Titusville Environmental Commission (2025-01-15)

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 1 of 7 The Titusville Environmental Commission (TEC) of the City of Titusville, Florida met in regular session at City Hall in the Council Chamber located at 555 South Washington Avenue on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 5:30pm. XXX Chairman Michael Myjak, called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Present were, Vice Chairwoman Laurilee Thompson, Member Jonathan Burdette, Member Beth Ann Tucker, Member Robert Walter, Member Michael Browning, Alternate Member William Young and Alternate Member Joshua Koci. Member Hector Delgado was absent. Staff present were Community Development Director Brad Parrish, Assistant City Attorney Chelsea Farrell, Sustainability Program Coordinator Lily Galleo, and Recording Secretary Laurie Dargie. XXX Vice Chairwoman Thompson made a motion to approve the November 13, 2024 meeting minutes. Member Tucker seconded. There was a unanimous voice vote in favor. XXX Assistant City Attorney Chelsea Farrell swore in Robert Walter, Jonathan Burdette and Michael Browning as the Titusville Environmental Commission’s newest members. XXX Petitions and Requests from Public Present Toni Shifalo of Titusville, Florida came to make comments about the City Council meeting on January 14, 2025. Vicki Conklin of Titusville, Florida came to ask that recognition be given to Thomas Perez and Yvette Flis for their service on the Titusville Environmental Commission. XXX

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 2 of 7 Old Business Natural Resources Public Engagement Project Report (Draft Recommendations) Community Development Director Brad Parrish was providing an overview of this item. Vice Chairwoman Thompson asked if this item could be tabled as the newly appointed Titusville Environmental Commission members were not able to review the agenda item. XXX Member Walter made a motion to table the Natural Resources Public Engagement Project Report (Draft Recommendations) item until the February 12, 2025 Titusville Environmental Commission meeting. Member Browning seconded. Roll call was as follows: Member Burdette Yes Member Browning Yes Member Tucker Yes Vice Chairwoman Thompson Yes Member Koci Yes Member Walter Yes Chairman Myjak Yes Motion passed. XXX New Business None XXX Petitions and Requests from Public Present Mary Sphar of Cocoa, Florida came to ask that the email she requested to be provided to the Titusville Environmental Commission members be sent to the newly appointed Titusville Environmental Commission members.

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 3 of 7 Stan Johnston of Titusville, Florida came to speak about his concerns with the spraying of sewage from ponds with fountains. Member Browning requested to know what the outcome of City Council’s actions were pertaining to Mr. Johnston’s complaints. Vice Chairwoman Thompson provided comments to the actions that the Titusville Environmental Commission has taken regarding Mr. Johnston’s complaints and concerns. Vice Chairwoman Thompson said that all Mr. Johnston is requesting is something in writing that all fountains in stormwater ponds will be turned off during any sewage spills to stop it from spraying. Vice Chairwoman Thompson said that this recommendation was made by the TEC but was not done by City Council. The Titusville Environmental Commission had some discussion. Chairman Myjak said that an agenda item for pond bubblers was supposed to be on this agenda for discussion and asked that it be on the February 12, 2025 TEC agenda. XXX Reports Multifamily Canopy Ordinance Version 4 Community Development Director Brad Parrish gave an overview of this draft ordinance. Kay St. Onge of Titusville, Florida came to speak about this item. Ms. St. Onge suggested adding the following language to Section 30-31 (b) (1) – (excluding single duplex units on properties two (2) acres or less and multifamily projects on properties two (2) acres or less that satisfies Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element Policy 1.7.7 for infill development). Ms. St. Onge suggested that this change be made throughout the draft ordinance amending the Tree Protection ordinance. Toni Shifalo of Titusville, Florida came to speak against multifamily development on infill lots. Mary Sphar of Cocoa, Florida came to speak about the tree canopy requirements for multifamily and agrees with the suggested language that Ms. St. Onge provided. Stan Johnston of Titusville, Florida came to speak and said he has concerns with overlapping tree canopy.

