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09/27/1999BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER September 27, 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 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 Alicia Reed Brownfields TAC Chair 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 6:06 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center, followed by meditation and the Pledge of Allegiance. ITEM 4 – Introductions Board members introduced themselves. ITEM 5 – Action Items A. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting Member Carson moved to approve the minutes of July 26, 1999, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. B. Nomination of Future Chairperson The Chair said he was appointed a year ago on an interim basis. He requested a motion for nomination of a new board Chair and Vice-Chair. Member Fowler nominated Member Flaherty as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Member Carson moved to retain Member Fowler as Vice-Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Newly elected Chair Flaherty conducted the remainder of the meeting. Approval of Mr. Glenn A. Claytor to serve as a Technical Advisory Member (Technical Category) Member Fowler moved to accept Glenn Claytor as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Approval of recommendation to the City Commission to approve the BSRA (Brownfields Site Rehabilitation Agreement) for property at 1108 N. Greenwood Avenue. Brownfields Coordinator Miles Ballogg said the TAC (Technical Advisory Committee) reviewed the site history, tank removal, draft agreement, etc. at 1108 N. Greenwood Avenue. The TAC requested the BAB (Brownfields Advisory Board) approve the BSRA at this location as it is written by FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection). Mr. Ballogg said 2 appendices will be added: 1) a list of BAB members, and 2) a site access paper indicating the City will allow the FDEP access the site to look at the property at their convenience. Clarification of site development agreement language is needed to assure the FDEP that the City will develop the site. In response to a question, Assistant Director of Public Works Tom Miller said the BSRA ensures the property is developed in accordance with State law, giving the City the benefit of State funding. Assistant City Attorney Leslie Dougall-Sides said the BSRA also provides protection against liability. Member Gray moved approval of the Brownfields Site Rehabilitation Agreement for property at 1108 N. Greenwood Avenue. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. E. Recognition of Environmental Advisory Board as the primary board for the Stevenson’s Creek Watershed Management Plan. Mr. Ballogg said as part of their environmental justice plan, TAC members had discussed Stevenson’s Creek as a priority issue. Stevenson’s Creek Watershed is larger than the Brownfields area. The EAB (Environmental Advisory Board) has requested recognition as the primary board to deal with the Stevenson’s Creek Watershed Management Plan. The EAB will work closely with the BAB regarding all issues. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said the EAB was created in late 1990 to address Stevenson’s Creek issues with landowners in the southern portion of the basin. The EAB has 5 board members, appointed by and reporting to the City Commission. The EAB feels since the board is responsible for environmental justice issues, watershed planning should be dealt with on a basin-wide approach. Member Gray moved to recognize the EAB as the primary board for the Stevenson’s Creek Watershed Management Plan, and for Dr. Khator serve as liaison on the Watershed Management Plan Team, and that Chair Flaherty serve as liaison to the EAB. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. F. Approval of future joint meeting of the Brownfields Advisory Board and Environmental Advisory Board to receive public comment on Stevenson’s Creek. (Recommended time and date – 6:00 p.m. November 22, 1999, at the Martin Luther King Center). Member Fowler moved to schedule a joint meeting of the BAB and EAB to receive public comment on Stevenson’s Creek on November 22, 1999, at 6:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. G. Nomination of BAB member to serve on Stevenson’s Creek Watershed Management Plan Team. Mr. Ballogg said the Watershed Management Team will consist of regulatory agencies, area residents, BAB, and EAB members. See Item E. H. Nomination of BAB Liaison to Environmental Advisory Board. See Item E. ITEM 6 – Staff Reports A. TAC Membership – Replacements for James Steele & Brad Peebles – Seeking 2 residents and 1 technical applicant to joint TAC (Ballogg) Mr. Ballogg requested board members contact him regarding any potential applicants for the TAC. B. Status of Current Projects – 804-804.5 Pennsylvania Avenue (Ballogg), Greenwood Community Health Resource Center. Mr. Ballogg said Phases I and II were done on the Pennsylvania Avenue site. The City has obtained approval from the FDEP to perform additional testing on the site. Some levels of arsenic were found. An assessment will be completed next week. He said a site plan has been developed for the Greenwood Community Health Resource Center. A request for a lease of the property to the Greenwood Community Health Resource Center and acquire additional parcels needed to build the center will be presented to the Commission on October 21, 1999. Brownfields Job Training Partnership (Ballogg) Previously, Career Options handled training in environmental technician positions with a $144,000 grant obtained through the FDEP. At month end, the grant funding will be transferred to PTEC (Pinellas Technical Education Center) for development of an initial curriculum. Five of 11 program graduates are now employed. ITEM 7 – Other Business Environmental Justice Action Plan Update – Renu Khator, University of South Florida Member Khator said due to inclement weather and bomb threats at FAMU (Florida A&M University), the action plan will be mailed to board members in the next few weeks. The action plan includes community strategies, goals, and recommendations to the City regarding environmental justice. Dr. Khator said the action plan was developed from brainstorming sessions with the community, community and staff forums, and surveys. She invited board members to attend a joint session with environmental businesses on November 16, 1999, at USF (University of South Florida). The focus will be Brownfields. B. Presentation – Melanie Thoenes, Pinellas County Lead Intervention Team – Lead Poisoning Prevention Melanie M. Thoenes, Lead Intervention Team Project Coordination, Pinellas County Health Department, presented an overview of lead poisoning programs. