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09/17/1997ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER September 17, 1997 Present: Jill Melkonian Chair Whitney Gray Vice Chair Mike Foley Board Member Allan Stowell Board Member Alan Smith Board Member Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Tom Miller, Assistant Director Engineering/Environmental Gwen Legters Board Reporter Absent: Anne Garris Board Member David Rhame Board Member 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 discussed in that order. Confirm Agenda - Establish Consent and Regular Agenda Items City Correspondence Mr. Miller reviewed results of the Cooper’s Bayou Citizen Satisfaction Survey, distributed to 110 Del Oro Groves residences. Staff was pleased with the 30 percent response rate, and the wide majority of positive comments regarding: 1) effectiveness of advance notice, 2) vehicular access during the project; 3) project quality; 4) timing of project scheduling; 5) staff responsiveness; and 6) clarity of project objective statement. Discussion ensued regarding methods of addressing one of the only resident concerns, cleaning algae from the pond. Minutes Approval - August 20, 1997 Member Gray moved to approve the minutes as submitted in writing to each member by the Board Reporter. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. B. Citizen Agenda (Items not on the agenda) John Meyer, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, displayed a sample automobile license plate, the “Silver King” Tarpon, designed by wildlife artist Russ Sirmons. Petitions are circulating to gain support for the new design, approval of which will be sponsored by state Senator Charlie Crist in next spring’s legislative session. Proceeds from sale of the plate will benefit environmental awareness programs in the Tampa Bay area. Mr. Meyer said half the required 10,000 signatures have been collected. Signing a petition does not obligate anyone to buy the license plate, and only Florida-registered vehicle owners are eligible. He requested individuals and groups who are interesting in assisting the license plate signature campaign to contact him at (813) 577-4141, ext. 257. He responded to questions regarding how much revenue the plates are expected to generate and how the money will be spent. All signatures must be collected and submitted to the legislature in January, 1998. C. Consent Agenda - None D. Regular Agenda D1. Old Business a. Memorial Causeway Bridge Status (HDR Engineering) Larry Weatherby, HDR Project Manager, and George Eliason, Senior Environmental Scientist highlighted the history of the project, status to date, and projected schedule. Alternative P4A was selected, but an alternate connection at Pierce Street is being investigated. Investigation is underway regarding impacts on cultural resources and recreation. After completion of public hearings and design phases, construction could start as early at 2000. Mr. Eliason explained the bridge will be designed to avoid excessive impacts on natural systems in the harbor such as seagrass beds and wading bird rookeries. He said SWFWMD will not require water quality treatment because they recognize the bridge as a direct replacement of the existing four lane bridge with no increase in traffic capacity. He detailed runoff management, habitat enhancement, and minimized environmental impacts. The numbers are not in regarding noise impact. Mr. Eliason said habitat protection in estuarian systems is of high concern. Pollution abatement practices will be carefully followed during construction to avoid allowing pollutants to leave the site. Harbor water quality was characterized as fair. Discussion ensued regarding whether boats or cars generate more water pollution. While boats have greater emissions, cars have greater numbers. In response to questions, Mr. Eliason said the bridge will be designed with scuppers to allow water to fall directly into the harbor. He has not studied capturing runoff and funneling it landward as was done on the Bayside bridge, because such a system is very costly, and SWFWMD does not require it. Discussion ensued regarding whether more pollution will occur because of the bridge’s increased surface area, or less pollution because traffic will not be stopping and standing on the bridge. A suggestion was made to investigate whether money that might otherwise be used for a scupper system could be put to a better environmental use. It was felt enhancing vegetation to improve the coastal ecosystem would be of more immediate benefit than attempting changes to the marine industry. D2. New Business a. EAB Action Project (Melkonian) In response to City Management Team direction, discussion ensued regarding how board members could bring their personal efforts to bear when the board has project ideas. The board compared its focus on staff’s efforts to Dunedin’s Environmental Advisory Committee, that physically works in the field to improve environmental conditions. It was thought some middle ground could be reached. Lengthy discussion ensued regarding the steady progress made by the EAB in the past two years, how the Sunshine Law could affect changes in EAB policies and procedures, direction needed from the Management Team, and projects the board has done in the past they are still waiting to come to fruition. Mr. Miller suggested updating the EAB annual report and forwarding it to the City Manager’s office to acquaint the Management Team with what the board has accomplished in the past and what is planned for the future. Board members were requested to bring ideas for new projects to the October 15 meeting. b. Annual Report (Melkonian) In response to a request for suggestions, board members offered the following: 1) EAB supported accomplishment of a City-wide baseline study and water quality report; 2) the importance of developing a Comprehensive Plan monitoring committee, 3) concerns that development of the Wellington affordable apartment project on environmentally sensitive wetlands proceeded without being brought before the EAB; 4) concerns the City is not moving forward to purchase the Bayview mobile home property for use as a park to protect the unbroken live oak canopy and beautify the City’s entrance; and 5) concern the City Commission may not be watching or caring about the EAB’s recommendations. c. Board Appointments (Stowell) A concern was raised regarding the City Clerk’s recent suggestion to change the code, lowering EAB membership from seven to five seats when Mr. Stowell’s and Mr. Foley’s terms expire. It had been indicated recruitment would be needed to augment the volunteer list before appointment or reappointment to the two vacancies would be considered. In a September 5 memo to the City Manager, City Clerk Goudeau had stated the EAB was to be incorporated into the new boards created by the Land Development Code rewrite. It was reported there was some reluctance to process appointments to a board that might not exist in six months. Board members expressed concern they had not been made aware the EAB was one of six City advisory boards being considered for consolidation into two boards dealing with planning and regulatory zoning issues. Mr. Miller said he had heard rumors, but had not received any information on the subject. He urged and cautioned board members not to jump to conclusions. Ms. Dougall-Sides pointed out the Land Development Code amendments will be considered in public hearings of ordinances going to the Commission for first and second reading. Members Stowell and Foley expressed their desire to continue serving on the EAB, at the Commission’s pleasure. Member Gray moved for the EAB to require, as soon as possible, for the City Commission to extend the terms of Allan Stowell and Mike Foley on the Environmental Advisory Board. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Concerns were expressed such action tied the Commission’s hands and did not address the desire of the EAB to remain at seven members. It was felt, if the EAB is to be disbanded in a short time, it would benefit from the continuity to be had by retaining experienced members. Member Gray moved to rescind the previous motion. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Gray moved to urge the City Commission to allow the Environmental Advisory Board to remain a seven member body. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Establish Agenda for October 1997 Agenda The following were suggested as agenda items for the next meeting: 1) Alligator Creek update (tentative); 2) Annual report suggestions; 3) Project ideas for the EAB action report; 4) City Manager invitation; and 5) Watershed action plan for Clearwater. Staff will check on the status of the proposal to bury power lines along Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard as part of the City Manager’s beautification program. Board Comments Discussion ensued regarding whether a representative from the EAB should attend tomorrow night’s City Commission meeting to call attention to the board’s desire to remain at seven members. Member Foley noted the board’s feeling that the membership level is fine the way it is can be communicated in a memo. He reiterated his desire to continue service, at the Commission’s pleasure. Mr. Stowell made the point a consolidated board with other responsibilities would have difficulty tackling outside projects. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.