Sustainability & Resiliency Advisory Board

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCY ADVISORY BOARD COUNCIL CHAMBERS 400 NW 73RD AVE. PLANTATION, FL 33317 MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chair Dr. Julie Long at 6:31 p.m. Roll call was conducted by the clerk. A quorum was present. Present: Chair Dr. Julie Long, Ronald R. Eyma (at 6:39 p.m.), Maria Oliva, Dr. Kate Peach, Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas (at 6:36 p.m.), and Joseph Winn Absent: Dr. Mary Hope Schwoebel Also Present: Assistant City Administrator Carole Morris and Mayor Nick Sortal APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES July 8th, 2024 Meeting Minutes Dr. Kate Peach moved to approve the July 8, 2024 meeting minutes as presented; seconded by Dr. Julie Long. Motion passed: 4-0. NEW BUSINESS 1. Presentation from City Administration on Sustainability Initiatives - Mayor Nick Sortal Mayor Nick Sortal made a presentation regarding City Administration sustainability and resiliency initiatives, including opportunities and challenges related to reducing waste, stormwater management, solar power, hybrid vehicles, multimodal transportation, and composting. Chair Long asked for clarification on how a composting program would work. Assistant City Administrator Carole Morris discussed significant pilot programs in Deerfield Beach, Coral

Springs, and Coconut Creek. She advised the City is looking at starting with a small drop-off program. Mr. Eyma noted South Plantation High School also has a composting program. Discussion continued regarding providing buckets, concern with smells, growing participation in the initiative, education, and timing. Mayor Sortal discussed the Broward Leaders Water and Climate Academy and its efforts to educate local elected officials and get them more involved in water issues. Chair Long shared details of the sustainability plan project and suggested Council consider an energy audit. She noted she was learning that the City does a lot more environmental things than people know about, and an energy audit would serve as an education tool in addition providing a benchmark to measure against over time. Chair Long commented on the need for Plantation Preserve Golf Course to improve its environmental efforts. Mayor Sortal stated the golf course is due for a makeover and reviewed efforts to improve the business. Discussion continued regarding an energy audit. Ms. Ruiz-Nicolas asked if Florida Power and Light (FPL) would assist with an audit. Mayor Sortal and Assistant City Administrator Morris provided additional comments. Ms. Ruiz-Nicolas stated she did not know the City distributed sandbags, though she does get flyers and alerts from other communities. The Board and staff discussed options for communication with residents, including text notifications, signage, billboards, parks, and advertising on water bills. Dr. Peach highlighted a concern with leak notifications from the Ion Water app. Mr. Winn explained the process for setting notifications. Mayor Sortal distributed brochures on the interactive Bike Map and briefly discussed different considerations for bicyclists riding for recreation versus for transportation. Mr. Winn commented on data related to urban infill development and access to transit to replace the need to have a vehicle and stated this is the most substantial way to reduce carbon footprint, reduce costs, and address urban heating. He asked Mayor Sortal where he sees this in the City’s sustainability and resiliency efforts. Mayor Sortal stated this is always a factor in development and Council is aware of the affordable housing aspect of the issue. He noted the benefits of building on transit routes. Discussion continued regarding zoning changes and Comprehensive Plan updates to support the effort, as well as owner-occupied rentals. Chair Long inquired as to what the Board could do to be more proactive. Mayor Sortal suggested Board members meet with their respective Council members to provide updates. OLD BUSINESS 1. Earth Day survey results with respect to future educational activities

Chair Long encouraged the Board members to think about future educational activities and consider planning for next Earth Day. She suggested the Board could consider an educational forum on composting. Ms. Ruiz-Nicolas asked about the University of Plantation. Assistant City Administrator Morris and Mayor Sortal discussed the program. 2. Partner with schools on environmental projects Chair Long suggested a more equitable approach to working with high school students interested in connecting with City government. Discussion continued regarding connecting with boots on the ground, providing mentorship, and aligning with the magnet program. Chair Long stated she would reach out to the directors of the magnet program before the September meeting and encouraged Board members to email any ideas to Assistant City Administrator Morris. Ms. Ruiz-Nicolas highlighted the importance of developing relationships. 3. Consideration of Green Business Application - Marumi Sushi The consensus was to table the application to a later date as it did not yet meet the criteria. Chair Long expressed an interest in working with the business to get them approved. Assistant City Administrator Morris advised that she would be making a presentation of the first applicant to the City Council. She commented that it would be nice to recognize more than one (1) at the first presentation. Dr. Peach suggested high school students could be provided with a map or grid to promote the program to businesses. Discussion continued. 4. Discussion of NASA Climate Adaptation Plan Mr. Winn advised the guidelines for the NASA Climate Adaptation Plan were attached to the meeting agenda. 5. Review of draft sections of comprehensive plan Item not addressed. 6. Broward Sustainability Coalition Update - Dr. Schwoebel Chair Long stated Dr. Schwoebel had shared minutes from the first monthly meeting of the Broward Sustainability Coalition. 7. Review Draft of Sustainability Plan

Mr. Eyma volunteered to write the section on Stormwater and Engineering. Chair Long stated she would write the City Administration portion. OTHER BUSINESS/DISCUSSIONS 1. Upcoming Event - We're All Plastic People Now (flyer att.) Chair Long shared the details of the We’re All Plastic People Now event planned for Saturday, September 21, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at North Regional Broward County Library and invited Board members to attend. Dr. Peach stated she had visited a new local nail salon and talked about the Green Certification program. She noted the plaza the salon is in does not offer a dumpster for recovered materials. Assistant City Administrator Morris commented on options available to plazas, businesses, and multi-family developments. Discussion continued regarding materials collected and contamination issues. Chair Long commented that she had spoken with a member of the Council who suggested the Board members review Council meeting agendas and share comments prior to the meetings. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. ADJOURNMENT: 7:53 p.m.