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07/26/1999BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER July 26, 1999 Present: Gary Gray Chair Stephen Fowler Vice-Chair Renu Khator Board Member Brian Flaherty Board Member Mary Miller Board Member Willa Carson Board Member Karen Fenton Board Member Absent: Thomas Noble Board Member William Sherman Board Member Also Present: Leslie Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Miles Ballogg Brownfields Coordinator Tom Miller Assistant Director of Public Works PD&E Karma Killian Environmental Specialist Supervisor Alicia Reed Chair of Brownfields TAC Mike Flannery Brownfields TAC Member Brenda Moses Board Reporter To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEMS 1 – 3 – Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. at Ross Norton Park, followed by meditation and the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM 4 - Introductions Members introduced themselves. ITEM 5 – Action Items Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings Member Fowler moved to approve the minutes of May 24, 1999, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. B. TAC Assignments – Conceptual Approval of TAC review documents and recommendations regarding State Remediation Projects (Ballogg) Brownfields Coordinator Miles Ballogg requested conceptual approval for the TAC (Technical Advisory Committee) to review documents and recommendations regarding State remediation projects at 1108 North Greenwood Avenue and 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue. Mr. Ballogg anticipates entering into a BRSA (Brownfields Rehabilitation Site Agreement) for 1108 North Greenwood Avenue. State approval has been received to provide remediation funding for 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue, which is owned by a private party. CNHS (Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services) has an agreement for the property's deed. CNHS requests environmental clearance before the agreement is finalized. Member Khator moved approval for the TAC to review documents as received for properties at 1108 North Greenwood Avenue and 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 6 – Staff Reports A. TAC Membership – Replacements for James Steele and Brad Peebles – seeking two residents and two technical applicants to join TAC (Ballogg) Mr. Ballogg reviewed the need for 4 new TAC members. Members' technical expertise does not have to be environmental, but can be planning, zoning. or in other technical areas. TAC Activity Update (Miller) Assistant Director of Public Works PD&E Tom Miller reviewed TAC activities and objectives: 1) encourage productive site reuse; 2) innovative and cost effective technology; 3) public education; and 4) provide technical support to the Brownfields Advisory Board. The TAC’s task will begin when a BSRA is in place. As no BSRAs have been negotiated, the TAC has been processing a hypothetical BSRA. It is anticipated the 1108 North Greenwood Avenue site will be the first BSRA presented for TAC review. Staff will provide all information related to site clean up and a summary. Mr. Miller requested BAB (Brownfields Advisory Board) motions be comprehensive and include timeframes. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg anticipated the 1108 North Greenwood Avenue site will be presented to the TAC for review next month and 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue the following month. Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund – BRLF (Ballogg) Mr. Ballogg said a May 25, 1999, press release and letter from the EPA Atlanta branch indicate a revolving loan fund grant has been approved for clean-up efforts of Brownfields sites in Clearwater. Of 40 grants approved nationwide, none has been used. Clearwater has a financial specialist who works with local lenders to process loan paperwork and begin clean-up efforts. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said funds are available under the Superfund Law. With strict stipulations, lenders are not making loans easy to obtain. Funds cannot be used to clean petroleum sites and require significant documentation. With the advent of environmental insurance, lenders are more comfortable loaning money for clean-up efforts. The grant will provide low interest loans for specific time periods. As money is repaid, others can borrow it. Status of Current Projects – 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue (Ballogg), 1108 N. Greenwood (Killian) Mr. Ballogg said some assessment of the 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue site had been submitted it to the DEP for review. The formal assessment plan has been submited to FDEP for review. Primary soil contamination is from arsenic and barium. Environmental Specialist Supervisor Karma Killian said tanks were removed from 1108 N. Greenwood Avenue in March 1999. A contractor, hired to delineate the soil and groundwater contamination, inspected a small area of soil and dug 10 feet down rather than 5 feet, as the water table level was low due to lack of rain. A total of 407 tons of contaminated soil was removed. Contamination at the pit's perimeter was measured at only 10 parts per million. Although minor, the remaining contamination affects soils at the water table. Considering natural attenuation, it is possible the State will allow the City to monitor the site. The TAC will evaluate the site and recommend if additional remediation is necessary or if natural attenuation should be monitored. Ms. Killian said groundwater contamination has not migrated off site. Sod and a sprinkling system have greatly improved the site's appearance. All TAC reports, etc. will be copied to the BAB. The closure report has been submitted to the Pinellas County Public Health Unit. It is anticipated a standard response will indicate that further assessment must begin on the site. