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10/27/1997NORTH GREENWOOD COMMUNITY TASK TEAM CITY OF CLEARWATER October 27, 1997 Present: Reverend William Graham Chair J. B. Johnson City Commissioner Bob Keller Assistant City Manager Miles Ballogg Environmental Specialist Economic Development Michael Holmes Assistant Economic Development Director Dan Mayer Research Environmentalist Brenda Moses Board Reporter Members of the Public Absent: MacArthur Boykins Team Member Dennis Golden Team Member Mayme Hodges Team Member David Grice Team Member Beverly Bryant Team Member Reverend Lucius Pitts, Jr. Team Member Mary Samuel Team Member Samuel Collie Team Member Tal Rutledge Team Member Bertha Kelley Team Member Joe Marshall Team Member The meeting was called to order by Reverend William Graham at 6:38 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center, 1201 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. To provide continuity, the items listed were not necessarily discussed in that order. Clearwater’s Brownfields Coordinator Miles Ballogg said this meeting was scheduled to discuss Clearwater’s Brownfields Pilot Project and its impact on economic development. He gave a slide presentation, identifying Brownfields boundaries, the number of potentially contaminated sites, types of contamination, program history, business incentives linked to job training programs, proposed environmental improvements including resources, redevelopment, and the importance of community involvement and input. In June 1996, the USEPA (U. S. Environmental Protection Agency) Region 4 selected Clearwater as a Regional Brownfields pilot project. As a result of that designation and passage of the State Brownfields Redevelopment Act, the City is eligible for a $500,000 State Brownfields Redevelopment Grant. Funding will be used for data collection, research, and redevelopment incentives. Mr. Ballogg distributed copies of the Brownfields Redevelopment Work Plan which provided descriptions of the uses of the grant funds, a budget with the timing of expenditures necessary to implement all work plan activities, performance standards, and measurable outcomes. Applications were distributed for Clearwater Brownfields Advisory Board positions. The City Commission will appoint Board members: 1) three shall be residents living within or adjacent to the Brownfields area; 2) three will own businesses operating in the proposed area and need not be City residents; and 3) three will represent Federal or State agencies or local governments involved with the Brownfields remediation process and need not be City residents. The Board will implement the public participation elements outlined in the Federal Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative Work Plan. In response to questions, Mr. Ballogg said public meetings will disperse information to the public regarding the Brownfields projects. Public participation and input will be encouraged. Mr. Ballogg noted the first Florida Brownfields Project Meeting is scheduled on November 3 and 4, 1997, at the Harborview Center. The City is sponsoring the meeting in cooperation with the FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. The public is encouraged to attend this meeting, community meetings, and share information pertaining to Brownfields issues with neighbors. Brownfields information will be available on the Internet. A quarterly newsletter is anticipated. Mr. Ballogg said residents are welcome to call him with questions. Concern was expressed that South and North Greenwood and downtown will not receive equal and fair consideration of Brownfields funds. Mr. Ballogg said all incentives are available to those areas. The City is asking for community participation to assist in defining market-ready sites. The degree of community support will largely determine success. Brownfields initiatives are an enhancement to already established redevelopment plans. Assistant City Manager Bob Keller noted specific sites in North Greenwood have been shown to potential investors to encourage development in the area. Reverend William Graham encouraged those interested in serving on the Brownfields Advisory Board to complete an application and return it to the City Clerk Department. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.