03/20/1996 (2)
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, Environmental Advisory Board '
Minutes
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ENVIRONMENT At ADVISORY BOARD
CITY OF CLEARWATER
March 20, 1996
Present:
Whitney Gray
Mike Foley
Anne Garris
Lisa Lanza
Alan Smith {4:05--5:45 p.m.~
Allan Stowell
Leslie Dougall~Sides
Tom Miller
Gwen Legters
Jill Melkonian
Absent:
Vice Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Assistant City Attorney
Asst. Director of Engineering/Environmental
Board Reporter
Chair
To provide continuity, the items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed In that order.
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall.
Minutos Approval ~ February 21, 1996
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Member Lanza provided clarification regarding her statement on page 4, paragraph 1.
She said her intent was to report that Pine lias County had received delegation authority for
mangrove regulation and to request Mr. Miller to provide additional information.
Member Stowell moved to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
Correspondence
1. Memorial Causeway Bridge Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) Study
City Engineer Rich Baier invited consultants from HDR Engineering to give a
prospective project overview. Larry Weatherby. Project Manager, and Barry Wharton,
Environmental Scientist, presented display boards, slides and handouts. Mr. Weatherby
detailed the various alternatives considered to reduce traffic delays and costs associated
with frequent opening of the existing bascule bridge. Several four~lane bridge alternatives
were discussed in terms of location, profile, cost estimates. traffic, environmental, and
noise impacts. He explained the current PD&E study begins where the previous feasibility
study ended. Mr. Wharton highlighted wildlife, habitat, water quality, visual, historic and
archaeological impacts. He touched on required permits, contamination and pollution
mitigation. Mr. Weatherby listed a schedule of local interest group meetings, and right~of~
way acquisition efforts.
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Discussion ensued regarding the various routes and configuration alternatives. It was
noted the Cleveland Street alternative offers the fewest adverse community impacts, but
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does not afford the best traffic flow. In response to a concern, Mr. Weatherby confirmed
the current study does not address water drainage or stormwater runoff from the bridge
and causeway. He said SWFWMD requirements have not been determined. He will ask
his drainage engineers to investigate and report whether or not any significant impacts
exist.
Mr. Miller will agenda an update on this issue for a future meeting. He distributed
copies of a March 1 letter from Mr. Baier to the Pinellas County MPO providing information
about formation of a Local Interest Group (L1G) ad hoc committee and listing the local
groups invited to participate. Mr. Miller encouraged board members to attend the first L1G
meeting on March 28 at the Harborview Center.
2. Allen's Creek Sewer Service Project
A letter from the Pinellas County Utilities director listed ten items to be defined in the
draft agreement regarding installation of sewer collection systems and facilities in the
Allen's Creek area. Mr. Miller said the list is consistent with the City's desires. In
response to questions, Mr. Miller said Allen's Creek residents would not be required to
annex into the City because Pinellas County provide all the infrastructure. The City would
provide treatment service for a fee to be determined. The City will meet with Pinellas
County during the next few months to finalize an agreement.
3. Clearwater Harbor Symposium .~ Registration Form
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Mr. Miller said members are invited to attend the symposium on April 11, 1996, at the
Harborview Center. He noted registration costs $10 and forms are available in his office.
4. "'Thank You" Letters -- Follow-up
Mr. Miller stated his office has complied with the Board's request to write thank-you
letters to speakers. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said future letters will be written
on Environmental Advisory Board stationery.
6. Tampa Bay National Estuary Program -- Town Meeting Notice
Mr. Miller reported the board is invited to attend A Community Blueprint for Bay
Restoration presentation tonight at the Harborview Center.
Confirm Agenda - Establish Consent and Regular Agenda Items
Citizens' Agenda .- None
Consent Agenda
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1. Brazilian Pepper Plant Removal at Cooper's Point
2. DelOra Storm Replacement - Phases 2 & 3
3. Agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for
Funding Coopers Point Ecosystem Restoration and Management
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Member Foley moved to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
Regular Agenda
Old Business
1. Allen's Creek Watershed Rehabilitation Project at Hercules Avenue (Maple Swamp) --
Terry Finch, City Environmental Program Supervisor
On April 6, 1995, the City Commission approved a cooperative agreement between
SWFWMD, Pinel/as County and the City of Clearwater for design and implementation of a
watershed rehabilitation project. Objectives were detailed and proposals were solicited for
consulting engineering services from Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc., Tampa Bay Engineering,
Inc., Coastal Environmental, Inc., and Griener, Inc.
