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10/26/2019 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 16, 2019 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m ap ® e Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 16, 2019 4:00 PM Main Library - Council Chambers Environmental Advisory Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 16, 2019 Roll Call Present 4 - Chair Jared Leone, Vice Chair John Thomas, Board Member Mark Wright, and Board Member Ashley Wilson Pimley Absent 1 - Board Member Candace Gardner Also Present - Sarah Kessler— Environmental Specialist 111, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter 1. Call To Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Main Library. 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 July 17, 2019 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes. Member Wright moved to approve minutes of the July 17, 2019 Environmental Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda Mayoral candidate Elizabeth Drayer supported the EAB (Environmental Advisory Board) having veto power over CDB (Community Development Board) decisions, stating staff analyses of environmental impacts were insufficient. She requested the Board recommend processes and criteria for members to best determine if projects were environmentally sound. Discussion ensued with comments that the Planning and Development process for projects needed a set series of environmental reviews and City Clerk input was necessary before the EAB considered new responsibilities. It was suggested the Chair add this to the Board's yearend recommendations to Council. Brian Beckman reported during its workshop, the Pinellas County School Board had supported 2 new sustainability positions. He said sustainability positions were being added countywide. He thanked local leadership for collaborating on the nationwide Ready for 100 transition to 100% clean renewable energy. Glenna Wentworth invited residents to attend the 1st sustainability conference at 9:00 a.m. on October 19, 2019 at Ross Norton Recreation Center. 4. New Business Items Page 2 City of Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 16, 2019 4.1 Presentation of Crest Lake Park Improvements by Kevin Dunbar, Parks & Recreation Director, and Matt Anderson, Landscape Manager Landscape Manager Matt Anderson reviewed his tree inventory of Crest Lake Park where he assessed the root systems and overall health of 646 trees; he rated 142 trees as 3 or less (hazardous). A total of 155 trees were scheduled for removal, including 13 healthy trees for new structures, he hoped 6 of the healthy trees could be transplanted. At the completion of park improvements, the City will plant more than 200 trees representing 83 native species. An arboretum will provide residents an opportunity to view mature trees grouped with similar species and marked with hurricane ratings before choosing trees for home landscaping. With the help of the Audubon Society, outboxes will be installed for owls displaced by the hazardous tree removals. Direct stormwater flow into the pond will be modified via rain garden filtration to remove debris and heavy metals before reaching the pond. In response to questions, Mr. Anderson said the size and species of hazardous trees varied, the majority were laurel oaks which had short life spans. Invasive species also were removed. Replacement trees will be purchased from nurseries and meet Code and State standards, most will be 4 to 5 years old. Discussion ensued with compliments expressed re the educational aspects of the arboretum which will attract visitors. In response to a compliment re City efforts planting trees at Cliff Stephens Park, Mr. Anderson said left over trees from annual tree giveaways were planted there to enhance the City's canopy. Plantings of younger trees grew larger with less water than planted older trees. In response to a suggestion that the City plant trees with edible fruit, Mr. Anderson said the City did not plant citrus trees as they were affected by quickly spreading diseases. He will forward a list of tree and bush species the City will plant to Environmental Specialist Sarah Kessler for distribution to Board members. In response to questions, Parks & Recreation Department Director Kevin Dunbar said in 2013 the City began meeting with the Crest Lake neighborhood to develop the park's design, which now was at 90% completion. He anticipated construction would begin by February 2020. The legacy project was funded by the BP settlement. The entire park will be closed during construction. 