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02/18/2004 ..... 1" _,I' ~: j - ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER February 18, 2004 Present: Sandra Jamieson Clorinda Gilreath Judy McSwine Norma Carlough Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Also Present: AI Carrier Leslie Dougall-Sides Andrew Neff Norma Skinner Asst. Dir. of Engineering/ESM Asst. City Attorney Public Utilities Director Staff Assistant II Absent: Michael Flanery Board Member 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 Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. Member McSwine arrived at 4:25 p.m. ITEM #1 Review Minutes from January 21. 2004 Member Gilreath noted two corrections to be made. One on page two, Item #8, last sentence should be changed from 'The City has been on a Sunday, Tuesday, odds and even schedule" to "the City has been watering on a Sunday, Tuesday, odds and even schedule". The second correction is on page two, Item #9, third paragraph, change "Alan's" to "Allen's". ITEM #2 Citizens To Be Heard None Reports ITEM #3 Commission Liaison Report None ITEM #4 Public Works Environmental Proiects None ITEM #5 City Comprehensive Plan Liaison Report Member Gilreath reported that the City Comprehensive Plan would be reviewed in six months, until then; there will not be any thing new to report. ITEM #6 Potable and Reclaimed Water Mr. Neff gave a brief update on the status of the wastewater treatment plants. All the plants passed the eleven toxicity tests and they are waiting to hear the results of the last test. The Public Utilities Department will ask the City Commission for authority to extend the consent order for another year in order to continue Environmental Advisory 2004-0218 1 experiments on bringing triholomethanes down to the acceptable levels required by new DEP permits. Triholomethanes are considered dangerous because they are a carcinogen. Area maps showing locations of the reclaimed water projects were distributed to the EAB members. Discussion Items ITEM #7 City Manager's Point of View Reoardino Proposed Amendments to City Charter The EAB members discussed the pros and cons regarding the proposed amendments to the City Charter, specifically, questions nUl1)ber two and six. With reference to question number two, regarding downtown waterfront construction of boat slips, docks, etc., Mr. Carrier explained that the impact to the sea oats would be minimal, and that there would not be any facilities for fuel. Private boats and a few excursion boats would use the boat slips. Commercial boats would continue to dock at the beach marina. Question number six pertained to the dredging of Stevenson's Creek. Mr. Carrier stated that permits from environmental agencies would still be required and the exemption to the rule would only apply to Stevenson Creek. The Army Corps of Engineers has projected to start the dredging of Stevenson's Creek project by next April and a public referendum might cause an indefinite delay. The Army Corps of Engineers would probably move on to some other project if the City were not ready to begin by April. ITEM #8 Control of Citrus Rats EAB members reviewed and discussed the different methods homeowners can use to control citrus rats on their property and keep them from getting into roofs. ITEM #9 Senate & House Bills on Coastal Redevelopment Member Gilreath brought this bill to the attention of the EAB members. The bill provides for a demonstration project of up to five local governments that would amend their comprehensive plans to allow redevelopment of coastal areas within the designated coastal high hazard area. Although the bill increases the planning requirements by requiring local governments to include additional provisions in the coastal management element of their comprehensive plans, it provides more flexibility to redevelop in areas that otherwise would not be allow to be redeveloped. Indian Rocks Beach was the only city to turn this down. Information Items discussed were the St. Petersburg Times articles on award presented to builder for saving trees during construction project, Treasure Island Land Development Regulations and Road Closures due to projects. ESTABLISH AGENDA: Research on Coastal Redevelopment Bill Look up groups that buy land to turn into wetland Review different agencies that make it possible to retain green space (DEP) ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. ,<~~~ ChairNice Chair Environmental Advisory Board Attest: f? ;-0UL{/J de.."" ~1 Board Reporter Environmental Advisory 2004-0218 2