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11/17/2004 ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD (WORK SESSION) CITY OF CLEARWATER November 17, 2004 : PRESENT Sandra Jamieson Chair Judy McSwine Board Member Clorinda Gilreath Board Member Norma Carlough Board Member Mike Flanery Board Member ALSO PRESENT : Al Carrier Asst. Dir. Of Engineering / ESM Andy Neff Public Utilities Director Leslie Dougall-Sides Asst. City Attorney Nicole Elko Mgmt. Coastal Coordinator Dept’s Coastal Mgmt Division Administrator. Pinellas County of Env. Mgmt. Veronica Josef Staff Assistant APPROVED To provide continuity for research, items are in the agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Unless otherwise noted, no action was taken regarding items. ADMINISTRATION Chair Jamieson called the meeting to order at 4:00pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall. ITEM # 1 – Review Minutes of September 15th, 2004 Minutes of September 15, 2004 will be reviewed and approved at the next EAB Meeting on December 15, 2004. ITEM # 2 – Citizens Comments Item # 10Item # 2- Removal of Sand Dunes & Sea Oats Chair Jamieson asked to move as Member Carlough introduced Mr. Raymond Massieu of the Clearwater Homeowners Association. Mr. Massieu reported that some of the owners are clearing the property and therefore removing the Sand Dunes and discarding the Sea Oats, at 850, 856 & 860 Eldorado. This was done by an individual developer, and Mr. Massieu wanted to know how the State could authorize the removal of Sand Dunes and Sea Oats. Member Flanery stated that we should have an official meeting to discuss, asking Public Works to find out what the policy was to remove the Sand Dunes and Sea Oats. Member Leslie Dougal-Sides stated that no bill was passed at the State level last year and will be brought up at the regular session this spring. Environmental Advisory 2004-11-17 1 REPORTS ITEM # 3 – Commission Liaison None ITEM # 4 – Public Works Environmental Projects Member McSwine reported that she had spoken to Elliot Shoberg and that: Palmetto Street Project by the Country Club is completed. ?? Bids will be taken for Glen Oaks Project after Thanksgiving. ?? Army Corps of Engineers is trying to complete the Estuary Restoration Study and estimating ?? to start construction by June 2005. ITEM # 5 – City Comprehensive Plan None ITEM # 6 – Portable Reclaimed Water Member Neff gave a brief update on Portable Reclaimed Water Projects: City Council presentation on the recommendation for our 4-year rate increase. The increase is needed to ?? accommodate the capital program that we need to put in place to maintain the infrastructure and retain compliance with regulations. Continuing to work on projects in the sewer systems to control overflows and waste water treatment ?? plants. Expanding our well field and also expanding our existing Reverse Osmosis Treatment Plant and beginning ?? nd to lay the ground work for a 2 Reverse Osmosis Treatment Plant at Reservoir 2 between Drew and 19. Member Neff Inquired if the Environmental Board could draft a letter of recommendation. That would help support the rate increase. Chair Jamieson got the consensus from the Board and a letter of recommendation would be drafted stating “ from the environmental stand point we are supporting our water management department in terms of reclaimed water, eliminating out flow into the bay and allowing us to have viable water source / irrigation as they need to continue to protect our environment and water supply.” Chair Jamieson also stated that the compliance requirements are going to get more and more stringent and penalties for not being in compliance are going to get more and more costly. ITEM # 7 – Community Development None DISCUSSION ITEMS ITEM # 8 – Report on Coli form Water Quality Mr. Glen Daniel, Member Neff introduced Public Utility Water Coordinator who gave a brief presentation on the Coli forms / E Coli issues of the water system. Sporadic tests have come back positive since September. The water is within safety limits and is Okay to drink. The City has hired Microbiologist and independent contractor to help identity how the bacteria are getting into the system. ITEM # 9 – Geological Perspective on reopening of Dunedin Pass Al Carrier introduced Nicole Elko - Mgmt. Coastal Coordinator for the Pinellas County. Dept’s Coastal Mgmt Division Administrator. Pinellas County of Env. Mgmt. Nicole gave a brief talk on Dunedin pass and Blind Pass. Comparison between the two passes and the advantages and disadvantages of opening the pass. Environmental Advisory 2004-11-17 2 ~ Nicole Elko also presented information on the removing of the Sand Dunes and Sea Oats - To do any type of construction out on the beach, a permit is required from DEP if it is beyond the Coastal C~mstruction Line. She recommended to contact Mr Steve West, Sarasota Field Office, Field Consultant for DEP and for any other-type of information on construction out on the beach. . . Chair Jamieson stated that Clearwater Beach is part of the environment and we need to protect our beach and therefore the issue of removing Sand Dunes and Sea Oats should be brought up to the attention of the City Council. Chair Jamieson also inquired someone can go on a field trip to EI Dorado and take some pictures in the Residential Areas where the Sand Dunes are being removed and see what the regulations are to find out if the Home Owners should have any responsibility or requirement to restore what they destroyed in their development process. Member Flanery stated that we need to see what the stipulations were on that permit. Ask AI Carrier if he has the access to the county aerials. Aerials fly every 2 years. If we can get the largest blowup of the area along the beach, we are able to see the Sea Oats areas and the comparison. INFORMATION ITEMS None ESTABLISH AGENDA r r r r r r Regulations to Beach Development in terms of Construction Rate Increases on Water & Touch basis with Andy on Ecoli Construction on Myrtte How the Board can be more proactive Uneconomical to try & open Dunedin Pass Preservation of Neighborhood Chair Jamieson Chair Jamieson Mike Flanery Norma Carlough Chair Jamieson Chair Jamieson NEXT MEETING The next EAB meeting will be on December 15, 2004. ADJOURNMENT No further discussion, meeting was adjourned at 5:40pm ~~--- Environmental Advisory Board /-/Q'-05 -I----l-------------~________________ Date Attest: iJ ex O"J ~ 'to Board Reporter 3 Environmental Advisory 2004-9-15