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said it is anticipated the Greenwood Community Health Resource Center will use the site after all clean-up work is completed. Brownfields Job Training Partnership (Ballogg) Mr. Ballogg said the Brownfields Job Training Partnership is in transition. Career Options is handling the contract until September 1999. It is possible the grant then will be awarded to PTEC (Pinellas Technical Education Center) or to the Pinellas County Workforce Development Board for Management. Five of 11 program graduates are now employed. More than 200 letters have been sent to companies requesting they consider graduates for positions. The committee will be provided updated information on this program. Project Map/GIS Update (Ballogg) Mr. Ballogg referred to a map of current projects. A presentation on the projects and costs is scheduled for August. The GIS (Geographic Information System) is prepared to input contaminated site information into the system. HUD Brownfields Economic Development Initiative Grant (Ballogg) Mr. Ballogg said CHUD (Clearwater Housing and Urban Development) Department had applied for a Brownfields Economic Development grant. The first application was not successful. This application will assist Community Pride for the development of a childcare center in the South Clearwater neighborhood. ITEM 7 – Other Business A. Environmental Justice Action Plan Update – Renu Khator, University of South Florida Member Khator reported on the environmental justice action plan. The information data gathering is complete from: 1) community forums; 2) staff forums; 3) survey; and 4) brainstorming sessions. A draft will be distributed. The team’s recommendations for a strategy to empower the community regarding Brownfields will be presented at a future meeting. Dr. Khator said the Brownfields Board is not well known and must link with the community. The team has invited North and South Greenwood residents who could link the City and community to address board meetings. In response to a question, Dr. Khator said community turnout and involvement were better than expected. B. Presentation – “Citizens Perspective of the Clearwater Brownfields Program” – Residents of the North and South Greenwood Communities Two North Greenwood residents spoke. One stated the primary source of income for City residents is related to tourism. The quality and quantity of these jobs are related to water quality. After most City systems drain into Stevenson’s Creek, refuse drops to the creek’s bottom and is caught in mangroves. Pollutants from the creek flow to Clearwater Beach, destroying the beach and related jobs. He felt the City is responsible for cleaning the creek. Dr. Khator said the Brownfields program provides an opportunity to focus attention on this area and bring additional resources to the area. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said the Army Corps of Engineers has been authorized to provide $75,000 in services on preliminary work on the creek with funding provided by the EPA. Mr. Ballogg will discuss funding and citizen concerns at next week's Region 4 Brownfields meeting. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said the mouth of Stevenson's Creek needs to be dredged of large organic deposits. The City has begun a watershed planning process to help agencies involved in clean-up. It is important that property owners prevent contamination. It was suggested the BAB send correspondence to residents, the public, etc. regarding the creek. Mr. Miller said providing a public forum is critical for Brownfields clean-up efforts. In response to a question, he said the governor had vetoed the $1.5 million appropriated by the legislature to fund Stevenson's Creek clean-up. Senator Latvala will revisit the issue next year. It was requested that staff update members and residents regarding this issue. It was suggested local Sierra Clubs be contacted to assist in educating the public about Brownfields Advisory and TAC meetings. A resident said the newspaper had reported the City budgeted $4 million in stormwater fees to start the watershed project. She questioned the amount of remaining funds. Mr. Miller said $2.5 million in stormwater utility funds are budgeted for lower Stevenson’s Creek. The original project was estimated to cost between $4 M and $6 M. It was remarked the amount of sediment in the creek changes after every storm. It was requested signs be posted at the creek indicating sludge is present and that wading, swimming, or fishing are unsafe. Mr. Miller said the City’s legal department will need to address that issue. A resident said her husband had heard yelling from 2 young children who were fishing in the creek. He had to pull them out of the mud, where they were stuck. It was remarked sludge in the creek is up to 14 feet deep, causing health and safety hazards and a horrendous stench. It was stated studies indicate bacteria in coastal waters are killing alligators and shellfish. In response to a question, Mr. Ballogg said no master plan exists for Brownfields, but the City is developing strategies, such as the environmental justice plan, to address issues. Master plans tend to become obsolete quickly. A South Clearwater resident said she had attended an all day Environmental Justice conference last week at the Martin Luther King Center. While many North Greenwood residents attended, she was disappointed to be the only South Clearwater attendee. Dr. Khator said an issue brought up at the brainstorming sessions noted a lack of connection between North and South Greenwood. North Greenwood residents are interested in Stevenson’s Creek. South Greenwood residents do not have a similar campaign The South Greenwood Citizens for Progressive Action is active in community issues. Interest exists when a cause is identified. It was suggested the City apply for grants to clean-up Stevenson’s Creek as if it were an estuary. C. Presentation – “Clearwater Revival: The Challenge of Urban Renewal in West Central Florida” – Leslie Dougall-Sides, Assistant City Attorney Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides reviewed her presentation to the Florida Bar’s annual meeting, which focused on the redevelopment of environmentally impacted properties. She reviewed: 1) Clearwater demographics, buildout, and downtown redevelopment programs; 2) Brownfields funding, advisory bodies, area site remediations; 3) environmental audit process; 4) remediation/construction; 5) clean up Revolving Loan Fund pilot project; 6) Career Options Program; 7) downtown pond; 8) infill residential development; 9) uses for infill redevelopment; and 10) land assembly ordinance. She encouraged residents to contact staff via e-mail and telephone, and visit the City’s web site. ITEM 8 – Public Comment Period - See Item #7. ITEM 9 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.