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02/18/1998 (2) . ,.' ~ I If;j;Jj;;@~:~i~~g?~j(H:::~~,:;ji;;:,.ri:r: ';:{,~.~:: ~.} lli'~r';\' . )~Ji,'" .':..,' ~r::;';i:, '.. ',~ ~. - \ ,: ,:.1. ~.. ~ h' ~' 'f.. , . .' ':1: '.' o ':JI. :' ,', I, :~'~ '. ., ,'~ :.~ ~ ... I ,I' . ,.r, " '. :.~. ':: " ;c " " i" .,. ,,; :'\' ~:: . : ~~~~,<{.: ~ 'l.<"c , . :\: >H \~~. ::) ......../:......r. ,',: ~.t' " ,'., . ',t'" iJ-':d\' " " ~~~~~~: ,: '" ~:,:,:, ~t\.>\' . . ~1::'-:~:.. ~.'. t?(;",:.'.".. ;..' \~: ':':: :;., ~l<' . ~r. ': . , ' :-: (+-' ~:L.' :: \.~" . "':' t.! d " i, " :.:, ',', 'i, ;"l ~" . ~ ~, . ~ 1 , . ~ I .,. . , ., :,:1' . '.' ". ." ':/;r .:: ~~{:.".> ~, ". ;;. ': f.:.::: ,. .. 'Ii,' ,;. 'cO' c! ,'. 'c;, " , ' ',' 1...:<' ,', ", <,' ~; . c ~ " ' "~I' i. '., ',~" f .,',' '0 " .".:.1. .' , " " " " ~ ~ ',' Date , \ " " :'.~ '; ~, c, '" _ '!J 1/ 'r '). t '~~, . ; l ", ':. .. '.. c} '~ ',! EAB ". " , ' \ ,. '1 t. ".1\ '. . .\~.~ " <;...~nvirolimental Advi~ory Bo~rd . Minutes , ' " ' ~ /'198 .r '\. .i ., ; ,i J, I I I , , ., 37D , 1.1-1'...-.................. ....." ~,.,,'. :}""::~ ,'!, ~ ,~..l L .' , "-...._- I,'Q ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORV BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER February 1 8, 1998 Present: Whitney Gray Alan Smith Anne Garris (arrived 4:32 p.m.) David Rhame Leslie Dougall-Sides Tom Miller, Assistant Director Terry Finch Mike Quillen Assistant Director Ken Sides Gwen legters Jill Melkonian Chair Vice Chair Board Member Board Member Assistant City Attorney Engi nee ring/Environm e nta I Environmental Programs Supervisor Engi neering/Productio n Traffic Calming Engineer Board Reporter Board Member Absent: The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall. To provide continuity, the items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily discuss~d in that order. Confirm Agenda - EstabNsh Consent and Regular Agenda Items City Correspondence The board received and discussed 1} a resolution of the Coalition of Cfearwater Homeowner Associations identifying the value of the Environmental Advisory Board and requesting the City Commission to continue the board with seven members; 2) a January 30 memo from Chair Whitney Gray requesting Mr. Miller to inform other Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) members of the Coalition's February 2 meeting to vote on above resolution; 3) three January 26 letters from Ms. Gray on behalf of the EAB thanking Mr. Miller, Ms. Dougall-Sides, and the City Commission for preparation and adoption of the Tampa Bay National Estuary Program (TBNEP) Interlocal Agreement and City of Clearwater Five Year Action Plan; and 4) a January 26 letter from Ms. Gray on behalf of the EAB thanking City Manager Roberto for attending their January meeting, expressing concerns with reducing the board from seven to five members, and stressing value to the citizens of televising EAB meetings. .1 I Minutes Approval - January 21, 1998 Member Rhame moved to approve the. minutes as submitted in writing to each member by the Board Reporter. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Presentation - City Manager Michael J. Roberto' Mr. Roberto responded to EA8 concerns regarding the value of televising board , meetings and the board's future. He touched on highlights of the "0ne City. One Future." mea0298 02/18/98 1 ~ '., " /;IiIf>) , \... '~ .(.-"1.",'" , r plan, explaining his view of decision-making and advisory boards' roles in the development and redevelopment process. He explained the need to establish how much value is added . by each step in the process. Stressing this is a healthy dialog that must occur every 20 years or so, he said he is not on a mission to abolish boards. Everyone needs to look forward 20 years to determine where changes are needed to smooth the process. While such changes may conflict with individuEJI activities, he is working to, accomplish various boards' agendas and hopes the "0ne City. One Future." concept is heading in the right direction. One member noted the importance of having more people on volunteer boards to . hear and address more issues. Regarding television coverage, Mr. Roberto is beginning to evaluate how and why the City is presenting information to the public. Investigation is progressing into a second public access channel, increased radio and newspaper coverage, qualitative analysis of existing programming, scientific data regarding what is watched, and other media formats that might effectively get information to the public. The board stressed the importance and professionalism of Environmental Engineering's presentations, the number of areas where. Clearwater has taken the lead on environmental issues, and the importance of the EAB to watchdog Clearwater's environmental health. Mr. Roberto will work with various boards to 1) determine where City, County and State overlapping occur, 2) challenge reasons for boards to exist; 3) decide how to change jobs as the organization evolves; and 4) focus on certain areas where board feedback is needed. D. Regular Agenda 01 ~ Old Business a. Proiect Ratino Scheme., The board reviewed a rating worksheet created by Mr. Miller and Mr. Quillen for board and staff members to use as a tool to evaluate upcoming projects and determine whether it would be necessary tor the EAB to have input into those projects. The worksheet was created in response to the board's desire to become a stronger voice in the development