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08/19/1998ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER August 19, 1998 Present: Whitney Gray Chair Alan Smith Vice Chair Anne Garris Board Member David Rhame Board Member Absent: Jill Melkonian Board Member Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Tom Miller Assistant Director Engineering/PD&E Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #A - Approval of Minutes Member Rhame moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 15, 1998, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. The minutes of the regular meeting of May 20, 1998, will be considered in September. Board Member Jill Melkonian was thanked for her years of service to the board. Interested residents were encouraged to apply for the open position. ITEM #B - Commission Liaison Report - None. ITEM #C - City Correspondence 1) Utility Rate Study - EAB Action Member Garris reported she had read the EAB (Environment Advisory Board) recommendation to the City Commission regarding the proposed utility rate increase. She indicated the Commission did not discuss the EAB’s recommendation. Assistant Director Engineering/PD&E Tom Miller thanked the board for their support, indicating the increased fees will finance $30-million worth of stormwater related projects such as flood protection, water quality improvement, habitat restoration, drainage needs, etc. 2) Letter of Thanks to City Manager The letter of thanks to the City Manager regarding the excellent job of beautifying the East Water Treatment Plant noted the compatibility of the values of EAB members and the City Manager. 3) Utility Rate Study - Final City Commission Action Mr. Miller reported the unanimous Commission approval of the utility rate increase is effective October 1, 1998. The City will loan money to the projects immediately to be repaid when bond money becomes available in March 1999. In response to a question, he said the Kapok project is scheduled 5 years out in recognition of time constraints related to land acquisition and extensive preliminary work. Construction is scheduled for the end of the project period. As Commission approval of the rate increase did not endorse any specific project, each project must be presented for Commission authorization prior to implementation. A guarantee was recommended so that funds generated by the rate increase are not diverted to other projects. Mr. Miller stated covenants of the bond will require fees generated by the rate increase to be directed for bond remuneration. ITEM #D - Monthly Site Plan Assessment Review Summary Mr. Miller reviewed corrections to the Project Assessment Sheet. ITEM #E - Confirm Agenda 1) Old Business a) Tampa Bay Watch Peter Clark, director of Tampa Bay Watch, said his non-profit organization is dedicated to environmental stewardship. He reviewed his background, noting his leadership in the nomination of Tampa Bay to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) National Estuary Program. He said 2.1-million people reside around the Tampa Bay estuary. More than 100,000 boaters are registered in the 3 abutting counties. Past dredge and fill operations destroyed 81% of the seagrass beds and 44% of the mangroves and marsh land, causing serious habitat loss. Citizen groups, including high school students, plant cord grass to reclaim salt marsh and encourage mangrove growth. The group is working in Clearwater Harbor to clean up fishing line which entraps birds and wild life such as dolphins and manatees. Mr. Clark reported approximately 4,000 volunteers participate in 2 yearly coastal cleanups to remove marine debris. Stormwater, loaded with nutrients, poses the greatest pollution problems to area estuaries. The group also is working to reintroduce oysters to Tampa Bay. A scallop search is scheduled for August 22, 1998, to study the effects of El Nino on the sea beds. Scallops are sensitive to water quality. b) Clearwater High School Project Environmental/Engineering Permitting Coordinator Terry Finch reported the 3-year agreement between the City and SWFWMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) for cooperative funding of a Clearwater High School Water Quality Demonstration Project expires September 1, 1998. Staff has contacted the Pinellas County School Board regarding this issue. After review of the lack of progress on this project, staff recommends terminating the agreement. Ms. Finch reported the school board staff member who had championed the program no longer is employed in that position. She said the school had not approved use of an adequately-sized property until last month. While the agreement funds the costs of design, permitting, and construction, it does not cover maintenance costs. The City has not budgeted for maintenance expenses. She reported the School Board had not developed promised curriculum. She said the project would require weekly monitoring to avoid failure and maintenance would be a problem during the 2 to 3 months schools are not in session. