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11/18/1998ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER November 18, 1998 Present: Whitney Gray Chair Alan Smith Vice Chair David Rhame Board Member Dennis Kellenberger Board Member Allan Stowell Board Member Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney - arrived 5:35 p.m. 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 the Municipal Services Building. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #A - Approval of Minutes Member Stowell moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 21, 1998, as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #B - Nomination/Election of Board Officers Member Rhame moved to appoint Whitney Gray as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Rhame moved to appoint Alan Smith Vice-Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Consensus was for Member Rhame to act as liaison with the City Commission. ITEM #C - Commission Liaison Report - None. ITEM #D - City Correspondence 1) Potential Speech Topics Assistant Director Engineering/PD&E Tom Miller distributed some City outreach materials and a list of environmental topics promoted by Public Communications & Marketing via C-View, Clearwater Magazine, utility stuffers, coloring books, and potential ideas. It was suggested the City also could produce video recordings of the presentations and make them available to City high and middle schools. It was suggested the list of programs promoting City environmental offerings be distributed to specific school personnel. It was stated the Clearwater Aquarium is willing to work on a sea turtle education program in partnership with the City. It was felt students and teachers would benefit from City programs on pollution, ecology, etc. The Chair volunteered to distribute materials and promote the program. She will work with staff. ITEM #E - Monthly Site Plan Assessment Review Summary Mr. Miller said no new projects have been added to the summary. Concern was expressed the Wellington project on Drew Street has environmental problems. That project was underway before the board’s current review process began. Mr. Miller reviewed the evaluation process associated with the summary, noting the board cannot change site plans but can make recommendations to the City Commission. ITEM #F - Confirm Agenda 1) Consent Agenda - None. 2) Old Business a) Undeveloped Properties List The Sensitive Lands list identifies undeveloped parcels of environmental interest. It was noted the Wellington development resulted in a large loss of trees and dense development of 28 units per acre. It was noted the Bayview Mobile Home Park on Gulf to Bay Boulevard has been cleared of trailers. The importance of the City purchasing this 3.4 acre property with its significant oak tree canopy was stated. The land abuts waterfront County land and could be developed as a passive park. It was felt this is the entrance to Clearwater from the airport. It was noted the owners have priced the property as if it were zoned for apartment buildings. An update on this parcel was requested. Consensus was to support the City’s purchase of the Connelly property on Gulf to Bay Boulevard. An update on the property at Montclair and Belcher Road was requested. Mr. Miller reported the City has applied for a grant to purchase the Wolf property on Stevenson’s Creek. The 7 acre site has wetlands but no trees. b) Incentives for Solid Waste Mr. Miller discussed this issue with Solid Waste Director Bob Brumback who thanked the board for their interest. Mr. Brumback had indicated some problems with offering incentives to workers who avoid picking up hazardous waste as that is their job. He felt an incentive program could adversely impact the department although he said a plaque would be appreciated. It was felt a competition would distract the department. Concern was expressed regarding the difficulty of identifying the contents in the black barrels. It was recommended vinyl stickers be affixed to trash containers identifying which materials cannot be discarded. A list of hazardous materials and a copy of the related ordinance was requested. The board will design a prototype sticker at the next meeting. It was suggested residents be advised when amnesty days are scheduled throughout the County. 2) New Business a) Annual Report The Chair reviewed a draft of the board’s Annual Report for 1998. The last report submitted to the City Commission covered 1995. Mr. Miller recommended the board attach a cover letter to the report, highlighting items that have been accomplished. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said C-View no longer televises the EAB meeting due to staff limitations. It was suggested C-view cover all City meetings on a rotating basis. b) Land Development Code Revisions Director of Planning Ralph Stone reviewed the draft of the City’s updated Land Development Code. He noted the City is built out and needs a more flexible code. The update, designed to be forward looking and simplified, includes 3 levels of review for development. Development requiring the highest level of review must be heard by the 7-member Community Development Board which is a consolidation of the Planning & Zoning, Development Code Adjustment, Historic Preservation, and Design Review boards. It was recommended environmental interests be represented on the new board. Mr. Stone reported the Planning & Zoning Board had recommended appointments be based on specific criteria. Mr. Stone said the new code requires more intensive landscaping and less signage. The more flexible codes create more discretion for staff to negotiate the best look possible. The code also addresses telecommunication towers. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said the updated code helps address sedimentation in basins. Concern was expressed that space is running out for the tree bank. Mr. Stone will review the issue with the forestry staff. It is expected the code will be adopted in January. He reviewed some community concerns with the proposed code. It was recommended a 6 foot wall buffering between commercial and residential properties be required. Concern was expressed too many concrete walls may result. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said the new code will not reduce property density. It was requested staff report if the City Commission considers any of the board comments related to this issue. It was requested a clean copy of the code be distributed after adoption. c) Stormwater Policy and Procedures Mr. Miller said staff is working on a storm drainage policy that includes: 1) general surface water protection & management; 2) stormwater management implementation goals; 3) stormwater maintenance operations; 4) stormwater capital improvements; and 5) ranking. The first draft has been forwarded to Public Works and the City Engineer for review related to the stormwater infrastructure. Planning, development, and environmental issues are being considered for all projects. Concern was expressed regarding dangers to children and small animals related to open storm grates. Mr. Miller said staff is working to make storm grates as safe as possible. ITEM #F - Citizens Agenda - None. ITEM #G - Establish December 15, 1998, Agenda The December meeting agenda will include: 1) update on Connelly property; 2) review of Solid Waste Ordinance; 3) sticker design regarding hazardous wastes; 4) Land Development Code status review; and 5) final draft of EAB Annual Report. Mr. Miller distributed the September 1988, Aquifer Storage and Recovery: the technology, the law, and the policy implications, from the Florida House of Representatives Committee on Water and Resource Management for future review. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.