Loading...
10/26/1998BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER October 26, 1998 Present: Stephen Fowler Interim Vice-Chair (arrived 3:57 p.m.) Mary Miller Board Member Brian Flaherty Board Member (arrived 3:37 p.m.) Thomas Noble Board Member (arrived 3:37 p.m.) Willa Carson Board Member Amy Lovett Board Member Also Present: Mary Helen Blakeslee Office Tourism, Trade, & Economic Dev. Debra Turner North Greenwood Association Donald Rutledge Career Options Barb Kleinhense Career Options Isay Gulley Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services James Steele Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services John Maloney Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services Jonathan Wade Sgt. Allen Moore/North Greenwood Association Brenda Ward University of South Florida Thomas Ward University of South Florida Miles Ballogg Brownfields Coordinator Diane Hufford Economic Development Juan Butler Information Management/GIS Program Karma Killian Public Works/PD&E Thomas Miller Assistant Director of Public Works/TAC Liaison Paola Dembenski Public Works Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney (departed 5:10 p.m.) Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Gary Gray Interim Chair Robert Washington Board Member Renu Khator Board Member Due to the lack of a quorum, general discussion began at the Martin Luther King Recreational Center at 3:38 p.m. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEMS 1-5 - See Page 3. ITEM 6 - Staff Reports Provided by Miles Ballogg, Clearwater Brownfields Coordinator a. Community Involvement Brownfields Coordinator Miles Ballogg said more than 25 presentations have been held regarding the Brownfields program. A subcommittee, the TAC (Technical Advisory Committee), of the Brownfields Advisory Board will work with community members to develop an action plan to improve communication with the public. He encouraged participation in the plan’s development. b. ASTM - Brownfields Standard Update Mr. Ballogg stated he had attended several American Standard and Testing Material Association meetings regarding the development of a preliminary national Brownfields standard. Their organization’s policy disallows the distribution of the standards’ draft until it is finalized. The standards encourage community participation, especially in Brownfields areas. c. Status Report on Master Plan Thomas Ward, of USF (University of South Florida), reviewed the master plan, which is a component of the original EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) grant. The document clarifies the relationship between the board and the City Commission and how the Brownfields Advisory Board is to function, and lists issues and priorities to be considered. Next month, he will interview board members individually for input on the Brownfields program. Maintaining open lines of communication is mandatory. In response to a question, he said community involvement will be accomplished by proactively seeking feedback from the entire Brownfields community to identify residents’ feelings about important parts of this plan. d. Status Report Environmental Justice Plan Mr. Ballogg reviewed an International City & County Managers Association letter regarding funding for an environmental justice plan to be developed by USF and Florida A&M University. One of the plan’s most important components relates to community involvement and schedules several meetings to obtain residents’ input. He said environmental justice plans generally address the disproportionate number of contaminated sites that are in low income and minority neighborhoods, how to deal with the sites, reverse the damage, and improve existing conditions. e. Job Training Program Update Two job training programs have resulted directly from the Brownfields effort. The Public Works Academy, at the City’s Infrastructure complex, will train 15 to 20 Brownfields area residents annually for public works jobs. The City also is working with Career Options, which received a USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) $144,000 grant to train environmental technicians. Donald Rutledge, Career Options, said his organization will work with PTEC (Pinellas County Technical Center) to recruit 50 trainees from the Brownfields area for the program, which begins in January. Applicants must be at least 18 and demonstrate a ninth grade literacy level and education. Those who cannot meet the education criteria, but demonstrate a capability of obtaining a GED, will be provided an opportunity to qualify for training. Career Options will be responsible for job placement and follow-up for program trainees at PTEC. Mr. Rutledge said 15 local companies have committed to interview program participants for jobs. Successful applicants will display a good attitude, and be able to read, follow directions, and work independently. He encouraged potential candidates to call Career Options. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said most job training participants must be Brownfields area residents. The Veterans Administration also has expressed interest in the program. Plans are to market the program via Career Options, CNHS (Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services), press releases, CView-TV, and word of mouth. He encouraged community participation in this great opportunity. ITEMS 1-4 After additional members arrived, Acting Chair Flaherty called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m., followed by meditation and the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM 5 - Minutes of Previous Meetings Member Noble moved to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of July 27, 1998, and August 31, 1998, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 6 - (continued) f. Community Remediation Projects The City received a $225,000 line item appropriation this year to remediate orphaned and abandoned sites in the Brownfields area. Mr. Ballogg has forwarded a scope of work to FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection), which is writing the contract for this appropriation. One recommended site, at 1108 North Greenwood Avenue, is an abandoned service station which was demolished through the unsafe building code. While the average remediation cost is $200,000 per site, it is estimated this site will cost $125,000 as preliminary reports have not identified any high levels of contamination. Another site, under consideration as a potential infill housing project, is at 904 Pennsylvania Avenue where a salvage yard was demolished and 14 drums of waste were removed. Phase I and II assessments are estimated to cost $70,000. CNHS (Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services) is assisting. At the third site, 1498 South Greenwood Avenue, removing a tank at the North Greenwood Family Center and police substation is estimated to cost $30,000. Project timelines of between 6 and 8 months are based on acquisition of the subject properties. g. Designation of Enterprise Zone Mr. Ballogg said a formal presentation to the Commission is planned regarding the designation of an enterprise zone which could link employment opportunities in Brownfields and encourage redevelopment. If approved, the Commission would appoint the members of the Enterprise Zone Development Agency. Mr. Ballogg encouraged community participation, urging concerned residents to contact the Commission regarding their interest. h. Army Corps of Engineers/EPA Funding for Stevenson Creek Mr. Ballogg said a Brownfields pilot meeting last year included a tour of Stevenson Creek for the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers which had expressed a willingness to help. However, no funding was received. A scope of work, estimated to cost $200,000, has been developed for preliminary studies of Stevenson Creek. It is hoped the Army Corps of Engineers will become involved and provide financial assistance. i. Review of Brownfields Projects to Date Mr. Ballogg referred to the spreadsheet of Brownfields projects. The spreadsheet will be updated as projects are completed. The information also is available on the City’s web site. ITEM 7 - Action Items a. Approval - Technical Advisory Committee - Thomas Miller Thomas Miller, Assistant Director of Public Works, provided an overview of the TAC. When approved by the Commission, the Brownfields Advisory Board was granted permission to create subcommittees. TAC, the Brownfields Advisory Board’s technical subcommittee subject to the Sunshine Law, will provide the board with technical information and analysis. TAC will comply with State developed guidelines. Mr. Miller reviewed TAC objectives and requested board approval. Public health, safety, and welfare are of utmost importance to the TAC. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said soil and groundwater cleanup criteria are based on toxicologist and State guidelines. TAC will focus on cleanup options, cleanup design, and cleanup implementation, not site assessment. Member Fowler moved the board approve formation of the TAC. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. A list of 6 volunteers, received by the Economic Development Department to serve on the TAC, was distributed. It was noted additional members from the community will be considered. It was suggested a Brownfields Advisory Board member serve as the TAC liaison. Member Fowler moved to recommend that 4 members, 3 from the community, and one from this board, serve on the TAC. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Carson moved to continue the appointment of TAC members until community members have had an opportunity to submit applications. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. b. Approval - Next Meeting 4:00 p.m. Monday November 30, 1998, MLK Center Discussion ensued. Mr. Ballogg requested the board meet monthly. Consensus was to schedule the next meeting for 4:00 p.m. on December 7, 1998. ITEM 8 - Other Business a. Presentation - James Steel - Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services Isay Gulley, CNHS, said her organization uses a holistic approach to housing opportunities and development. James Steel, of CNHS, said his organization, a nonprofit agency, always is soliciting funds to realize community revitalization through home ownership, code enforcement, and a host of activities. CNHS is expanding to all of Pinellas County. CNHS, which brings technical and funding resources to the table, plans to work with the Brownfields Advisory Committee and become more aggressive in the community. CNHS currently is focusing on 2 Pennsylvania Avenue properties. CNHS works to eliminate deteriorating and substandard properties, improve the infrastructure, and engage a national bank, the community, businesses, and the City as co-partners. He said CNHS is an essential part of Brownfields efforts. b. Presentation - Enterprise Zone & Brownfield Incentives - Mary Helen Blakeslee, Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development Mary Helen Blakeslee, Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, the contract manager for the initial round of Brownfields grants awarded to Clearwater, said her office promotes the use of existing mechanisms that facilitate, promote, and encourage community investment. She reviewed State incentives: 1) Brownfields Area Loan Guarantee Program; 2) Orphan Property Program; and 3) the QTI (Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program). She distributed program information regarding jobs, tax credits, incentives, and other opportunities. A State-wide Brownfields meeting is planned for January, 1999. She offered to attend a future meeting to discuss the specifics of each program. c. Presentation - Brownfields Geographic Information Systems - Juan Butler Postponed. ITEM 9 - Public Comment Period A resident remarked the community is excited about the Brownfields program and the Enterprise Zone. She requested all available information be dispersed to the community as quickly as possible. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said until the Enterprise Zone Program was established, there was no opportunity to link redevelopment with employment opportunities in Brownfields area communities. He said IMR (Information Management Resources) is committed to the community and will offer computer skills training. Ms. Blakeslee said tying together the Enterprise Zone, Brownfields, local workforce development corps, and local WAGES coalitions are linkage opportunities. ITEM 10 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:29 p.m.