCC), Parks and Recreation role, potential

locations, costs and funding, donations, volunteers, goals, community garden definition,

community involvement, creating a list of next steps, and assigning roles.

A motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Board Member Therrien,

to direct Board Member English to contact City Parks and Recreation in regards to

creating a survey to receive community input for potential community gardens. The

motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

8. New Business

23-1089

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding New Recommendations or

Advisements to City Commission Pertaining to Preserving and Promoting

Wildlife, Habitat Protection, Trees, the City's Natural and Environmental

Resources, Tree Planting, and Beautification of Public Spaces

Vice Chair Holland announced the item.

Discussion took place regarding tree fund money usage, Natural Resources Division,

vehicle purchases, transmitting

preservation.

memorandum to City Commission, and park

A motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Board Member Therrian,

to direct Board Member English to draft memorandum relating to the

preservation of City owned/natural area parks to be presented at the August 7, 2023

Environmental Advisory Board Meeting. The motion carried unanimously on

voice vote.

A motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Board Member Eik, to

host a tree fund Workshop Meeting with the new Natural Resources Manager when

the position is filled. The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

23-1112

Discussion and Possible Action regarding selection of primary and

secondary EAB members to attend upcoming Warm Mineral Springs

Project (WMSP) community engagement meetings on behalf of the EAB.

Vice Chair Holland announced the item.

Mr. Rogus spoke to Board representation requirement.

Discussion took place regarding availability, meeting type, options, commitment

requirements, recommendations, and community engagement.

A motion was made by Board Member Hall, seconded by Board Member English,

to appoint Board Member Therrien as the primary representative and Board

Member Eik as the alternate representative. The motion carried unanimously on a

voice vote.

23-1088

Election of Chair

Vice Chair Holland announced the item.

Discussion took place regarding availability.

Board Member English nominated Vice Chair Holland as Chair. Board Member Eik

seconded the nomination. The nomination of Vice Chair Holland as Chair carried

unanimously on a voice vote.

Board Member English nominated Board Member Hall as Vice Chair. Board

Member Hall declined the nomination.

Board Member Therrien nominated Board Member English as Vice Chair. Board

Member Eik seconded the nomination. The nomination of Board Member English

as Vice Chair carried unanimously on a voice vote.

9. Future Agenda Items

No additional topics were added to the future agenda items.

Board Member Eik provided introductions and spoke to reasons for joining the Board.

10. Public Comment

11. Adjournment

There was no public comment.

Chair Holland adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m.

By: _____________________________

Honey “Desiree” Holland, Chair