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11/19/2003 (2) < i ,. . l, ' " " ".' , , , tJ. , " EAB ,); . ., Envir.onmental Advisory Board . Minutes " Date, .'j, , ; '., . , , , " . t. . c, , . < . ,~ I , , " , .' " , '\ " ,,"> I" " ~ \., ' .. . , . . , , " . c ~ .' , , + '~, I' , I :. " .'. '. , ' , " " , " . : ~ I ' ,. f T , , . . '. . }' Ii, ., : " , , ' , , . I. .. , , " . I I ' ~ I " . .. f" " . n '~', , , " ' " 'j . , '., " . r ~ ", I , " . "t. .', " ~ . ' . . .' .' c ~ . . ' , . >' .' " , . The Chair'called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. .' .' ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY 'OF CLEARWATER Nove mber 19. 2003 Present: Sandra Jamieson Clorinda Gilreath , Michael Flanery Judy McSwine Norma Carlough Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Also Present: Al Carrier Cypthia H.Tarapani Lisa Fierce Dave Sickler Claude Howell Norma Skinner Asst. Oir. of Engineering/ESM Planning Director Assistant Planning Director Waste Water Collection Superintendent' Public Utilities Coordinator Staff Assistant II APPROVED To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed' in that order. Unless otherwise noted, no action was taken regarding items. Administration , ' ITEM #1 Review Minutes from September 17. 2003 Meeting and October 15th Work Session . There were no additions or corrections to either of the minutes. The minutes from September 1 ih were approved unanin:tously. . , ' ITEM #2 Citizens To Be Heard None Action Items ITEM #3 None Reports' ITEM #4 Commission Liaison Report None ITEM #5 Public Works Proiects Member McSwine' had a very informative meeting with Elliot 'Shob~rg. He, explained what is happening around Clearwater with the Public Works projects and they are looking with renewed interest at the Glen Oaks Golf Course. Environmental Advisory 2003-11'19 ' 1 . . .,.. . I '. I '.'~ ",' ,r. .,' I '\".I'~ ., ." , ',' , ,,' :', ", . ,:',. ':.:",~, 'I""~' ,~,l~. '. . . '. ITEM #6 City Comprehensive Plan Liaison Report Member Gilreath spoke with Gina Clayton. There have been no changes to, the Comprehensive Plan since the last revision in 2001. Mr. Carrier stated that it would be better if Ms. Clayton makes her presentation next year; at the time they revise the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Tarapani mentioned that the state requires the City to update the Comprehensive Plan every five years, and it was last updated in May of 2001. A major evaluation is due in 2006, so in the next fiscal year the Planning Department 'Nil! begin working on that evaluation, at which time they would like to have input from the EAB members. ITEM #7 Potable and Reclaimed Water Mr. Sickler provided a brief message from Andy Neff. Public Utilities Director, regarding the status of the desalination plant. The plant is functional and will be brought up to full operating capacity over the next few months. EAB members \vill be invited to attend the grand opening. Discussion Items ITEM #8 Community Development Code The Community Development Code presentation was divided into two parts. Ms. Tarapani presented the first part and Ms. Fierce the second part. ' Ms. Tarapani discussed the old code, which had been around since 1950 and because of the age of the code and changes in the community they felt it needed tq be updated. The old code did not reflect the City's current redevelopment goals. Some of the goals for the new code were to reduce the number of boards, making the code more developer friendly. ensure that the process was certain and very clear, while still keeping high standards. The City has a long history of sign regulation. Almost all billboards have been eliminated. This is C\ huge accomplishment, considering that it has been done through code enforcement rather than spending dollars like some of the other cities. The number of signs on one property has been reduced and signs have to be smaller and located in a landscaped area. The landscaping code is much stricter than the County's and some of the other cities in the area. Almost every major street requires a fifteen to twenty-five foot'landscaped buffer plus more internal landscaping in the parking lot. A new feature to'the Community Development code is the Transfer of Development Rights. It is allowed in the beach ,and downtown. Within the rest of the City, it is allowed only in locations where there is an archeological or historical site, so that density can be transferred. Another new feature to the code is called the Neighborhood Overlay District. This feature allows for an overlay over the existing zoning, with more restrictive regulations required, as developed by a particular community, to reflect the particular uniqueness of that community. In the second part of this presentation Ms. Firece showed many pictures of sites that have been redeveloped and in1proved with new architecture, monument signage and landscaping. This demonstrates the successes throughout the City and shows how the Planning Department can partner with the development community to come up with good improvements. One of the largest sites redeveloped is the 75~acre Clearwater Mall. It is now a well-integrated site with nice architecture, landscaping and signage. The City annexed a portion of a property on the corner of Druid and Lakeview, formerly an active sawmill, and developed attached town homes. Environmenttll Advisor; 2003.1,119 2 _.l,t.,.~ I.',' "'i~" .-...~ i. ;,' ,'.. , .