01/21/2015 ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 21, 2015
Present: Chair Linda S. Varonich, Vice Chair Lynn F. Sumerson, Board Member Michael
Engelmann, Board Member Lindsay Collins, Board Member Leann J. DuPont
Also Present: Laura Mahony - Assistant City Attorney 11, Ed Chesney - Environmental
Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Municipal Services Building.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
2 —Approval of Minutes
2.1. Approve the minutes of the October 15, 2014 Environmental Advisory Board
meeting as submitted in written summation.
Member Engelmann moved to approve Item 2.1. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
3 — Citizen To Be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda
In response to a question, Environmental Manager Ed Chesney said tree funds were used
to purchase trees, not necessarily to prune them. Lisa Lanza expressed concern residents
feed birds in a neighborhood. Assistant City Attorney 11 Laura Mahony said Code
prohibited feeding wildlife at City beaches and parks. It was stated federal/state laws forbid
feeding wildlife.
4 — Prepare oral presentation outline for February 5t" City Council Meeting
Mr. Chesney said Chair Varonich will present the EAB (Environmental Advisory Board)
report to the Council on February 5, 2015. Board members were encouraged to attend.
It was suggested that report bullet points be distributed to the City Council before the
presentation. It was recommended the report include 1) Accomplishments: a) Council
approval of community gardens; b) Greenprint; and c) installation of Moccasin Lake Park
bird blind; 2) Unresolved issues: a) sand dune retention; b) Dark Skies initiative; c)
Clearwater's inclusion in Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail; d) promotion of solar
collectors and solar energy; e) reinstatement of State law allowing homeowners to sell
electricity to power companies; and f) Council direction to increase Moccasin Lake Park
staffing levels and days of operation; and 3) Wrap up with a) compliment Mayor's letter to
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Secretary; b) invite questions from Council; c)
request Council input re board efforts; and d) ask for Council direction.
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Members will forward information to Mr. Chesney re the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife
Trail and background support re Moccasin Lake Park recommendations. Mr. Chesney will
distribute the bullet points for board comment.
Member Sumerson moved to request that the City actively seek, through its lobbyist, to
restore rebates for solar collectors for residents of Florida, including Clearwater. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5 — Moccasin Lake Park discussion following new guidelines taking effect
Concerns were expressed that Moccasin Lake Park was limping along on a shoestring
budget and staff cuts hurt the City's only true nature park. It was stated weekly hours had
been reduced from 6 to 3, plus a half day staffed by volunteers. It was suggested the
Council should either approve adequate staffing levels to open the park 5 days per week,
with volunteers opening it on Sundays, or close the park. It was noted that improvement
plans will not increase City resident access to the park.
John Hood, M.D., president of Clearwater Audubon, reviewed the difficult process
stakeholders undertook to develop a 10-year master plan for Moccasin Lake Park. He said
since then, the City reassigned the park's maintenance staff to General Services and
relocated the other 2 staff members downtown while increasing their responsibilities. He
said a group of 7 rotating volunteers opened the park on Sundays and hosted
approximately 35 visitors. It was stated that volunteers wanted to tend the birds and fill
feeders, not staff the visitors' center.
Concern was expressed that the City often called volunteers to open the park and keep an
eye on it when staff members were not available. It was stated parks outside Clearwater
had higher staff numbers per acre and managed volunteers. Concern was expressed a
recent park event had no attendance because the City had not promoted it sufficiently. It
was reported that Parks & Recreation staff had told Moccasin Lake Park volunteers that
they should promote park events and hire and pay for a volunteer coordinator. It was
commented that the City was responsible for those tasks, not volunteers.
It was stated that Moccasin Lake Park staff appeared to be over extended and should not
have to call on volunteers constantly for help. In response to a recommendation that the
park should again have 3 FTEs (Full-Time Equivalents), it was suggested that the board
identify costs and necessary tasks related to the proposal. It was stated that extended
hours would increase resident use of the park.
Discussion ensued regarding marketing tools, including PSAs (Public Service
Announcements) in the Tampa Bay Times, Patch, and weekly newspapers and press
releases. It was noted that event information needs to be disseminated to residents and
tourists. Concern was expressed that summer events would be poorly promoted.
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6 — City Council Action on Climate Change
C.L. Townsend said he attended a City Council meeting in October to request support for
proposed EPA standards to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. It was noted 11
local Mayors had signed the letter supporting new EPA standards; Mayor Cretekos' letter
did not embrace new EPA standards but did support carbon reduction. Mr. Townsend
recommended that each community take action to reduce its carbon footprint. He hoped
two events hosted by TBRPC (Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council) and Homeland
Security will jumpstart a regional discussion and cooperation to develop plans re extreme
weather and sea level rise. It was stated the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager was a tool
to help governments and businesses reduce energy use.
Mr. Chesney reviewed the City's role in a multi -year pilot program for a community
resiliency initiative. Consultants will develop models and tools for communities to use to
reduce carbon and adapt to rising sea levels.
Items Not on Agenda
In response to a question, Mr. Chesney provided an update re distribution of BP funds
over the next 20 years. A water quality project for Coopers Point ranked first locally. The
Parks & Recreation Department applied for grant money to construct an observation tower
on Coopers Point and build a footbridge across the bayou for direct access. Concern was
expressed these City projects will impact Clearwater Christian College and it was
recommended that the City partner with the college to coordinate Coopers Point plans.
Mr. Chesney expressed concern that a proposal for residents to monitor water quality may
create problems. The City already monitors the water quality of the watershed by Moccasin
Lake. It was stated that verifying resident data would be impossible.
Concern was expressed that meetings of an ad hoc group re ULI (Urban Land Institute)
report at a law firm's offices were not open to the public.
7- Agenda for April 15, 2015 meeting
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
Attest: -' % hair
Environmental Advisory Board
Board Re
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