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12/06/2007 , (. ~L~.r r.'1~ A.~\.' . .>~ ~, ..":-:k::' ._ C:i, '.~'~JM:<c ,="". ..... :~ -. . ..... '~~ i"r':\ - ..: .:..::... A~ ~ii::~".'."" .; .,~~ '?4TE~~ City Council Agenda Location: Council Chambers - City Hall Date: 12/6/2007- 6 :00 PM Welcome. We are glad to have you join us. If you wish to speak, please wait to be recognized, then state your name and address. Persons speaking before the City Council shall be limited to three (3) minutes unless otherwise noted under Public Hearings. For other than Citizens to be heard regarding items not on the Agenda, a spokesperson for a group may speak for three (3) minutes plus an additional minute for each person in the audience that waives their right to speak, up to a maximum of ten (10) minutes. Prior to the item being presented, please obtain the needed form to designate a spokesperson from the City Clerk (right-hand side of dais). Up to thirty minutes of public comment will be allowed for an agenda item. No person shall speak more than once on the same subject unless granted permission by the City Council. The City of Clearwater strongly supports and fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please advise us at least 48 hours prior to the meeting if you require special accommodations at 727-562-4090. Assisted Listening Devices are available. Kindly refrain from using beepers, cellular telephones and other distracting devices during the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Presentations 4.1 Going for Green, Enhancing Environmental Sustainability in Clearwater - USF Students @) Attachments 4.2 Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day Certificates - Bob Swick. Certificates to be presented to City Manager, Mayor, and Council. @) Attachments 4.3 We Care Fund - Jim Geary @) Attachments 4.4 Turkey Trot - Kevin Dunbar, Parks and Recreation @) Attachments 4.5 State of the City Presentation @) Attachments 5. Approval of Minutes 5.1 Approve the minutes of the October 1,2007 Special Meeting and the November 15,2007 City Council Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. @) Attachments 6. Citizens to be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda Public Hearings - Not before 6:00 PM 7.Administrative Public Hearings - Presentation of issues by City staff - Statement of case by applicant or representative (5 min.) - Council questions - Comments in support or opposition (3 min. per speaker or 10 min maximum as spokesperson for others that have waived their time) - Council questions - Final rebuttal by applicant or representative (5 min.) - Council disposition 7.1 Approve the City of Clearwater FY 2006-2007 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) I@l Attachments 8. Second Readings - Public Hearing 8.1 Adopt Ordinance 7887-07 on second reading, annexing certain real property whose post office address is 1474 Sandy Lane together with the abutting right of way, into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include said addition. @) Attachments 8.2 Adopt Ordinance 7888-07 on second reading, amending the future land use plan element of the Comprehensive Plan of the city to designate the land use for certain real property whose post office address is 1474 Sandy Lane, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Residential Urban. @) Attachments 8.3 Adopt Ordinance 7889-07 on second reading, amending the Zoning Atlas of the city by zoning certain real property whose post office address is 1474 Sandy Lane, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR). @) Attachments 8.4 Adopt Ordinance 7893-07 on second reading, annexing certain real property whose post office address is 1404 Satsuma Street, into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include said addition. @) Attachments 8.5 Adopt Ordinance 7894-07 on second reading, amending the future land use plan element of the Comprehensive Plan of the city to designate the land use for certain real property whose post office address is 1404 Satsuma Street, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Residential Low. @) Attachments 8.6 Adopt Ordinance 7895-07 on second reading, amending the Zoning Atlas of the city by zoning certain real property whose post office address is 1404 Satsuma Street, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR). I@l Attachments 8.7 Adopt Ordinance 7896-07 on second reading, vacating the 30 foot right of way of Hart Street lying between Block 3, Jones Subdivision of Nicholson's Addition to Clearwater Harbor and Block 3, Hart's Second Addition to the Town of Clearwater, subject to a drainage and utility easement which is retained over the full width thereof. I@l Attachments 8.8 Adopt Ordinance 7899-07 on second reading, amending Chapter 33, Section 33.028, Code of Ordinances, relating to rental charges to include market surveys of local area marinas, not just municipal marinas when comparing rates. I@l Attachments 8.9 Continue to January 17,2007 second reading of Ordinance No. 7835-07, making amendments to the Community Development Code by amending Article 2, Zoning Districts; amending Article 3, Development Standards; amending Article 4, Development Review and Other Procedures; Amending Article 8, Definitions and Rules of Construction. I@l Attachments City Manager Reports 9. Consent Agenda 9.1 Appoint Dan Carpenter to fill Frederick I. Ziegler's remaining two year term as a Trustee of the Clearwater Firefighters' Supplemental Trust Fund in accordance with Sec. 175.061 of the Florida State Statutes. (consent) @l Attachments 9.2 Approve participation by the Clearwater Public Library System in the new county-wide Library Automation System to be managed by the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, approve the Hosting Agreement and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent) @l Attachments 9.3 Approve renewal of a three year lease agreement between the City of Clearwater and the Civil Air Patrol SER FL153, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, for use of City property at the Clearwater Airpark, 1000 N. Hercules Avenue, Clearwater in consideration of one dollar ($1.00)and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent) @l Attachments 9.4 Approve acceptance of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) vehicle that will be purchased by the City of Tampa through its Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. (consent) I@l Attachments 9.5 Approve a contract (purchase order) for $116,450.00 to Broyhill Inc. of Dakota City, NE for the purchase of one new Broyhill Load-N-Pack Model 80-HD Refuse Collection Vehicle in accordance with Sec. 2.564 (l)(d), Code of Ordinances, authorize lease purchase under the City's Master Lease Purchase Agreement and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent) @l Attachments 9.6 Reappoint J an Regulski and appoint Elizabeth O'Brien to the Library Advisory Board with the term expiring on December 31, 2011. (consent) I@l Attachments 9.7 Appoint Herbert W. LcLachlan as the citizen representative to the Pension Investment Committee for a two year term. (consent) @l Attachments 9.8 Reappoint Linda S. Damsky and Robert A. Freedman to the Sister Cities Advisory Board with the term expiring on December 31, 2011. (consent) I@l Attachments Miscellaneous Reports and Items 10. City Attorney Reports 10.1 Adopt Resolution 07-33, requiring members of the Clearwater Housing Authority to file Financial Disclosure statements under Section 112.3144, Florida Statutes. @l Attachments 11. City Manager Verbal Reports 11.1 City Manager Verbal Reports @l Attachments 12. Council Discussion Items 12.1 Traffic Mini-Circle at Grove and Lake @l Attachments 13. Other Council Action 13.1 Marine Aquarium Funding Request @l Attachments 14. Adjourn City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Going for Green, Enhancing Environmental Sustainability in Clearwater - USF Students SUMMARY: Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Enhancing Urban Sustainability in Clearwater, Florida CLEARVVATER R[ C E N ~ L:\lI\'l-JZSrry C)F L!!aJ.II Sl_'HJTII fLl JRIL\A Edited and Introduction by Robert Brinkmann Chapters by Josh Birky John Connaughton Margaret Embry Johan Gonzalez Michelle Harmling Sandra Kling Nick Noreika Jack O'Connor Sarah Schlosser-Kelly Danielle Sobczak Barbara Stalbird Naimish Upadhyay lfetayo Venner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table of Contents Introduction by Robert Brinkmann .........................................................1 Part I. Green Cities Initiatives Chapter 1 Inventory of the Sustainable Initiatives of the City of Clearwater by:N aimish Upadhyay ............................................................................4 Chapter 2 Florida Green City Certification: initial assessment by: Sarah Schlosser-Kelly.......................................................................... .11 Chapter 3 Stakeholder Engagement Report by: Sandra Kling.........................21 Chapter 4 The Role of Education in the Goal of Sustain ability by: Barbara Stall>irci.............................................................................................32 Part II. Innovative New Projects Chapter 4. The Clearwater Solar Park by: Margaret Embry...........................42 Chapter 5. Clearwater Community Garden Initiative by: Josh Birky................52 Chapter 6. Adopt-A-Pond by: Michelle Harmeling.......................................61 Chapter 7. Sustainable Wastewater Residuals Treatment by: Nick Noreika........71 Part III. Transportation Chapter 8. Analysis of Vehicle Ecology and Economics by: John Connaughton....82 Chapter 9. Sustainable Options for Travelers to Clearwater by: Johan Gonzalez...93 Chapter 10. A Bicycle Sharing Program for the City of Clearwater: getting people out oftheir cars and into a greener city by: Danielle Sobczak..........................l04 Part IV. Energy and Buildings Chapter 11. Energy Management by: Ifetayo Venner...................................114 Chapter 12. Sustainable Building Initatives by: Jack O'Connor......................124 Summary. Robert Brinkmann..... ......... ....................... ..... ......... ......... ....135 Appendices-in enclosed CD or following the last page within the PDF version. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction In the summer of 2007, I was contacted by members of the Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) to ascertain whether or not there was any interest on the part of the Department of Geography and the Environmental Science and Policy Program to partner on a review of how Clearwater can move ahead in green initiatives. The Board brought to my attention the Mayor's commitment to the Governor's initiative on climate change, the Council of Mayor's statement on climate protection, and the city's overall strong record on environmental issues, particularly storm water. The timing was perfect. The University of South Florida was recently ranked as one of eight public universities in the United States by the Carnegie Foundation as "Engaged" with its community. Our Department, which includes Geography, Environmental Science and Policy, and Urban and Regional Planning undergraduate and graduate programs, is very active with community projects. Thus, this project is a perfect example of the type of partnerships that can exist between a university and a community. I want to stress the importance of this project to the future of Florida. Our state is at a crossroads. The impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world. With much of our state at risk from sea level rise, we need to pay close attention to how we can make our state more sustainable. In this technical report, you will find the work completed by thirteen graduate students over the course of one semester who were given the task of looking at Clearwater within the context of urban sustainability. Each student prepared three proposals for research that were shared with the EAB and some city employees for review. Comments were returned to me for review and I selected one project for each student. The final reports of their work are divided into four sections. Part I focuses on where the City is in its green initiatives. Three of these four papers examine what the city has done, what needs to be done to achieve' green city' status, and on the ideas of stakeholders. The fourth paper focuses on sustainability education within the city. The student who wrote this report also produced six short sustainability videos that will be seen on Seaview, Clearwater's public education channel. Part II focuses on innovative new sustainability projects the city could undertake to move forward as a green city. Many cities across the country have done amazing things with urban sustainability and these projects provide some ideas for city leaders. Students examined the development of a solar energy park, innovative approaches to manage sewage, the development of community gardens, and an adopt-a pond program to promote storm water and ecosystem improvement. Part III focuses on a perennial problem in urban sustainability-transportation. In this section, one paper examines various electronic car fleet alternatives, including low speed vehicles and hybrids; another paper examines how to reduce the amount of carbon 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . produced to get tourists from airports to the beaches; and the final paper focuses on how Clearwater can reduce cars in tourist areas through a bike rental program. Finally, Part IV examines energy reduction and green buildings. One paper examines the City's use of electricity and programs that can be used to reduce energy consumption through an energy management system and the other paper looks at green buildings. Each student was restricted in the amount they could write in this report (ten pages). So, you will see as you read through each report that there are referrals to appendices. I can assure you that the appendices provide a tremendous amount of bibliographic information and many valuable resources. If you received a paper copy of this report, the appendices and bibliographic materials are in the attached CD. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the City of Clearwater on this project. I am especially grateful for the assistance of so many city workers, citizens, and stakeholders. I want to thank the members ofthe City's Environmental Advisory Board for their advice and assistance on many aspects of this project. I particularly want to thank Mr. Ed Chesney, the City's Environmental Manager. In closing, it is truly an inspiration to work with so many people in the city who believe in moving forward on urban sustainability. Clearwater can be a national leader in this area and I hope that this report is the start of a long-term partnership between the City of Clearwater and the University of South Florida. Robert Brinkmann, Ph.D. Professor Chair, Department of Geography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part I Green City Initiatives 3 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 1 Inventorying the Sustainable Initiatives of City of Clearwater N aimish Upadhyay Executive Summary The City of Clearwater has embarked on a journey to becoming a sustainable, 'green' city. At this point in time, it is of prime importance for the City and the community as a whole to know where they stand regarding their sustainable performance, and decide what they need to achieve in the future. Creating a: comprehensive inventory of all sustainable initiatives undertaken by the City to date is the first step in this direction. Carrying out such an exercise has multiple benefits: the results help identify successes, shortcomings and possibilities for improvement. Additionally, an inventory will help the City move forward with the application procedure for the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc.'s 'Green City Certification' and can serve as basis for a long term sustainability strategy for the future. The aim of this paper is to initialize the inventory process and outline its design and implementation stages. The paper also includes initial results from the cursory survey, points out some potential barriers to achieving the goals of sustainable development, and provides recommendations for the future. Background and Project Overview The concept of sustainability has become a key idea in national and international discussions following publication of the Brundtland Report by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. It envisaged sustainable development as a means by which the global system would satisfy "the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Eaton and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . others, 2007). More recently, sustainability has been the subject of renewed interest and debate in the context of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, where the strapline "People, Planet, Prosperity" was adopted to reflect the requirement that sustainable development implies the balancing of economic and social development with environmental protection (Eaton and others, 2007). For the first time in history, there are as many people living in urban areas as outside ofthem and predictions by the United Nations estimate that by 2030 over 60% of all people will live in cities (UNCHS, 2001). Cities are also consuming three-quarters of the world's energy and causing three-quarters of global pollution (Rogers, 1998). Central to the sustainability debate must therefore be the increasing domination of cities and their hinterland regions (Egger, 2006). In the absence of federal direction, states and cities across the United States are taking environmental stewardship into their own hands and undertaking many sustainable initiatives. One of the major initiatives is the U.S. Council of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, which has been signed by six hundred mayors across the nation as of July 2007 (including the Mayor of Clearwater, Florida) and is the only climate protection agreement of its kind in this country (The United States Conference of Mayors, 2007). Furthermore, the Governor of the State of Florida has taken frontline position in the green movement by passing various executive orders addressing the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change (Governor of the State of Florida: Executive Orders Archives, 2007). Against this backdrop, the City of Clearwater, hereafter referred to as 'the City', has committed to strive for sustainability and address many issues associated with the U.S. Council of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. 