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 4 of 7 XXX Member Browning made a motion to recommend approval of the changes presented by staff and the additional language from Kay St. Onge in Section 30-31 (b)(1) to be accepted as follows: including townhomes and multifamily projects (excluding single duplex units on properties two (2) acres or less and multifamily projects on properties two (2) acres or less that satisfies Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element Policy 1.7.7 for infill development). Vice Chairwoman Thompson seconded. Roll call was as follows: Member Walter Yes Vice Chairwoman Thompson Yes Member Koci Yes Member Burdette Yes Member Browning Yes Member Tucker Yes Chairman Myjak Yes Motion passed. XXX Artificial Turf Ordinance Version 11 Community Development Director Brad Parrish gave an overview of this item. The Titusville Environmental Commission had discussions relating to all the negative impacts on the environment from the use of artificial turf. Chairman Myjak said he does not want artificial turf used anywhere in Titusville. Vice Chairwoman Thompson said that the Titusville Environmental Commission was against the use of artificial turf anywhere during the last discussion that took place on this ordinance. Mary Sphar of Cocoa, Florida came to speak about this item. Ms. Sphar said that she is also opposed to any use of artificial turf in Titusville but thinks that it might be good to have standards in place to protect the Indian River Lagoon.

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 5 of 7 Chairman Myjak referred to Section 30-321 (f) and suggested that only the first sentence be kept which prohibits all use of synthetic plants. XXX Member Browning made a motion to recommend to City Council that Section 30-325 be deleted in its entirety and in Section 30-321 (f) only the first sentence be kept and the rest of (f) be deleted. It will read as follows: Section 30-321 (f) Synthetic plants prohibited: Synthetic or artificial material in the form of trees, shrubs, ground covers, or vines are prohibited in landscaping and yards. Member Tucker seconded. Vice Chairwoman Thompson made a friendly amendment to include artificial turf in the language. Chairwoman Thompson suggested the following changes to Section 30-321 (f) Section 30-321 (f) Synthetic plants prohibited: Synthetic or artificial material in the form of trees, shrubs, vines or ground covers (including artificial turf) are prohibited in landscaping and yards. Vice Chairwoman Thompson also suggested keeping the definition of artificial turf. Member Browning accepted the friendly amendment and Member Tucker seconded. Roll call was as follows: Member Burdette Yes Member Walter Yes Member Koci Yes Vice Chairwoman Thompson Yes Member Browning Yes Member Tucker Yes Chairman Myjak Yes Motion passed. XXX

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 6 of 7 Kay St. Onge of Titusville, Florida asked that Chairman Myjak explain the scientific reason why artificial turf should not be used when this is presented to City Council. Chairman Myjak would like to be told when this will be presented to City Council. XXX Sustainability Program Coordinator, Lily Galleo, gave an introduction of herself to the Titusville Environmental Commission members. Ms. Galleo updated the Titusville Environmental Commission that the City of Titusville was awarded the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services grant for the Urban Community Forestry Program. The Florida Department of Protection (FDEP) vulnerability assessment is moving forward, and the first public engagement meeting will take place in February. Ms. Galleo is working with the GIS Department to feature the Low Impact Development projects that are taking place in Titusville. Community Development Director Brad Parrish said that the Titusville Environmental Commission’s next agenda will have the following items on it. 1. Natural Resources Public Engagement Project Report (draft recommendations) 2. TEC By-laws 3. Fountain functionality and use of bubblers in stormwater ponds 4. Native Municipal Tree Canopy and Landscape Management Trust Fund 5. Potential draft ordinance to review XXX Chairwoman Thompson provided a spiral bound report to all the Titusville Environmental Commission members called Economics of Development in Florida. Vice Chairwoman Thompson gave a summary of the report and said that the presentation is available on the 1000 Friends of Florida website 1000fof.org and would advise everyone to watch it. Chairman Myjak also encouraged the TEC members to watch this as well as the public. Chairman Myjak also asked for this to be a future agenda item for discussion.

Titusville Environmental Commission Regular Meeting January 15, 2025 Page 7 of 7 The 100th Project Completed celebration will be at Sandpoint Park on February 1, 2025 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. Arbor Day celebration on Friday, January 17, 2025 at the Pritchard House. XXX Adjournment 7:54 p.m.