01/21/2009
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 21, 2009
Present: Anna Fusari Chair
Ron Gregory Vice-Chair
D. Michael Flanery Board Member
Richard Packman Board Member – departed 5:00 p.m.
Absent: Joseph A. Calio Board Member
Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney – departed 5:00 p.m.
Ed Chesney Environmental Manager
Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Municipal Services Building.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
Administration
1 - Approval of Minutes - November 19, 2008
Regarding page 3, paragraph 2, it was noted the referenced City Council meeting is on
Thursday, February 5, 2009, and plots should be part of a one-acre parcel.
Member Packman moved to approve the minutes of the regular Environmental Advisory
Board meeting of November 19, 2008, as amended. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
2 – Citizen Comments: None.
Action Items
3 – None
Discussion Items
4 – Follow-up on Clearwater Beach Association meeting on Protection of Nesting Shorebirds.
The Chair reported on her meeting with the Clearwater Beach Association Board of
Directors and their support of protecting nesting shorebirds by posting the area with related
information and banning dogs and fireworks. The Carlouel Yacht Club did not respond to
requests for input. Environmental Manager Ed Chesney said new beach resulting from beach
renourishment projects is public.
Member Flanery moved that the EAB (Environment Advisory Board) had gathered
information regarding the protection of nesting shorebirds and requested to present their
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summary and recommendations to the City Council. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
5 – Community Garden.
A City park without infrastructure at Maple Street and Hilltop Avenue North and vacant
land south of Ross Norton Field were recommended as suitable for a community garden. Mr.
Chesney said Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar did not support use of park property
for this purpose. It was noted a group of up to 150 members had expressed interest in a
community garden. It was felt it was important that the project get underway even in a
temporary location on a parcel smaller than ideal. Mr. Chesney said the Prospect Lake property
is a Brownfield site being marketed by the City, and could not be used. A garden would have to
comply with zoning restrictions, provide sufficient parking, and secure neighborhood support. It
was stated that community gardens enhance nearby property values.
Discussion ensued regarding Member Packman’s upcoming presentation to the City
Council on February 5, 2009, and sample documents previously forwarded. It was felt the City
Council should determine if a community garden would be appropriate for the park, which could
be designated for education, offering classes in organic gardening, etc. and encouraging public
awareness. Garden needs would be limited to a shed, water supply, and fencing.
It was suggested that the board be renamed the Environmental and Sustainability
Advisory Board.
Information Items
6 – Establish Agenda
Review City’s Comp Plan, sustainability, status of County ordinance related to fertilizer,
discuss EAB mission, and ways to help the Planning Department develop green building
guidelines for new construction and rehab.
7 – Date of next meeting
The EAB will meet on February 18, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
Items not on the Agenda
St. Petersburg Times Editorial
Copies of a St. Petersburg Times January 21, 2009 editorial were distributed.
Discussion ensued regarding the report that Council wants to reduce advisory board meeting
schedules from monthly to quarterly.
Discussion ensued with concerns expressed that the Environmental Board is active, with
aggressive action required: 1) Community gardens; 2) Green Buildings; 3 Shorebird protection;
4) Sustainability; 5) Green City Certification requirements related to the City’s green initiative;
and 6) Green jobs.
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Member Flanery moved for the Chair to draft a letter to the Mayor outlining the board's
recommendation that they continue to meet monthly. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
Sustainabilitv Coordinator
Discussion ensued regarding the importance for the City to have a Sustainability
Coordinator, a position that would pay for itself by identifying projects and solutions that are cost
effective and energy efficient and maximizing new funding from the Department of Energy and
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) for green projects, jobs, and training. The position
could coordinate staff efforts to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and track department efforts
to reduce the carbon footprint.
It was suggested the City could analyze current energy use and encourage green
industry such as solar panel manufacturing. Mr. Chesney said existing City Codes have no
green building requirements; Planning Department decisions are based on current law. Budget
problems have slowed the County's plan to develop Green Building requirements. Staff will
distribute the update of the City's Comp Plan.
Discussion ensued regarding efforts to ban nitrogen-based fertilizer use during the rainy
season to mitigate the high cost of the subsequent removal of nitrogen from the Tampa Bay
estuary. Mr. Chesney said it will be nearly impossible to meet the unfunded EPA mandate to
significantly reduce the phosphorous and nitrogen TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) and avoid
compliance issues.
8 - Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
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Environmental Advisory Board
Attest:
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