5 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This project focuses on planning and implementing an inventory of all the sustainable initiatives undertaken by the City thus far. The entire work is done in context of the Governor's Executive Orders on climate change and the Mayor's commitments, with the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. 's, (FGBC) Green City Certification Application Tool being used as a guideline for inventory (Florida Green Building Coalition, undated). The work will proceed in collaboration with two other distinct projects: developing a Stakeholder Engagement Plan and the initial application work for FGBC's Green City Certification. Sustainability Plan Development A brief review of the sustainability path adopted by some of the more popular 'Green Cities' in the U.S. show that many have developed a well-defined strategy document at the onset of their efforts. Such a 'Roadmap to Sustainability' typically includes defining sustainability within the context of the city, their achievements so far, future goals and objectives with specific time-frames, strategies to meet these goals and means to evaluate their performance. The City of Clearwater has already undertaken multiple sustainability initiatives during the past few years across various administrative departments. Creating an inventory is not only a good stock-taking exercise at this juncture, but will also help the City recognize their achievements and design future strategies. This inventory project was accomplished through accessing existing City databases and collecting pertinent information from various City departments. Some of the data is available on the official City web site, but the majority if it was collected by means of department-specific questionnaires (see Appendix A). These questionnaires ask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for inputs on current and past sustainable practices, suggestions on potential actions and on ways to 'green' existing programs. The joint survey with two other projects also included department-specific checklists of 'Green Initiatives' as prescribed by the FGBC as well as a section for listing any external (non-City) stakeholders that might want to be involved in the process. The City departments were requested to supply relevant documentation in support to their claims on the surveys. Though outside the scope of this project, the data so obtained should be compiled into a single city-wide database and analyzed to gauge overall performance. An important finding would be the extent to which the City fulfills the FGBC criteria, and what more needs to be done in order to qualify for the Green City designation. Sustainability Plan Implementation The first step in the inventory process was to study the City government, its structure and various divisions/departments in order to get familiar with the administrative system and to design the surveys appropriately. The next step was preparing the survey, which contained detailed questionnaires for sixteen city divisions: Development and Neighborhood Services, Economic Development and Housing, Engineering (Environmental and Stormwater Management), Engineering (specifically related to Jolley Trolley), Fire Rescue and Police, Human Resources, Marine and Aviation, Parks and Recreation, Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, Planning, Public Communications, Public Services, Public Utilities, Solid Waste, Office of City Manager/Department Heads and Clearwater Gas Company. The FGBC's criteria for Green City Certification were assimilated into these questionnaires. Care was taken to keep the survey format user-friendly and easy to understand, thereby requiring precise, 7 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . short answers in order to limit the respondents' time and assist with data integration. Thereafter, all the questionnaires were combined into a single document and sent electronically to the City Manager for distribution to individual departments. The expectation was that the questionnaires would be answered quickly and efficiently if distributed via the top-down official route. The respondents were given a week's time to return completed questionnaires owing to the time constraint imposed by the project completion deadline. The time constraint imposed by the project deadline was a major barrier. Even though the project schedule allowed for proper design and dissemination of the questionnaires, there was not enough time to allow City personnel to respond. Therefore, the lack of responses limited the analysis of the data. A major incentive for moving ahead with the remainder of the survey is that the creation of such an inventory provides the groundwork needed to obtain the FGBC certification for which the City has expressed interest. The results may also bring a sense of achievement and pride among all the City stakeholders. Additionally, the inventory information can be used for marketing purposes: for example, to 'sell' Clearwater as a 'green' holiday destination to potential tourists. The inventory project requires minimal funding, since it involves only the review, documentation and summarization of past and current sustainable programs and initiatives. The only major input required is the time that designated personnel in each department would need to collect, document and furnish the required data. Among the key players in the process are the City Manager and other upper-level administrative officials who may need to coordinate the efforts. This coordination will help all those involved to maintain focus, while assisting the heads of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . each department in motivating their staff to perform the critical groundwork required for a successful inventory. Results and Future Recommendations Out of the sixteen City divisions that were sent the questionnaires, only six responded before the project deadline. These were the Human Resources, Engineering, Police, Solid Waste/General Services, Planning and the Public Utilities departments. Some of the major sustainable programs put into practice by these departments include a reclaimed water utility, use of water conservation devices, coastal cleanup program, flood plain restoration projects, use of LED traffic lights, recycling and reuse practices, exotic and invasive species control and creation of a wetland atlas. A full list of sustainable initiatives undertaken by each of these six departments is provided in Appendix B. The performance of the departments against the sustainability criteria as prescribed by the FGBC is provided in Appendix C. A cursory view of the data obtained so far indicates that sustainable performance varies across the departments and the initiatives that have been undertaken so far, though commendable, seem uncoordinated and random. The results also indicate that the City, as a whole, lacks a dedicated, comprehensive policy on sustainability. The implications of this exercise go far beyond the creation of a tabulated inventory document. It can be viewed as an opportunity for the City to take stock of its accomplishments, identify their deficiencies and to assist with decisions on future policies and actions. In addition, this ground-work will help the City move ahead with the application process for the FGBC's Green City Certification. The FGBC criteria can be used as a benchmark to assess the sustainability performance of the City. Achieving the 9 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 'Gold' Standard is a recommended goal for the City. The next steps would be to involve all the stakeholders and create a roadmap to sustainability - defining long-term goals, objectives, strategies and evaluation methodologies. Hopefully, this present exercise will work as a catalyst in motivating the City to become a truly sustainable community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 2 Florida Green City Certification: Initial Assessment Sarah Schlosser-Kelly Executive Summary Recognition for becoming one of only nine municipalities in the State of Florida to be certified "green" by the Florida Green Building Coalition is definitely something to be proud of ("FGBC"). Through examination of current city practices and extensive communication between city departments, it was determined that the City of Clearwater currently qualifies to receive the silver level certification. This paper aims to outline the purpose and direction needed to achieve the silver level certification. The major goals of this paper are to research the current standing of the City of Clearwater relative to certification standards and provide recommendations on future courses of action. Project Overview The primary goal of this project was to begin the research needed to achieve the Florida Green Building Coalition's (FGBC) Green City Certification for the City of Clearwater, hereafter referred to as 'the City'. The project also compared the City's current efforts with the certification standards. This certification serves to gain recognition and publicity for the city along with increased internal communication, implementation of money saving practices, and efficient risk and asset management. Those entities awarded certification are setting an example by being outstanding environmental stewards. Through the certification, the FGBC hopes, "that successful local governments will create and enforce landscape codes that help preserve natural Florida ecosystems, conserve water, create pedestrian-friendly environments, and follow green policies throughout their own organization in everything from ball field 11 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . maintenance to in-house recycling" (Designation Standard, pg 7). The certification can also assist local governments in quantifying their impact of implementing green practices (i.e. gallons of water saved, tons of recycled materials, tons of carbon dioxide emissions). The FGBC is a non-profit, membership-based organization "dedicated to improving the built environment" whose mission is "to provide a statewide Green Building program with environmental and economic benefits" ("FGBC"). One of the major goals of the Florida Green Local Government Standard (FGLGS) is to bring together entities that are looking to incorporate green solutions, to not only local issues, but also statewide issues. This type of integration provides additional opportunities to increase energy efficiency, reduce pollution, and make improvements to the environment, while increasing the local government's operational efficiency, providing better customer service, and expanding public acceptance. Specifically for the City, the implementation of this certification may increase eco- tourism, increase water quality, reduce landfill inputs, and lower government operating costs, among many other potential benefits. The evaluation needed for the FGLGS certification examines the following broad categories: 1) internal environmental practices, 2) ordinances and incentives that encourage sustainable practices, and 3) internal and external environmental education. The certification looks to pull from existing programs that the City may be involved in along with presenting new ideas. Existing programs within the City include the Florida Main Street Designation and Tree City USA. Certification criteria that are outside of existing City programs include the development of a local Government Water Reduction Plan and the offering of incentives to local green business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . There are seven main steps to completing the certification process. They are as follows: 1) learn about the FGLGS; 2) designate an office, department, or individual as a Project Coordinator; 3) determine what criteria apply to the local government; 4) conduct a local government assessment review in cooperation with all applicable departments; 5) compile all information from the review to determine where the local government currently stands in relation to the standard; 6) schedule an implementation meeting to outline the path to certification; 7) submit the final application and all necessary documentation to the FGBC for evaluation (Designation Standard, pg 4). The assessment for receiving the certification provides 19 categories under which criteria are listed (Appendix A). The categories are as follows: Administration, Agriculture and Extension Service, Building and Development, Economic Development and Tourism, Emergency Management and Public Safety, Energy Utility, Housing and Human Services, Human Resources, Information Services, Natural Resource Management/Environmental Protection, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning, Ports and Marinas, Property AppraiserlTax Collector, Public Transportation, Public Works and Engineering, School Board, Solid Waste, and Water and Wastewater. Eliminated from further examination are the extension service, the school board, and the property appraiser/tax collector offices since they operate outside of the City and are thus not applicable to the City's application. . From this assessment, a point total value is calculated based on the number of practices/procedures that the City is currently doing (Appendix A). The total number of points achievable for the City is 291 (also referred to as the Maximum Applicable Points), of which, 0-20% must be achieved to be "Registered" as a Green City. This 13 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . designation requires that a filed statement of intent, along with the application, state that the City intends to achieve "Silver" certification within the next three years. Additionally, any "Registered" municipality must submit an annual report indicated the progress that has been made towards achieving the certification. Achieving "Silver" certification is receiving a total of 20-40% of 291 points, "Gold" is by receiving 41-60% of the maximum applicable points, and finally, "Platinum" certification is the City attaining 61- 100% of the maximum applicable points. Thorough documentation is required for all the practices for which the City claims points. The Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. Green Local Governments Reference Guide (Appendix B) provides examples of appropriate documentation. Results of the Initial Assessment This section of the paper, divided into the seventeen (17) categories by which examination of the City is performed, aims to determine where they currently stand in relation to the certification criteria. See the certification application in Appendix A for the list of the questions asked of each department. Administration- In this category, only data applicable to the Planning Department were received, from which, four (4) out of fifty-nine (59) possible points (7%) were obtained by the provision of green building education to government staff and the maintenance of a group to coordinate current and future green activities. Building and Development- Of a possible thirty-nine (39) points, only four (4) were obtained (10.3%) in this category. The City receiving one (1) point for each of the following: requiring mitigation of wetland habitats, enactment/enforcement of a tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . preservation/land-clearing ordinance, enactment of a landscaping ordinance for new construction, and the enactment of a septic system replacement ordinance. Economic Development and Tourism-In this section, only data applicable to the Planning Department were received. Of a possible nine (9) points, two (2) points (22.2%) were received for obtaining the Florida Main Street designation and the development of a historic preservation ordinance. Emergency Management and Public Safety- Of an applicable twelve (12) points, six (6) were received (50%), with two (2) points attributed to the use of green fleets. Energy Utility (Clearwater Gas) - While no responses were received from this department, according to the City's website, utility customers can pay their bill online. One (1) point was applied to the application for offering this service. Another point for their use of recycled bill envelopes gets this category 11.1 % of the maximum applicable points. Housing and Human Services- No responses were received. Under the assumption that no actions are being taken, zero (0) points were obtained in this section of the application. Human Resources- Ofa possible nine (9) points, only one (1) point was received (11.1 %), which was for giving away re-usable water bottles during the Employee Health Fair. Information Services- Replies for two of the seven questions were received in this section. Two (2) points for the development of environmental education on the City's website/local television station and the enactment of local government policy requiring 15 that computers/ancillary equipment are off when not in use for a total of28.6% of the maximum applicable points. Natural Resource Management/Environmental Protection- Of the fifteen (15) points applicable in this category, thirteen (13) points (86.7%) were obtained. These points were achieved by a variety of activities including implementation of plans to remove exotic/nuisance species in public lands, maintaining membership with the Florida Local Environmental Resource Agencies, Inc. (FLERA), and the enactment of car wash standards. Parks and Recreation- This department did not provide any responses, but according to the Blue Wave Campaign website, Clearwater maintains two Blue Wave Certified beaches, Clearwater City Beach and Sand Key Park Beach. For each Blue Wave beach, one (1) point is obtained, for a total of two (2) points (12.5%) in this category. Planning and Zoning- Out of a possible fourteen (14) points, four (4) were obtained (28.6%). These points were for maintaining a pedestrian/bicycle coordinator on staff, encouraging mixed-use development, maintaining/reducing net impervious surface area, and the organization of green building seminars/training for staff and elected officials. Ports and Marinas- No responses were received for this category, but according to the Florida Clean Marina website, the Clearwater Municipal Marina has been under this designation since 2000. For this, one (1) point was obtained, 25% of the maximum applicable points in this category. 