08/27/2002
BROWNFIELDS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY OF CLEARWATER
August 27, 2002
Present: Brian Flaherty Chair
Stephen Fowler Vice-Chair
Willa Carson Board Member
Mary Miller Board Member
Alicia Reed Board Member
Absent: Karen Fenton Board Member
Gary Gray Board Member
Thomas Noble Board Member
William Sherman Board Member
Also Present: Diane Hufford Economic Development Coordinator
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at Ross Norton Recreation Center,
followed by a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM #5 – Action Items
a) Approval of Minutes of previous meeting (May 15, 2002)
Member Carson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 15, 2002,
motion
as submitted in written summation to each board member. The was duly seconded and
carried
unanimously.
b) Confirmation of next meeting date – November 20, 2002 (3rd. Wednesday)
motion
Member Fowler moved to approve the next meeting of November 20, 2002. The
carri
was duly seconded and ed unanimously.
ITEM #6 –Welcome New Board Member
a) Alicia Reed
Board members welcomed new member Alicia Reed. Ms. Reed briefly reviewed her
background.
ITEM #7 – Staff Reports
a) Letter of Recommendation for Brownfields Site Rehabilitation Agreement (BSRA)
for Paone Property located at 1425-1429 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue
mba0802 1 08/27/02
Economic Development Coordinator Diane Hufford said the property owner at 1425 –
1429 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue is in the process of cleaning up the property and applying for a
Brownfields State Rehabilitation Agreement.
b) EPA – Brownfields Revolving Loan Award at EPA Region 4 Conference
Ms. Hufford said Clearwater received an official commendation from the USEPA (United
States Environmental Protection Agency), Region 4 Waste Management Division for being the
first recipient of the Brownfields Revolving Loan Award.
c) USEPA Grant-awarded funding of $150,000 to be used for Phase I, QUAPP and
Phase II Assessments. Additionally awarded $50,000 for Phase I and Phase II
Urban Greenspace Assistance at Brownfields sites that will be used for
greenspace purposes. Soccer fields Joe DiMaggio Complex.
Ms. Hufford said Clearwater has received funds totaling $200,000 as indicated above.
In response to a question, she said $41,000 remains from prior EPA funding that was set aside
for green space purposes. This could be applied to Stevensons Creek cleanup if an associated
green space activity occurs.
This third amendment to Clearwater’s Work Plan establishes an additional two-year time
extension for the pilot project and clarifies the use of an additional supplemental $200,000 of
EPA funding, which includes $50,000 for Green Space projects. This document is in addition to
the original Work Plan dated October, 1997, and is not an attempt to alter or modify the existing:
Purpose, Background, Project Objectives, Tasks to Be Performed, Measures of Success or
Report sections for the Original Work Plan, Subsequent Work Plan Amendments or Quarterly
Reports.
The Non-Green Space awarded funding will primarily be utilized for the continued
performance of Phase I, Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), and Phase II assessments
for the 222 regulatory listed sites and other potentially contaminated sites in the Clearwater
Brownfields Area (CBA). The City selects these sites based on their potential for successful
redevelopment. It is anticipated that projects utilizing EPA funding will result in viable
community development and economic development projects. Further, the time extension and
additional funding will allow Clearwater to continue activities initiated under the original Work
Plan.
The CBA covers 1,800 acres and has 222 regulatory listed sites. It is Clearwater’s
intention to stretch the proposed EPA funding for the assessment activities of as many sites as
possible within the CBA. Due to the nature of Clearwater’s “market ready” strategy, it is not
possible at this time to designate the exact amount of funding per site. The 222 sites range
from very small parcels to a large automotive salvage yard in downtown Clearwater -- the heart
of the CBA. The ultimate goal of Clearwater is to eliminate potential health and safety hazards
by having the CBA sites cleaned and returned to a benefit to the City and its citizens.
Clearwater takes control of some properties in the CBA when necessary to ensure
appropriate, highest, and best use. Clearwater may take ownership of all or some of the
“market ready” properties selected. Generally, Clearwater prefers private ownership, but will
pass ownership through the City in those instances in which private ownership is not feasible or
when it is a more expedient process. For example, the City is holding the Dimmitt option
property (former automotive dealership) adjacent to the proposed Town Pond for a 100 new
mba0802 2 08/27/02
town home housing units project in conjunction with the Town Pond development. The City also
may pass ownership of an automotive junkyard due to liability issues and to control its reuse in
the community.
2.0 TIME EXTENSION REQUEST
The City is requesting a Pilot Project extension through September 2004.
The extension of this pilot will allow the City to continue to implement activities outlined
in the original Work Plan and subsequent Work Plan Amendments and Quarterly Reports. The
extension also will allow for the continued performance of environmental assessments on over
222 regulatory listed sites and other potentially contaminated sites within the Clearwater
Brownfields Area (CBA). The specific tasks to be performed are listed in Section 3 of this Work
Plan Amendment. More importantly, the time extension will allow Clearwater to demonstrate
successful Brownfields Redevelopment strategies within communities of need.
