August 9, 2023

The Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC) of the City of Titusville, Florida met in regular session at City Hall in the Council Chamber located at 555 South Washington Avenue on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 5:30pm.

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Chairwoman Thompson called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Present were, Member Perez, Member Delgado and Member Flis.  Vice Chairman Myjak, Member Tucker, Member Yount and Alternate Member Young were absent. Staff present was Community Development Director Brad Parrish, Sustainability Planner Abby Trout and Recording Secretary Laurie Dargie. 

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Member Perez made a motion to approve the July 12, 2023 meeting minutes. Member Delgado seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor. 

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Petitions & Requests from Public Present

Bill Klein of Titusville said he would like for the City of Titusville to test water that looks and smells like sewage. The city needs to know the health effects of fecal material in the water.

Stan Johnston of Titusville provided a handout of an email he sent and then commented on the email and sewage spill.

Chairwoman Thompson made comment that the City of Titusville has already provided feedback regarding the sewage spill and the case is closed, there is nothing further the Titusville Environmental Commission can do regarding the past concerns. 

Mr. Parrish also provided an update regarding the Titusville Environmental Commission’s recommendation from the July 12, 2023 meeting relating to the city making a report to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Chairwoman Thompson introduced the city’s new sustainability planner, Abby Trout. Ms. Trout gave a brief introduction of herself. 

The Titusville Environmental Commission voiced their continued displeasure with how the city handled the sewage spill from Hurricane Ian, but understand that this has been considered closed by the City of Titusville. 

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Old Business

None

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New Business

Concept Plan of Proposed Urban Forestry Program

Mr. Parrish provided an overview of this item. 

Kay St. Onge of Titusville provided comment relating to the concept plan of proposed urban forestry program. Ms. St. Onge provided a handout and made comments from the handout. Ms. St. Onge provided her opinion and recommended that the Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC) approve the TEC’s plan of vision/goals,  tree education, plantings, and hiring an arborist.

Mary Sphar of Cocoa provided comment relating to the concept plan of proposed urban forestry program and provided a handout.   Ms. Sphar went over the handout and advised that Ms. Busacca introduced this concept four years ago. Ms. Sphar  recommends that the Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC) approve the TEC’s plan of vision/goals,  tree education, plantings, and hiring an arborist.

Bill Klien of Titusville said he supports what both Ms. St. Onge and Ms. Sphar said.  Mr. Klein said he would encourage that good maintenance is provided to any new tree plantings to help their survival. 

The Titusville Environmental Commission had discussion amongst themselves and with staff regarding the need to find grants or funding sources, such as the Landscape Trust Fund.  Discussion also took place as to relating to City Council that they want to approve the TEC’s concept plan but convey to City Council to work towards implementing the plan during a long-term process in order to achieve their goal but also in a feasible attainable way.  The Commission spoke about making priorities to help implement the plan. 

Chairwoman Thompson said that there may be grant funding through the National Estuary Program (NEP). 

Lily Galleo of Titusville provided comment relating to prioritizing areas and possibly using NEP funds for the areas that impact the estuaries. 

Chairwoman Thompson said that possible areas of prioritization could be Scobie Park and the shoreline. Chairwoman Thompson said that she does not believe there has ever been an Indian River Lagoon (IRL), NEP grant applied for and this could be looked into. Chairwoman Thompson said that the NEP has professional grant writers and they would simply need a funding source and  the specific information in order to write the grant.

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Member Perez made a motion to approve the concept plan as proposed for the urban forestry program with suggested projects and activities with a focus to allow its development as prioritized with the resources we have available so that the plan will be in place and how we move forward can be determined as we move along. The focus to start is with 2. Submit a Florida Forest Service urban forest planning grant to develop a vision, canopy goal, and list of specific actions with community involvement. C. Plantings and other actions. (as provided in the agenda packet on page 11 of 50 of the August 9, 2023 TEC meeting). Member Flis seconded.  [PB1] 

Roll call was as follows:

Member Flis                            Yes

Member Delgado                    Yes

Member Perez                         Yes

Chairwoman Thompson          Yes

Motion passed.

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Discussion took place regarding the funding sources. The TEC had discussion on the $2 per capita and the Landscape Trust Fund. 

Mr. Parrish informed the Commission the that Landscape Trust Funds are already allocated to the gateway projects at I-95/Garden and I-95/Hwy 50. Mr. Parrish also reminded the Commission that once these projects are completed, City Council approved that 50% of the Landscape Trust Fund will be used for tree plantings but right now the funds are not available. 

Member Flis made a motion to request a separate budget line for $100k to be used for tree plantings. Member Perez seconded.   This motion was never voted upon and later withdrawn.

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The Titusville Environmental Commission had additional discussion relating to grants and funding sources.

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Member Perez made a motion recommending that City Council seek grant funds to implement the urban forestry concept plan. Member Flis seconded. 

Roll call was as follows:

Member Delgado                    Yes

Member Flis                            Yes

Member Perez                         Yes

Chairwoman Thompson          Yes

Motion passed.

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Petitions and Requests

None

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Reports

Mr. Parrish gave an update on the PlanIT GEO report.

Member Perez made a motion to extend the meeting for twenty-minutes. Member Flis seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Parrish continued with the report update.

Mary Sphar of Cocoa provided comment regarding the accuracy of the reports and to what all the reports are capturing. 

Kay St. Onge of Titusville provided comment relating to the cutting of trees that has already occurred and what is being done to replace them.

Member Delgado said that he does not fully understand the BMAPS and it may be useful to be educated on BMAPS. 

Member Perez asked when will the TEC meetings be live broadcast. Mr. Parrish said that he believes after the new budget year begins. Mr. Parrish said that the live broadcasting will maybe be split between TEC and Board of Adjustment & Appeals meetings. 

Chairwoman Thompson said she will be unavailable to attend the September Titusville Environmental Commission meeting. 

Member Delgado said he will be unavailable to attend the October Titusville Environmental Commission meeting. 

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Chairwoman Thompson asked Mr. Parrish to provide an update regarding City Council’s response to the recommendation of the concept plan  of proposed   urban forestry program

Discussion of Future Agenda Items

There were no specific items requested for the future agenda at the September 13, 2023 Titusville Environmental Commission meeting.

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Adjournment 8:10p.m.