Natural Resource Board breaks Sustainable Sebastian plan into championed tasks; members outline next steps

The Natural Resource Board on May 6 reviewed the Sustainable Sebastian five‑year implementation plan and assigned board champions and near‑term tasks across multiple goals including single‑use plastic reduction, incentives for businesses, landscaping and tree programs, stormwater best practices, waste‑reduction workshops, and food‑security coordination.

Felicia Gordian, Natural Resource Board staff, framed the evening as an opportunity for board members to identify which of the plan’s goals they would champion and to set up one‑on‑one follow‑up meetings with staff to develop implementation steps. The board then discussed each listed objective and several members described immediate next steps.

Donna Ware, who is championing reductions in single‑use plastics, said she will continue work on replacing single‑use items in city break rooms, assemble suggested alternative products for restaurants, and seek to incorporate event‑specific reductions into the master park plan. Members noted outreach and business education will be required before a recognition program could be established by the plan’s December 31 target.

Members also discussed creating incentives and recognition for businesses, and the need to research models other Florida cities use for business recycling and recognition. Waste Management and other vendors were mentioned as potential partners to develop small‑business recycling options.

Paul Develle and others described Leave No Trace ethics and training as a possible board training that would support outreach at events such as the Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup and future Earth Day activities. Laura Thompson (via Zoom) said she supported reviving a champion‑tree program and using social media to promote goals. Thomas Carano described work on predictive analytics and an AI model intended to support citywide data needs; he said he will prepare presentations on potential vendors and capabilities.

Board members also discussed stormwater topics: Paul asked about the stormwater fee credit program and staff said GIS technician Ross Kelly handles that work and staff will coordinate follow‑up. Members discussed creation of toolkits for low‑impact design and green infrastructure and increasing educational signage at parks and stormwater features.

Recycling and resource‑conservation ideas included business workshops, event planning changes to reduce single‑use plastics, and expanded public education so materials are correctly sorted for recycling. Board members noted that some recyclable materials lack markets and that contamination from food residue complicates restaurant recycling.

The board asked staff to prepare individualized lists of each champion’s tasks and to reconvene on the Sustainable Sebastian plan at the June meeting; no formal ordinance, budget appropriation, or new regulation was adopted at this session.