03/19/2008
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 19th, 2008
Present: D. Michael Flanery Chair
Richard Packman Board Member
Joseph A. Calio Board Member
Ron Gregory Board Member
Anna Fusari Board Member
Also Present: Ed Chesney Environmental Manager
Veronica Josef Senior Staff Assistant
Absent: Leslie Dougall Sides Assistant City Attorney
APPROVED
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Conference Room 221 of the MSB
Building.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
ADMINISTRATION
1. Approval Of Minutes
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Member Joe Calio moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 20,
2008, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly
carried
seconded by Member Richard Packman and unanimously.
2. Citizen Comments
i. Shallow Irrigation Wells - Citizen Lisa Alanza stated that she had received negative
response from neighbors on Reclaimed Water because of the infrastructure and the
extra monthly payments. Reclaimed Water is great for large areas (Golf Course)
but another way to irrigate is with the use of Shallow Wells. Shallow Wells recharge
the aquifer and would like the City to look into the rebate program that is offered by
Pinellas County. Through the program $ 300 will be reimbursed to the homeowners
after installing an alternative source for irrigation such as a well.
Ed Chesney in response to Citizen Lisa Alanza stated that it is a Pinellas County
program and the City of Clearwater is not eligible to participate. The withdrawal of
water from Shallow Wells competes with our Reclaimed Water program. The City
does not fund this program. Pinellas County funds this program and extends it to
Safety Harbor which does not have a Reclaimed Water program. Clearwater does
not restrict Shallow Wells as Dunedin does but they do not subsidize them either.
The Cities of Dunedin, Largo, Tarpon Springs and Clearwater all expressed early
concerns with the potential unintended consequences including reducing residential
participation in their respective Reclaimed Water programs. As a result of these
concerns, the County has been very careful in the advertising and implementation of
their rebate program. In order for a customer to be eligible for a rebate they must
receive potable water from Pinellas County Utilities or the City of Safety Harbor, and
be unable to receive Reclaimed Water and not scheduled to receive Reclaimed
Water within the next five years.
Environmental Advisory 2008-03-19 1
ii. Community Gardens - Citizen Pat Fernandez, President of the Downtown
Clearwater Farmers Market talked about Community Gardening and its benefits. Pat
Fernandez also stated that some communities offer lots they own to residents for
community gardening. Residents are encouraged to plan with the City and County
agents to put together a project that is feasible.
Ed Chesney stated that he will send the EAB Board members a PDF map of the
lots identified by the USF study for Community Gardens.
ACTION ITEMS
3. 2008 Appointment of Chair & Vice Chair
Board Member Mr. Ron Gregory moved to nominate Mr. Michael D. Flanery for Chair. Mr.
Michael D. Flanery accepted the nomination. Board Member Joe Calio seconded the
motion.
ACTION:
The motion to nominate Mr. Michael D. Flanery as Chair was approved
unanimously.
Board Member Mr. Ron Gregory moved to nominate Ms.Anna Fusari for Vice Chair. Ms
Anna Fusari accepted the nomination. Board Member Mr. Joe Calio seconded the motion.
ACTION:
The motion to nominate Member Ms. Anna Fusari as Vice Chair was approved
unanimously.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
4. Work Sessions & Bullet Points
Ed Chesney advised the EAB Board Members to e-mail to Ed Chesney any concerns that
need to come to the attention of the Council, and Ed Chesney will then forward to Cyndie
Goudeau. Ed Chesney also stated that EAB meetings are publically noticed as regular
meeting.
5. Pinellas County Shallow Well Program
Item # 5 was discussed in Item # 2 (i) – Citizen Comments
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
6.Florida City “Pays Greenbacks” for going Green
Ed Chesney will contact Heather Shell of Public Communication.
7. Mobile collection location for Hazardous Waste
Ron Gregory stated that City needs a better handle on hazardous waste collection. Solid
Waste to consider collection of hazardous materials and need to have a facility in
Clearwater.
8. Finalize USF Evaluations for Council Workshop
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9. Establish Aoenda
Presentation will be Tuesday, May 13th 2008 @ 1 :30pm Council Workshop.
10. Date of next meetinq
The EAB will meet on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm.
11. Adiournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6: 15 p.m.
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Senior Staff Assistant
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Environmental Advisory 2008.03.19
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