3.0 ADDITIONAL FUNDING USES – BACKGROUND
One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) of Supplemental Brownfields Assessment
funding awarded by EPA will primarily be utilized to continue the performance of Phase I and
Phase II environmental assessments and Quality Assurance Project Plans for commercial
properties in the CBA.
It is anticipated that a total of three additional commercial property projects will be
funded with this supplemental funding. The funding will be leveraged by requiring 50%
matching funding for all Phase II assessments (unless waived by management). It is
Clearwater’s intention to stretch the supplemental EPA funding for the assessment activities of
as many sites as possible within the CBA. As mentioned previously, due to the nature of
Clearwater’s “market ready” strategy, it is not possible to designate at this time the exact
amount of funding per site. Additionally, Clearwater may elect to subcontract certain portions of
the work to be performed. Listed below are the specific tasks that will be performed during the
time extension:
??
Development of a EPA approved Quality Management Plan
??
Continued performance of Phase I Environmental Assessments on the over 222
regulatory listed sites and other potentially contaminated sites within the CBA.
??
Development of EPA approved Quality Assurance Project Plans for properties
requiring Phase II Environmental Assessments in the CBA
??
Continued performance of Phase II Environmental Assessments on the over 222
regulatory listed sites and other potentially contaminated sites within the CBA.
??
Continued meetings of the Brownfields Advisory Board/ and Technical Advisory
Committee.
??
Continued implementation of the “Clearwater Brownfields Environmental Justice
Action Agenda” that also serves as the Brownfields Master Plan.
mba0802 3 08/27/02
??
Continued implementation of the Risk-based Approach through the Brownfields
Technical Advisory Committee.
??
Continued community involvement activities through implementing the Brownfields
Environmental Justice Action Agenda and through meetings held by the Brownfields
Advisory Board, Technical Advisory Committee and Enterprise Zone Development
Agency.
??
Continued Implementation of the Brownfields Building Block Fund.
??
Continued marketing of the Clearwater Brownfields Program.
SF-424-A budget sheets providing the detailed cost breakdown for the additional funding
for the project are available.
4.0 GREEN SPACE PROJECT FUNDING
The award of $50,000 for Open Space/Green Space projects will be used to perform
groundwater-monitoring activities at a former 37-acre municipal landfill in preparation for the
redevelopment of the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex and Extreme Sports Center. This project
involves the redevelopment of a 37-acre landfill into a recreation complex that will include seven
soccer fields and a baseball diamond rock climbing facility and skate park. This parcel of land
originally was scheduled to be developed into a baseball complex for the spring training facility
for the Philadelphia Phillies and the year round headquarters for the Clearwater Phillies.
The decision has since been made to look for alternate sites for the facility. A nearby
parcel of land is being considered, thus presenting the opportunity to redevelop the site as a
centrally located soccer facility to serve the growing needs of the citizens of Clearwater. This
need is intensified by the rapidly increasing Hispanic population within Clearwater that currently
utilizes all existing soccer facilities and other open spaces, placing a high demand for new
facilities. This proposed project also will incorporate an Extreme Sports Center with a long-
awaited skate park for Clearwater’s youth and a rock-climbing wall.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has requested that Ground
Monitoring Activities be performed prior to the redevelopment of the property. Listed below are
the specific tasks to be performed for this project with the awarded funding:
??
Development of EPA approved Quality Assurance Project Plan
??
Review of Geotechnical Boring Logs and Relevant Environmental Documentation for
the Project
??
Groundwater Gradient Determination – Installation of Piezometers
??
Groundwater Monitoring Plan Preparation in coordination with FDEP
??
Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation
??
Groundwater Sampling/Analysis
mba0802 4 08/27/02
??
Groundwater Monitoring Summary
Remaining greenspace funding in conjunction with existing greenspace assessment
funding will be utilized to provide Phases I and II assessments, quality assurance plans and for
other projects that will provide green space, urban parks, and open space in the CBA.
5.0 TIMELINE
The City will work on these proposed projects on a continual basis. Quarterly and
annual reporting requirements will be met by the City as required by EPA.
In response to a question, Ms. Hufford said the City uses various organizations’ names
in advertisements and brochures to let the public know how Brownfields funds are being
allocated and to encourage more participation in the process.
In response to a question, Ms. Hufford said the Cherry Harris Park improvements were
funded from Parks and Recreation funds.
d) UST fields $100,000 from EPA Washington awarded in July
Ms. Hufford said the City was one of only 3 cities in Florida that was awarded $100,000
from the EPA in July 2002 to be used to clean up contaminated sites that have leaking
underground storage tanks. In response to a question, Ms. Hufford said staff continuously
applies for all pertinent grants. She requested board members help staff to “get the word out”
about available Phase I and II funds.
ITEM #8 – Public Comment
One resident requested a copy of the Brownfields Work Plan Amendment #3,
Supplemental Funding for 2002.
Other
One board member distributed an article written by a developer who recently
experienced the Brownfields process.
ITEM #9 - Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
mba0802 5 08/27/02