Residents urge single‑topic Pelican Lake workshop as council drops large ‘bulrush island’ plan

The Juno Beach Town Council on July 22 moved to pause a planned central “giant bulrush island” in Pelican Lake and agreed to hold a focused public workshop to review planting plans, permits and environmental analysis. Johan, speaking for staff, said the town would proceed with three planting elements already approved but would eliminate the proposed large island after residents objected.

Residents attending the meeting urged transparency and asked for a single‑topic forum. "Pelican Lake is an important public resource, and this decision affecting its future should be discussed in a transparent and accessible forum," said Kaye Braden, a Juno Beach resident who requested a late‑fall workshop. Tim McClurg, another nearby homeowner, told the council he had "no detail" about the lake work and asked the town to "pause all work" and provide engineering and permit documents before proceeding.

Staff described immediate cleanup steps—mechanical removal of dense cattails and a planting approach using short bullrush varieties that biologists recommended. Johan said that short bullrush "is very good for the lake" and that Florida Fish and Wildlife biologists welcomed the planting plan. The council asked staff to return with a clear scope of work and any necessary permit information and to schedule a community workshop during the fall to allow residents time to review and comment.

The meeting included several public comments focused on wildlife and recreational impacts. Linda McClurg said persistent algae and bird behavior, including grackles taking sea turtle hatchlings, were community concerns and argued plantings should not be installed before public review. Council members agreed to incorporate resident emails into the record and to provide follow‑up information about permits and environmental studies prior to further plantings.