August 10, 2022

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 10, 2022 at 5:30pm.

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Chairwoman Thompson called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Present were Member Perez, Member Tucker, Alternate Member Young and Alternate Member Flis. Member Yount, Member Myjak, and Vice Chairman Rice were absent. Staff present was Sustainability Planner Rachel Muller, and Recording Secretary Laurie Dargie.

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Member Perez made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 15, 2022 meeting. Member Tucker seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor. 

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Petitions & Requests from Public Present

Stan Johnston of 860 Poinsettia Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak about his concerns with sewage spills and the PFAS test that came back showing 176 parts per trillion.

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Member Young made a motion to have testing for PFAS done in each wellfield. The testing should be done on the water as it goes into the plant and testing on it as it leaves the plant. The request is that the testing be done by September 30, 2022 and the data be brought back to the Titusville Environmental Commission at the October 12, 2022 meeting. Member Flis seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

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Old Business

Urban Forestry

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.

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

Mary Sphar of 825 Clifton Cove Court Cocoa, Florida came to speak in favor of this item. Ms. Sphar provided a handout.

The Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC) had discussion amongst themselves,  the public present, and with city staff. 

Ms. Muller informed the TEC that the grant money is not for a tree survey and that it for a tree canopy assessment.

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Member Flis made a motion to recommend to City Council to look at the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and pick the company to do the tree survey and the money that is not covered by the $17,000.00 grant be covered by the Landscape Trust Funds to meet the Land Development Regulations and the Tree City USA requirements. Member Young seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

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Functions of the Titusville Tree Board

Ms. Muller gave an overview of this item.

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

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

Stan Johnston of 860 Poinsettia Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak in regards to this item.

Discussion took place regarding the desire for the City of Titusville to hire an arborist whose job is dedicated to only all things trees. The TEC also discussed the desire to create a sub-committee to be the acting Tree Board and take the responsibilities of the Tree Board but report to the TEC. Chairwoman Thompson said that the Titusville Environmental Commission is too busy to take on the responsibilities and duties that are required to be the Tree Board. 

Kay St. Onge of 2360 Maryland Avenue Titusville, Florida spoke again regarding this item. 

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Member Flis made a motion to recommend to City Council that a sub-committee be created to become the Tree Board and this new sub-committee report to the Titusville Environmental Commission. Member Perez seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

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Member Flis made a motion to recommend to City Council that the city find funds to hire a dedicated tree arborist to oversee all tree concerns in the City of Titusville, and work with the city’s Public Works Department and the newly formed Tree Board sub-committee as a go between. Member Perez seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.  

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Tree List in Technical Manual

Ms. Muller gave an overview.

Discussion took place amongst the Titusville Environmental Commission members, city staff, and public present. 

Member Perez made a motion but the motion was withdrawn. Member Flis who seconded the motion withdrew her second. 

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

Marlys Breckle of 3 Indian River Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak in regards to this item.

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Member Flis made a motion to recommend to City Council that the current tree list in the city’s Technical Manual be replaced with the Native Keystone Species to grow in Brevard County list that was provided in the agenda on pages 80-109.  The recommendation is also to replace the word “nuisance” with the word “prohibited”. Member Perez seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

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Drought Tolerant Grasses in the Area of Critical Concern (ACC)

Ms. Muller gave an overview of this item.

Chairwoman Thompson provided a handout from the Florida Native Plant Society to city staff and the TEC members.

Discussion took place amongst the Titusville Environmental Commission, city staff and public present. 

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Member Perez made a motion to recommend to City Council that the city only allows the grasses listed on the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) list for native bunch grasses as natural turf and specifically excluding the use of St. Augustine grass in the City of Titusville, which should be replaced with bahaigrass or other grasses on the FNPS list in all new development.  Member Flis seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor.

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Stormwater Metrics

Ms. Muller gave an overview of this item.

Discussion to place amongst the Titusville Environmental Commission, city staff and public present. 

Stan Johnston of 860 Poinsettia Avenue Titusville, Florida came to speak in regards to this item.

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

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Member Flis made a motion to recommend to City Council that the city’s water facility run tests on samples that the Titusville Environmental Commission members collect and bring to them for testing. The testing should be on nutrients, oils, and grease. Member Perez seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor. 

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New Business

None

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Petition & Requests

None

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Reports

Member Perez said he is working on a mangrove planting project.

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Future Agenda items

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Adjournment 9:03 p.m.