05/23/2007
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 23rd, 2007
Present: D. Michael Flanery Chair
Sandra Jamieson Board Member
Joseph A. Calio Board Member
Richard Packman Board Member
Ron Gregory Board Member
Also Present: D. Scott Rice Asst. Director Engineering/Stormwater/Env.
Ed Chesney Environmental Manager
Laura Liipowski Asst. City Attorney 1
Veronica Josef Senior Staff Assistant
Martha Jane Williams Citizen
Approved
Items for the Council's attention
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The EAB requests that the City Council authorize staff to review the feasibility of developing an EAB
link/page on the city myclearwater.com website. The EAB sees the website as an opportunity to reach
citizens and the community, by posting environmental topics and programs.
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The EAB requests a member of City Council be appointed as our liaison.
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The EAB will concentrate on the "Conference of Mayors, Best Practices Guide" and develop a work
plan accordingly. Our focus areas under development are;
What citizens can do now
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Educating the community
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What the various City departments can do with EAB suggestions and insight.
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The Chair Mike Flanery called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the MSB Building, Conference Room # 130.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order.
The Chair welcomed the new EAB Board Member Richard Packman.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 21ST, 2007
Chair Mike Flanery moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 21, 2007, as
submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Citizen Ms. Martha Jane Williams, resident of Clearwater had concerns about litter and vegetation in
local water ways in Clearwater for the following areas:
• Maple Swamp (Lakeview and Hercules)
Trash and plastic are accumulating especially volley and soccer balls from activities
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upstream.
Aquatic weeds clogging the waterways and boat access. (Kayaks, canoes, john
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boats) cannot maneuver this location to access the trash.
Environmental Advisory 2007-May, 23rd 1
• New Glen Oaks Park (between Court and Druid)
• Kapok Park (off McMullen Booth Road)
• Stevenson Creek (Clearwater Country Club Golf Course to the estuary)
• Allen’s Creek (Evergreen Farm property)
• Crest Lake at Crest Lake Park
Citizen Ms. Martha Jane Williams inquired:
- At Park sites if Parks & Recreation is only responsible for trash pickup down to the water
line, who cleans up what is in the water ?
- If someone could be assigned for the trash pickup in waterways within the city, and have a
city contact to call ?
- Need for a contact person who would assist / coordinate in organizing on-going cleanups by
local environmental and sporting groups.
t what point is a clean up necessary or becomes a priority ?
- A
- Is Maple Swamp a joint partnership between County and the City of Clearwater ?
Citizen Ms. Martha Jane Williams reported that:
- There are various environmental and sporting groups who would sponsor periodic cleanups
using kayaks and occasionally john boats.
- Keep Pinellas Beautiful help organize cleanups and also provide john boats, long reach
grippers, garbage bags and will haul away the collected materials.
- Was advised by Public Works, that City crews responds when debris obstructs the flow.
Environmental Manager Ed Chesney stated that the City organizes voluntary efforts for coastal
cleanup activities usually in the fall. The contact person will be Karen Maldonado @ 727-562-4036 of
Parks & Recreation, who coordinates the coastal cleanup activities and provides trash bags and
gloves for cleanups.
Ed Chesney also stated that he will get more information who owns
Environmental Manager
Maple Swamp and who maintains the system.
3. COMMENTS FROM MAY 3RD CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Chair Mike Flanery gave brief updates on the comments from the May 3rd Council Meeting:
- EAB to develop a work plan that indicates specific topics, concepts & ideas.
- EAB would like a Liason with the Council so that we are aware if we are on track with what the
Council wants us to do.
- Wanted the minutes to highlight topics, conclusions, comments, suggestions and summary
actions. These highlights will be found at the beginning of the minutes.
Environmental Advisory 2007-May, 23rd 2
4. DEVELOP WORK PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR (2007 / 2008)
Concerns were expressed and discussed by the Chair and Board Members to develop a work plan for
the upcoming year 2007 / 2008 on specific topics to include the following:
Board Member Ron Gregory suggested the following:
- To formulate Greens Policy or Green Movement Evaluation
> Welfare and health of the City
- Consider Energy Efficiency program for the City
> Inquire from the City’s key departments on the efforts currently in use and what
additionally can be done to save money, resources and reduce pollution.
> Produce an end of the year report to the City Council on the energy efficiency
status of the City.
- Gas Incentive Program – City’s Natural Gas Systems
City’s Gas Department could offer incentives to customers to convert from electric
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water heaters to On Demand Systems or natural gas.
In line water heating systems can be located outside the house which is easy to
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service and hook up.
- Webpage
> What can be done to structure and update a website efficiently
Board Member Joseph Calio had three major concerns :
- What citizens can do immediately
> Switch to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
> Low flow toilets and shower heads
> Replacing Hot Water Heaters
> Fixing leaky faucets
- What citizens can do with education
> Website Postings
- What the City can do and has done
> Use LED for traffic lights (to date 62% changed to LED)
> Aggregate Recycling (asphalts from City road projects)
Retrofit Lights at Library and Fire Stations
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Environmental Manager Ed Chesney stated that the board should first ask the City Council for an
environmental page on the website and direct IT to help develop. Ed Chesney will coordinate and get
more information from the IT and will then advise the board members how to proceed.
Environmental Advisory 2007-May, 23rd 3
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Chair Mike Flanery reported concerns on:
Greens capability of the City
> Green Business Certification Program - A partnership pf environmental agencies and
utilities that assist, recognizes and promotes businesses and government agencies
that volunteer to operate in a more environmentally responsible way.
Website
~ Utilize the website and to have an environmental section webpage
~ Green Map System participation through website that is locally adaptable.
Board Member Jamieson expressed concerns on a "Greens Building Policy"
New developments will have huge impacts on the environment and increase water usage. She
recommended that the City encourage the use of "green" processes in new development and
the City to consider ways to create a more environmentally friendly community.
Asst. Citv Attornev 1 - Laura Lipowski advised the board to organize and outline a list of and specific
topics and objectives for the City Council who will prioritize the list of items and give direction to the
EAB board.
5. ESTABLISH AGENDA
1. Develop a Work Plan
June 2007 - Website Development
July 2007 - Energy Efficiency Program
August - December: To be determined
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The EAB will meet on June 20, 2007 at 4:00 p.m.
Chair
Environmental Advisory Board
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Environmental Advisory 2007.May, 23rd
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