Natural Resource Board assigns Sustainable Sebastian goals, schedules fall events and approves tropical holiday parade theme

City staff and Natural Resource Board members on Aug. 5 divided responsibilities for the Sustainable Sebastian plan, reviewed an events calendar for fall 2025 and agreed to participate in the annual Christmas parade with a tropical-themed float.

Felicia Gordian told the board she reassigned the duties normally held by a board member who was absent and split them between Deborah Shellenberger and Frank Trinkle. Gordian said Shellenberger will champion goal 3 (reducing single-use plastics and local cleanups) and goal 19 (promoting parks and green spaces), while Trinkle will champion goal 14 (reducing the city's operational footprint, recycling) and goal 16 (stormwater best-management practices and water-quality protection). "Deb is going to be handling goal 3...Frank has goal 14...and goal 16," Gordian said.

The board reviewed a fall events calendar staff presented and discussed children's activities for Touch and Tour (Saturday, Sept. 13) and Sebastian Kids Fest (Saturday, Oct. 4). Board member Frank Trinkle proposed a hands-on activity called "Plant Your Own Pollinator Basil," in which children would pot pre-rooted African blue basil cuttings, receive a care sheet and take the plant home. Trinkle said he could supply cuttings and soil and run the activity at multiple events with two weeks' notice to prepare the plants.

On new business the board voted to participate in the city’s Dec. 6, 2025 Christmas parade. Board member Tom moved the motion and Laura Thompson seconded; the motion passed with unanimous affirmative votes from members present. After approving participation, members discussed float ideas proposed by absent member Donna Ware: a tropical "Protect Our Paradise" theme with signage such as "Stop buying single-use plastics," "Plant natives," and "Recycle the right way." Board members generally supported a tropical motif and discussed logistics including generator power and music. There was informal agreement to reuse donated holiday decorations, to seek a favorable parade position near the front, and to explore quiet generator options for music on the float.

Staff also noted several other upcoming items: a tentative living-docks workshop in partnership with Indian River County (planned for Sept. 19) to prepare dock wraps for installations, the International Coastal Cleanup (Sept. 20), and ongoing coordination for volunteers and staffing at events. Gordian said she will provide staffing templates and ask board members to report scheduling conflicts early. The board adjourned with no further formal motions on the events or program assignments beyond the parade participation vote.

Clarifying details: Touch and Tour is scheduled for Sept. 13; the living-docks workshop is tentatively set for Sept. 19; International Coastal Cleanup is Sept. 20, 9–11 a.m.; Sebastian Kids Fest is Oct. 4, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Christmas parade is Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.; the parade participation motion passed unanimously with the mover, Tom, and seconder, Laura Thompson; the board agreed by consensus to pursue a tropical float theme and identified generator/power, music and float placement as logistical items to resolve.