01/19/2022 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 19, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
4:00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Environmental Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 19, 2022
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Jared Leone, Vice Chair John Thomas, Board Member Marita
Lynch, Board Member Glenna Wentworth, and Board Member Sheila
Sullivan
Also Present - Sarah Kessler— Lead Environmental Specialist, 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.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes from October 20, 2021.
Member Lynch moved to approve minutes of the October 20, 2021
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: None
4. New Business Items
4.1 Presentation re sustainable direction & goals for Clearwater by Jon Jennings, City Manager
Lead Environmental Specialist Sarah Kessler said the City Manager was not
feeling well but planned to attend the next EAB (Environmental Advisory
Board) meeting. It was hoped the City Manager will suggest Board activities.
4.2 Presentation about Sierra Club's Ready for 100 by Dave Stillman, the Clean Energy
Committee Chair of the Suncoast Chapter of Sierra Club
Committee Chair of the Suncoast Chapter of the Sierra Club Dave Stillman
provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Ready for 100 campaign.
Pinellas County was the first Florida county to adopt a resolution to establish
goals to transition to renewable, zero-emission, clean energy use. He said
the cities of Dunedin, St. Petersburg, Largo, and Safety Harbor also had
committed to clean energy.
In response to questions, Mr. Stillman complimented Clearwater for
completing its GreenPrint, an important first step toward reducing energy use.
He said the Sierra Club was working with municipal sustainability directors to
implement clean energy plans based on best practices.
Discussion ensued with comments the EAB should advocate implementation
of every aspect of GreenPrint and actively encourage City action to meet
clean energy goals, improve efficiencies, increase City returns on investment
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Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 19, 2022
and support solar cooperatives.
Sustainability Coordinator Sheridan Boyle said GreenPrint is based on
2018 science, technological improvements continue to increase efficiencies.
The City's unique position owning a natural gas utility makes Ready for 100
conversations more complex. Legislation may impact the ability to implement
all GreenPrint goals. Clearwater is committed to energy efficiency, adopting
solar energy for municipal operations, and working to be a funding partner
with the solar cooperative. The City has created 2 new sustainability positions.
Concern was expressed that pending legislation, supported by utilities,
would halt net energy metering and undermine Florida's solar energy industry.
Mr. Stillman said legislation will not prevent the Ready for 100 campaign
from advancing. He said some states prohibit gas piping at new construction
sites to reduce natural gas use and its significant carbon footprint.
Ms. Kessler will check if Board Members affiliated with the Sierra Club
voting in support of the Ready for 100 Campaign would be conflict of interest.
Member Lynch moved to develop a resolution supporting the Ready for
100 Campaign to consider at the next meeting. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Presentation about sanitary sewer overflows and lateral infiltration by Michael Flanigan,
Public Utilities Assistant Director
Mr. Flanigan's presentation will include how the Public Utilities Department
reduces and eliminates SSO and initiatives from Tampa Bay Working Group.
Assistant Public Utilities Director Mike Flanigan provided a PowerPoint
presentation on SSOs (Sanitary Sewage Overflows) and lateral infiltration.
The City must report all spills. Expansion of the City's reclaimed water
system will help meet new FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental
Protection) criteria reducing nutrient discharges to surface water. The City
meets regulatory requirements.
In response to questions, Mr. Flanigan said cold weather impedes
dechlorinate processes at Marshall Street WRF (Water Reclamation Facility).
The City is installing monitors on some maintenance hole covers to monitor
sewer water flow and working with a consultant on a masterplan. A vapor,
resembling smoke, is released into the sewer system near suspected
breaches where rainwater might be infiltrating the system. Ms. Kessler said
City reclaimed water has less nitrogen than St. Petersburg.
It was suggested the City adopt an Ordinance requiring septic system
inspections to protect public health. St. Petersburg was complimented for its
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Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes January 19, 2022
septic system inspection program.
4.4 Presentation about the Green Fleet program by Perry Conzen, Fleet Manager
Ms. Boyle said the Green Fleet committee had its first meeting to target
GreenPrint and establish interim goals. Level 2 charging stations are critical.
The City Manager directed fleet to begin converting Parking and Code
Enforcement vehicles and wrapping the new hybrid vehicles for public
visibility. Tarpon Springs has reduced costs by leasing new electric vehicles
and taking advantage of the federal tax credit.
In response to questions, Ms. Boyle said a time frame has not been
established to convert beach vehicles to hybrids. Cost savings will differ by
operational need and vehicle type, goals are to save money and reduce
the City's carbon footprint. Heavy duty electric vehicles are not yet practical.
USF (University of South Florida) will calculate the City's CO2 savings.
4.5 Presentation on the update of the Solar Feasibility Study by Sheridan Boyle,
Sustainability Coordinator
Ms. Boyle said the Solar Feasibility Study was underway. The consultant
and staff have visited 10 facilities and analyzed each for EV charging needs,
return on investment, and roof size, material, age and solar panel capacity.
Energy efficiency programs will help reduce carbon. The study will report on
50 buildings by next month. When the grid is down, solar power cannot be
accessed, there will not be battery backup at this time.
Ms. Kessler will email members copies of the study.
Ms. Boyle said the City Council will reconsider a contract with Cenergistic in
February to reduce City energy use.
4.6 Elect Chair and Vice Chair
Member Thomas moved to reappoint Jared Leone as Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Chair Leone moved to reappoint John Thomas as Vice Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items
It was requested an item on the next agenda consider approval of a letter to
the City Council opposing the Clearwater Offshore Nationals annual
motorboat races being held during sea turtle nesting season.
Member Thomas expressed concern Imagine Clearwater events will
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Environmental Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes January 19, 2022
attract moored boats that will harm Intracoastal sea grass and seabeds. He
will meet with the Coast Guard re mooring restrictions near Imagine
Clearwater and submit to Ms. Kessler a draft letter to the City Council
referencing current Tampa Bay Estuary Program information for
consideration at the next EAB meeting.
Member Lynch volunteered to submit for board review a draft letter in
support of the Ready for 100 Campaign.
6. Director's Report
Ms. Kessler said updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan was on
hold. The City's herbicide application expert cannot attend Wednesday
meetings; either a special meeting can be scheduled or he could video tape
a presentation. She requested members forward ideas on how to best
receive this information. It was suggested the expert could address the
Board during a field trip to Moccasin Lake Nature Park.
Ms. Kessler requested members to forward her ideas on presenting their
concerns re sea grass near Imagine Clearwater and the boat races.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Member Wentworth said individual Board Members could provide input to
the City Council in support of a proposed contract to reduce City energy
costs.
Member Thomas requested information on a City -supported neighborhood
based Community Garden as recommended in GreenPrint; the Garden Club
manages a current garden.
Member Thomas said while the City is investing $800, 000 to repair 2
Clearwater Community Sailing Center docks, urgent efforts also are needed
to remove from the grounds multiple invasive species that propagate and
harm mangroves; Bay Park on Sand Key hosts similar invasive species. He
encouraged the Marriott Suites to remove Brazilian Peppers and other
invasive species from its property.
The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.
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City of Clearwater
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