Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District

Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District

Board of Supervisors

Business Meeting Minutes

The Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District met in regular public session on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 4:00
p.m., in the UF/IFAS auditorium, UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County, 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Bud Crisafulli, at 4:00 p.m. COVID-19 personal and environmental
protection procedures for public meetings in Brevard County buildings and areas were in effect at the Board of
Supervisors meeting. Video and audio of the entire meeting was provided for public viewing through the UF/IFAS
Extension ZOOM web-based video conferencing and recording system. The meeting audio was separately recorded
for these minutes by the board secretary, Jim Sloan.

Board members present: Bud Crisafulli, Chairman, Supervisor Group 5

James Sloan, Supervisor Group 2

Jonathan Schuman, Supervisor Group 4

Chelsea Partridge, Supervisor Group 3,

Adam Tritt, Supervisor Group 1

Staff members present: Mike Engelgau, BSWCD Engineering Technician VI

Brian Zielinski, District Conservationist, USDA NRCS – Cocoa Service Center

Visitors and Presenters: No visitors or presenters attended the meeting.

Presented Documents

Documents as presented by the Staff, Presenters and Supervisors for review, approval and/or information of the
Board:

• MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (Revised) – Between the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service and Brevard (FL) Soil & Water Conservation District.
o Appendix A -Acknowledgment of Requirements for Protection of Privacy of Personal and Geospatial
Information Relating to Natural Resources Conservation Service Programs.

• USDA NRCS Civil Right Responsibilities for Partners Checklist

o USDA Civil Rights Policy Statement, May 22, 2020
o USDA Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy Statement June 6, 2016
o USDA Anti-Harassment Policy, May 22, 2020
o USDA Non-Discrimination Statement with Form AD-475-A September 2019
o USDA AD-1085, September 2003
o USDA Civil Rights Division FPAC-BC, 4/15/2020
o USDA Report of Violations of Laws and Regulations Relating to USDA Programs, September 2017
o USDA Letter, Subject EOP – Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Limited English Proficiency
Policy Statement, June 30, 2014
o U.S. Office of Special Counsel – Prohibited Personnel Practices.

Reported for Public Records –

• USDA NRCS – Cocoa Service Center, District Conservationist Report – Brevard SWCD Meeting, March 10, 2021.
o Conservation Program Updates
o Old Business
o FY 2020 EQIP and CSP Highlights
o FY 2021 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
o FY 2021 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
o FY 2021 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
o FY 2021 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
o Local Working Group (LWG) Meeting
▪ Overview handout of LWG presentation / meeting flow

• Email, Subject: Biosolids, Dated: March 6, 2021, From: John Dowd (jdowd5244@gmail.com) to Supervisor GP1
Adam Tritt.

Guest Presentations.

No guest presentations were made at this meeting. A presentation and discussion with Virginian Barker, Director of
the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department had been planned for the March 10th meeting, but
the presentation was not included on the March 10th meeting agenda. By consensus following discussion by the
Board supervisors, it was decided that she would be invited to appear at the April 14th meeting. Her presentation will
be entered on the April 14th agenda when published.

Review and Approval of Minutes for prior Board of Supervisors meeting.

The board secretary, James Sloan, provided the meeting minutes for the February 10th board meeting and discussed
two administrative corrections made to the draft minutes previously provided to the supervisors for review and
comment.

A motion without amendment to approve meeting minutes for the March 10, 2021 Board of Supervisors meeting by
Chelsea Partridge, was seconded by Jonathan Schuman. The motion was passed by unanimous vote of the
supervisors.

Review and Approval of the Current Treasurer’s Report.

The board treasurer, Jonathan Schuman, provided the treasurer’s report to the board with comment on the $3,900
deposit of income from the St Johns Water Management District grazing permit fee as contributed to the Brevard

District. He stated the $110 withdrawal by check was for gift cards from the Brevard Board of Supervisors, that were
previously given in appreciation for their public service to retiring supervisors, Adam Perez and Henry Minneboo.

A motion without amendment to approve the February 10, 2021 to March 9, 2021 Treasurer’s Report by James Sloan
was seconded by Chelsea Partridge,. The motion was passed by unanimous vote of the supervisors.

Old Business

Mike Engelgau, BS&WCD Engineering Technician, updated his workload accomplishments for February. Mike had
attended the virtual ADA District Website Training monthly meeting. He said to expect to see the District website up
and online by March 19th. He also completed the VMT Redesign Training during February. Mike accompanied Brian
Zielinski of USDA NRCS – Cocoa Service Center on three agricultural site visits. Mike also completed a conservation
plan.