Ms. Finch gave a slide presentation of existing conditions in the area. Referring to
drawings from two of the engineering firms from their project design proposals, she
demonstrated the high level of detail shown when consultants submit proposals. Staff felt the
design proposal by Tampa Bay Engineering best meets the intent for the project.
Member Foley moved to recommend that the City Commission award a contract to Tampa
Bay Engineering, Inc., of Clearwater, for professional engineering services for the design of a
watershed rehabilitation project at Hercules Avenue in an amount not to exceed $200,000.
.~.~;) The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
New Business
1. Landmark Drive Extension, Lake Chautauqua, and Camp Soule
Presentation .. Assistant City Manager Bill Baker
Mr. Baker displayed a map of the area. He discussed brief background and history of each
item and how the three issues interrelate. Details of property acquisition, acreage and land
value, wildlife species and bacterial pollution in the lake were discussed. He explained the
State's involvement in the purchase of the parcel east of Lake Chautauqua, and the Camp
Soule property. It was indicated a group of interested private citizens have obtained approval
to receive half the funds from the State to purchase the Camp Soule property under the
Preservation 2000 program through the Florida Legislature.
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Discussion ensued regarding park development proposals and vehicular access options.
Mr. Baker stated the Boy Scouts want controlled group usage on the Camp Soule acreage,
while the City is proposing a passive park, open to the public at random, for the Lake
Chautauqua acreage. He indicated discussion of extending Landmark Drive occurred, in part,
because lake Chautauqua Park has such limited public vehicular access. A suggestion was
made to combine the two tracts for the type of controlled group usage suggested by the
Scouts, under the authority of the City. If the two tracts were merged, it was pointed out
vehicular access to Lake Chautauqua Park could be extended from the south through the
present Camp Soule area. It was not known if, under that scenario, landmark Drive would still
need to be opened to meet traffic flow requirements. One member encouraged the City to find
a way to eliminate opening Landmark Drive. Mr. Baker will check with Traffic Engineering.
mea03.96 3 03/20/96
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Discussion ensued regarding restoration of lake water quality to enable swimming and
whether the existing bacterial pollution came from septic tanks or typical urban runoff.
Mr. Baker said efforts are underway to determine the causes. He felt mitigation should be
a joint effort with the surrounding property owners. In response to a question, he said the
City offered to provide sewer service without annexation, but the County did not want to
put in the sewer lines. Mr. Baker left the meeting and board discussion continued.
Member Garris moved to recommend that the City Commission actively pursue
providing funds to augment the private funds being collected, if necessary, to help ensure
the Camp Soule property is purchased. The motion was duly seconded.
A concern was expressed that revenue from impact fees should not be used toward
the purchase, if the City Commission decides to pursue this recommend,ation.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
Member Lanza made and later withdrew a motion encouraging the City Commission to
consider merging the Camp Soule property with the Lake Chautauqua passive park for future
use as one piece of property, using the vehicular access through Camp Soule. Mr. Miller
expressed concern that adding another factor to the property acquisition process could delay or
even upset previous negotiations. He stated this issue could be discussed easily at a later
date. Consensus of the board was to agenda this topic for a later meeting.
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2. Reclaimed Water -. Street Lee, McKim & Creed
Mr. Lee gave a slide presentation and overview of the development of a system to
provide reclaimed water for irrigation by fiscal year 2001. He detailed the proposed
transmission and distribution system construction from the Marshall Street plant to Island
Estates. He explained how a low pressure reclaimed system at the Northeast plant will be
converted to high pressure to supply Eagles Landing, adding 600 residential connections
and backflow prevention devices.
Mr. Lee responded to questions, stating no design changes are planned for the
Marshall Street plant, and the reclaimed system will have no more noise or odor impact
than a potable water system. He said they are saving money by using existing piping
across the Intercoastal Waterway. He briefly explained the cost estimates for the first
stages of pumping and distribution. He discussed initial and future projections for the
amount of reclaimed water to be supplied. Mr. Lee said conversion of the Clearwater East
plant to a high pressure distribution system for reclaimed water is not being addressed at
this time. A concern was expressed that piping to meet future needs should be installed
during road widening projects. Mr. Lee agreed Master Plan requirements and updates need
to be coordinated with projects of this nature.
