MINUTES OF OCTOBER 26, 2006, MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF VOLUSIA AND FLAGLER COUNTIES

Board Members Present: Betty O?Laughlin (Sierra Club), Robert Haviland, Pat Williams, Don White (Flagler Audubon), Sharon Rich (PawPaw Chapter of Native Plant
Society), Brynn Newton, Alexa Ross (Environmental Action Committee)

The minutes of the September 26, 2006, meeting were approved as corrected.

Website -- Robert Haviland reported that the Environmental Council Web site is in operation.

The Treasurer's Report was received. Pat Williams reported a balance of $596.93, with $125 owed to the Volusia Teachers Organization for rent for the meeting facility. A motion made by Brynn Newton and seconded by Don White passed, to approve the Treasurer's Report.

Gopher tortoises -- Don White reported that the developer of Harbor View Marina is relocating the gopher tortoises on the site. Robert Haviland suggested that the Environmental Council petition the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to place the gopher tortoise on the Endangered Species list. Sharon Rich said that the Florida Wildlife Federation would be a good organization to advance the petition. Betty O?Laughlin recommended that the Environmental Council file as the umbrella organization and try to involve individual and organization members, and potential organization members.

Toll Road -- Betty O'Laughlin attended a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting at which John Mica announced that he had "no dog in [the] fight" regarding a toll road through Volusia's conservation corridor. She reported that Representative Mica said that he would try to get money to help preserve lands along the route and that the Expressway Authority still has enough money to build the project Sharon Rich reported that the Unitarian Universalist Society in Ormond Beach is being certified as a "Green Sanctuary". Among its projects is a Legacy Program which supports outdoor learning centers, and talking to young people about environmental issues and why environmental problems occur.

Flagler County -- Don White reported that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has told Flagler County that it is time for serious consideration of a manatee protection plan, following two manatee mortalities. Having a plan in place would facilitate dock development; not having a plan prevents developers from obtaining permits.

Wal-Mart -- A motion made by Brynn Newton and seconded by Alexa Ross passed, to authorize Betty O'Laughlin to write a letter on behalf of the Environmental
Council to the Department of Community Affairs regarding the Wal-Mart distribution center proposed for south Putnam County.