Loading...
04/18/2001ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER April 18, 2001 Present: Sandra Jamieson Board Member David Rhame Board Member Alan Smith Vice Chair Allan Stowell Board Member Absent: Dennis Kellenberger Board Member Also Present: Brian Flaherty BAB Liaison Tom Miller Assistant Director of Engineering/E&SM Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Cyndi Tarapani Assistant Planning Director Michele Smith Staff Assistant II To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Unless otherwise noted, no action was taken regarding items. Administration The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. ITEM #1 Approval of Minutes – March 21, 2001 Mr. Rhame moved to approve the minutes of March 21, 2001 as submitted. Ms. Jamieson duly seconded the motion. ACTION: Approved. Carried unanimously. ITEM #2 Citizens to be Heard Mr. Flaherty announced the BAB meeting to be held April 30, 2001 at the North Greenwood Community Health Resource Center. The Board was invited to attend. Action Items ITEM #3 – Nominate and Approve Officers Mr. Rhame nominated Ms. Jamieson for Chairperson. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. ACTION: Approved. Carried unanimously. Mr. Rhame nominated Mr. Smith for Vice Chairperson. Mr. Stowell seconded the motion. ACTION: Approved. Carried unanimously. ITEM #4 – Approve Dock Environmental Impact Standards Staff presented this item for the Board to evaluate and comment on. There are five areas that are of interest: water quality, marine aquatic habitat, upland and wetland habitat, balancing existing activities and new activities and natural resource protection. The Board suggested that sample ordinances be obtained from neighboring coastal cities. ACTION: Planning and Development Services will bring final draft copy of ordinance to May meeting for Board approval. Reports ITEM #5 – Commission Liaison (TBD/Miller) There was no new information to report. ITEM #6 – Stevenson’s Creek Liaison (Rhame/Shoberg) Mr. Rhame updated the Board on the project’s progress. Projects within the sub-basins are being prioritized. ITEM #7 – City Comprehensive Plan (Smith/Wood) There was no new information to report. Staff noted that Beach by Design will be discussed at the April 19, 2001 Commission meeting. This has some changes to the Plan that will have environmental impact. ITEM #8 – Potable/Reclaimed Water Liaison (Stowell/Neff) Mr. Stowell noted that the Commission did approve the construction of the RO plant. The project is continuing smoothly. Discussion Items ITEM #9 - Wellhead Protection Staff provided the Board with the steps involved in updating this program. The purpose of this program is to protect health by presenting a contamination prevention program within a prescribed protection zone. Phase I steps include updating City ordinance to meet state requirements, creating regulatory process, mapping City wells, documenting wellhead protection area and tracking/permitting new installations. Phase II steps include searching records for existing installations within the protection area, verifying existing installations and retrofitting existing installations to comply with permit and protection plans. ITEM #10 – Arsenic in Florida Soils Staff briefed the Board on arsenic, its uses, Florida’s experience with it and its effect on Clearwater, particularly the Long Center. The main focus was on its use as a wood preservative and an herbicide. Arsenic is a regulated substance with target clean up levels established by the state government. It is a naturally occurring material in Florida soils and water. Major causes for high arsenic concentrations are CCA treated wood and biocides. The playground at the Long Center was tested and did show levels higher than the state clean up target levels. The highest concentration was found on the soccer fields; it was determined that the herbicide used on the field has arsenic as a primary ingredient and this appears to have contributed to the high levels. The herbicide is being used as prescribed by the manufacturer and therefore requires no clean up. Staff recommendations for the Long Center include bi-annually sealing of the playground equipment and investigation of alternate herbicides for the soccer field. The soccer field is also being re-evaluated for risk. The playground was reopened on April 16, 2001 after risk analysis showed minimal dangers from normal use. The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.