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09/17/2003 ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER September 17, 2003 Present: Sandra Jamieson Chair Clorinda Gilreath Board Member Michael Flanery Board Member Also Present: Al Carrier Asst. Dir. of Engineering/ESM Leslie Dougall-Sides Asst. City Attorney Andy Neff Public Utilities Jason Kinney Engineering/ESM Norma Skinner Staff Assistant II APPROVED 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 4:10 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. ITEM #1 Review Minutes from August 20, 2003 Meeting Member Gilreath suggested “Seville and Sunset” be corrected to read “Seville and Sunset Drive” on page 2, last paragraph under Item number 7. The minutes were unanimously approved as corrected. ITEM #2 Citizens To Be Heard None Action Items ITEM #3 None Reports ITEM #4 Commission Liaison Report None ITEM #5 Stevenson’s Creek Liaison Report The Board needs a liaison for Stevenson’s Creek and also for the City Comprehensive plan. This will be addressed at the next meeting. Chair stated that all members were saddened at the passing of a long-term member, Mr. Rhame. His position will be filled at the next meeting. ITEM #6 City Comprehensive Plan Liaison Report None ITEM #7 Potable and Reclaimed Water Mr. Neff gave a quick update on some of the projects. The construction work is being completed on the water treatment plant. Inside the plant the major equipment is all in place and fairly soon they will be ready to start introducing water into the City system. With regard to the potable water service line connection program, the Public Utilities Department has almost completed the 2002 contract. They are now proceeding with the second phase of the project to replace service lines for about 300 homes in the downtown area of the City. The Public Utilities Department is working with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to see what can be done to increase our local production with our water use permit and see what wells we can acquire some additional capacity from. They are working through some permit modifications with SWFWMD for that purpose. There are numerous projects underway for reclaimed water. Work at Marshall Street Plant is being completed; the pumping upgrade and modernization of the reclaimed facilities, which is also needed to support the Harbor Oaks project. The work at the Northeast plant, from the reclaimed standpoint, has been completed for some time. It included the installation of a new five million gallon tank for storage. We have the Drew/ Union Street reclaimed water project awarded and notice to proceed on the contractor’s part to start the pipeline element of the work. For the phase two of that project, a home for a booster pump station at Union Street will be needed. The City is currently working with the School Board in order to acquire a location for the booster pump station, which is acceptable to them and architecturally compatible with the school. The Harbor Oaks project continues a little bit ahead of schedule. Completion is expected next year, mid to late 2004. The next project will be Seville and Sunset Drive and it is currently under design. Design is expected to be complete by next spring and following that will be the Del Oro area. In response to chair’s question on funding for reclaimed water, Mr. Neff stated that reclaimed water is subsidized from the water/sewer fund and it is not a self-sustaining fund. They are heavily dependent on grant funding from the Water Management District. Chair asked at what point the need will exceed the supply of reclaimed water. Based on current usage, it is anticipated that around 2007-08 timeframe the supply will equal demand and prior to that point some decisions regarding the applying of restrictions will have to be made. That is one of the reasons we have become involved with the aquifer storage and recovery. Mr. Neff gave EAB members a letter and charts, which the City Commission will be reviewing when an item to reduce water restriction is taken forward. The Water Management District has indicated that in this area of Florida, the aquifer has recovered to the extent that they can remove their existing emergency order for one day a week watering. They are now allowing two days a week watering for potable systems. The City wants to maintain consistency with the County to avoid confusion. Chair asked how population growth compares with our water usage. Mr. Neff said he would provide that information. The Utility Department is currently working on a water master plan and part of that plan is looking at our demand profile. Discussion Items ITEM #8 Review Downtown Plan Plan was not available, review postponed until next meeting. ITEM #9 Lake Belleview Expansion Jason Kinney, from the Stormwater Engineering Department, gave a presentation on the Lake Belleview expansion project. The Lake Belleview expansion is part of the Stevenson Creek Watershed Management Plan. The expansion will require the excavation of approximately eight acres. Overgrown vegetation will be removed and replaced with native plant species to provide a habitat for wildlife. This project includes modification of the lake outfall structure and increase culvert capacity to control flooding. The cost of the project is estimated at two million dollars including an equal match of one million dollars coming from the Florida Department of Environmental Projection. Estimated timeframe is eight months for design and permitting and twelve months for construction. Cookie brought in a St. Petersburg Times news article regarding the townhouses being built on Cleveland St. near Town Lake. The developer has an agreement with the City, but if he doesn’t complete the project another developer or the City can take over the project. Chair expressed her concern at the overcrowded conditions of the housing development on Missouri. The Board members would like someone from the Planning Department to come and talk to them at a future meeting so their concerns regarding density, landscaping and environmental impact can be addressed. Chair suggested that it would be a good idea to make the next meeting a work session since we expect two new members to be starting. She would like to review the policy manual and also requested that Leslie Dougall-Sides revisit the Sunshine Law. Chair recommended that the Board commend Mr. Neff, and the Water Department, for their efforts in water conservation. ESTABLISH AGENDA: Review Downtown Development Plan Review Policy Manual and Sunshine Law ADJOURNMENT Member Flanery made a motion to adjourn. Motion approved unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.