Bud Crisafulli asked if there were any new updates to existing Best Management Plans (BMP) in use within the
Brevard District. Brian replied that no BMP updates have been recently requested for implementation.

Brian Zielinski completed an update of the Memorandum of Agreement between the United States Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Brevard Soil and Water Conservation District with
comments as previously provided during a meeting of the two agencies. He stated that the updated version would
be sent to the Florida state level of the USDA NRCS for approval and return for signature by both agencies. Jim Sloan
motioned for the Board to accept the revised MOA with no further amendments. Chelsea Partridge seconded the
motion, and it was passed by unanimous vote of the supervisors. The MOA should be presented for signature at the
April 14, 2021 Brevard District Supervisor’s Monthly Board Meeting.

The USDA NRCS Civil Right Responsibilities for Partners Checklist was presented to the Board of Supervisors for Board
compliance agreement. Each provision was initialed by the District Chairman and accepted by signature of each Board
Supervisor. The provisions require Board compliance where the USDA NRCS has a partnership with serviced clients
covered by the provisions. All the printed flyers covering the USDA NRCS Civil Right Responsibilities have been posted
within the Brevard County Agricultural Building and UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County offices at 3695 Lake Drive,
Cocoa, FL. Adam Tritt moved that Board Supervisors chairman Crisafulli should accept compliance with the USDA
NRCS Civil Right Responsibilities for Partners Checklist and all Supervisors should sign and date the Affirmation of
Review sheet. Jon Schuman seconded the motion, and it was passed by unanimous vote of the supervisors.

Jim Sloan noted that any requests for information under the Florida Sunshine law received by the Brevard District,
that are about business conducted under partnership provisions of the MOA should be handled by the USDA NCRS
Cocoa Service Center. Brian Zeilinski agreed to prepare the appropriate response to all such requests for information.

New Business

Chairman Crisafulli stated that he would arrange for all Board Supervisors to receive the USDA Farm Service Agency
Electronic News Service Bulletin as distributed by FL FSA office newsletter, as well as share the current issue of the
newsletter with the board members for their information and review.

The Board of Supervisors were asked to review Brian Zeilinski’s overview handout of LWG presentation & meeting
flow for a Local Working Group session on May 12th at 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the UF/IFAS auditorium. The Board of
Supervisors has the responsibility for creating a short list of stakeholders & partners from which we can collectively
build upon via our meeting / group discussion of who will attend the May 12th local working group meeting. The
Board will also review the FY 2021 Local Working Group Questionaire (as provided at the February 10th meeting) in

order to make them applicable to the Brevard District. ZOOM will be used to present the May 12th LWG meeting to
those not in attendance at the UF/IFAS auditorium.

A presentation and discussion with Virginian Barker, Director of the Brevard County Natural Resources Management
Department will be planned for the April 14th business meeting agenda. Chelsea Partridge will reschedule and invite
Director Barker to the April 14th Board business meeting for her annual presentation on the Brevard County and
Brevard District partnership. Director Barker will be asked to attend the May 12th LWG meeting that follows the
District Board business meeting.

Chelsea noted that March 23rd will be National Ag Day to commemorate the agriculture industry’s economic growth
opportunities and how the future will be shaped by lessons learned during COVID-19 pandemic. Chelsea will write an
op-ed for publication in the Florida Today and arrange for a brief appearance by Board Supervisors before the County
Commission meeting on National Ag Day, to introduce the USDA NCRS staff and briefly comment on the agriculture
economy of Brevard County.

Adam Tritt offered an email, Subject: Biosolids, Dated: March 6, 2021, From: John Dowd (jdowd5244@gmail.com) to
Supervisor GP1 Adam Tritt, for review by the Board Supervisors. Adam will contact him to arrange a time and
business meeting date for John Dowd to present his company’s technology, that would convert biosolids to fuel for
production of an environmentally, nutrient positive soil amendment called Biochar.

Jonathan Schuman has invited Lew Kontnik to share the status of the Indian River Lagoon Project with the Soil and
Water Supervisors on Wednesday, April 14th at 4 PM. The Board saw a conflict with the Director Barker presentation
and moved any presentation by Lew Kontnik on IRL project status until the June business meeting. Jonathan will
provide the final arrangements made with Lew Kontnik to Mike Engelgau for preparation of the business meeting
agenda of June 9th.

Upon consensus of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 PM.

Prepared for board review and approval by ,

Secretary, Board of Supervisors

James E. Sloan

4/12/2021