10/03/2007
BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
October 3, 2007
Present: Joyce Gibbs Chair
Wallace Smith Board Member
Ryley Hunter Board Member
David Jaye Board Member
Jamie Andrian Blackstone Board Member
Phyllis Franklin Board Member
Sioux Hart Board Member
Absent: Patrick O’Neil Board Member
Chris Rattray Board Member
Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney
Diane Hufford Economic Development Coordinator
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. at City Hall, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
3 – Items:
a. Introduce New Members – Sioux Hart and Phyllis Franklin
b. November 29, 2006, Meeting – no quorum – Presentation by Housing Manager Mike Holmes
c. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting – July 19, 2006
Member Jaye moved to approve the minutes of the regular Brownfields meeting of July
19, 2006, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4 – Staff Reports:
Brownfield Revolving Loan Cleanup Fund
Economic Development Coordinator Diane Hufford reported that the EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency) had contacted the City regarding available BRLCF
(Brownfield Revolving Loan Cleanup Fund) funding and subsequently awarded the City
$700,000 BRLCF supplemental funding on October 11, 2006. The original grant of $500,000
was increased to $1.2 million. The quarterly budget recap summary, submitted to EPA for third
quarter June 30, 2007, outlines the work plan. When properties are sold, cleanup costs are
recovered and returned to the revolving loan fund. The grant expires September 30, 2008.
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Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved March 30, 2007, Voluntary Cleanup
Tax Credit application for Clearwater Auto Salvage Yard in the amount of $96,360.08.
Ms. Hufford reviewed the application process. Tax credits received for the Clearwater
Auto property are an incentive to be passed on to the property’s purchaser. If not used, tax
credits can be sold. Applications are processed annually and the City will apply again next year
for the minimal available funding.
Awarded EPA assessment grant for $200,000 for petroleum and $200,000 hazardous materials.
Expires September 30, 2010. Review work plan budget.
This action will approve a three-year Work Plan to inventory Brownfields, conduct
community-wide environmental site assessments for hazardous substances and/or petroleum
contamination, prepare cleanup and reuse plans, and carryout community involvement activities
to encourage revitalization of Brownfields site(s) identified by the community such that the future
reuse of the properties do not pose a threat to human health and the environment. One new
focus for this grant is to develop a public health monitoring plan to address environmental
justice issues impacting health and welfare. This plan will include blood lead testing and
potential residential lead-based paint issues. EPA agrees to cover 100% of the approved
budget costs incurred, up to and not exceeding total federal funding of $400,000. The City
Council is scheduled to approve the grant in October.
Discussion ensued regarding public health and welfare and issues related to high-
tension electric wires running through North Greenwood and abandoned animals in the
neighborhood. It was stated that regulatory compliance is based on established standards and
standards regarding electro magnetic fields do not exist. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-
Sides said EPA funds mainly are used for assessment and soil cleanup. Phases of the cleanup
process and soil cleanup methods were reviewed. Discussion ensued regarding deed
restrictions related to pollution at the former Clearwater Sun building. Information was
requested regarding a former gasoline station at the corner of Eldridge and Ft. Harrison.
Clearwater Auto and AAMCO
Ms. Hufford reported that the cleanup of Clearwater Auto Salvage yard will require
additional money and CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) approval. As FDEP will
require delineation of soil impacts beyond the Clearwater Auto property, the adjacent property,
AAMCO transmission, could require remediation. While staff has discussed purchasing the
property with the AAMCO owner, the CRA has requested that additional environmental site
assessment be conducted before negotiations proceed. The City’s environmental consultant
said the remediation of the AAMCO property would be approximately $500,000.
Presentation July 25, 2007, EPA Workshop. 10 year Brownfields Success.
Staff made a presentation on City Brownfield projects to the regional EPA Workshop in
Charleston, South Carolina.
Ninth Annual Florida Brownfields State Conference, October 24 – 27, 2006, Miami “A Decade of
Brownfields Redevelopment in Florida Past present and Future.” Received historic award for
poster entry titled “Time Tunnel.”
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The City's "Time Tunnel" poster was applauded.
Pre-Workshop at Florida Brownfields Conference "Restoring Neighborhoods through
Brownfields Redevelopment, Community Justice, Health and Wealth." November 6, 2007.
AND
Tenth Annual Florida Brownfields Conference and Exhibition - November 7 - 9, 2007, Orlando
The City is providing transportation to the free workshop on November 6, 2007. Board
members were encouraged to attend. Staff will report if scholarships are available for the
conference.
In response to a question regarding annual EPA national conferences, Ms. Hufford said
future national conferences will be scheduled 18 months apart. The next conference is in May
2008, in Detroit, Michigan.
5 - Public Comment: None.
Items not on the Agenda
Ms. Hufford reviewed the benefits of revitalizing Brownfields properties, estimating that
the cleanup of the property and construction of the $11 million Harbor Oaks Shopping Center
resulted in $21 million in nearby investments. For the Prospect Lake site, the CRA has
approved a developer for a mixed-use rental housing project, which includes an affordable
housing component.
In response to a question, Ms. Hufford said a Phase I review had not been done for the
GTE property for sale on Drew Street at Betty Lane.
Economic Development & Housing Director Geri Campos Lopez encouraged board
members to view the October 15, 2007, Work Session presentation, celebrating 10 years of
Economic Development. Brownfield restoration is a cornerstone of these efforts, which focus on
business and community development in the areas around downtown, including the East
Gateway and North Greenwood.
The next meeting date will be announced.
6 - Adjourn
;The mee ' adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
it
Attest: rownfields Advisory Board
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