January 11, 2023

  1. Minutes

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, January 11, 2023 at 5:30pm.

 

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Member Yount called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Present were Member Perez, Member Yount, Member Delgado, Member Myjak, Member Tucker and Member Flis. Chairwoman Thompson and Alternate Member Young, were absent. Staff present was Assistant City Attorney Chelsea Farrell, Principle Planner Eddy Galindo, Sustainability Planner Rachel Muller and Recording Secretary Wendy Van Cott. 

 

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Assistant City Attorney Farrell swore in new member Hector Delgado.

 

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Member Perez made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 12, 2022 meeting. Member Myjak seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor. 

 

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Petitions & Requests from Public Present

 

Bill Klein of 3 Indian River Ave #906 Titusville, Florida came to speak about the storm water and sewage concerns.

 

Kristine Lortie of 5524 Brilliance Cir Cocoa, Florida came to speak about her support for the Indian River Lagoon water.

 

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Member Yount made a motion to address item 8A Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Draft Report first.  Member Myjak seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

 

 

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Old Business

 

Urban Forestry Program

Ms. Muller gave an overview of this item. 

 

Kay St. Onge of 2360 Maryland Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

Toni Shifalo of 715 Tropic St Titusville, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

Mary Sphar of 825 Clifton’s Cove Ct. of Cocoa, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

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New Business

 

Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Draft Report

Kay St. Onge of 2360 Maryland Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

Discussion took place between the TEC members and public present. 

 

Mary Sphar of 825 Clifton’s Cove Ct of Cocoa, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

Bill Klein of 3 Indian River Avenue #906 Titusville, Florida came to speak in favor of this item. 

 

Discussion took place between TEC members and City staff.

 

 

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Member Myjak made a motion to approve the Urban Tree Canopy Assessment from PlanIT GEO with the following recommendations.

  • Priority for shading walkways and roadways.
  • More frequent mapping to allow monitoring if there is rapid development
  • Tree surveys and soil surveys
  • Ground Truthing (Tree measuring, DBH, Etc.)
  • Stormwater uptake data included in planting and canopy restoration
  • Consider sea level rise and elevation in planting

 

 

Member Flis seconded.

 

Roll Call is as follows:

 

Member Perez                         Yes

Member Delgado                    Yes

Member Flis                            Yes

Member Yount                       Yes

Member Myjak                       Yes

Member Tucker                       Yes

 

Motion passed.

 

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Semi-Annual Report-November 2022

Ms. Muller spoke about this item.

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Member Myjak made a motion to approve the semi-annual report. Member Flis seconded.

 

Roll call is as follows:

 

Member Perez                         Yes

Member Flis                            Yes

Member Delgado                    Yes

Member Yount                       Yes

Member Tucker                       Yes

Member Myjak                       Yes

 

Motion passed.

 

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TEC Election of Officers

 

TEC members voted to have Chairwoman Thompson chair and Member Myjak as vice chair. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

 

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Old Business

 

Urban Forestry Program

Ms. Muller gave an overview of this item. 

 

Kay St. Onge of 2360 Maryland Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

Toni Shifalo of 715 Tropic St Titusville, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

Mary Sphar of 825 Clifton’s Cove Ct. of Cocoa, Florida came to speak in favor of this item.

 

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Kay St. Onge of 2360 Maryland Ave came to give an overview of her Draft of Concept Plan of Proposed Urban Forestry Program with suggested Projects/Activities.

 

Toni Shifalo of 715 Tropic St Titusville, Florida came to speak in support of Ms. St. Onge’s concept plan. 

 

Mary Sphar of 825 Clifton’s Cove Ct. of Cocoa, Florida came to speak in support of Ms. St. Onge’s concept plan.

 

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Member Perez made a motion to accept the Draft of the Concept Plan of Proposed Urban Forestry Program by Kay St. Onge. Member Flis seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

 

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Member Flis made a motion to extend meeting ten more minutes. Member Perez seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

 

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Member Perez made a motion to record the TEC meetings with live audio. Member Flis seconded. 

 

Roll Call is as follows:

 

Member Perez                         Yes

Member Delgado                    Yes

Member Flis                            Yes

Member Yount                       Yes

Member Myjak                       Yes

Member Tucker                       Yes

 

Motion passed.

 

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Petitions and Requests

None

 

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Reports

 

Ms. Muller advised that on January 20, 2023, the annual arborist event will be held at the Pritchard house.

 

Member Perez spoke about a grant the Garden Club is to receive to grow mangroves.

 

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Discussion of Future Agenda Items

 

  1. Stormwater monitoring at Sand Point Park
  2. Clarify the city’s wetlands policy. 

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Adjournment 7:58 p.m.