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Public Transportation - Even though the public transit system in the Clearwater area operates through Pinellas County, there are items within the public transportation category that apply to the City. These include the institution of bicycle and carpool commuter assistant programs. No information was received regarding these items; therefore, no points were obtained in this category. Public Works and Engineering- A total of twenty-one (21) points were applicable to this section. Nine (9) points (42.9%) were received for practices including the use of LED traffic lights, street sweeping, and maintaining a certified arOOrist on the City staff. Solid Waste- Out of a possible fifteen (15) points, eight (8) were received (53.3%). These points were obtained through various procedures including the development of a disaster management plan, provision of curbside recycling, and city wide chemical/hazardous waste collection. Water and Wastewater- Out of a possible eighteen (18) points, nine (9) were received (50%). These points were obtained through a variety of activities including creation of a reclaimed water infrastructure system, the conduction of energy audits at treatment facilities, the water use rate structure being based on consumption, and implementation of low flow fixture rebates. Overall, the City appears to be in good standing to receive the "Silver" FGLGS certification, achieving 67 of the 291 Maximum Applicable Points (23%) with their current use of green strategies. This is not the final standing of the City, being based only on the information received in the limited timeframe imposed by this project. Therefore, if this assessment if followed up with further research and there is increased city 17 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . department involvement more points may be received with the City's current sustainable activities. Recommendations If the City decides that they would prefer not to do any additional research and are happy with their standing as determined by this project, the City can submit the pre- application form (Appendix C) along with the minimum required deposit of $500. Upon submittal, a coordinator from the FGBC will be assigned to the City for assistance with the final application process and questions during the compilation of the data required for submittal with the application. The Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. Green Local Governments Reference Guide (Appendix B) provides suggestions for the type of documentation needed for each strategy for which points are claimed. Once this information is complied and the final application form (Appendix D) is complete, it is submitted to the FGBC fora final decision on certification. This certification is good for a period of five years after which a new application must be submitted to retain certification. If the City feels that some of their current practices deserve credit but are not touched upon in the application, they can submit a Standard Modification Form (Appendix E) along with the final application. A separate form must be submitted for each activity with an unlimited number of modification forms being allowed. The FGBC will review the formes) and determine the amount of credit, if any, that will be awarded for the activities. If the City of Clearwater decides that they would like to increase their rank to become a Gold Certified Local Government they will need an additional fifty-three (53) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . points. Through further research into City activities and increased departmental participation, a portion ofthese points may be achievable through current City activities. A total of thirty-five (35) additional points can be achieved by implementation of multiple community and staff education programs including, but not limited to, a green building awards program, use of informative billing (Clearwater Gas), posting of an air quality index on the web, hosting boating education classes, and the provision of information about alternative commuting on the web. Additional items by which certification points can be achieved are discussed in more detail in the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. Green Local Governments Reference Guide (Appendix B). The FGBC website provides invaluable information about the certification process and provides links to other websites for expended research. Furthermore, many professional journals have published articles on the topic of green cities and urban sustainability. Selections of these articles, which can be used for further research into sustainability, are presented in Appendix F. This list is by no means exhaustive. Although the results of this initial assessment indicate that the City may qualify for the "Silver" FGLGS certification, many barriers to achieving the certification exist. Increased communication is needed between the project coordinator, the City mayor, and the departments/individuals responsible for providing the data requested. The financial and time commitments needed to complete the certification process may also prove to be barriers for success. A financial commitment from the City and possibly the community are needed for both the application fee and any new personnel that may be hired. The time required for compiling all the documentation can be extensive and, therefore, may require a City employee be dedicated to the process. The City may want to consider 19 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hiring an upper-level intern or a temporary employee, just for this process. If the funding for such a person is unavailable, it may be possible to utilize multiple current employees by shifting their duties to allow for the time needed to complete the certification. Additionally, it is recommended that a strict schedule be outlined and followed in order to streamline the process. Finally, a continued commitment to sustainability and maintaining the FGLGS certification are required. Since the certification is only valid for five years, the process will need to be repeated to maintain certification past the initial five years. The information presented in this paper is more than just a means for obtaining recognition. It is a powerful tool that promotes education and awareness of sustainable practices. Only through continued communication and cooperation will the Green Local Government certification truly become a success. This is really just the beginning to a "greener" City of Clearwater and a more sustainable community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 3 Stakeholder Engagement Report Sandra Kling Executive Summary In climate policy debates, citizen involvement is necessary because the successful implementation of policy will require public consent and participation. Therefore, current decision-making on sustainability and climate policy requires the integration of stakeholder input into policy. This report presents a plan to engage key stakeholders in the City of Clearwater (Clearwater) and summarizes stakeholder engagement activities conducted to date. Major stakeholders in Clearwater were identified and divided into two main groups: Internal and External Stakeholders. Internal stakeholders include Clearwater elected officials and government employees. External Stakeholders include residents, external government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses within Clearwater. Stakeholder engagement activities commenced in September 2007 and included conducting a focus group meeting and surveying residential citizens and business owners. Results of the focus group began to develop a vision of sustain ability. The majority of the participants stated that Clearwater is moving away from sustain ability in the areas of transportation, energy, the built environment, the natural environment, and food and water supplies and that Clearwater is slowly moving towards sustainability in waste management practices. Residents responding to the online surveys identified the major concerns facing Clearwater to include traffic congestion, unsustainable development, unsustainable population growth, and a lack of government response to these concerns. 21 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Residents indicated that the best way the city can improve sustainability is to lead by example and to offer incentives to businesses and residences. Clearwater should continue to engage both internal and external stakeholders to develop a clear vision of sustainability and an action plan that supports that vision. Project Definition Governmental agencies have learned the importance of involving the public in making environmental decisions (U.S. EPA, 2001; Hemmati, 2003; Durant et aI, 2004; McPhail, 2002). In climate policy debates, citizen involvement is necessary because the successful implementation of policy will require public consent and participation (Kasemir, 2003). Therefore, current decision-making on sustainability and climate policy requires the integration of stakeholder input into policy. The purpose of this stakeholder report is to present a plan to engage key stakeholders in Clearwater. The report contains a list of identified stakeholder groups in Clearwater and summarizes stakeholder engagement activities conducted to date. Stakeholder Engagement Plan Development In order to develop a stakeholder engagement plan, the key stakeholders affected by sustainability and climate policy were identified. Clearwater stakeholders can be divided into two main groups: Internal and External Stakeholders. Internal stakeholders include Clearwater elected officials and government employees. External Stakeholders include residents, external government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses within Clearwater. The following section describes each key stakeholder group and the initial plan to engage each group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Internal Stakeholders Clearwater government is made up of elected officials and 24 city departments (City of Clearwater website, undated). Each department was evaluated based on their stated mission and current sustainability programs to determine their role in Clearwater's sustainability goals. All city departments and employees are considered key stakeholders in implementing citywide operational sustainability goals; however, selected departments are considered key stakeholders for specific departmental and/or community sustainability initiatives. Table 1 contains a compilation of the government departments, mission statements, and a rationale for inclusion on the stakeholder list. As a key stakeholder group, internal stakeholders should be engaged through multiple approaches, including inventorying each department to determine current sustainability programs, surveying employees to determine their opinions regarding sustainability issues, providing educational training for employees, and conducting brainstorming sessions to determine appropriate solutions in achieving sustainability. External Stakeholders External stakeholders can be divided into the following key stakeholder groups: residential, non-governmental agencies, business, and external governmental agencies. Residential In 2006, the population of Clearwater was reported to be 107,742 residents (U.S. Census website, undated). Clearwater has been subdivided into seven regional neighborhood zones. Through the Clearwater's "Block-By-Block" Program, 56 neighborhood associations have been registered with the City. The engagement plan for residents should include multiple approaches that include online and telephone surveys, 23 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . focus group meetings, and in-depth working group meetings. Conducting preliminary focus group meetings with the neighborhood association leaders would be an appropriate first step to begin the engagement process throughout the city. In addition, public announcements and citywide online or telephone surveys would be an effective method to obtain residential input and, more importantly, to begin a dialogue with the public regarding sustainability issues. External Governmental Agencies Several county, regional, state, and federal government agencies could also be considered stakeholders, and a preliminary list of these agencies are identified in Table 2. These agencies are considered to be external stakeholders due to their regulatory oversight, guidance, educational mission, and funding opportunities. For example, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority would be considered a key stakeholder in visioning a sustainable transportation policy. In addition, the Pinellas County School District could assist in disseminating an educational initiative. External government agencies should be invited as appropriate during the sustainability process. Non-Governmental Organizations Numerous non-governmental agencies (NGOs) exist in Clearwater that should be engaged during the sustainability process. Each stakeholder typically has a unique position regarding sustainability within Clearwater. An appropriate strategy to engage these groups is to hold stakeholder meetings with selected NGOs to ascertain their position, gather input on solutions, and determine if a mutual partnership would be appropriate. A preliminary listing ofNGOs that serve Clearwater, including environmental, social, sectarian, and educational organizations, is included in Table 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business Clearwater has two Chambers of Commerce: the Regional Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, with over 1,700 members, and the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce, with over 290 members. Engaging business should begin by inviting chamber members to complete a survey and attend stakeholder meetings. This can be accomplished by identifying major business sectors, such as restaurants, lodging, small retail stores, chain retail stores, professional services, service providers (for example, energy and fuel stations), and light industrial. Not all businesses are members of the Chamber of Commerce; therefore, additional attempts to invite participation should be made through media announcements and by referrals. A preliminary listing of business stakeholders are identified in Table 2. Stakeholder Engagement Plan Implementation Stakeholder engagement is required at all stages in the decision-making process. F or this project, stakeholder engagement began in September 2007 and included conducting a focus group meeting, surveying, and interviewing both internal and external stakeholders. This section outlines the preliminary engagement activities conducted to date. Internal Stakeholder Questionnaire To begin engaging internal