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05/27/1999 - Brownfields Redevelopment Community MeetingENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTION PLAN FOR BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER May 27, 1999 Present: Renu Khator University of South Florida Richard Gragg Florida A&M University Also Present: Tom Miller Assistant Director Engineering/PD&E Miles Ballogg Economic Development Program Manager Tom Mudano Neighborhood Services Manager Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #1 - Welcome Renu Khator, University of South Florida, reviewed the history of Brownfields. The research team needs community input so that projects reflect neighborhood concerns and goals. The master list of 40 issues of concern developed from community input at the February 4, 1999 meeting was divided into categories: 1) community awareness of Brownfields; 2) access to information; 3) development of a participatory decision making process; 4) specific community development issues; and 5) specific environmental issues. She encouraged residents to join and participate in the action team. ITEM #2 – Development of Brownfields Module a). Presentation of site histories: 1a) 1425 South Fort Harrison Avenue Lois Cormier reported Sweat’s Florist currently operates on the property. A vacant building on the property is in poor shape. Previously, a dry cleaners/laundry and pest control business operated onsite. Site problems include groundwater contamination and a concentration of pesticides. She said corrective action is recommended. The owner has declared bankruptcy. Ms. Cormier said few people understand the flyers being distributed related to Brownfields. Economic Development Program Manager Miles Ballogg said the site has been screened to determine the level of groundwater contamination. As the current owner did not cause the contamination, the site may qualify for a State funded clean-up. A copy of the site report is available. 2a) 1108 North Greenwood Avenue Muhammad Abdur-Rahim said houses occupied the site in the 1920s. In the early 1930s, a home was converted to a convenience store, which sold kerosene and gasoline. A gasoline station and garage operated on the site beginning in the early 1940s. He recommended monitoring wells be used to assess contamination levels. The location of the previous tanks has the highest levels of contamination, with ground closer to LaSalle being cleaner. Mr. Ballogg said the City had removed the tanks. The removal of a septic tank and soil is planned. More assessment of the groundwater is needed. Redevelopment plans for the site include the North Greenwood Family Community Center. 3a) IMR Global (Cleveland Street) Mike Flanery, of IMR, presented a slide show of the site. The Health Department has oversight of the clean-up work on site. Monitoring the site will continue. Bonnie Bergen, geologist with IMR, reviewed Clearwater’s history and past uses of the site which included a public school, church, and cemetery. Commercial enterprises, which began onsite in the 1950s, included Anthony distribution, Montgomery Wards, automobile dealers, and automobile painting. Verbal input is necessary when tracking parcel history. The underground storage tanks have been removed and remedial actions performed. In response to a question, Assistant Director Engineering/PD&E Tom Miller said the church had moved the graveyard in the 1960s. Some Brownfields funds were used to clean up the site at a cost of approximately $800,000. Ongoing monitoring of possible off-site migration costs approximately $30,000 annually. Remaining contamination is expected to naturally attenuate over time. If migration should occur, the State would require more mitigation work be done at City expense. b). Discussion on content Dr. Khator said IMR’s move Downtown will provide the City with economic benefits. Richard Gragg, Florida A&M University, reviewed the purpose of researching property histories. The community needs information regarding sites in their neighborhoods. He encouraged residents to research the past uses of other properties. Environmental Justice is linked to Brownfields and how communities are affected by contamination, loss of jobs, and potential health effects. Revitalization will occur with the development of small business and jobs. Community involvement in the process is mandatory. Dr. Khator encouraged members to join an advisory board that meets bimonthly. She reviewed methods used to communicate with the community. Mr. Ballogg said events attended by large numbers of people attract media coverage. c). Discussion on delivery AND d). Follow-up Report Mr. Ballogg reviewed City projects including removal of the fuel tanks at 1108 North Greenwood Avenue, in-fill housing, small business help, construction of townhomes on South Greenwood, and partnering with Career Options to train residents as environmental technicians. Area residents also are needed to represent the community for the Enterprise Zone. He reported a $500,000 revolving loan at low interest rates will be available for contamination clean-up. Also a Weed & Seed CAN-DO matching grants program has been announced. It was stated a history of the area is needed. Some local industries had recycled slag in the past. ITEM #3 – Stevenson’s Creek a). Presentation AND b). Discussion. Development has occurred all around Stevenson’s Creek. The creek is in bad shape due to mismanagement. Odors are caused by debris forming sediment on the creek’s floor. Although the City does not have the $7-million estimated cost to clean the creek, it has earmarked $2.5-million toward the project. State legislation for an additional $1.5-million in funding awaits the governor’s signature. The Army Corps of Engineers has offered to fund $75,000 in preliminary work. The City is applying for additional grants. Several clean-up options are under review. A sustainable environment requiring little maintenance would be ideal and require a complete watershed management plan with restoration dredging. Mr. Miller reviewed watershed planning and problems related to Stevenson’s Creek. Source control of contaminants would be most effective. Seasonal and tidal odor problems are more severe in the summer. After City dredging in the past, developers constructed homes on the fill. Upstream erosion and the loss of impervious land in the basin have increased problems. Previous attempts to hardline portions of the creek increased water velocities and flooding in the southern portion of the 6,000-acre basin. Materials, such as grass clippings, are deposited in the lower estuary resulting in large thick pockets of organic material. Untreated stormwater and inappropriate disposal of waste contribute to the problem. Pollution problems are generated throughout the basin. Dredging would require multiple permits from a variety of State and local agencies. A feasibility study is necessary to identify where the approximately 80,000 cubic yards of dredged materials would be transported. The project must provide a solution to future pollution problems. Not all agencies agree dredging is the solution. The organic substances are neither hazardous nor toxic. Approval of a watershed development program requires strong public support and input. Dr. Khator said studies for complex projects, such as Stevenson’s Creek dredging, are essential for regulatory agency and community support. She recommended the community become partners in the project. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said more information on funding issues will be available in June. He estimated the 12 - 18 month study will determine the preferred project. Dr. Khator recommended a community/City partnership work together to attract funding and decide on a project plan. Meaningful participation by the community is necessary. In response to a question, Mr. Miller said water discharged from the Advance Water Treatment Plant is of near drinkable quality and meets Florida requirements. Freshwater from the plant has helped improve the estuary’s cleanliness. The City is working with the Federal government regarding stormwater flow to Stevenson’s Creek and Clearwater Harbor. ITEM #4 – Other Business a). Upcoming events AND b). Survey AND c) Other These items were discussed informally while refreshments were served. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.