~.' : 1 'f' ':. ,': Member Flanery said he feels that when you replace the older smaller buildings with the new concrete structures you lose the quaintness of the area. ' There have been significant improvements in the Greenwood area. The most outstanding one is the Greenwood Apartments on the corner of Palmetto and Greenwood. Other projects in the Greenwood area are the' Community Health Center. the Aquatic Center and the library, . The Mandalay Beach Club on the beach has replaced older looking condominiums. Dilapidated retail shops on Mandalay have been turned into a nice shopping center. There is also a lot of development happening on Brightwater where many of the old style hotels and motels are being converted to town homes. The City updated it's own Police substation on Bayway. There is not much vacant land left in the City of Clearwater, most of the work being done is redevelopment. Chair stated that a lot of the commercial developments have been well done but expressed that the EAB still has concerns about the density, particularly the buildings on Missouri and specifically the last building which has no setback. Ms. Tarapani stated that all those projects have gone to the Community Development Board and were reviewed at a public hearing. Any deviations to the setback were done through the public hearing process. In response to the EAB members' concerns, regarding density in the beach and tall buildings blocking the vista, Ms. Tarapani explained that there are specific provisions in place in the Beach Plan that require separations between tall buildings. The Planning Department is being extremely cautions about density increases. . Ms. Tarapani suggested that the EAB members sign up for the Planning Department newsletter by going to the City's website main homepage and subscribe to receive the monthly e-mail from the Development Review Committee (ORC), The e-mail will include the ORC agenda with all the pertinent information. Chair mentioned that she is concerned about the character of Harbor Oaks changing due to new development and wondered what could be done to preserve this neighborhood. Ms. Tarapani suggested looking at the provision in the designing code to keep a historic district. Although Harbor Oaks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that alone carries no protection. If the neighbors feel that it is important to preserve the character of their neighborhood, then they need to acquire protection at the local level, such as designating Harbor Oaks as a historic district or overlay district. ITEM #9 Roadmap to'a Healthv Wastewater Collection System Mr. Carrier introduced Dave Sicker and Claude Howell from the Wastewater Utilities Depanment. Mr. Howell gave the presentation on the collection, management. operations and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system program, known as CMOM. The City's amount of rainfall and topography present a challenge to the wastewater collection system. There are 36,000 residential and commercial customers depending on a collection system, that is over forty years old, to transport sewage to a treatment facility. . In 1998 the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency invited the City of Clearwater along with other municipalities to perform a voluntary self-audit of the collection system. The results of the self- audit inspections were used to develop the elements of the roadmap in this presentation. The self-audit examined the physical characteristics of the collection system using several methods such as manhole inspections, line inspections, smoke testing and pump station inspections. The results of the self-audit illustrated the current conditions of the collection system and necessity for support of annual programs to correct the deficiencies. The City's Commission recognized the importance of the wastewater collection system infrastructure and necessity to fund rehabilitation Environmontal Advisory 2003.1119 3 . . . programs. Approval was given for multiple year rate increases to support the proposed Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Specific projects have been identified in each CIP category. The collection system has been divided into five areas for cleaning, and inspection with one of the areas being cleaned each year. The results of the inspections are analyzed and collated into rehabilitation projects, reducing repetitive blockages and overflows. Smoke testing is, a cost-effective method used to evaluate system integrity. In response to the , Chair's request for a brief explanation of the smoke testing procedure. Mr. Howell stated that a powerful fan is, set up in a manhole and then non-toxic liquid smoke is injected. The only place the smoke should come out is through the stack vents in each house. Smoke coming into the house is an indication that there is something wrong with the internal plumbing; also, if the smoke comes up through the ground it's an indication that there is a problem and the homeowner will be notified in either case. Certain pump stations where chosen for rehabilitation, based on physical inspection and operational records. Grease is a continual problem to the collection system. Since the Grease Ordinance went into effect the grease related overflows in the business areas has dropped dramatically. A pilot residential grease abatement program is planned for implementation this year. Brochures explaining the problems caused by grease g'oing down the drain and how to prevent it were handed out. These brochures are also given to residents who live in the area of a sewer spill. Chair mentioned that she feels the City has t~ken a very proactive position and is very impressed with the management of wastewater, water treatment and reclaimed water. ESTABLISH AGENDA: Review Pool Ordinance Discuss Environmental Awards ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. '. ( 4' ,. ....... ,..... /' J1(/../e!it. c'; r" ChairNice Chair v Environmental Advisory Board Attest:>z' ~ JI~ Board Reporter Environmental Advisory 2003-1119 4