4.2 Presentation about the Stormwater Utility Fee by Roger Johnson, Stormwater Engineering Manager Page 3 City of Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 16, 2019 Stormwater Engineering Manager Roger Johnson provided a PowerPoint presentation re the Stormwater Utility Fee which was based on ERUs (Equivalent Residential Units), commercial property fees were based on square-footage of impervious land. Stormwater funds were used to protect and improve water quality, provide flood protection, sweep streets, engineering support, oversight of utility company and contractor activities in rights-of-way, new development stormwater system inspections, solutions for new development impacts, verification of adherence to local and state permit requirements, and the maintenance and repair of pipes. During the past 20 years, the City has followed its watershed master plans for stormwater projects. Rate studies were done annually. He did not anticipate rate reductions but estimated nearby municipality rates would exceed Clearwater's due to their delayed efforts in addressing stormwater. Mr. Johnson discussed the Coopers Bayou Master Plan to improve poor water quality. Ms. Kessler will issue a RFP (Request for Proposals) for a firm to prepare design plans. Mr. Johnson said the Glen Oaks project allowed all upstream projects to be done. The Hillcrest bypass culvert project was half completed, he did not anticipate the culvert would ever fill. When finished, the Druid Road/Allen's Creek project will improve water quality and provide water treatment and flood protection. The City was working with Pinellas County on the Lower Spring Branch project along Sunset Point Road between Springtime and Overbrook avenues, designs were 50% - 60% completed. Grant funding required proof of water quality improvements. Concern was expressed the Hillcrest bypass culvert may pose safety hazards to children and animals if it is not fenced. In response to a question, Mr. Johnson said a dedicated crew maintained ditches and culverts on City property. The County maintained its land. Homeowners and/or HOAs were responsible for private property. It was commented that crediting construction efforts to decrease stormwater runoff would encourage project engineering solutions. Mr. Johnson said commercial stormwater fees were not affected by groundwater recharge efforts. The City was open to discussion re redevelopment credits for new technology and maintenance proposals for reducing impervious areas. Concern was expressed that owners of properties removed from the flood plain continued to pay for flood insurance when FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) maps were not updated, it was recommended all stormwater projects incorporate FEMA map updates. Mr. Johnson said the City worked with FEMA to adjust flood maps when all projects in a watershed were completed. Ms. Kessler said the City had undertaken a multiyear effort to complete required engineering work and apply to update FEMA's flood map affecting properties near Alligator Creek. Page 4 City of Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 16, 2019 The Stevenson Creek project neared completion. In response to questions, Mr. Johnson said Stormwater was not directly responsible for the sanitary system or Marshall Street Wastewater Treatment Plant. City projects installed seals if pipes or manhole covers were leaking and smoke tested lines. Leaking stormwater pipes were lined with polyester in low traffic areas but typically concrete replacements were installed, the City was open to new products. The City was complimented for Alligator Creek, Kapok Park, and Glen Oaks improvements. A resident congratulated the City for avoiding sewage overflow. In response to a question, Mr. Johnson said Nova Southeastern University's Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine was a self-sufficient unit with its own sanitary system, no discharges had occurred. He did not know if wildlife was being monitored. 4.3 Prepare for presentation Environmental Advisory Board presentation to City Council in December by Board Members The Chair will present the Board's annual report to the City Council at 6:00 p.m. on December 5, 2019. The Chair reviewed his notes, including septic tanks, single use plastics, etc. Members recommended requesting direction re EAB review of new construction projects (preferably at the 60% phase), encourage the City to modify Code to adopt green design initiatives, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria, and solar for new construction, focus on wildlife habitat and green spaces, consider transportation effects on air and water quality, adopt requirements for special event permits that prohibit single use plastic and Styrofoam and increase recycling requirements, a pilot project solar canopy over beach parking, and installing solar on parking structures. A resident supported the City requiring new construction to incorporate LEED Standards and expressed concerns no City buildings featured solar panels. 5. Old Business Item: None. 6. Director's Report 2020 meetings were scheduled for January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 21 at 4:00 p.m. at Council Chambers in the Main Library. Ms. Kessler said she would schedule speakers to provide information on eliminating single use plastics and report on local municipality environmental Page 5 City of Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board practices. Meeting Minutes October 16, 2019 A status update was requested on littering, if the revenue stream for littering fines was increasing or decreasing, and a recommendation that City publications emphasize that cigarette butts were trash, subject to littering fines. 7. Board Members to be Heard 8. Adjourn Chair Leone reviewed recent and upcoming events, expressed concern re significant amounts of trash that volunteers picked up from City beaches, and complimented the Mayor for joining the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, a group representing 427 cities. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. r vironment Page 6 City of Clearwater