2025-01-08 SRC MinutesSUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY COMMITTEE
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Council Chambers
10050 NE 2nd Avenue
6:30pm
Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER – By Chair Ms. Meyer at 6:40pm
2. ROLL CALL:
Present:
Chair Ms. Nicola Meyer
Ms. Lauren Rangel
Ms. Silvia Kang
Ms. Carol Eannace Respondek
Mr. Richard Pluhar (arrived later)
Absent:
Ms. Patricia Casey
Mr. Logan Schlosberg
Also present:
Mr. Delroy Peters, Public Works Director
Mr. George Birch, Mayor
3. MINUTES: 6 Nov 2024 pending but unavailable for approval due to departure of Ms. Tezen.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
George Birch –
1. Provided Ordinance No 2020-01 establishing the SRC and asked Committee
members to review and suggest changes, deletions, additions to Council.
Ms. Meyer stated that the make-up of the Committee is quite different than
what was originally intended (no technically qualified Committee members),
so this is appropriate. Ms. Meyer asked that Committee members bring
these revisions to the next Committee meeting.
2. Suggested that Committee members might look into “Bubblers” which are
being used to increase the dissolved O2 in water in an attempt to keep our
marine life alive in times of depleted O2 in the Bay.
3. Consider and recommend methods to clean up the 1 square mile of
Biscayne Bay between 105th Street and 91st Street that belongs to MS as it is
regularly filled with garbage.
4. Look into ways to water test C8 canal, especially as it relates to storm water
flushed into Biscayne Canal from western areas. Ms. Respondek stated that
buoy anchored to her dock owned and operated by FIU tests the water
continuously and that link is available, but what is necessary is a 2nd buoy to
take the same measurements upstream. Ms. Respondek suggested that
possibly MCDS, also an important stakeholder on the Canal could be a
location and possible donor for another buoy?
5. Mayor Birch talked about the need for a sewer hook-up that would serve
both the neighborhoods east of 12th Avenue when their service is provided
as well as the Golf Course as it’s renovated. He suggested that 93rd St. may
be a better choice than 105th St. for this tie-in.
6. Suggested the Committee members look into the Recreation Fields as to
how well the grass is growing.
5. DISCUSSION and POSSIBLE ACTION
5a. Selection of Secretary – Ms. Respondek volunteered, as there were no other volunteers. The
use of AI to assist with this was offered by Ms. Rangel.
5b. Neighborhood Cleanups - Ms. Rangel suggested the area between NE 109th St. and NE 104th
St. bounded by NE 2nd Ave. and N. Miami Ave. Ms. Meyer and Ms. Rangel suggested the South
side of NE 107th St. from Biscayne Blvd. to Biscayne Park. Ms. Meyer also suggested another
aquatic cleanup, to be scheduled in the summer. Possible dates: Earth Day – 20 April;
International Coastal Cleanup Day – 20 Sept. and the day after Halloween, which could be done
in an informal way by reaching out to some of the “Mom’s” groups (clean up the area where you
trick or treated).
5c. Biscayne Beautification – Mr. Peters reported that DOT suggests that the end caps can
remain as planted with Green Island Ficus. Mr. Peters added that another DOT group is stating
that some palms will need to be removed due to line of sight issues. Ms. Meyer suggested
wildflowers in the median rather than St. Augustine grass and provided documentation that
DOT would welcome this. Mr. Peters is planning on not more than once a month maintenance
for this area. It will receive new irrigation via sprinkler heads. Mr. Peters provided comments by
Kimley-Horn regarding suggestions for alternate plants made by Natalia of Flora Miami (native
plant nursery) via Ms. Respondek, who will get back with both Natalia and Gwen Burzycki (MS
resident and wetlands biologist) for review.
5d. Recycling Plant Tour – Mr. Peters and Ms. Respondek spoke of their tour of Waste
Management Recycling Plant. Mr. Peters noted that Mary Benton is writing an article about this
visit for Miami Shores Living. Mr. Peters answered Committee questions about current practice
of the PW staff regarding leaving behind anything in plastic bags, as well as leaving notes or
talking to residents about proper recycling practices.
5e. Biscayne Canal Adaptation Action Area – Mr. Peters talked about the request by Ms. Karina
Castillo from the County Resilience Office to meet with the Committee regarding their AAA
program and desire to host a joint workshop soon. Ms. Respondek talked about her experience
on the Biscayne Canal AAA zoom call Tuesday night, as well as in person at another such
meeting in early December at a location closer to 95 & the Biscayne Canal. Ms. Respondek
shared their timetable for these events and suggested that rather than meet with Ms. Castillo
next meeting, we set up a joint workshop with MDC Office of Resilience asap to be held at
possibly the 9900 Building, since the turnout will probably be significant. Mr. Peters will reach
out to Ms. Castillo about this.
5f. SRC Workshop at Brockway Library 22 April. Ms. Respondek will contact the Library as well
as the potential speakers at UF IFAS regarding this date or another date around this time.
6. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
1. Mr. Peters stated that two PW projects are nearing start up – NEAT Streets and ACE.
2. Mr. Pluhar suggested that anyone who wants a review of their sprinkler system can
get one via IFAS.
3. Green Day – based on the experience of Committee members last year, no one is
interested in participating. It was suggested by Mr. Meyer that we ask the Council
for a budget to do something at next year’s Green Day, perhaps $5,000.
4. Ms. Meyer will work with MS IT to create a new cloud library link that members can
use to anonymously post information for other members to review (the cloud
library seems to have been lost since 1/1/25).
5. Mr. Peters will ask Ysabely to post a Committee member vacancy since Mr. Logan
Scholsberg has not attended a meeting since his appointment.