Satellite Beach launches environmentally friendly board
An idea raised by a resident in March during a Satellite Beach Public Library community meeting has morphed into a lasting campaign to make the beachside city more environmentally friendly.
How? By promoting xeriscaping on residential lawns. Creating a community garden and composting area.
And replicating Melbourne Beach’s reusable shopping-bag program to help stop plastics from entering the ocean, preventing unsuspecting sea turtles from mistaking plastic bags for tasty jellyfish.
Wednesday night, the Satellite Beach City Council unanimously decided to create a “sustainability committee.” This is a permanent incarnation of the city’s six-member Ad Hoc Green Committee that debuted in mid-June and conducted seven meetings in 2.5 months, bolstered by help from three college interns who graduated from Satellite High.
“The mission that you all have undertaken is an important one. And it’s very gratifying to see the enthusiasm that you all are bringing to this board. So I appreciate it,” Councilwoman Lorraine Gott said.
Per the “green” group’s recommendation, council members also unanimously voted to install a $4,091 electric vehicle charging station at Pelican Beach Park.
Public Works Director Allen Potter said charging stations are commonly seen along beaches in South Florida cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, but not in beachside Brevard — “basically, there aren’t any.”
The city recycling trust fund will cover the cost, and the vendor, Semaconnect, will offer a free five-year warranty and service contract. If the EV charging station proves popular, Potter said the city may consider adding another at the Schechter Community Center on South Patrick Drive.
In the short term, the sustainability committee plans to:
• Promote xeriscaping, or low-irrigation lawn-management practices, and survey how many homes have St. Augustine grass.
A “Lose the Lawn” campaign will aim to reduce fertilizer usage, promote native plants and establish buffer zones near waterways.
• Identify possible locations for a community garden and composting area, then draft a pool of volunteers.
• Partner with the Surfrider Foundation’s Sebastian Inlet chapter to distribute free reusable shopping bags.
The Surfrider chapter, Melbourne Beach leaders and the Sea Turtle Conservancy launched a “Rise Above Plastics” campaign in July by distributing 3,200 bags to Melbourne Beach residents.
• Organize a “green fair” featuring a farmers market, electric/hybrid car show, plant sale and other eco-friendly activities.
“They’ve done a lot of work. They’re probably the hardest-working board I’ve ever seen,” City Manager Courtney Barker said.
Mayor Frank Catino said Duane DeFreese, the newly hired executive director of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, wants to speak before the sustainability committee.
Contact Neale at 321-242-3638, firstname.lastname@example.org or follow @RickNeale1 on Twitter
Beach cleanup scheduled
Keep Brevard Beautiful and the Ocean Conservancy will conduct a beach cleanup from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Pelican Beach Park, 1525 SR A1A, Satellite Beach.
Trash bags, gloves and sunscreen will be provided. For information, email email@example.com.