08/17/2022 Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 17, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
4:00 PM
Special Meeting
Main Library - Council Chambers
Environmental Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 17, 2022
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Jared Leone, Board Member Marita Lynch, Board Member
Glenna Wentworth, and Board Member Sheila Sullivan
Absent 1 - Vice Chair John Thomas
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 and
read the Environmental Advisory Board's mission statement.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes from April 20, 2022.
In response to a question, Lead Environmental Specialist Sarah Kessler said
the agenda cannot list the board's mission statement. She will verify that the
mission statement is on the web site. Consensus was for the Chair to read
the mission statement at the beginning of each meeting: minutes are not a
verbatim record.
Member Lynch moved to approve minutes of the April 20, 2022
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 Sustainability update from Melody Yin, Sustainability Specialist
new and ongoing initiatives throughout the city.
Sustainability Specialist Melody Yin reviewed updates to the 2018 gas
inventory, the City will continue to monitor. City facility operations, fleet and
employee commutes produce 5.9% of community greenhouse gas
emissions in Clearwater. Cenergistic established a base line of energy use
at 17 City facilities and reduced thermostats to meet the energy policy
approved by the City Manager.
Ms. Yin said from mid-September through mid- December, Pinellas County
residents can purchase discounted volts through theSolarUnitedNeighbors
co-op. The City will promote the discount.
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City of Clearwater
Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 17, 2022
Ms. Yin said the City Council had approved a grant and matching some
costs to conduct a community vulnerability assessment via the Atkins
simulator. Ms. Kessler said Public Utilities and the City's consultant will
develop a master plan. Staff anticipates the simulator will be programmed by
2024/25 to analyze City facility resilience to vulnerabilities and assess future
projects.
Ms. Yin said Congressman Crist's sponsored grant of almost$1 million will
be used to install solar panels on 5 City facilities in 2023. The City was
preparing to replace the Garden Avenue Garage charging station. Other
charging station locations were under discussion.
Ms. Yin said she had coordinated sustainable educational outreach events
such as the Moccasin Lake Nature Park 40th anniversary celebration, the
North Greenwood Recreation Center Back-To-School bash, an EV(Electric
Vehicle) test drive event, an employee Lunch and Learn, and weekly library
summer programming. Future collaboration with other departments was
planned.
In response to questions, Ms. Yin said Cenergistic had reduced energy use
at some City facilities when they are not in use. Upon completion of the solar
feasibility report, facilities targeted for solar panels will be identified. Ms.
Kessler said the new beach fire station will feature solar panels but it was
not included in the solar assessment. In response to a question about
Chamber's chilly temperature, Ms. Yin said the library was included in
temperature adjustments.
Bryan Beckman highlighted City strides toward meeting its renewable
energy goals, including plans for more than 200 solar panels at Imagine
Clearwater. He said with Cenergistic's help, the City already is realizing 25%
of its goal for energy savings. He encouraged the board to schedule a
presentation on the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) which will help Clearwater
reach its GreenPrint goals. He said it was important for the City to inform the
community re IRA benefits
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Review information from Florida Department of Environmental Protection about seagrass
in Clearwater Harbor; John Thomas, Board Member
Ms. Kessler said Member Thomas had sent FDEP (Florida Department of
Environmental Protection) seagrass information and a letter he had drafted
for City Council.
Consensus was to continue the item to the next meeting when Mr. Thomas
is present.
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City of Clearwater
Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes August 17, 2022
5.2 Review Ready for 100 presentation for City Council; Marita Lynch, Board Member
Member Lynch said in April the Board approved a Resolution for Ready for
100. Accompanied by a community member, she said she spoke with 3
Councilmembers. She said the resolution commits the City to mitigate
climate change by a specific deadline. She previewed the presentation she
developed for City Council.
It was recommended the presentation: 1) clarify that Ready for 100
complements GreenPrint goals; 2) renewable energy is necessary to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and 3) recommend the City use energy savings
to finance a green investment fund.
In response to a question, Ms. Yin said Ready for 100 only considers EV
(Electric Vehicle) transportation. The City signed paperwork to participate in
Duke Energy's solar savings program. Cenergistic is monitoring City energy
use but is not charged with defining infrastructure goals.
5.3 Review Ready for 100 Resolution; Marita Lynch, Board Member
Scrivener and formatting errors were noted.
6. Director's Report
Ms. Kessler referenced the October meeting, stating she will: 1) verify that
the board's Mission Statement is on the website; 2) schedule a presentation
on the solar feasibility study if it is completed, 3) contact a speaker re
Pinellas County's planning initiative for its Solid Waste program, 4) try to
arrange a speaker on the IRA, 5) agenda Member Thomas'letter re
seagrass beds, 6) reach out again to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
requesting a presentation on sea turtles, and 6) agenda preparation for the
annual City Council report outlining this year's Board accomplishments. She
requested Board members email her with agenda additions at least 45 days
prior to the next meeting.
It was recommended the Board's presentation be scheduled for November.
Ms. Kessler will try to coordinate Member Lynch's Ready for 100
presentation with the City Council's ability to vote on it.
Ms. Kessler reported staff will represent her at the Board's October meeting,
which she cannot attend.
Discussion ensued and consensus was to cancel and reschedule the
October meeting
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City of Clearwater
Environmental Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes August 17, 2022
In response to a question, Ms. Kessler recommended the Chair forward his
letter re Super Boat Races to the City Clerk to pass on to City Council.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Board members reviewed recent and upcoming events. Citizens were
encouraged to view SolarUnitedNeighbors webinars online and work with
the nonprofit for their solar needs. Positive past experiences were shared. A
sustainability conference is planned in the spring. The City was encouraged
to ban cigarettes on City beaches.
The meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
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City of Clearwater