stakeholders (i.e., city employees), a written questionnaire was created and submitted to each department head. The questionnaire was designed to gather input on current sustainability programs, historic programs, and planned programs. In addition, each department was asked to provide input regarding potential sustainability initiatives. As of the publication of this report, only a few 25 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . departments have responded to the request. Once all the questionnaires are received, the questionnaires should be evaluated and follow-up interviews and meetings conducted. The information gathered from this phase should be summarized in a City-wide sustainability action plan. Interview Summary Specific organizations were identified for targeted interviewing in the previous section. As of the publication of this report, one key interview was conducted with the Pinellas County Bushnell Center for Urban Sustainability. The goal of the interview was to obtain information on Pinellas County's sustainability programs and to determine how the County and City of Clearwater could partner in future sustainability efforts. In summary, the County has experience in implementing a sustainability program and is willing to provide guidance to Clearwater. In addition, the County has suggested co- launching sustainability initiatives (e.g., green building ordinances). The interview record is included in Appendix A. Business Survey Anonymous online surveys were developed using www.survevmonkev.com to engage businesses in Clearwater. One online survey was emailed to businesses registered with both Chambers of Commerce. In addition, the "Innkeepers of Clearwater Beach" monthly meeting on October 17, 2007 was attended to gather stakeholder input from the hotel business sector, and the hotel group was invited to complete the hotel-specific survey. To date, one general business survey and five hotel surveys have been completed. A summary report of the completed business and hotel online surveys is included in Appendix B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Residential Survey An anonymous online survey was developed using www.survevmonkev.com to engage the citizens of Clearwater. The residential survey was emailed to over 100 residences identified from the neighborhood association member list and from the Clearwater's Citizens Academy Program. The purpose of the online survey was to determine residential concerns, behaviors, and future vision regarding sustainability. To date, 25 surveys have been completed. A summary report of the completed online surveys is included in Appendix B. Focus Group Meeting On November 7, 2007, a focus group meeting was conducted at the downtown Clearwater Library to begin a dialogue with the community regarding sustainability issues. Over 100 residents and targeted non-governmental organization representatives were invited to attend the meeting, of which 21 were present. A brief presentation on the topic of sustainability and climate change were provided to the participants, followed by a visioning exercise. A lack of a clear vision is one "blunder" that governments make in advancing sustainability (Doppelt, 2003). Participants provided their vision of a sustainable Clearwater, specifically in the following categories: transportation, energy, built environment, natural environment, food and water supply, and waste management. Participants were then asked to vote on whether they thought Clearwater is currently moving away from, stagnated, or moving towards sustainability. Participants provided a list of challenges or barriers that would affect the success of implementing a sustainability policy. Lastly, participants were asked to provide input on specific 27 initiatives they feel are important for Clearwater to advance. A summary report from the ... - - - - - - Focus Group meeting is included in Appendix C. Key Findings Review of online surveys indicates that participants think the three major concerns facing Clearwater are traffic congestion, a loss of natural habitat, and unsustainable population growth (Figure 1). Only two categories did not receive a majority response as a major concern, namely a lack of transportation and air quality. .... ~ When asked to rank these concerns, "loss of natural habitats" was listed most often, followed by unsustainable development and population growth. The majority of participants in the survey agreed that Figure 1. Major Concerns Facing Oearw ater and agreed that an environmental crisis 100 90 80 70 i: 60 ~ 50 OIl 40 n. 30 20 10 o neither government nor business is doing enough to address environmental issues present course. A majority of participants l":'k.oob ~~QQ'k-1".l": ~~ qt" :0" ~v(\1 <i't6> <i'.s't. '66 q.s' q~ '/'" Q ~" ~ '/'"<;>/,( ~~. ~ '/'" Q ~ q/ I. "''')on. '/'"<;>/ t-~,. 'lO0 ., o^ ".1 v. ....~..". OJ" '~ "l: q6. .,~ ~" q~ '/'"1">.. is' ~~ g... q~. '7<;>t '/'"0"_ r:..- .~ is't(\1 0" -r0 :9 '/'" will occur if society continues on the believe that the government should lead by example and offer incentives to residents and businesses to promote sustainable practices. Focus group participants provided input on their vision of a sustainable Clearwater. The information provided is summarized below. Energy Clearwater would have fewer automobiles and increase safe, affordable, and efficient multi-modal transportation options, to include rail, bus, bicycle, and water. The trans ortation s stem would be efficient! linked to the re ion. Clearwater would utilize many clean energy sources, including solar, bio-fuels, tidal, nuclear, wind, and natural gas. Clearwater would depend less on oil and coal sources and more on clean energy, and energy efficiency would be maximized. Transportation 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Built Environment Clearwater would have attractive neighborhoods and commercial areas with mixed use. The built environment would use more natural construction materials that utilize natural cool in and heatin . Natural Clearwater would have more green space with more trees and natural, native Environment habitats. Maintenance of the natural landscape will utilize organic fertilizers. Life Support Clearwater would have more locally grown food and water. Water sources may (Food and Water) include desalinization, rainwater, reclaimed water, and retention onds. Waste Clearwater would have an efficient recycling system for business and residents Management with an emphasis on education. *These statements were compiled for presentation purposes. The researcher recommends formalizing a Sustainability Vision during future stakeholder meetings. Participants voted on whether they thought Clearwater was moving away, stagnated, or moving towards sustainability. As shown in Figure 2, participants felt that Clearwater was moving away from sustainability in all categories except waste management. Transportation obtained the Figure 2. Is Clearwater Moving Toward Sustain ability? Lastly, participants were asked what most votes, followed by the built environment for areas that are farthest from the vision of sustainability. barriers stand in the way of realizing the vision. Participants' answers included greed, ignorance, over-development, unwillingness to change, and a lack of a clear written vision. Recommendations Based on preliminary survey data and the results from the focus group meeting, the following is recommended to continue internal and external stakeholder engagement to develop a sustainability action plan. 29 Internal Stakeholder Recommendations 1. Compile the remaining citywide questionnaires and upon analysis, conduct follow-up interviews and meetings. 2. Conduct anonymous on-line surveying with the purpose of measuring employee knowledge, behaviors, and opinions on a variety of sustainability issues. Anonymity would be used to encourage open and honest input from city employees. 3. Conduct initial and follow-up departmental meetings as well as department heads. The purpose of the meetings would be to develop a sustainability vision and determine appropriate actions to accomplish the vision. Working groups should meet regularly thereafter to monitor progress. 4. Summarize internal stakeholder progress into a formal report (i.e., questionnaires, surveys, and meetings). The summary of activities might be included as part of a City-wide sustainability action plan. 5. Encourage all departments and employees to provide innovative solutions to support sustainability. Ensure that all ideas are documented and analyzed. A variety of approaches would work here, including anonymous suggestion boxes and contests between departments. External Stakeholder Recommendations 1. Conduct a statistically valid survey of residents and businesses to determine their sustainability knowledge, practices, and vision. This infonnation should be used to calculate a baseline for which to measure progress towards sustainability. (Note: The survey conducted as part of this study was used for preliminary purposes only and is not statistically valid.) 2. Continue to interview key stakeholder groups; include non-governmental agencies, business sector groups, and external government agencies. 3. Conduct focus group meetings in each of the seven neighborhood zones to build consensus on a sustainability vision and formulate an action plan. Follow up meetings would be appropriate to monitor the effectiveness of the initiatives, as well as continue to brainstorm innovative solutions to improve sustainability. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In conclusion, Clearwater residents appear to have major concerns regarding sustainability and have indicated that society has been moving away from sustainability. Critical challenges exist as society transitions towards sustainable development, including linking policy with stakeholder participation (Swart, et aI2002). However, engaging stakeholders produces universally applicable, credible, and technically superior results in transitioning towards sustainability (Richards and Dickson, 2007). 31 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 4 The Role of Education in the Goal of Sustain ability Barbara Stalbird Executive Summary The City of Clearwater and its residents are taking the first steps toward becoming a sustainable society. The consumer who selects a recycled paper product at the supermarket or who rejects a product because it is over-packaged is taking a positive step. The corporation that alters its manufacturing process to reduce waste and save energy is also taking positive action. This process of change is gathering momentum across the nation and around the world. Despite the encouraging trend toward sustainable living, however, an important fact remains: many Americans do not understand the concept of sustainable development. Sustainability is a complex and multidimensional concept, which involves finding a balance between achieving environmental protection, economic progress, and sociopolitical equity (Wheeler and Beatley, 2006). The majority of citizens need more information about sustainability - what it is and what they can do to live more sustainably. It is possible that knowledge about solutions will grow as environmental problems continue to make news. However, the lack of knowledge could become a barrier to implementing solutions, especially if the public looks for a quick fix for issues like global warming (Curry, Ansolabehere, and Herzog, 2007). For many people, the desire to change is not the issue; they are ready to change their behavior but need the guidance and mechanisms to do so. The City of Clearwater can use many different approaches to raise public awareness of sustainability. Lifelong education is a crucial tool for creating a common . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . understanding of this concept. This education should come from formal schooling, but it will also need to come from nonformal venues such as media, adult education programs, museum exhibits, conferences and workshops, and nature center programs; all of which can be initiated by the City. The goal is for citizens to become active participants in discussions about sustainable development within the City and in developing meaningful sustainable development strategies. To begin the process of public education I have produced six short television segments for the City of Clearwater. They each highlight several ways that citizens can participate in creating a sustainable world. The information I presented is practical, easy to understand and cost effective. The topics covered include: ./ Household products and energy conservation ./ Native landscaping ./ Transportation ./ Green building ./ Local food and produce ./ Recycling Project Definition Local governments like Clearwater can be a significant catalyst of sustainability. They plan and control the very elements at stake - development, resource use, waste, energy consumption, partial regulations concerning production and land use control (Glass, 2002). They can influence sustain ability because they influence the quality of life of their citizens. Furthermore, the scale of local government allows it to organize dialogue with citizens to define the values of the community. 33 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Although previous environmental education efforts have resulted in successes, much remains to be done. A recent study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology measured public understanding of global warming. A number of questions were asked in both 2003 and 2006 regarding the source of carbon dioxide and technologies available to decrease carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In both 2003 and 2006, the average respondent answered just over half of the questions correctly. The 2006 survey did not show an increased understanding of sources of carbon dioxide or an increased awareness of the technologies available to address global warming. This suggests that the public continues to misunderstand - or are simply unaware of - some of the issues underlying action on global warming (Curry, Ansolabehere, and Herzog, 2007). This survey, and others similar to it, reveals a significant need for increased knowledge of the environment and the ability to understand the interdependent relationships between the environment and the economy. The City of Clearwater is being proactive in its partnership with the University of South Florida to become sustainable. If they are to be successful, however, they will need the support and participation of their citizens. To obtain this, Clearwater will need an educated population who can make informed decisions. Citizens should understand that sustainable development is not an ideology or a goal, but an ongoing process; not a set of permanent answers, but a way of continually asking better questions. Sustainable Plan Development The President's Council on Sustainable Development identified education as an integral part of its long-term strategy for rebuilding communities and the country for the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21st century (PCSD, 1997). The City of Clearwater will need to formulate key objectives to reach the community through education efforts. Several examples of successful nonformal sustainability education efforts can be found in Appendix A. The Council on Sustainable Development recommends three objectives which underlie the goal of educating for sustainability. First, Clearwater must ensure that awareness, knowledge, and understanding of sustainability become part of the mainstream consciousness. Also, there must be an in- depth understanding of the short and long term implications of decisions and choices. The citizens of Clearwater not only need to understand how natural systems work, they must also understand the interdependence of economic, social, political, and ecological conditions as it relates to their urban environment. Implementing the access of this information can be accomplished though various types of non formal education. For example, Clearwater could host a sustainability series at various locations (i.e. the library, Moccasin Lake Nature Park, recreation centers). This series would highlight practical, useful information on how to change behaviors to live more sustainably. It would answer questions about what it takes to make a difference, and what citizens can do to have the biggest impact, without spending a fortune or making drastic lifestyle changes. Secondly, a consensus must be reached through dialogue about sustainability. Dialogues must involve as many people and as many different viewpoints as possible. Stakeholders should work together to form an action agenda that is supported by the majority to ensure implementation. Continually involving new participants will widen the initial consensus. Implementation of such dialogue can range from town or neighborhood meetings to roundtable discussions, conferences and workshops, task forces, and 35 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . community and group "visioning" sessions. Electronic venues can also be used such as the internet, radio, television, feature articles, newspapers, etc. Participants should be encouraged to visualize a sustainable world. They should be asked questions such as: What would a sustainable lifestyle be like? How can sustainability be achieved? What does a sustainable society mean? Since conditions vary from one community to another, what will be sustainable to one community may not be the best solution for another. Also, practices that are considered sustainable today may be seen as unsustainable in the future. Sustainability is a moving target, and as changes occur in technology and perspectives, our visions of a sustainable society must also change. Lastly, the City of Clearwater must promote the skills, attitudes, motivation, and values that will redirect action to sustainable practices and produce the commitment to work individually and collectively toward a sustainable world. An understanding of the economic incentives that drive people's decisions and the other values that atIect decision making can help develop a sense of how values interact and how they can change behavior (PCSD, 1997). Sustainable Plan Implementation Implementation will depend largely on public outreach. Clearwater must foster in its citizens, the ability to recognize that environmental, economic, and social conditions are interconnected. Only then can a paradigm shift occur in society's attitude toward the environment. An effective approach to promoting sustainable practices is through a marketing and educational campaign. I have initiated this by producing 6 short video segments .