ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

City of New Port Richey Meeting Agenda

New Port Richey Public Works Operations Center Wednesday – September 18, 2019 – 6:00 p.m.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE City of New Port Richey

The Environmental Committee of the City of New Port Richey develops and endorses environmental events in the City, renders annual and special reports as members may deem advisable, and explores new environmental initiatives for the City. The ECCNPR was established in 1989 and recreated in 2011.

Meeting Agenda

New Port Richey Public Works Operations Center Wednesday - September 18, 2019 – 6:00 p.m.

ANY PERSON DESIRING TO APPEAL ANY DECISION, WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT ANY MEETING OR HEARING, WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE TRANSCRIBED VERBATIM MINUTES; THEREFORE, THE APPLICANT MUST MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS WITH A PRIVATE REPORTER (OR PRIVATE REPORTING FIRM) AND BEAR THE RESULTING EXPENSE. (F.S.286.0105)

Welcome Roll Call (and acknowledgement of membership renewals) (see also first item under new business)

Vox Pop (3 minutes for members of the audience – on items not on the agenda)

Approval of Minutes – July 8 2019 (committee did not meet in August)

Approval of Agenda and request for additional items

Liaison Officer Report: Barret Doe, City Liaison Note: Advice from City Liaison is requested on all items before the committee

Special Items:

Business of Committee – On-Going Projects and Events Vox Pop (VP) for items in this section Update on Committee Membership, and City Policies (Barret and Dell) No action needed, unless desired by committee

Green City initiative: Update and Note of submission status (Barret) - Update

Update on inclusion of City Property in Community Garden Ordinance (from annual report/proposals over several years) (Dell and George Romagnoli) No developments since last report (below) George advises: The ENV COM with Barret need to work with Parks on the exact location and any special rules that need to be created for the garden. The attorney will then work on the document. * Committee has approved the location at Frances Ave. Park. George asks: What is your vision as far as ownership or control? Do you have an entity that will be the manager of the site? * No entity has been contacted. Contact awaits approval and draft document from City.

Urban Agriculture Program (Barret, Jon & Dell) * Two renewals. One new application. * Barret asked to have new application for approval. Library Seed Lending Program - Update on the program (Penelope) Fruit Tree Peninsula (Penelope, and Barret) * Managing and maintaining the planter. Tampa Bay Resiliency Collation (Dell & Barret) See: http://www.tbrpc.org/resiliency-current_members/ - Routine update on City's participation in this committee of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and any new developments since last meeting

Business of Committee – New Projects (and projects of limited duration, including annual events)

VP for items in this section Review of Alleys in the city: Committee is asked to comment on status of alleys in the city, in light of the CC's deliberations on possible modifications. Considerations: paving, repair, increase in traffic, safety, pervious and impervious, accessibility in late-night hours, dumping, and so on. Review of Accessory Parking: Committee is asked to comment on property modifications required for "Accessory Parking" in light of CC's deliberations on requirements. Considerations: pervious and impervious materials for parking areas, and aesthetics. Review of Pets (Dogs) at Grey Preserve: Committee is asked to comment on allowing pets at Grey Preserve. At present, pets (dogs) are not allowed at Grey Preserve. Florida Solar Co-op Program (Barret) – Proceed to proposal to Council? * Update Straws, Plastic, and Styrofoam Proposal – Barret is asked for any updates * Last update from City Manager: "The city is gathering input from the business community on the proposed plastic straw ban. Also consideration is being given to restricting the use of polystyrene products on public property." * No further updates since July 24. ** #A Jon Tietz: Research on Plastic Bag Recycling. See: https://www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/ Monarch Butterfly City - No updates since July 24 meeting with C.M., who committed to reviewing the proposal. * Links http://monarchcityusa.com/ * http://monarchcityusa.com/members

Pasco County Food Hub (from PEDC) (Dell) - endorse, modify, request meeting? UPDATE TO FPAC 6/20/19 • We have currently identified five main areas of focus, and have begun to crystalize specific goals for two of the

areas. • The five areas are Commercial Kitchen, Starting a Food Business in Pasco, Local Distribution/Logistics Gaps,

Community and Environmental, and Supporting our Institutions. • The goal for the Commercial Kitchen is to determine the viability, costs, benefits of a commissary, incubator, or

shared kitchen space to have available for caterers, food production, food trucks, and new food businesses. Determine who best to operate and how to either start or attract one to the area(s). This includes opening an educational and incubator kitchen in Dade City at the One Stop Shop as a joint venture with UF/IFAS and the surrounding community. The ribbon cutting will be 9/23 at 2:30pm.

• The goal for the Starting A Food Business in Pasco - Website/Resource area is to build an information hub that will help streamline and provide a checklist of sorts for the process of local, state and federal requirements for the different types of food businesses. We may utilize current resources of the Pasco Enterprise Network to this end.

• The other three areas are still being research and discussed, as far as what recommendations and/or support to be offered or implemented.

• Upcoming research and involvement endeavors may include: Farmer survey, SWOT Analysis, Public Survey as a needs assessment, tours of other city’s kitchen incubators and food entrepreneur ecosystems.

This is an ongoing task force, and these goals and activities will likely shift and change as we progress. Hanging planter and floating planter Project (Penelope and Barret) - update. Adopt a Trail Project (Jon & Barret) Urban Food Sovereignty Mini-Summit: September 23, 2019 Urban Food Sovereignty Mini-Summit (north suncoast) - NPR Library 6:00 to 8:00 (Dell) Annual Report and Proposals to Council: Planning session at October meeting. Come with one primary proposal and one backup. Set date for presentation. Status Report on follow-ups to the annual report (presented to City Council September 4, 2018) Individual members have been tasked with following up proposals. Updates given here - City to pursue 100% renewable power by 2030 (Barbara) - Establish position of a PT Garden Facilitator (Dell) - Create an Arborist position (Dell * note: Barret will not be pursuing this) - City to revise building code to allow for small/tiny houses (150-300 sq feet) (M.J.) - City to become a nontoxic community – with timetable target

City Work Sessions on Projects of Relevance to Committee (Barret)

Events Seasonal Events (Information only) - Note: All events supported and endorsed by Environmental Committee.

Calendar 2019-2020: * September 23, 2019 Urban Food Sovereignty Mini-Summit (north suncoast) - NPR Library 6:00 to 8:00 September 28, 2019 Sweet Potato Round-Up, 4th annual - United Methodist Church (Host FarmNet) January 17, 2020 Arbor Day, 31th annual (3rd Friday in January) (Host ENV COM) January 25, 2020 - Collards Festival at Grand Gardens*, 5th annual (Host Grand Gardens/New Port Richey FarmNet) March 28, 2020 The Florida Loquat Festival, 7th annual (Host Ecology Florida) August 17, 2020 - Okra Occasion, 5th annual (5:00 – 8:00) (Host ENV COM)

Meeting Schedule for 2019 "The environmental committee shall meet once every ninety (90) days unless it determines to meet more frequently." * Committee has determined it is best to meet monthly - 2nd Monday, at 6:00 p.m. Next Meeting October 14 - 6:00 p.m. - Public Library