process. Mr. Miller and Mr. Quillen discussed their investigation into the process, and how they compared EAB and City goals and objectives to achieve the five rating categories listed on the worksheet draft. Discussion ensued regarding effective use of the rating tool, and amendments to the form, language, and weighting criteria. Discussion ensued regarding how the worksheet might relate to a project such as the Bayshore Townhomos development, about which the board expressed interest. Discussion ensued regarding extent of EAS's advisory capacity and its role' in protecting the environment. Mr. Miller said preparing a general overview of projects for EAB review would not be a problem, but cautioned preparation of detailed reports could take more than eight hours of staff time. Concensus was tor staff to use the amended form on a trial basis and bring to the board a general overview of development projects meeting the criteria. mea0298 2 02/18/98 i I i ' .'. '.' I' " . . '. . . . . , 'I. '. - ..'. . ~ ~ .:. '..'. ~ ,,',',. 1 :.". .. '.' I,:, '. .,\ .; .1 "':~ ..:... '. . I ,<'. , " 'r;, ........~ 'T .....-'" , , Mr. Quillen referred to his February 17 memo to the EAB enumerating five staff concerns with the Bayshore Townhomes project. The developer has resolved each of the concerns to staff's satisfaction. Discussion ensued regarding location and site features. b. Alliaator Creek Watershed Plan Environmental Programs Supervisor Terry Finch outlined preliminary plans for alleviating flooding problems on a list of 44 sites, detailing budgeting, funding' splits, history of problems on .the sites, and design processes. She stated City management has asked for letters more fully describing the need for the project. Discussion ensued regarding the extreme costs of acquisition and remediation f.or sites that are not usable for building, such as the Kapok Mobile Home Park. Ms. Finch explained estimates were taken tram tax roles and appraisal would be need~d. Staff has not yet received approval to proceed with obtaining the appraisal necessary to supplement their planning efforts. Discussion ensued regarding occupancy of the mobile. home park and resident relocation requirements. 02. New Business a. Traffic Ca!minq - City Traffic Calming Engineer Ken Sides Mr. Sides stated he is a State licensed engineer, employed with the City tor about four weeks. He discussed the traffic calming concept, where and how it originated, and how the City is starting implementation. He described traffic calming as the art of retrofitting existing residential streets so that, by way of their structure, they send a message to drivers to slow to a speed consistent with the surroundings. The concept was started in Europe as a way to modify inappropriate driver behavior when residents became concerned over loss of the social interaction caused by increased numbers and speed of motorized vehicles. He explained long, straight, level, stretches of streets and roads with unrestricted view encourage higher speeds. Varying the roadway with horizontal and vertical visual and structural changes make it feel natural to drive more slowly, thereby decreasing driver frustration, increasing pedestrian safety, and adding value to residential neighborhoods. Mr. Sides displayed a number of renderings and photographs illustrating the positive effects of mid-block street narrowing, adding medians with vegetation, pedestrian crossings with pavement texturing, and diverters to alter the direction of traffic flow. Examples of vertical changes such as speed bumps, humps and pillows were discussed. Mr. Sides responded to a concern that residents might not want landscaping in rights-of- way adjoining their properties and might resist taking responsibility for its maintenance. He said retrofitting existing streets is scheduled at the request of neighborhoods with traffic problems. It is felt the residents, having requested the improvements, will be active and willing participants in the process. Discussion ensued regarding residents' responsibility for maintaining landscaping in rights-at-way except where liability concerns exist. Discussion ensued regarding. Mandalay Avenue as a local example of an area where roadway improvements have encouraged traffic acceleration to speeds unsafe for surrounding conditions. mea029B 3 02/18/98 , . ." ~,. l" ..,.; .. - ..~:-- . ~ . . . ... . '." ': l . .' I . ... '.." '.1, ", ' f,:,~,~,:,:~",,:,~,i,i,~\~:;:";:\?Y;k/,6>;C{\:) :/,:,:: ." -: . '. ....:.:! ,"/ ':\'., , : I~. c 'I> > '\ .: '.~:. '. . ~ ~ I ..\ ..' . , ; J;\;':~. ,'r; {:.,:. c. '"'~' .~:.' ; ~.. c. ,:, ..'.......1- . SJ:' :f:\ ':: ., , '},' '. ,0- , . " ",",. ,,' ~r7"'~ ' ""oJ " , " Board members felt traffic" calming is" an exciting concept for citizens and Indi~ated they " look forward to its implementation. Mr. Sides stated he is available to address neighborhood groups and encouraged citizims interested in pursuing traffic calming to contact him In the Public Works Administration office. , \ ~stablish Ag!3nda for March, 1998 1 . Maple Swamp Update 2.." Clearwater High School Update, 3. ; PD&E Process, if ready 4. ORe Projects, time permitting 6. Discussion of EAB's current status, future direction, and role in City redevelopment -\ f\djou~nment ' The me,eting adjourned at 6:08 p.m. Attest: ' , . ,. L. s'oard Reporter Chair. , Environmental A ~ 'I . '. I' .1 :' mea0298 ' . 4, 02/18/98 ,. , ,I ....' ~.'. . ." I' . .' .,....,. :":. . ': " :", .': '.". .j, ," ',. ...