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . about how to live more sustainably. Within each segment I gave citizens several suggestions on how to alter their everyday activities to reduce their impact on the natural environment. They provide information about: ~ Ways to decrease energy consumption ~ Non-toxic, environmentally friendly household products ~ The benefits of native landscaping ~ Ways to increase fuel efficiency and information about public transportation in Clearwater ~ Where to buy local produce and why ~ The benefits and objectives of green buildings ~ What items to recycle and how to obtain further information on recycling My primary objective in creating these videos was to keep the idea of sustainability in people's minds. The more often the public hears about sustainability, the more nonnal it will seem to them; therefore, changes that they make will not seem as drastic. Also, the more often the idea of sustainability is presented, the more likely it is to encourage a change in attitude to one of action and commitment. Future Recommendations Education can give people the tools, skills, and experience they need to understand, process, and use information about living sustainably. This education process must include a media campaign along with an education plan for residents, visitors, businesses, and City employees. The City of Clearwater will play an important role in empowering its citizens through media, adult education programs, conferences and workshops and nature center programs, as summarized in the table below: 37 Major Groups Target Audience Recommendations Formal Education Public and private K-12 - Promote environmental education St. Pete College-Clearwater campus curriculum in schools. Private Colleges - Partner with local schools to advance sustainability initiatives Nonformal Residents - Media campaign Education Businesses - Promote environmental education at Visitors and tourists parks, libraries, and nature centers - Adult education programs throughout the City - Conferences and workshops Government City employees - Educate employees on sustainability issues through regular trainings - Train employees to take action at work - Showcase "lead-by-example" efforts to spread throughout the community The City of Clearwater must support a media campaign to raise public awareness of sustainability, convey information on indicators of sustainable development, and encourage individuals to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. As indicators of sustainability are developed, the media should feature these "yardsticks" as part of their regular coverage. The Communications Department, in cooperation with nonprofit organizations, other departments and volunteers should include in their long term planning, educational efforts to reach the community through television, radio, computers, newspapers, and other printed materials. The programs should include specific examples of everyday actions that are sustainable. Easily understood infonnation should be shared on a regular basis and it should include relevant measures to gauge societal progress towards sustainability. The sustainability video segments developed as part of this project are a beginning step in providing these examples in easy to understand language. These videos should be used as part of a comprehensive marketing campaign to educate Clearwater's 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . population. Additional efforts must be made to make this public awareness campaign successful. The video's that are already completed should be distributed to other venues (i.e. public radio). I would also recommend dedicating several interviews and stories about sustainability on the My Clearwater program. Educational publications will also be necessary. As an example, the City can provide checklists of several practical ways to contribute to a healthy Clearwater. The City of Clearwater should utilize Moccasin Lake Nature Park as a resource for sustainability for its citizens and visitors. This was supported by the public, as evidenced by the results of the focus group meeting and preliminary surveying. The Park is already a working example of how to operate in a sustainable manner. With a little support, effort and funds it could be the headquarters of education for sustainability. The Park currently demonstrates solar energy, water conservation, native landscaping, green building, wildlife education and more. Educational information on sustainability should be exhibited throughout the Park. This would also be an ideal location for adult and youth education programs, visioning sessions, workshops, and conferences on sustainable living. The City of Clearwater has a direct interest in educating their employees about sustainability. Employees who are trained in the principles of sustainability, for example, are in a position to slightly alter their daily habits in the workplace to conserve energy and minimize waste. One of the major goals to become certified as a Green Local Government from the Florida Green Building Coalition is to "Lead-by-example." By implementing green practices at work, the City will be in good standing with the 39 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . community for their environmental record, while at the same time reducing their economic costs. At the community level, Clearwater would benefit from the development of partnerships among businesses, the nonprofit sector, and citizen groups to develop a shared vision for the future. A resource guide for potential partnerships has been provided in Appendix B. Educational information on sustainability has been very diverse in the past. While diversity of programs and information can be an asset, it can also be a weakness. Diversity sometimes results in duplication of efforts, lack of a shared vision, and deprivation of the strength that comes from a common voice (FFOF, 1996). The overarching goal for the City of Clearwater is to instill the concepts of sustainability into the daily lives of their citizens. Current scientific information is more readily available then ever before. The fundamental question, however, is whether citizens will be able to understand how to use this information. Education is a tool that can ensure that technology and the capacity to use information are available to everyone. How we meet the future is in our hands. Education about sustainability will provide Clearwater with the support and participation of their residents and visitors, enhancing the opportunity to create the future they want for a sustainable City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part II Innovative New Projects 41 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 5 The Clearwater Solar Park Margaret Embry Executive Summary Solar power is an important innovation used widely to provide a renewable, clean, reliable, and cost effective energy source. Aggregation of photovoltaic (PV) cells to create a PV system, or solar park, is one option available to harness energy from the sun. Solar energy is delivered free of charge as opposed to the economic and carbon costs of transporting conventional fuel. PV systems create no pollution and generate no waste products when operating. The PV modules, as explained further below, are based on a proven technology that has experienced little degradation in more than fifteen years of operation, more for a system that has no moving parts. Properly installed PV systems have the advantages of minimized periodic maintenance and unattended operation both of which reduce labor costs and travel expenses (economic and environmental). Finally, the advantages ofPV systems offset their relatively high initial cost within a few years of operation. There are also state and federal incentives to help alleviate the upfront costs of installing and operating a solar park (DOE, undated). A demonstration solar park is a viable option for the City of Clearwater to provide electricity to local homes and buildings. A PV system can be designed for easy expansion if Clearwater decides to create a solar park in phases. With a solar park operating in Clearwater, the city can become more sustainable by reducing carbon emissions drastically and having less reliance on fossil fuels. The city has a chance to become a model for other cities interested in becoming more sustainable. Through the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . help of city officials, Progress Energy Florida, and other stakeholders, this project could become a reality for the city of Clearwater. The following technical paper outlines feasibility and benefits of installing and operating a solar park in Clearwater along with resources that can be used to implement this project. The paper is organized into four sections: Project Definition, Sustainability Plan Development, Sustainability Plan Implementation, and Results and Future Recommendations. Project Definition Solar energy, or energy from the sun, is becoming a widespread renewable, reliable, and clean source of energy in the United States and throughout the world. Energy is harnessed from the sun through specific types of semiconducting materials exposed to sunlight which then release small amounts of electricity, a process known as the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect refers to the emission, or ejection, of electrons from the surface of a metal in response to light. It is the basic physical process in which a solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) cells convert sunlight to electricity. Specifically, PV cells are the basic building block of a PV system. An individual PV cell is usually quite small, typically producing about 1 or 2 watts of power. Connecting PV cells together to form larger units called modules or packs can boost the energy output of PV cells. Modules, in turn, can be connected to form even larger units called arrays, which can be interconnected to produce more power. By themselves, modules or arrays do not represent an entire PV system. Structures are needed to place the modules and arrays in orientation toward the sun, and components, including an inverter, that convert the direct-current electricity produced by modules and to alternate-current electricity. 43 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Energy can also be stored in batteries for later use during low light days or at night. PV systems can be built with the ability to meet almost any electric power need from powering a water pump to powering a whole community through a grid-connected system (DOE, undated). It is important to mention the effect of cloud cover on solar radiation and the energy output of a PV system as it is a common misnomer that energy cannot be produced on cloudy or low light days. While direct light, or radiation that comes straight from the sun without reflecting off of clouds, dust, the ground, or other objects, is the most efficient path to harness solar energy, diffuse light, or sunlight that is reflected off of clouds, the ground, or other objects can still produce solar radiation. Diffuse light has the slight disadvantage that it takes a longer path than a direct light ray to reach a module. With batteries in place to store energy for low light days and diffuse light still capable of creating solar radiation, cloud cover should not be an issue when producing energy from a PV system (DOE, undated). Solar energy is an important innovation working to avoid further repercussions of climate change. Climate change has been the agenda of many city, state, and federal officials, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Governor Crist has recognized climate change as a problem and has since signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The Agreement specifically encourages the increase of the "use of clean, alternative energy by. . . advocating for the development of renewable energy sources..." (2005). Clearwater can expect to see many benefits if a PV solar park project is implemented. Environmental benefits are sure to be seen, such as reduction of air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pollution, noise pollution, greenhouse gases, or hazardous waste. There is no need for liquids or gaseous fuels to be transported, further reducing pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. Also, solar energy contributes to the nation's energy security, it helps to create jobs and strengthen the economy, it is a free and abundant energy source, and it decreases dependence on fossil fuels. Grid-connected solar energy that provides power for homes and businesses "reduces or avoids the necessity to build new transmission/distribution lines or upgrade existing ones, aids in meeting peak power needs, diversifies the range of energy sources in use and increase the reliability of the grid network, can be installed in small increments to match the load requirement of the customer, provides a potential revenue source in a diverse energy portfolio, assists in meeting renewable portfolio standards goals, and aids in off-setting or avoiding carbon emissions" (DOE, undated). The grid-connected system will allow the availability of solar energy to many in the city (depending on size of solar park) and will reduce local utility bills for businesses and residents. Also, the solar park will create an opportunity to promote education about solar energy. The park could be designed to welcome visitors and students and provide information about solar energy and PV systems. Other communities in and outside of the United States have utilized solar energy through a solar park to provide electricity for surrounding buildings. Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada continues to construct a solar park (scheduled to be completed in December 2007) comprised of 70,000 panels over 140 acres (See Appendix A and B). This system will provide around 15 megawatts (MW) to generate thirty percent of the base's electricity needs. This park will significantly reduce the base's environmental footprint, reduce energy costs, reduce C02 emissions by 24,000 tons over thirty years, 4S 46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and it complies with Nevada's Renewable Portfolio Standard. The reduction the base plans to see in CO2 emissions is equivalent to removing over 186,000 cars from the road (SunPower Corp., undated). By combining efforts to create a solar park in Clearwater with initiatives of other classmates, Clearwater could become an energy efficient and sustainable community. Some initiatives that could be considered to increase energy efficiency include Ms. Venner's energy consumption reduction plan, Mr. O'Connor's building guidelines plan-, and Mr. Noreika's reusable sludge plan at wastewater treatment facilities. Sustain ability Plan Development As mentioned in the previous section, Clearwater can become more sustainable through the implementation of a PV solar park by reducing carbon emissions and providing a clean, renewable, abundant, and reliable energy source for businesses and residents. Clearwater could become a template for other cities committed to becoming more sustainable. This technical paper is designed to provide city officials in Clearwater with the information needed to plan, design, calculate cost and carbon dioxide reduction, and construct a solar park in Clearwater. Since no site has been chosen for the Clearwater solar park, averages for energy output, cost, and reduction of carbon emissions are assumed. Once a site has been chosen and a technical design has been created for the solar park, the following numbers can be used to quantify the performance of each measure. Energy production from the typical solar PV array in Florida is approximately 4 kilowatt hours (kWh) / meter2 (m2) / day. This means a typical solar panel covering one square meter of ground in Florida will produce 4 kWh of electricity per day. An inverter is needed for a utility-grid-connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . system and they are designed based on the electrical requirements and range in multiple capacity sizes. Typical single phase inverters can range from 1.5 kilowatts (kW) to 5 kW or more, depending on the application and design. Larger solar PV arrays can be designed for three phase applications and their capacity ranges may be much greater. The design engineer can determine the optimal installation based on cost, maintenance, and efficiency. To illustrate this in a real world setting, Progress Energy Florida has a system that uses a 3.5 kW inverter, so it can be assumed that this size converter could be used in Clearwater. For a 3.5 kW inverter, 32.5 m2 of solar panel coverage is needed assuming a ground mounted PV system takes 100 fe/kW(could take more area depending on shading at the site). Most panels are about 1 m2, so thirty-three panels would be needed. Shading occurs because the panels need to be angled up (tracking panels could also be used), therefore, more area to space the panels out is needed, around thirty percent (30%) more space than the panel area. With these calculations, land area will need to be 46.4 m2 for each module. Therefore, each module will produce 130 kWh of electricity each day. To recap: one 3.5 kW inverter, thirty-three solar panels, and 46.4 m20fland area will produce 130 kWh/day based on the above parameters. Progress Energy Florida conducted an end use metering study in 1998-1999. This research, coupled with billing data analysis, indicates the average residential customer in their service territory uses approximately 17,000 kWh / yr. Considering this average and if the system produced 130 kWh/day, then close to three houses could be powered through the system. Hopefully the system would be larger than the hypothetical scenario to power more houses and businesses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a PV array "with a surface area roughly the size of two football fields could produce 1000 kW of peak power" (2005). While there could be more energy produced than is needed, it is 47 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ideal to include a backup storage system (battery) with the PV system to store power to be used during low light conditions or at night. The modules do not have to be placed together, leaving the option open for one large site or many smaller sites depending on site availability. Where the panels are placed will not affect the calculations, there just simply needs to be space. A reasonable estimate for a typical solar PV array is $10.00 per watt according to Progress Energy Florida. This price can vary based on the installation requirements and the size ofthe system. Subsidies will help support the project with a Federal tax credit of thirty percent (30%) and State rebate of $4.00 per watt up to a total rebate of $100,000. There are also other funding opportunities through the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department, Solar Energies Technologies Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC (website found in appendix), based in California, is also an option for private financing (this company financed the Nellis Air Force Base solar park). According to the EPA, "PV systems cost from $6,OOOIkW to $10,000IkW installed. The cost ofa PV system depends on the system's size, equipment options and installation labor costs" (2005). The national average of carbon dioxide (C02) reduction using a PV system, per the Department of Energy (DOE), is 1.53 lbs of CO2 1 kWh. The State of Florida is slightly below the national average at approximately 1.35 lbs of C02 / kWh. Using the 1.35 lbs C02 average and the hypothetical output from above, 130 kWh/day, Clearwater can expect to see a twelve ton reduction of CO2 within the first year of operation. Assuming the system has a 20 - 25 year lifespan, Clearwater can expect to see a CO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . reduction of 240 - 300 tons. Based on the project kW, the total project pounds or tons of C02 reduction can be estimated. Please keep in mind the above calculations are hypothetical. Sustain ability Plan Implementation The fIrst step in implementing a solar park project for Clearwater is to continue with a feasibility study, including collaboration with Progress Energy Florida or an outside contractor, contacting solar panel and inverter provider(s), evaluating available sites and assessing how many modules each site can house, and perhaps holding a stakeholder meeting to evaluate how the public is responding to this project. After a feasibility study has been completed, a site or sites needs to be chosen. With the site(s) chosen, it can be determined how many kWh/day will be produced along with the reduction in carbon emissions. The next step would be to design and build the project. This can be done with the help of Progress Energy Florida design engineers or an outside contractor, such as SunPower Corporation, and a PV system components provider. Progress Energy Florida has experience in designing, building, and operating PV arrays and is interested in collaborating on this project. Barriers that may be encountered in the implementation phase of the project are up front costs (economic and energy costs), installation problems, electronic equipment problems, and having the space to create a park(s) that can power many buildings. The high initial cost of a PV system is recovered through substantial fuel savings over the life of the system and lower utility bills. In terms of the energy payback time, or the time it takes for a PV system to generate the same amount of energy that it took to manufacture the system, energy is recovered in two to fIve years. Since a well-designed and 49 S{) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . maintained PV system will operate for more than twenty years, and a system without moving parts will operate for close to thirty years, PV systems produce far more energy over their useful life than energy used to manufacture them. Most problems with the actual system occur because of poor or substandard system installation. Failed connections, insufficient wire size, and components not rated for the specific application are common problems associated with poor installation. The next most common cause of problems is the failure of the electronic parts, such as the controller, inverter, and protection components associated with poor installation. Batteries that store energy fail quickly if they are used outside their operating specification (DOE, undated). It appears that Clearwater has many city owned lots that could be suitable for PV arrays. This will be addressed further during the design phase. Once a PV system is implemented and is operational, it will be important for the city of Clearwater to define goals and benchmarks to determine the success of the project. Obvious goals and benchmarks that could be established for measurement include target reduction of carbon emissions, energy output of the system and the number of buildings receiving electricity from the system. Once the assumed energy output is determined, these goals and benchmarks can be quantified. Key roles and resources needed to continue research and implementation for this project will be through the city of Clearwater, Progress Energy Florida, and a private contractor if chosen. It will be important to keep the line of communication open with the residents of Clearwater and take into consideration their suggestions and concerns. Also, a provider for the equipment will need to be chosen. Progress Energy Florida suggests using the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), the Florida Solar Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Industries Association (FlaSEIA), and the Florida Solar Energy Research & Education Foundation (FlaSEREF) to direct the city to a list of solar vendors (see websites in appendix). Results and Future Recommendations Key findings of this research indicate that Clearwater has an opportunity to build and operate an innovative and sustainable project that will provide electricity for local homes, businesses, and other buildings. Through this project, carbon emissions could be cut dramatically while Clearwater decreases their dependence on traditional fuel. This provides advantages to homeowners and business owners through lower utility costs and sets Clearwater up as a model of sustainability and innovation to other cities around the world. A PV system that is designed, installed, and maintained well will operate for more than twenty years, while the basic PV module that has no moving parts and can last more than thirty years as mentioned earlier (DOE, undated). As mentioned in the sustainability plan implementation section, it is important to do further feasibility research, contact design engineers, equipment providers, and potential operators. Site(s) selection, energy output calculations, carbon emission reduction calculations, and number of buildings the solar park can power will all aid the city of Clearwater in its decision to implement a PV system project. If the project is implemented, the longevity of the system will provide Clearwater with a renewable energy source for years to come. 51 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 6 The Clearwater Community Garden Initiative Joshua Birky Executive Summary The idea of community gardens is not new, though the many benefits that they promote are just now being realized. Due to their role as a green space in an urban environment these gardens can bolster citywide economics by their positive effect on business, property value and tourism. These gardens also have the capability of improving the quality of water, air and soil in their area and also reducing the amount of environmental and economic damage that can be caused by pollution and storm water. Above all these gardens can have noticeable positive mental and physical health effects on all ages as well as making communities more safe and cohesive. In order to create an effective community garden, stakeholder groups from all sectors of the community must be involved. A target group must also be identified and then catered to by choosing an appropriate location for the garden as well as the proper plot design, irrigation and maintenance features. Once the garden has been planned all legal and bylaw issues must be addressed and fundraising must be conducted with the ultimate goal of making the project at least profit neutral. Finally we must realize that a garden is not truly a community garden unless it actually seeks to involve its community. The best way to achieve the involvement of those in the Clearwater area is to seek out possible groups that could act as resources for the garden's development and perhaps eventual expansion. If the Clearwater community as a whole can put people, resources and money behind this project, it has the potential to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . spread beyond one simple location and turn into a network of community gardens that strengthen and enrich Clearwater's environment, economy and health. Introduction The city of Clearwater is no exception to the current trend of urbanization and currently seems to be balanced on a fulcrum where a slight push in either direction could snowball into either responsible sustainable development or typical "built-out" urbanization. In order to effectively push Clearwater towards a more sustainable future, the city should design and develop a community garden which represents and employs the ideas of sustainable development as well as fostering a spirit of community and environmental education. Rather than give a specified plan for an individual garden within the city of Clearwater, I plan instead to provide a flexible framework which can be used in the future as a resource and cornerstone to any community garden project in the city. Why Garden? Before we look at all the aspects that would be involved in developing a community garden in Clearwater, we should first put forth the motivation for such a project and ask ourselves "why garden?" Although there may be very obvious aesthetic and intangible reasons for developing a garden within the city there are also a number of compelling quantitative reasons in economic, environmental and health related areas. It is quite obvious that a project which can prove its economic merits will be looked upon more favorably than one which is not self sustaining. Community gardens, and more generally green spaces in an urban environment, have been proven as key components in positive economic movement. One of the main areas of community garden development S3 S4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with economic implications is that of the effects of green spaces on property value. According to numerous studies, it has been shown that an increase in the amount of urban green an area, including trees and foliage, has a significant impact on the property value of the adjacent and surrounding locations (RodbeIl1991, Altunkasa 2004). Along with this, green spaces also act to improve the economic state of a city through ecological restoration and stabilization which improves the quality of soil, water and air and can prevent the possible costs associated with environmental degradation (Rodenburg 2002). Separate studies have also shown that urban green spaces can save money through storm water retention and purification (Giving Tree 2007). Along with all of these factors community gardens would also act to draw more citizens and tourists towards the community and thus give businesses in the area a positive push. Obviously a patch of vibrant green growth in the middle of an urban setting has many positive environmental impacts; in fact so many that they would dwarf the scale of this report. Yet, it is still important that we quickly summarize some of the main benefits that a community garden would bring in order to show that such a project would, in fact, bring environmental progress to Clearwater. Besides the ability for a garden to mitigate pollution and regulate an ecosystem (as previously discussed) an urban green space also has the potential to increase the biodiversity of an area (Colding 2006). Basically by installing a community garden in Clearwater we would effectively be reducing water toxicity, improving soil quality, reducing flood severity, stabilizing ecosystems, improving air quality and sequestering. carbon. Though economic and environmental benefits are important byproducts of a community garden project, some of the most essential benefits come from what a garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . can do for the health of an individual and the community as a whole. For an individual gardens offer a place to get extensive physical activity and thus decrease the chance of many health problems. Along with this benefit green spaces in urban environments also offer mitigation for Attention Deficit Disorder (Fabor 2001), increases in self discipline in youth (Faber 2002), healthy mental development in children (Kuo 2004), stress relief (Wells 2003), and sustained health for the elderly (Takano 2002). From these examples we can see that the health benefits of green spaces are both universal (across all ages) and widespread (mental and physical). Recognizing that the individuals alone are not what makes a community garden, but instead it is the interaction of these individual that are crucial, we then must evaluate the effects that such a garden would have on community health. Urban green spaces promote community health by making communities safer and giving communities a center for activity and congregation. The enhanced amount of safety comes from the fact that areas of green in urban settings have been shown to reduce crime rates (Kuo 2001), and reduce the amount of aggression individuals exhibit through the abatement of mental fatigue (Kuo 2001 (2)). Urban green spaces can also act as a place, or context, in which communities can define themselves (Sullivan 2004), and where communities can grow into vibrant healthy units (Coley 1997). Before moving on with this report it is also worth noting that by developing a community garden in Clearwater the city would be moving one step closer to fulfilling many of its long term goals. Since one of the main movers for this project was Clearwater's involvement in the "U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement" it is essential that we evaluate how the development of community gardens fulfills aspects of S5 56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . this climate agreement. Primarily, this sort of green land development promotes a sustainable type of planning by preserving open space and introducing plants that will help in the sequestration of C02 - a main component of global warming. Less directly, a community garden will create a platform to educated citizens of the community about the importance of urban green spaces and their role in the mitigation of climate change. A community garden initiative would also fit into Florida's green local government standard. Community gardens are an important factor in a green local standard because they fulfill many of the requirements in areas such as economic and tourist development, environmental protection, parks and recreation, water and wastewater and natural resource management. Improvements in all of these areas would move Clearwater much closer to being considered a green city. Implementation and Design Now that we have gone over the many reasons for starting a community garden in Clearwater, it is essential that we next look at who the stakeholders would be. In other words we need to identify what groups within the community have some vested interest in a garden's development. Since a monumental amount of research has already been done by Sandra Kling on the specific stakeholders for the overall sustainability project in Clearwater, I will simply layout some broad areas and general groups that should have an interest in a community garden project. These groups and their potential involvement in this project can be found in Appendix A. After identifying the main groups of people who will be involved in the development and use of a community garden in Clearwater we must next briefly go over the main physical and ideological features of a community garden. The point of this . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . overview is to show all the possible options that the garden planners will need to consider and also to indicate what the results of these decisions may mean. Hopefully this will provide a flexible framework for the city of Clearwater to use as its base for development. Once the decision has been made to build a community garden in Clearwater we must then come to a decision on the most basic features of the garden. The first step is finding the proper location for the garden (Appendix B). Some of the main factors in deciding on a location in Clearwater are the land's proximity to downtown Clearwater, bus routes and the Clearwater farmer's market. After deciding on a location for the garden the next step is to figure out what size plots are desired and where they will be in relation to each other. The options in this area are pretty much endless but can be narrowed down to a few main sizes. Large individual plots (30 ft x 30 ft) are good for only the serious (commercial) growers or a large group (family) of casual growers; Medium plots (15 ft x 15 ft) are manageable for an individual with lots of spare time or an average sized family; and small plots (5 ft x 5 ft) are good for an individual or small family looking to garden as a hobby. The main principles that need to be followed are; to make sure you start small and build up and that you design the plots based on the type of prospective gardeners (Bartholomew 1981). The idea of designing plots for prospective gardeners can also be translated into the style of the plots. One of the main examples of this would be the use of raised plot beds for the elderly and handicapped. The use of these raised beds would make gardening easier for those who have trouble bending over or getting down on their knees. 57 58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Another design style could be pre-tilled plots for young children, so that the initial aspect of growing is made easy. Since the idea of designing for your growers has been mentioned so often we should now look at whom these potential growers are. The first option that can be explored is to create a garden that tries to cater to all groups. This sort of garden would have many different plot sizes and styles and would offer different kinds of assistance depending on the grower. This sort of garden, however, would be very resource intensive and thus may not be the best option. For this reason it may be wise to chose a certain group such as the elderly, low-income children, low-income families, schools, etc. and then base the garden features on that target group. After developing the basic features of the community garden the next step is to make sure that the garden is able to function and become fruitful. In order for any growth to occur an efficient irrigation technique needs to be decided on in order to fit into Clearwater's climate and water availability. The most cost-effective irrigation system is a drip irrigation system because it provides water directly to the roots (Markels 2002). By also utilizing rain barrels along with a drip irrigation system a garden could become even more efficient at conserving water. However, if the construction and operation of this system is too daunting then a traditional "hose and spout" system could also work (though it would use up a good deal more water). Besides irrigation, there are numerous other areas of garden up-keep that must be addressed such as pest control and soil quality. The proper control of these features is far too broad to address in this report but are still very important aspects of a garden. For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . that reason when a garden is started the local county extension office should be contacted as well as any local resources (Appendix C). Logistics and Challenges With any large scale project there are always challenges that must be dealt with and the development of a community garden is no exception. Although Clearwater will almost certainly face some unique and unpredictable challenges there are a few expected areas that can be looked at prior to their occurrence. These problems will most often occur in areas dealing with legal issues and fundraising Due to the fact that the land for this project would be city-owned many of the permit, insurance and other legal issues are made much more simplistic and thus not necessary for this report. The formation of bylaws, however, is an area of concern. A sample set of bylaws and other forms have been included in Appendix D and could be adjusted to fit the specific desires of a garden in Clearwater. In many cases community gardens that are started without government assistance are funded out of the pockets of their members. Even though this can be considered a viable option, it is certainly not the only option. Since a project is much more appealing when it is either profit neutral or profit producing, it is important to look over ways to fund and maintain a community garden within Clearwater. The many ways of possible fundraising are laid out in Appendix E. A key way to address all of these challenges, and gain information on community gardening in general, is by utilizing all of the resources that are available. These resources can come from the national, state and local level and I have laid out a few of these main resources in Appendix C of this report. An inventory of numerous local 59 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . groups interested in sustainability has also been compiled by Naimish Upadhyay and would be very helpful as a potential resource. Clearwater Application All of the information that we have discussed thus far can have a vague feel to it unless we have a direct plan of action and set of clear steps to follow. The first step will be identifying which location in Clearwater will be used and who the target audience will be. Once a location and group has been decided upon the next step is too look at local and national sources of funding and areas of local support. For Clearwater this means looking at stakeholders who have shown interest in the project such as "Natures Food Patch" in Clearwater or the downtown farmer's market. It is also key that local educational and governmental resources are explored such as the Pinellas County extension office for advice, the Pinellas county correctional facility for labor and local colleges (USF campuses, University of Tampa, Eckerd College, etc.) for volunteer work, advice and design. Once enough public support and interest has been built it is then important to make sure that there are enough funds and materials by seeking out grants and donations from all areas, especially local growers and nurseries that are generally very generous with seed donations. After all of this has been completed the final step is to sign up members, form a community committee and produce bylaws which will govern the growth and maintenance of the gardens. Hopefully this initial project will inspire the formation of future gardens across the city that can eventually develop into an entire network of community gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 7 Adopt-A-Pond Michelle A. Harmeling Executive Summary Florida has had tremendous growth in the coastal areas, causing a decrease in wetlands that historically provided natural water treatment. This also led to an increase in impervious surfaces, and urban runoff. Management of stormwater has become a key issue regarding the quality of the City of Clearwater's natural resources. New rules, high rates of growth, and poor water quality have allIed to improvements in stormwater management (Nisenson, 2005). Stormwater ponds which served Pinellas County previously had an Adopt-A-Pond program that was only available to unincorporated county areas, so a localized program is needed at the City level. The City has developed many capital improvement projects which primarily resulted in flood protection, but also added the benefit of stormwater quality improvement. Working with existing relationships between the City, County and citizen groups could provide the dual benefit of water quality improvement with aesthetic benefits, and community involvement with educational properties. A program with many options relating to improvements in aesthetics, education, and/or function would prove the most beneficial to a City with diverse groups that may choose to participate in the program. Keeping City costs low is of great importance to the current economy. There are many grant opportunities at the county, state, and federal level, as well as Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) that are very interested in the improvement of the Tampa Bay watershed. The suggested program will also give the citizens of the City an opportunity to actively improve their water quality. 61 62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Project Definition The United States Conference of Mayors has given the challenge at the city to become more sustainable through their Climate Protection Agreement. The City signed the agreement and is now examining operations for areas in need of sustainability improvements. In the 2007 Executive Order, stormwater ponds would be included in the section addressing land use and management policies that improve the long-term storage of carbon in Florida's biomass. In addition to water quality benefits, stormwater ponds also serve to provide plant establishment. According to the South West Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD): "Stormwater contributes nine times more oxygen demanding substances to water bodies than point sources (industrial effluent discharges). Stormwater contributes approximately 80-95% of the heavy metals that reach Florida waters. Nutrient loads from stormwater runoff are comparable to those in to those in secondalily treated sewage effluent discharges. Restoration programs have demonstrated stormwater pollution can be reversed". Stonnwater ponds offer a multitude of environmental benefits, whether they are done to minimum standards, or enhanced to their maximum potential. Their benefits from capturing sediment alone results in removal of metals, particles, organics, and the biological uptake by plants removes dissolved metals and nutrients (EP A, 1999) Also some types of ponds provide needed wetland habitat that can be utilized by waterfowl and amphibians. According to City Public Works Administration stormwater policy (Section III): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Lake/Pond maintenance shall be restricted to City owned systems or those portions of systems owned by the City only, and shall be limited to only those controls needed to satisfy an immediate problem, system operation, or to comply with provisions of agreement to remove silt and/or nuisance or exotic plant species where all appropriate licenses, permits, or exemptions have first been obtained. (The City) shall not be responsible for maintenance of private lakes or ponds (Clearwater pg. 3,2006)." The United States Census Bureau. states that the City has a total area of 37.7mi, 25.3 mi of it is land and 12.4 mi of it (32.98%) is water, broken up into three main watersheds: Stevenson Creek, Alligator Creek, and Allen's Creek. With such a large percentage of water that is not all under City ownership, a plan needs to be developed for all stormwater ponds to manage the resource. The City has many plans in order for flood control, but it will be up to citizen involvement to achieve successes in Non-Point Pollution control; primarily in their stormwater ponds. In a research study of urban area citizens it was shown that 94% agreed it would "be desirable to design and manage future stonnwater control basins for fish and wildlife as well as for flood and sediment control if this were feasible from technical and economic standpoints" (Adams, 1984). As stated before, Pinellas County had a volunteer based Adopt-a-Pond program, but due to budgetary constraints the program was discontinued. Informational and guidance materials generated from these programs existence will be discussed later in this report. The intention is not to reinvent the wheel, but to apply these diverse programs at the City level. 63 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sustainable Plan Development The City has several capital improvement projects for stormwater improvement. The goal of inspecting locations with the potential high risk of industrial runoff, such as retention and detention ponds, within the City, for pollutant discharge, was accomplished in the 2004//2005 period and all areas were in compliance. Some of the planned projects include Stevenson's Creek Estuary Restoration, coastal improvements, channel improvements, Coopers Point and Allen's Creek Drainage improvements. These improvements were included in the 2007 Budget Summary and there are completed projects such as Kapok Wetland Restoration Project and Glen Oaks Park. The 2008 city vision includes improvements to the Alligator Lake Wetland Creation and Stormwater Treatment project and the Alligator Creek Phase II implementation project to improve water quality in Tampa Bay (City Vision & Performance Measures, 2006). The City will have to first incorporate the proposal, later mentioned, into existing plans and focus the way the Adopt-A-Pond program would affect the watershed. Defining goals beyond stormwater quantity and quality to address invasive species, wildlife habitat and aesthetics would be needed to show measurable success. In order to have sustainable stormwater management, a project approach must be established toward all or many of the stormwater ponds, whether municipally owned or within a neighborhood. Also there are many State and Federal Grant opportunities that should properly amend the City budget, including the Pinellas County Environmental Fund and the partnerships with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program locally. Figure 1 shows the cost per kilogram to remove nitrogen and phosphorous based on projects that have received TMDL Water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Restoration Grants (Livingston and Crane-Amores, 2005). This is an example of state dollars spent on these types of programs. There is existing information that can serve as guiding principles for the program. First the SWFWMD has educational documents for the Stormwater Management System (SWMS), which can be dispersed to Neighborhood Associations. Also, Pinellas County Water Resources has many materials that can be used as guidelines for local project development such as A Citizen 's Guide to Lake and Pond Management. There are many Florida programs in place that can serve as an initial model for the City to tailor to their needs. Hillsborough County, for example, has a Stormwater Management Section with more than 200 ponds that have been adopted from which Pinellas County modeled their program. "The Hillsborough County Stormwater program is a stepping stone by County government to initiate the improvement of storm water quality (SWFWMD pg. 1,2007)." The City of Lakeville, Minnesota also has a unique program that is set up to provide user related options to attract more program participants. From these examples, a blend can be created to be used at the unique local level rather than the unincorporated county-wide level. Since there is more concern initially with flood protection, the program may want to begin at an advisory and grant level, to focus City dollars toward capital improvements in flood protection. Sustain ability Plan Implementation The Adopt-A-Pond program could be implemented at the City level through the stormwater division. By offering initial support toward pond retrofits, and development of a volunteer base for management, the program should prove to be sustainable. Volunteer efforts have proven successful in other City departments, as with the Adopt-a- 65 66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Park program. There