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in Atlanta has funded the program since 1992. Lead poisoning is the gradual accumulation of lead in body tissues by inhaling or injecting the substance. Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health problem to children. The County’s multi-disciplinary team consists of a medical component, environmental component, a health educator, and nutritionist. Part of the team’s focus is to prevent lead poisoning in Pinellas County. She said 2 of the target zip codes in Clearwater also are in Brownfields areas: 1) 33755 and 2) 33756. Lead poisoning occurs in both adults and children. Local prevention strategies include community partnerships and collaboration between health, housing, and environmental programs. Prevention efforts are targeted to reducing the sources of exposure in the community and to identify children at-risk. Educational campaigns to promote community awareness in target zip code areas need to be intensified. Those with abnormal lead results need to receive follow-up services. In response to a question, Ms. Thoenes said local ordinances are necessary to encourage landlords to address lead hazard issues in rental properties. She said some cities have codes forbidding peeling/flaking paint to address lead based paint hazards. She said the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant), HOME and SHIP programs provide some assistance for lead hazards. Because lead removal can be costly, wet scraping, removal of old windows, and encapsulation (placing siding over affected areas) are being used more actively. It was remarked disposal of lead materials is difficult. It was commented that financial institutions do not require lead hazard disclosures. Mr. Ballogg said he plans to apply for a $225,000 HUD (Housing and Urban Development) grant for lead/air quality programs. He said CDGB funds can be used for the containment of lead. This topic will be placed on the next meeting agenda. Board members were encouraged to submit suggestions regarding how to partner with community organizations, and how to obtain grant funds. B. Presentation/Discussion - Tom Ward, USF Graduate Student – Final Summary of Brownfields Surveys USF Graduate Student Tom Ward presented a final summary of Brownfields interviews. All community residents were interviewed in their own neighborhoods at their convenience. He said over 65 interviews were attempted and 43 conducted. More than one third of those asked to participate declined. Of the 43 interviews, 28 of them were conducted from September 1998 to March 1999, before the Environmental Justice Action Plan Committee presented the Stevenson’s Creek issue to the community. The remaining 15 interviews were conducted between April 1999 and July 1999. He reviewed the breakdown of female versus male, age groups, the list of questions asked, and concerns derived from interviews. Major issues cited before April 1999 included: 1) health issues; 2) jobs (standards of living issues, benefits, wages, childcare); and 3) the City not keeping its word (broken promises, bad faith actions). Issues cited after April 1999 included: 1) Stevenson’s Creek; 2) health issues; and 3) economic development. Other comments throughout the survey included: 1) the BAB is only an advisory board; 2) sidewalk issues; 3) transportation issues; 4) perception of uneven treatment of neighborhoods (one being played against the other); 5) communication problems between the City and neighborhood; 6) children’s future; 7) economic development; and 8) property values. Mr. Ward said the survey was part of a Masters degree thesis by a white, middle class male, who is not a resident of the Brownfields area, the City, or the County. For that reason, he felt the survey did not provide a good representation of the community. In response to a question, Mr. Ward said residents feel the BAB is a way for the City to keep the community at arm’s length. Many residents voice their opinions by refusing to attend meetings. It was remarked that Mr. Ward’s survey questions did not reference the BAB’s role. Mr. Ward recommended the BAB write an official letter or statement in support of the cleaning up of Stevenson’s Creek, with copies to: 1) the City; 2) Pinellas County Health Department; 3) SWFMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District); 4) FDEP; and 5) the EPA (Federal Environmental Protection Agency). He said jobs need to be brought into neighborhoods at or above “living wage” levels and include benefits. He suggested partnerships be created between youth and incoming businesses, and the creation of an internship or cooperative educational program with high schools and colleges as part of Brownfields area development. He also recommended the BAB set up community meetings as it did with the environmental justice action plan and the TAC, to receive greater input and information directly from the community before recommending the creation of districts. He recommended a community leader chair the committee. He said a defined set of goals did not emerge from the survey in regards to a master plan, however, a basic outline surfaced: 1) North and South Greenwood Avenue should be developed into a service corridor; 2) Myrtle Avenue and Drew Street should be developed as neighborhood retail corridors; 3) the downtown business district should be bordered by Cleveland Street, Chestnut Street, Missouri Avenue, and Fort Harrison Avenue, with the Town Pond’s park in the center of development; 4) the Town Park Pond should link north and south community parks; 5) South Ft. Harrison Avenue south of Chestnut Street should be developed as a medical district; and 6) Brownfields sites outside of these boundaries should be used for infill housing except where the BAB recommends programs to meet community needs. Mr. Ward said the BAB can use these interviews as representative of the community’s voice. He felt the interview process should continue as long as the BAB meets. He suggested that Brownfields community members conduct future interviews. He suggested the BAB, the ICMA (International City/County Management Association), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and USF (University of South Florida) coordinate grant funding to local community groups to continue interviews as a way of having their voices heard. ITEM 8 – Public Comment Period – None. Chair Flaherty thanked former Chair Gray and Vice-Chair Fowler for their efforts over the past year, and for his nomination as Chair. ITEM 9 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.