4970 CITY HALL BLVD

NORTH PORT, FL 34286

City of North Port

Meeting Minutes

Environmental Advisory Board

Monday, August 7, 2023

5:30 PM

City Hall Room 244

1. Call to Order

Chair Holland called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

2. Roll Call

5 -

Present

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

Robinson and Board Member Eik

1 - Board Member Hall

Absent

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

Virginia Lewis: expressed concern for wildlife and environmental preservation.

5. Approval of Minutes

23-1146

Approval of the July 10, 2023 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting

Minutes

A motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Vice Chair English,

to approve the Minutes as presented. The motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

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

Robinson and Board Member Eik

1 - Board Member Hall

Absent:

6. Presentation

23-1166

Sarasota County Community Gardens (Mindy Hanak)

Chair Holland announced the item.

Mindy Hanak, Sarasota County Community Gardens, provided a presentation including

introductions, garden program, location, membership, plantings, resources, types,

harvests, food security statistics, intent, gardening benefits, member feedback, steps for

implementation, funding, tips, examples, and contact information.

Discussion took place regarding City versus County designation, volunteer role, pest

control, community benefits, membership fees, mulch acquisition, compost collection,

survey options, maintenance requirements, communication efforts, Board role, location,

weather effects, and youth programs.

Public comment:

Amber Clayton: spoke to micro-forest benefits.

7. Unfinished Business

23-0927

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Native and Pollinator Plantings

at City Parks and Recreation Sites (Parks and Recreation)

Chair Holland announced the item.

Ms. Sturgess introduced the item.

Paul Jackomin, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, spoke to coordination efforts and

pollinators.

Discussion took place regarding Board coordination and representation, educational

efforts, signage, maintenance requirements, donations, volunteer efforts, Environmental

Conservancy of North Port, gopher tortoise preservation, plantings, wildlife attraction,

seed utilization, Hope Park, and funding.

A motion was made by Board Member Therrien, seconded by Vice Chair English,

to direct Chair Holland to attend the August 17, 2023 Parks and Recreation

Advisory Board Meeting as a representative of the Environmental Advisory Board

to discuss collaboration efforts. The motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

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

Robinson and Board Member Eik

1 - Board Member Hall

Absent:

23-0466

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Finalizing the Board's Annual

Report to the Commission (Jeremy Rogus)

Chair Holland announced the item and spoke to the draft report.

Discussion took place regarding inclusion of Board goals, accomplishments, and

timeline.

A motion was made by Board Member Eik, seconded by Vice Chair English, to

finalize and present the Environmental Advisory Board Annual Report to City

Commission including an attachment with Board goals and accomplishments. The

motion carried on the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

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

Robinson and Board Member Eik

1 - Board Member Hall

Absent:

23-0742

Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Implementation of Additional

Community Gardens (Lola Robinson)

Chair Holland announced the item.

Discussion took place regarding Sarasota County Community Gardens presentation,

survey requirement, presenting survey results to Commission, recommendations,

micro-forests, zoning and development process, and wildlife preservation.

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

Chair Holland announced the item.

Discussion took place regarding geographic information system (GIS) usage, gopher

tortoise tracking and verification process, property survey process, volunteer efforts,

Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) environmental survey criteria and process, and

global positioning system (GPS) usage.

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

to discuss the Unified Land Development Code environmental survey criteria and

process at the next Environmental Advisory Board Meeting. The motion carried on

the following vote:

5 -

Yes:

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

Robinson and Board Member Eik

1 - Board Member Hall

Absent:

8. Future Agenda Items

Mr. Rogus spoke to Board powers and duties.

9. Public Comment

Kim Peeler: expressed support for environmental preservation relating to new

development.

Discussion took place regarding new development green space requirement and natural

area parkland acreage.

There was consensus to direct Board Member Eik to draft a memorandum advising

City Commission to increase the green space requirement for new development

applications.

Discussion continued regarding percentage.