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ENVIRONMENT At ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
July 'j 5, 1998
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Present:
Whitney Gray
Alan Smith
Jill ME\lkonian
Anne Garris
Leslie Dougall-Sides
Tom Miller
Keith Bush
Patricia O. Sullivan
Chair
Vice Chair
Board Member
Board Member
Assistant City Attorney
Assistant Director Engineering/Environmental
Public Works Controller
Board Reporter
Absent:
David Rhame
Board Member
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
ITEM #A . ApDroval of Minutes
In reference to the regular meeting of June 17, 1998, page 2, paragraph 2,
Assistant Director Engineering/Environmental Tom Miller stated the dollar amount should
read $3.4~million, not $600,000.
The revised Land Development Code is scheduled to go into effect on January 1,
1999.
In reference to page 2, paragraph 3, concern was expressed current plans are to
fund environmental projects from fees, rather than from Penny far Pinellas taxes as
approved by vaters.
It was noted Leslie Dougall-Sides was not present at the June meeting.
Member Melkonian moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June
17, 1998, as amended. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of May 20, 1998, to be considered
on August 19, 1998.
ITEM #B ~ Commission Liaison ReDart - None.
ITEM #C ~ Citv CorresDondence
1) Memorandum from Rich Baier to Mike Roberto ra EAB status
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Mr. Miller said he had not received written confirmation from the City Manager in
response to Public Works Adllllnistrator Rich Baler's June 29, 1998, memorandum
requesting verification that the duties of the EAB IEnvlronmental Advisory Board) would not
be changed by the revised land Development Code.
, ITEM #0 - Monthlv Site Plan Assessment Review Summarv
Mr. Miller reported negotiations are underway with IMR for the final sale of the
former annex property ~ Most environmental issues have been brought to closure. The City
has removed 8,600 tons of contaminated materials from the property's North end. Minor
solvent related contamination continues to impant ground water. The City~s position is that
the solvents are related to the previous petroleum contaminates. The State will determine
If the low levels of contamination can be addressed by natural attenuation. Conditions for
property use may include a, prohibition of potable water wells in the area of contamination.
In response to a question, Mr. Miller stated the City Commission had approved the clean-
up which cost approximately $462,000. He estimated the total clean-up will cost less than
$600,000.
In response to a question, Mr. Miller will check the accuracy of the distributed
project assessment sheet dated July 7, 1998.
ITEM #E - Confirm AQenda
1) Consent Agenda - none recommended.
2) Old Business'
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a) Thank-you to City Manager for Resolution
Mr. Miller reported the City Manager had taken a leadership role in the landscaping
project at the East A WT (Advanced Water Treatment) Plant. A previous recommendation
had suggested the board issue a resolution thanking the City Manager for tackling a
problem on the EAB agenda. Consensus was to write the City Manager a letter of thanks.
b) PD&E Program
Mr. Miller stated the PD&E (Project Development & Environmental) Program, created
to assist the City's overall development of projects and associated envIronmental concerns,
has been expanded to include programs such as water quality, watersheds, site plan
development, hazardous and toxic wastes, etc. The program will bring environmental
issues to bear on all projects. Beginning in November 1 997, public meetings were held to
identify issues and stakeholders, assemble data, complete a concept analysis, issue a
feasibility report, evaluate alternatives, and produce a final report. The process has
redefined some projects. When a project is 30% complete, goals will be reviewed. As no
other City has a similar program, the City is using FOOT (Florida Department of
Transportation) procedures as a model. Staff representation in the PD&E program includes
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a real estate' and an environmental specialist, an engineer, a traffic calming engineer, and a
research environmentalist.
A multi-page check list covers issues such as archaeology, water quality, etc. In
response to a question, Mr. Miller said 51 projects under consideration must undergo the
I full PD&E process. Once data is gathered, a cost benefit analysis and feasibility report will
be completed for each project and submitted to the City Commission for consideration.
The process will ensure all issues, including environmental concerns, are addressed.
. Projects, such as repaving roads, likely will not require this process. The Town Pond is the
first project that will adhere to this process. Departments are working to identify goals. the
project's scope, individual responsibilities, and costs.
Concern was expressed regarding the development of the former Sunshine Mall site
as a stream once traversed the property. Mr. Miller said the PD&E process is not required
for private development. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides said the developer
was advised of the stream during the site plan review and may move,some buildings,
although the stream may fall in an area already scheduled for landscaping or a retention
pond. It waG suggt!sted the City identify in a historical record all of the City's inventive
accomplishments such as being the first Florida city to protect its trees by ordinance. Mr.