..:)
A concern was expressed regarding the citizen survey method of determining whether
or not residents want reclaimed water in their neighborhoods. He said Clearwater beach
was unable to generate the number of signatures required to be included in the first phase
of the project. Infrastructure to extend the system from Island Estates to Clearwater
beach will be designed when the demand increases. The monthly rate structure for
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residents was estimated between $17.00 and $24.00. Some members supported a city-
wide system of reclaimed water distribution. Others expressed concern many residents
Bre xeriscaping and are not interested in paying a monthly fee for a service they will not
use. Mr. Lee responded reclaimed water will be provided in response to demand. Mr.
Miller said neighborhoods and homeowner associations are welcome to do petition drives
and communicate their interest to the City. He said this type of information is included in
the City's evaluation processes.
Member Smith left the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
Questions were raised regarding how this proposal effects the Pasco Rainbow
proposal to send water to the Eldridge well field. Mr. Miller stated staff has offered to
review that concept when it comes forward.
Member Stowell moved to recommend that the City include a questionnaire in the
water bills to determine the level of public interest in having reclaimed water for private or
commercial use. The motion was duly seconded.
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Discussion ensued regarding the motion. Mr. Miller and Mr. Lee pointed out it is not
cost effective to collect data from individuals in this manner. While a utility bill stuffer is
not expensive, Mr. Miller explained, the time and cost of synthesizing the data to identify
the percentage of interest within specific areas can be significant. Member Foley
requested the motion be withdrawn because he felt an extensive public survey is
premature. Member Stowell declined to withdraw the motion.
Upon the vote being taken, Members Garris, Lanza, and Stowell voted "Aye";
Members Gray and Foley voted "Nay." Mr. Smith was not present. Motion carried.
Mr. Miller requested clarification of the board's direction. It was indicated the motion
was only to recommend that the City Commission direct staff to include a questionnaire in
utility bills. It was noted the effort to compile the data would likely exceed eight hours of
staff or consultant time. The majority agreed with this clarification.
3. Water Quality Assessment of Clearwater Harbor
Terry Finch gave an overview of the three year project to establish baseline water
quality data for Clearwater harbor. Sixteen monitoring stations are to be designated
between Dunedin and Belleair. Objectives and cost projections were discussed. Staff
recommended awarding the contract to Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc.
Member Foley moved to recommend that the City Commission award a contract to
Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc., to implement the Three Year Monitoring Plan for
Clearwater Harbor, at a cost of $193,335. The motion was duly seconded.
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In response to questions, Ms. Finch stated these recommendations do not duplicate
studies being conducted at Plnellas County's monitoring stations. Discussion ensued
regarding uniform standard methods of collecting data. Ms. Finch indicated a standard
protocol will be used to determine station coordinates. A question was raised regarding
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why Pinellas County is not conducting this study. Ms. Finch responded the City
Commission asked staff to investigate because the two or ,three stations monitored by the
County are not sufficient to establish data for the entire harbor. A question was raised if
the water quality data is still available from the study to open Dunedin Pass. Ms. Finch
responded that data was spotty and the perception remains that Clearwater Harbor may
be at risk from uplands runoff. Mr. Miller said there have been situations where the City
was denied permits because of water quality problems in portions of Clearwater Harbor.
The board strongly encouraged establishment of a baseline at this time.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
F. Establish Agenda for April 17, 1996
1. Stephenson's Creek Update
2. Mangrovo Legislation
3. Annual Report to the City Commission
4. Xeriscape Ordinance
5. Lake Chautauqua passive park update
6. Pasco Rainbow Project
7. Edgewater Drive
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Member Gray expressed concern the meetings have been running long and reque~ted
limiting future agenda to four items. Others felt the board should move forward with the
entire list.
Member Foley questioned if staff has heard reports of a recent lift station failure near
Douglas Street. Mr. Miller was not aware of any failures. He will investigate and report.
It was indicated board feedback on Charting the Course is due in May. Mr. Foley said
he will attend the Tampa Bay National Estuary's program tonight and report next month.
Member Foley reported the public meeting regarding Allen's Creek had a lot of positive
activity and involvement from the public and school children.
F. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6: 13 p.m.
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Chair
Environmental Advisory Board
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,soard Reporter
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