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07/16/1997ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER July 16, 1997 Present: Whitney Gray Anne Garris Mike Foley Allan Stowell Alan Smith David Rhame Vice Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member   Tom Miller, Assistant Director Mike Quillen Alan Mayberry Gwen Legters Engineering/Environmental Water Resource Engineer Urban Forester Board Reporter  Absent: Jill Melkonian Chair   To provide continuity, items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. A. The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall. A1. Confirm Agenda - Establish Consent and Regular Agenda Items After setting the order of items to be considered, discussion ensued regarding the Memorial Causeway Bridge profile, traffic flow, and final site selection. A2. City Correspondence Mr. Miller highlighted a fact sheet regarding City infrastructure and two editions of The North Greenwood Action Report. He thanked Member Rhame for helping with the Stephenson’s Creek cleanup. Sarah Smith, with the Pinellas County Executive Intern program was introduced. A3. Minutes Approval - April 16, and May 21, 1997 Member Stowell moved to approve the April 16 minutes as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Rhame moved to approve the May 21 minutes as submitted. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. B. Citizen Items (not on the regular agenda) Jack Alvord, Early McMullen Sorenson, and Fran Briskman appeared to ask for the board’s recommendation to the City for purchase of the historic Bayview property for use as a park. Aerial photographs, street maps, sketches and color illustrations depicted conditions in the neighborhood. Concerns were expressed regarding the need to preserve the large oak tree canopy, protect the environment through education, the potential loss of dignity and humanity in the old Bayview neighborhood, and changing the City Land Use Plan. Suggestions were made to use the area for a park, an outdoor classroom, and recreational trails. The benefits were listed as: 1) a means to beautify the City’s gateway from Tampa; 2) enhancement of water quality by maintenance and beautification of retention ponds. Discussion ensued regarding funding sources and property ownership, vacations related to said property, and specific boundaries of the area in question. Concerns were expressed with conflicting information regarding the City’s and Pinellas County’s level of interest in acquiring the property for park land. In response to questions, it was indicated the tax value of the 4.2-acre parcel is $417,000; the asking price is $1.7 million. Discussion ensued regarding existing and proposed zoning, land ownership, size, and what must be done to renew active movement toward acquiring the land. Urban Forester Allen Mayberry addressed the board regarding the outstanding quality of the 100-year old live oak stand. He stressed the exceptionally good condition of the trees, estimating they are likely to live another 200 years. The trees vary in age and range from 30 to 50 inches in diameter. While in need of pruning for good health, the trees offer an almost unbroken canopy over the entire site, unequaled in size anywhere in the City. He listed four primary benefits of preserving the stand: 1) aesthetic appearance of the serpentine branches; 2) ecological benefit due to the trees’ role in filtering pollutants to improve upland water quality; 3) uniqueness and significant value of the stand; and 4) historical preservation of the last vestige of tree canopy that formerly existed in Clearwater. General discussion ensued among the board and the public regarding the benefits of preservation. Consensus was to encourage the City to purchase the property to preserve the trees for future generations. Discussion ensued regarding wording for a motion. Member Stowell moved to strongly encourage the Clearwater City Commission to negotiate fair market value with the Connollys for purchase of the former Bayview Mobile Home Park property, as quickly as possible; specifically noting the land is designated as a property of environmental interest for purposes of preservation. The board encourages this acquisition for use as a passive park to be joined with Pinellas County property to the rear. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Gray was authorized to represent the EAB regarding this issue at tomorrow night’s City Commission meeting. Member Foley moved to permit board members who attend City Commission meetings on behalf of the EAB to carry the board’s authority. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. D. Regular Agenda D1. Old Business a. NPDES Draft Revised Permit Mr. Miller introduced and discussed highlights of a large handout relating to: 1) the City’s comments and recommendations for amending FDEP’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Plan (SWAMP) to allow Clearwater to continue with its own discharge characterization program; and 2) excerpts from the City’s Stormwater Management Program. He stated FDEP was favorably impressed with the City’s program, and offered to negotiate changes to adapt the permitting process to meet Clearwater’s needs. He explained enforcement of illicit discharge violations, the cleanup data collection process, and permit execution procedures. Board members agreed the City needs to be able to enforce its more stringent stormwater requirements. They supported staff’s approach and efforts to modify the document. Discussion ensued regarding nationwide EPA requirements. b. Clearwater High School Project Mr. Miller provided background information regarding the project, which started as the Allen’s Creek Water Quality Demonstration Project. He said staff is excited about the potential to acquire state funding and improve water quality while providing an educational opportunity for City youth. He said project manager Mike Quillen has worked tirelessly with the Pinellas County school system for more than three years to produce a fine project. Water Resource Engineer Mike Quillen gave a status update on the project. He referred to handouts illustrating how untreated stormwater runoff is intercepted on vacant property near Clearwater High School, sampled and tested by students throughout the school system who track data and suggest treatment alternatives. A proposed interlocal agreement with SWFWMD would pay 50 percent of a design construction project. The City is negotiating a contract with a design consultant who was chosen from among five excellent respondents to a recent Request for Proposal. Mr. Miller noted the program will enable future specific recommendations, based on the students’ findings, toward managing the City’s water quality programs. Benefits to the students include enhanced math, English, and report writing skills. It is hoped to find students with a continuing interest in the field. Member Garris moved as follows: The EAB, having heard a detailed report entitled, Clearwater High School Stormwater Quality Demonstration Treatment Project, recommends again, with a great deal of enthusiasm, that the City move forward with the project as expeditiously as possible. The board sees this activity as a typical example of Clearwater’s leadership in environmental issues. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. D2. New Business - None Board Comments Member Stowell encouraged interested citizens to attend the July 17 City Commission meeting to speak in opposition to the Drew Street affordable housing project. Member Gray encouraged interested citizens to speak to the Bayview property acquisition issue. Mr. Miller reported EAB and other regularly televised meetings will be televised bi-monthly to enable C-View TV to begin rotating coverage of a number of City advisory board meetings that have not previously been televised. A July 10 memo from Community Outreach Manager provided a tentative schedule. Reasons for the change were not known. Establish Agenda for August 20, 1997 1. Environmental Management Team budget for FY 1997/98 2. Brownfields 3. Discussion of uses for reclaimed water Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m.