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said the School Board had not embraced the plan at its inception. The agreement stated the project would not move forward unless curriculum was developed. Many project related factors did not work out. Disappointment was expressed the project had fallen apart. Mr. Miller indicated Tarpon Springs High School has been designated as a magnet school for environmental issues. In response to a question, Ms. Finch reported the Clearwater High School site had been chosen due to its location on Allen’s Creek. The project would have allowed students to test the efficiency of water cleaning processes. It was felt the project would have distinguished Clearwater for innovative environmental initiatives. Concern was expressed regarding the lack of community commitment to the environment. In response to a recommendation that board members speak to School Board members, Mr. Miller said the City had not budgeted for an extension. Staff had committed a great deal of time on the plan which now will be shelved. Clearwater High School officials even had expressed concern project students not use the school Adult Center’s bathroom facilities. The board was thanked for their support. c) North Greenwood Status Engineer Dan Mayer said the North Greenwood storm drainage project addressing Stevenson’s Creek between Betty Lane and the outfall has been underway for 2 years. Improving the estuary is part of the “One City. One Future.” plan. The City has begun Brazilian Pepper removal and spray maintenance. The County will remove exotic plants on its recently purchased property nearby, along the Pinellas Trail. The City has applied for a grant to fund a project to remove sentiment from stormwater before it is discharged into the estuary. Mr. Mayer said the preliminary feasibility study regarding dredging the Stevenson’s Creek estuary has been completed. Accumulations, as deep as 10 feet, in the estuary system have changed the flow pattern over the past 50 years, and are the source of unpleasant odors in late summer. A RFP (Request for Proposals) will be issued next year to remove 80,000 to 130,000 cubic yards of organic materials. A lengthy permitting procedure is anticipated. In response to a question, Mr. Mayer said disposal of the materials will increase costs. While he did not think the organic substances are grossly contaminated, he said some traces of heavy metals, herbicides, and pesticides have been identified. The entire scope of the project has not been clarified. Mr. Mayer said the City is pursuing purchase of the Wolf family 7.6-acre property across from the Marshall Street AWT (Advanced Water Treatment) Plant. Half of the land is tidal marsh and has the only needle rush marsh in the City. Its habitats are similar to those at Coopers Point. An upland, passive education park will provide a viewing spot for manatees and birds. A 50% match from the State is being sought. 2) New Business a) Southern Estuary Association, Inc. Dave Schermerhorn, of the Southern Estuary Association, Inc., said after working with Tampa Bay Watch, he organized a non-profit organization last year to address similar problems in Clearwater Harbor. An “adopt an island” program, similar to “adopt a highway” projects, will encourage environmentally concerned boaters to make a year commitment to clean an island once a month and record what they found. A data base will identify offenders. The program will focus on non-bird nesting islands. Future projects include reintroducing oyster beds and planting sea grasses. The group focuses on the Intracoastal from the Belleair Causeway North to the Pasco County line. Mr. Schermerhorn encouraged City involvement. b) S.T.A.R.T. Member Garris said the Coastal Protection Fund has been awarded an additional $1-million for FY 1998/99. The red tide organization, S.T.A.R.T. is working with State universities, and non-profit citizen groups to increase knowledge regarding algae blooms. Mr. Miller anticipated strong competition for the funds. The City has budgeted $5,000 to support S.T.A.R.T.. A member complimented the ecology tour of Clearwater Harbor sponsored by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. ITEM #F - Citizens Agenda Mr. Miller thanked Captain Folden for his interest in Clearwater Harbor and the responsibility he demonstrates as a fisherman. It was felt people lack education regarding problems related to local waters. ITEM #G - Establish September 16, 1998, Agenda It was noted the City Commission will discuss the FY 1998/99 budget during public hearings scheduled in September. It was stated environmental projects removed from the Penny for Pinellas list should be of interest to EAB members. In response to a question, Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides said the City Commission had ranked Penny for Pinellas projects at a meeting on August 18, 1998. If no significant issues need to be addressed in September, the meeting may be canceled. Member Smith indicated he would not attend the meeting. The City Clerk Department subsequently was advised the September 16, 1998, meeting is canceled. The October 21, 1998, meeting agenda will include: 1) Tampa Bay Estuary Program - Clearwater Action Plan and 2) Brownfields Status. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.