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Board advances Sustainable Sebastian outreach: fertilizer flyers, Garden Club Park workday and species focus
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Summary
Natural Resource Board members reviewed outreach materials for a fertilizer ordinance, scheduled a Garden Club Park workday and selected sandhill cranes as the first species focus for the program, and staff flagged a pursuit of the Tree City Growth Award.
City staff and Natural Resource Board members used the Sept. 2 meeting to review several Sustainable Sebastian items: outreach for a fertilizer ordinance, upcoming volunteer work at Garden Club Park, a species-education focus and pursuit of a Tree City Growth Award.
Staff said an infographic developed by board member Laura Thompson will be used for fertilizer-ordinance outreach and noted the materials will include the fertilizer ordinance number for reference. The board also discussed that the fertilizer blackout period is currently in effect and urged broad public outreach. "Please give it a look over," staff said of draft materials.
Board members agreed to a volunteer weeding workday at Garden Club Park on Oct. 11, with an 8 a.m. suggested start; the event will be open to the public and coordinated with the Girl Scouts and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Staff said volunteer hours can be verified for students who need them.
On species education, board member Frank Trinkle said he selected sandhill cranes as the first species for the board's outreach champion program. Trinkle said sandhill cranes are highly visible and that he has observed birds struck and killed on roads, which informed his choice.
Staff also said the city will pursue the Tree City Growth Award this year; the city has previously earned the base Tree City USA designation but not the growth award, which requires additional points across tree care and community programs.
Why it matters: The Sustainable Sebastian initiative bundles outreach, volunteer action and policy implementation aimed at reducing nutrient runoff, improving landscaping practices and increasing public stewardship of urban trees and wildlife.
Board members discussed other sustainablity items in the packet, including a proposal for stormwater fee credits and an annual city operations sustainability checkup. Staff said the land-development code overhaul will provide an opportunity to revisit landscaping and tree-protection standards, but that changes will require a complex, multi-step process.