Miller said the 6~member PD&E team is busy working on the 51 projects. The PD&E
process will result in accurate oversight of permitting requirements.
c) Rate Study Recommendation
\
Mr. Miller distributed a copy of the November 15, 1990, agenda item related to the
Stormwater Management Program. The City Commission had approved a stormwater
utility fee at that time to reduce flooding occurrences, meet national pollutant discharge
requirements, resolve permit compliance issues, limit erosion, improve water quality,
provide habitat restoration, and implement Commission approved projects. On July 13,
1998, a consultant provided an update of the program to the Commission. Staff was
ordered to evaluate and rank storm water projects. A baseline standard for different storm
levels is being developed.
The Alligator Creek basin does not meet the 25-year storm minimal level of service
established by the City. Areas where homes flood will be ranked highest. Public health
issues could result when the sewer system overflows. Watershed specific management
plans will be developed. In response to a question, Mr. Miller indicated homes had been
buHt on the flood plain before current rules were developed.
Mr. Miller reviewed a map, noting the location of the most serious flooding problems
in the City. Most are related to Alligator Creek and Clearwater beach. Twenty planned
projects will be ranked. Most of the projects are to be funded by recommended
stormwater fee increases. The fee increase would cover the cost of implementing all
slated projects and is comparative to fees charged by other cities in the State.
Concern was expressed the City Commission also will consider a significant increase
in sewer rates on July 16, 1998. Public Works Controller Keith Bush stated the water and
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sewer increase of 3% will enable the City to maintain its bond and accompllsh mandated
construction. Mr. Miller said residents experience drainage problems so infrequently, they
are unaware of the cost to maintain the system. He requested the board's support of the
stormwater fee increase. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said the increase will raise
$30-mlllion. He indicated more than 100 stormwater issues need to be addrF.lssed.
Without the increase, some residents would have to wait many years before their
neighborhood flooding problems are solved. He reported a loss of revenue is due to a
lawsuit won by the Pinellas County School Board that absolved them of this fee. Ms.
Dougall-Sides stated the City is dealing with the School Board's request for a refund of
fees previously paid. In response to a question, she said other non-profit organizations in
the City have not raised similar arguments.
The Board felt the City should not have used General Fund monies'for other
purposes when the stormwater fee increase was initiated in 1 990. In response to a
question, Mr. Miller estimated the fee had spent approximately $18-million since its
inception on Stormwater Maintenance and Operation. He said the Wastewater Utility Fund
covers street sweeping to remove sediments before they are washed into the sewer
system. In response to a suggestion, he said staff will continue to apply for grants. The
Board felt it is more important to save the City's environment than to build a new Memorial
Causeway Bridge or library. It was suggested increasing the fee is preferable to raising
property taxes. It was recommended the City investigate other funding sources before
resorting to a fee increase. As these projects originally were to be funded by the new
Penny for Pinellas tax, concern was expressed all fees approved be tracked. In response to
a question, Mr. Miller said the cost for many Penny for Pinel/as projects had been
underestimated.
In response to a question, Mr. Miller estimated the City has spent hundreds of
thousands of dollars in developing these projects. It was recommended the City return
money used from the General Fund for other purposes following the 1990 rate increase. In
response to a question, Mr. Miller said the Town Pond project remains on the Penny for
Pinellas list. Other projects that now require a different funding source include the $13-
million Kapok Tree project. It was felt supporting the "lesser of 2 evils" was not beneficial.
It was felt alternative cuts to the Penny for Pinellas list should be considered.
Member Garris moved that whereas the EAB IEnvironmental Advisory Board) is
reluctant to recommend any fee increase, and whereas projects in the stormwater utility'
rate study are very important and must be done as hundreds of thousands of dollars have
been spent already on planning and due to the projects' interconnectiveness and benefit to
all citizens of Clearwater, the EAB recommends: 1) money previously taken from the '
Stormwater Utility Fund to fund services that should have been paid by the General Fund
should be returned to the Stormwater Utility Fund; 2} alternative and additional sources of
funding for the rate study project must be investigated thoroughly; 3) projects included on
both the rate study and Penny for Pinellas list (# 14, #21, #24, #40, and #41) should be
funded by Penny for Pinellas taxes as requested by the voters; and 4) when all alternatives
have been exhausted, the rate increase could then be implemented at a minimal rate. The
motton was duly seconded and carriod unanimously.
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" ~ember Garris stated she would present the motion to the City Commission on July
16, 1998. '
3) New Business - None.
a) Tampa Bay Watch - Postponed.
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b) TBE? Action Plan .'Postponed.
rrEM #F - Citizens Aaenda - None
ITEM '#G - Establish Auaust 19. 1998. Aaenda
, ,a) Tampa Bay Watch
b) 'TBEP (Tampa Bay National Estuary Program) Action Plan
It was recommended next month's agenda begin with "Old Business."
Adiournment
The moeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m.
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