01/17/2007 - Worksession
WORK SESSION
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 17, 2007
Present : D. Michael Flanery - Chair
Sandra Jamieson - Board Member
Ron Gregory - Board Member
Joseph Calio - Board Member
Absent : Nelda Gant - Board Member
Also Present : Leslie Dougall Sides – Asst. City Attorney
D. Scott Rice – Assistant Director Eng./Stormwater/Env.
Ed Chesney – Environmental Manager
Councilmember - William Jonson
Veronica Josef – Senior Staff Assistant
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
The Chair Mike Flanery called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. in the MSB Conference Room # 130.
1. CITIZENS COMMENTS - None
2. EAB POLICY MANUAL
Chair Mike Flanery stated that the EAB Board needs to figure out their Mission Statement and goals.
Leslie Dougall Sides discussed the EAB comments made at the Work Session on Monday, January 19,
2007. She started the discussion working from her notes. Since the EAB did not have the list of
responsibilities discussed by the Council, Councilmember Jonson supplied his list to the Environmental
Advisory Board :
i. Perform study tasks as specifically requested by the Council – like the stormwater
rate comparative analysis.
ii. Monitor compliance with Comprehensive Plan’s Conservation Element.
- Periodically review the City’s Stormwater Program and comment on staff
recommendations relative to priority of projects.
- Share a “citizen eye” evaluation of the cost of proposed environmental
projects.
- Provide a citizens’ review of City plans to achieve regulatory compliance
with environmental standards such as TMDL and NPDES.
iii. Review proposed ordinance changes dealing with environmental issues.
vi. Provide a citizen sounding board for major projects with environmental aspects
(eg. environmental aspect of major city projects like the Downtown Boat Slips).
v. Provide comments on community aesthetics and policies.
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Environmental Advisory 2007-01-17
Leslie Dougall Sides reported the comments from Mr. Bill Horne, City Manager on:
a. Numbers (I), (III) and (IV) would be appropriate but the EAB should not perform Administrative
duties.
b. Number (IV) – this board was a sounding board for major projects on environmental issues and
to look into environmental issues only and not budget issues.
c. Numbers (II) and (V) will be brought for further discussion at a future date
Leslie Dougall Sides also mentioned that the current ordinance was not very specific.
Member Sandra Jamieson stated that as a Board we need to wait for the final evaluation of the City
Manager and the City Council to help us define our goals and objectives in our policy manual. The Board
requested that a Councilmember be appointed as a liason to the Board.
3. EAB STORMWATER RATE DISCUSSION
Member Joe Calio inquired if suggestions could be made to the City Council to look into the impact fees
(on budgeting the stormwater rate study) on projects and how this impacts the environment. It is the
Board’s responsibility to focus on the impact of the environment rather than rates.
Chair Mike Flanery stated that a liaison was required for the EAB Board who would take concerns to the
City Council on behalf of the EAB Board and receive back information from the City Council.
Member Ron Gregory inquired what the mechanism was for a “significant development project” to come
to the Environmental Advisory Board and how do we react to the citizen’s input.
D. Scott Rice - Asst. Director Engineering responded to Member Ron Gregory’s inquiry :
- The project could be obtained from the development review process through the Development
Review Committee (DRC).
- The DRC has 2 to 3 weeks to review the project prior to a Development Review Committee
meeting therefore there is a short window from receipt to meeting for the EAB to have time to
review, it may be necessary for the applicant to present the project to the EAB.
Member Ron Gregory - stated that from an environmental stand point money should be spent on
stormwater and water quality projects only and should not be used for recreational items and inquired on :
- What are the projects related to the costs as the rates are very high ?
- Is the spending on stormwater and environmental issues only ?
- How are we prioritizing our environmental efforts related to stormwater and flooding in
relationship to our investment plan?
Ed Chesney – Environmental Manager in response to Member Ron Gregory’s inquiry, stated that
Watershed plans were done for all the major Watersheds:
- Problems were identified within each Watershed and prioritized.
- Bigger projects like Kapok and Glen Oaks were first completed before smaller channel projects
like Lake Bellview and Turner Street could be started
- The Water Management District approved the Watershed Plans for Clearwater’s 5 major
Watersheds and granted conceptual permits.
- Projects were prioritizedunder the conceptual permits.
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Member Sandra Jamieson stated that when the stormwater project was initiated, the city looked
primarily into flooding issues and secondary how this could impact the water quality. Major
projects were selected like the Kapok, Stevenson Creek and Glen Oaks. Different elements were
required to qualify for the grant money and not just look at water quality and flooding.
Member Ron Gregory - stated that the Board should consider rendering an opinion to the City
Council as the rate structure is more of a consumption issue.
D. Scott Rice - Asst. Director Engineering stated that Public Utilities will be sending us
information on reclaimed water and the EAB will be receiving this information before the February
meeting. As previously requested by the EAB, Stormwater maps and Stormwater Financial
Management Program-Summary with Capital Improvement Plan Description was distributed to all
the Board members.
4. ESTABLISH AGENDA
1. To have a Liason with the City Council
2. Reclaimed Water
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next EAB meeting will be on February 21, 2007.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 5:50 pm.
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Veronica Josef
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Environmental Advisory 2007-1-17
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