Sustainability board urges public maps, outreach on sea-level rise; staff reports grant reapplications

The Satellite Beach Sustainability Board on Sept. 24 pressed staff to prepare public maps and outreach explaining projected sea-level rise over coming decades and to pursue a small public-display campaign while staff refines implementation options.

Board member John Burgess, who led a technical presentation, told the board “despite what the federal government says, there is sea level rise” and showed local maps tied to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projections that illustrate areas expected to be seasonally or permanently impacted in 2040, 2070 and beyond. He proposed printing a small set of large maps for lobbies and community venues, adding QR codes linking to supporting data, and forming an ad hoc group to review policy steps.

The presentation framed the problem as a planning challenge: the maps Burgess displayed show seasonal high-water periods that already inundate parts of public land for roughly two weeks a year and project larger extents of inundation by 2070 and 2100. Burgess asked the board to work with staff to refine maps for public display and to return to the board with a scope and cost. Staff agreed to collaborate before taking anything to city council.

Why it matters: Burgess and other board members said earlier public, plain-language explanation of the projections would give residents and property owners timely notice about likely changes to streets, parks and utilities, and help the city shape policy responses that could range from outreach and permitting adjustments to longer-term infrastructure or land-use planning.

Staff updates and grants: A staff member reported that the City Council has approved on consent a reapplication for an FDEP Resilient Florida grant the city applied for last year but did not receive. Staff also said the city has submitted an application to an “FDEP coastal partnership initiative” to support invasive species management and habitat restoration; that effort would fund additional plantings for beaches and habitats around Samson Island and other sites, with the city contributing staff time as the match and receiving plants and equipment from the grant. The staff speaker said this grant application would fund “year 3” of an ongoing multi-year invasive-species removal and habitat restoration project; years 1 and 2 consist primarily of in-house staff time and earlier grant support.

Board discussion and next steps: Board members discussed legal, practical and communication steps. Several members urged caution about liability and implementation: they said ordinance language adopted previously (discussed in the presentation) had not been implemented and that any changes or notices affecting property rights should be vetted with legal staff. Burgess identified two local ordinances adopted in recent years that are part of the public record about future actions (referenced in the presentation as ordinance 11 91 and an adoption tied to 12/21) and noted the city’s comprehensive plan and USACE projections underlie the maps.

The board agreed on a working approach rather than a binding policy change: Burgess will work with staff to produce display-ready maps and a QR-enabled packet of background materials for a limited public campaign. Board members suggested placing a printed display in the Schechter Center and city hall lobby and including layered maps (2040, 2070, 2100) behind a single QR code that links to supporting reports and data. One board member suggested a modest not-to-exceed printing budget; Burgess said he would coordinate costs and work with staff before seeking any formal approval.

Votes at a glance - Adoption of minutes (agenda item 7): Motion to adopt minutes made by John Burgess; second not specified on the record. Recorded voice vote in favor; chair recorded the item as approved. Roll-call-style confirmations in the record included “Keith Millen,” “Judge Mills,” “John Burgess” and additional board members responding “yes.” (Tally: approved by voice vote; detailed roll-call names are transcribed in the meeting minutes.)

Quotations and attributions in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed to board members and staff as identified in the record. The board discussed—but did not vote on—forming a formal ad hoc committee or adopting new ordinance language; members repeatedly recommended staff and legal review before any formal policy changes.

Ending note: Board members encouraged staff to proceed with a low-cost public-information step (maps plus QR code) and to return with materials and a recommended path to council if further action is required. Staff also highlighted several upcoming community events—Founders’ Day on Nov. 1, Big Truck Day the coming Saturday, and an upcoming Samson Island open house—where outreach could be coordinated.