are two broad options for implementation: providing an initial clean up effort by the City and the planting materials, which involves up-front budgetary constraints (that would later be balanced through volunteer maintenance labor); or provide only Staff expertise, educational materials, and applications for grant monies to perform the remediation activities. Using education and plantings would be the first step toward program development. "Educational.efforts, whether signs associated with a structural retrofit project or statewide efforts such as Florida yards and Neighborhoods are essential in reducing [pointless personal pollution] and in gaining the support of citizens and elected officials for stormwater management programs (Livingston and Amores, pg. 4, 2003)." Also, creating vegetated buffers will show a water quality benefit beyond retention/detention alone, increasing vegetation also increased nutrient uptake of Nitrogen and Phosphorous. A central program option would be enhancement of the littoral shelf in stormwater ponds. See Figure 2 for explanation of this portion of a stormwater pond. The SWFWMD offers community education grants and the following is an excerpt from a Sarasota County project that was awarded $4,834.00 in grant dollars: Gillespie Pond Restoration Project "Will restore the Gillespie pond by involving community and school volunteers in planting aquatic and shoreline trees. This planting project will help to minimize bank erosion, filter storm water that enters and exits the pond, improve wildlife habitat and educate the community about healthy ponds, watershed protection, and Florida-friendly landscape practices (SWFWMD, 2007)." This example shows that initial costs can be kept low if the program is grant based and matched with staff hours toward oversight of these projects. The procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . that is recommended is a blend from Pinellas County Adopt Your Pond program, the existing Clearwater Adopt-a-Park Program, and Adopt-A-Pond programs throughout the state and country: Through existing volunteer channels (e.g. Clearwater Adopt-A-Park), the City can form program working groups that can begin by assisting in approved activities requested by Neighborhood Association applicants. With guidance from City staff the program can provide the following options at the applicants request: Provide a one-time nuisance vegetation removal and disposal, provide the Florida native vegetation for planting, materials for trash removal and disposal, provide materials such as Barley straw to improve water aesthetics, and professional support in regards to environmental education (such as training citizens on frog monitoring, examination of pond buffers, and Hillsborough County's Pond Walk Program). This overall program would be most beneficial if it were tied to an agreement such as dedicating assistance on another applicant's pond, or a City pond (on a one time basis) or committing to hours of service on their existing pond. Results and Future Recommendations The City has made strong efforts in the area of stormwater management and improvement which has been shown in the existing water quality. Yet in order to be sustainable and keep up with the increase in urban runoff discharges, a program needs to be applied and managed by the City toward all stormwater features. There are many challenges associated with assessments, prioritization, and funding of stonnwater pond projects. Using existing programs such as the Pinellas County Water Atlas htto://www.oinellas.wateratlas.usf.eduJ for citizen interaction and tracking of future projects can aid in the program organization, but also allow for citizen and County 67 68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . involvement on the decision-making. Showing the economic benefits related to the savings in nutrient loadings and pursuing grant opportunities will safeguard the program from being cut. Approaching Home Owners Associations and Neighborhood Representatives first will cover a large number of privately owned ponds that would otherwise be left to the minimal standards of grassing alone. They have expressed an interest in more diverse and beneficial plantings, but just need the guidance. Also, advertising the program via utility bills would gather more volunteer interest. Informing the public of their impact toward water quality and providing a venue for active involvement can create more environmental citizens; thus extending to every aspect of sustainability including more efficient energy use, generation of less waste, and greener choices overall. With large amounts of community involvement, this program could serve as a stepping stone from work being done in community stormwater ponds, to the installation of rain gardens within individual lots. Rain gardens would be a shining example of a truly sustainable community as it would show citizen level interest in "recharging groundwater, maintaining natural hydrology, and absorbing and detaining pollutants carried in the stonnwater" (Hager pg. 4, 2003). The Adopt-a-Pond Program would show the City's commitment to go above and beyond minimum stonnwater quality management, inspiring the citizens to do so as well. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B,'i:"I'i~:CXJ,:t ID R.tlKilli.-_~ ."JY'~- -of loUl N'bug..l. .U{Il .13#11 :.,rA::.{(l ~jUOO t1~:tOO l.t:ltc<) e . ~. ~tD) j ... i2W1 :g[(<l '" rI' ; .I ~/F q'*' $'~ If ","1/ ~'1.J" #'1: rI/ .I'.I/~:'<i'~.I" ,/' ~ Eiollm,ouH'C".. to, __ .J1Il""'_..ry<.bU.\'...f...."'.... ~:;01: .;t1'U)X: :s>>.mr- .",J>>! 3;'/'!1<0l: ~ .!~~mt ~ >"; ~ l'!:O.IXi-:- ., B ~~.oc-: !:!-::o::r:. 1.:Z.oe.:. .:. ;1',. b .. .~. 0, A. ,p.. .'P'. L..."" .~'. ~'... .6' '... b A,'T. f" fi,& .(f. ' ,~'# -'$'ri':" if'. .#....h, dt 9>'- ~., ~ If" i{} -~ .4': 4'1' -if" ~J~Y 't" 4' ~r. '1;,-- ~. ~.I- ..f' .~ ~r 4~ '4! :fr' Gmt Figure 1, Cost per kilogram to remove nitrogen and phosphorous (TMDL grants). 69 Figure 2. Littoral shelf location '"",,,' 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ". . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 8 Sustainable Wastewater Residuals Treatment Nick Noreika Executive Summary A biosolids treatment program is the focus of this paper. The benefits of converting a waste product to a sustainable resource will be looked at, and the feasibility examined. Wastewater treatment facilities use natural biological methods to break down the components and clean the water. There are two main by-products of wastewater treatment: the treated effluent and the residuals (also known as biosolids or sludge). In Clearwater the treated effluent can be used as reclaimed water for various commercial and residential purposes. However, the residuals are hauled off to Hillsborough and Polk County to be land applied. As far as the sewage sludge (residuals), these biosoldis are a valuable soil fertilizer because of their high organic content that plants need. The term residuals has gained popularity through recent years because of the 'Changing perception that sludge is not just a waste product anymore. Beneficial uses for sludge include application to land for farming and ranching operations. The non-beneficial methods of disposing of sludge are land filling and incineration. This type of sludge is referred to as Class B sludge, which is the type Clearwater wastewater treatment facilities generate. The City of Clearwater currently hauls off their sludge to Hillsborough and Polk County to be land applied. Residuals that meet very strict regulatory standards are considered Class A sludge; they go through extensive treatment, and can be used as commercial grade fertilizer. 71 72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Surface and land fill disposal pose problems with public acceptance and limitations on available space. Economic factors often influence the selection of a use or disposal option. Other factors include public acceptance, the availability of land to which residuals can be applied, and the degree of treatment that the residuals receive before leaving the wastewater treatment facility, (Smith, 1997). Residuals application and treatment has been a common practice for almost 150 years, (National Resource Council, 1996). Wastewater and residual treatment are both natural solutions to converting a waste stream (sewage) to a practical resource (fertilizer). These benefits are well established, yet public perception today mainly considers the biosolids material as a waste, and not as a useful by-product. Through my research, I will discuss how the current Clearwater solution of land applying their residuals may not be the best way to go about obtaining treatment. The method of exporting the City's waste stream to other counties can lead to a negative public perception of the way Clearwater handles their residuals, along with the fact that obtaining Class A sludge treatment over Class B can be a lot more environmentally friendly and economically beneficial. My report will conclude the long term costs outweighing the short term costs of establishing the proper equipment for such a treatment facility to come on line, making the City of Clearwater able to become environmentally sustainable. Sustainable City Ideally a wholly sustainable City's consumption of waste could be compared to a biological organism model in the way that it uses and generates resources. There would essentially be a circular metabolism where every output discharged by an organism would also become an input which, renewing and sustaining the continuity of the whole . . . . . . ,e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . living environment of which it is part. The whole web of life hangs together in a chain of mutual benefit through the flow of nutrients that pass from one organism to another. However the "metabolism of most modem cities is essentially linear, with resources being pumped through the urban system without much concern about their origin or about the destination of wastes, resulting in the discharge of vast amounts of waste products incompatible with natural systems. In urban management, inputs and outputs are considered as largely unconnected," (Reader, 2007, p.125-6). The goods cities consume end up as waste or land fill material. This essentially non-circular metabolic system is not sustainable. This trend can be reversed if the outputs of a City can be made into beneficial inputs Biosolids Treatment Sewage sludge is generated during the treatment of sewage. This sludge contains nutrients that can be beneficial to plants; however it can also contain agents such as pathenogenic bacteria and parasites that can cause disease and attract vectors. If this sludge is untreated before land application or surface disposal there is a potential for direct or indirect exposure of humans to these agents. Therefore regulations require that before sludge can be land applied or used for any other form of "beneficial use" (EP A, 2003) the sludge must first be treated. In the United States the use and disposal of treated sludge (biosolids) is regulated under 40 CFR Part 503 which requires that sewage sludge be treated by a Class A treatment process, where pathogens are treated to a below detectable limit, or a Class B treatment process, where the sludge is unlikely to pose a threat to human health and environment under certain conditions (EPA, 2003). If Class B 73 74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . biosolids are land applied, crop harvesting, animal grazing, and public access must be limited for a certain period of time and be closely monitored. In the past, the City of Clearwater operated an RDP EnvesselPasteurization process at the Northeast Advanced Pollution Control Facility (APCF), which produced Class A biosolids from the sludge generated by the City's three APCFs. The sludge was then land applied. However, the City discontinued this process in 1998 after determining it was more cost effective to enter in to along term contract with a contract operator to produce Class B biosolids, which are hauled to residual fields in Polk County and Hillsborough County for land application. Land application ofbiosolids is not very sustainable: · The transport ofbiosolids from the City to the land application sites in other counties involve the emission of pollutants and usage of gasoline. As land application sites become more scarce, trucks will have to travel farther. · Land - Not only is public awareness increasing resentment towards sludge fields, but a more prevalent long term problem is the fact that land is running out for this type of application process. In addition to being unsustainable, it is important that the City be self reliant regarding residuals treatment. There is typically tremendous opposition to land application in communities where it occurs. A recent law suit in California has received a lot of attention in the residuals management industry. Orange County, California is dependant on Kern County to accept its residuals for land application. In November 2006, Kern County adopted an ordinance to ban the importation of bios old is. The Kern County voters overwhelmingly (83%) voted for the ban on biosolids recycling in their . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . county, (Nebra, 2007). Neighbors argued that they should have the right to enjoy their home without be subjected to a neighboring residual treatment facility. The debate centered on the public's perception of living next to sludge material rather than a scientific debate about the actual hazards of the biosolids. Even though the residuals being shipped met the criteria for Class B biosolids land application, and there was no imminent hazard or danger to the public, the Kern County voters still wanted the ban. Their perception of the industry was the driving force for the lawsuit between the two government entities The Court concluded that the outright ban ofbiosolids discriminates against interstate commerce, and Kern County lost the lawsuit. Out-of-county biosolids are considered commerce, and cannot be shut out of a county. Additionally, the Court did not find evidence that harm would occur to residents living near to the sludge fields, and it stated that the practice has been undertaken safely throughout the United States without indication of detrimental environmental or health impacts, (Nebra, 2007). Although the lawsuit was lost, it demonstrates the growing public discourse over the land application of Class B biosolids which could potentially lead to issues down the road. Sustainable Development Plan and Implementation A more sustainable plan for Clearwater would be for the City to treat its sludge to Class A standards, that is commercial grade for farming and agriculture. Although the sludge fields can be used by cattle ranchers to pasture their cows and grow hay, producing a commercial grade fertilizer would create a better and more useful product. This would also allow the City to avoid any potential issues that down the road with land application. 75 76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The initial costs of starting up a Class A residual treatment process will be the biggest factor. Proper planning and equipment purchasing is essential. A meeting with Clearwater's Superintendent of Public Utilities, John Milligan, revealed a plan of action for what the City is currently, and planning on doing, regarding residuals treatment. Six years ago, Clearwater was hauling its sludge off to land fills. As mentioned above, this is a common practice for urbanized cities to do, which is very non- sustainable. Today, the City of Clearwater hauls off its sludge to be land applied, or sent to a land fill. To lighten the load of the actual hauling costs of trucking the sludge to the fields, the City invested in anaerobic digesters to reduce volatile solids in the sludge to reduce hauling coats. There are two digesters at the Marshall Wastewater Treatment Facility, and one at the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility. These digesters not only reduce the amount of volatile solids in the sludge, but can actually generate electricity in the process. The methane gas produced is a by-product of the residuals treatment, and 3500 cubic feet is produced every hour. This generates power for micro turbines, has so far given Clearwater an energy reduction of $80-1 00 thousand dollar per year. Clearwater did have a brief history with treating their sludge back in 1995 at the Northeast Facility. The process was a lime treatment process with is not efficient and literally a stinking process of residuals treatment. This type of treatment was messy, and treated with a high amount of lime to stabilize the sludge, which still had to be hauled away to residual fields. Overall, the plant was deemed too big of an expense, and went off line. . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The plan currently on the table for Clearwater is to buy two dryers to treat and dry out their residuals. This type of advanced treatment yields Class A sludge. This method would dry sludge up to 90% solids, and the product would be hauled away to make fertilizer at fertilizer plants. The major barrier for this the $14-15 million dollar price tag that goes with the equipment purchase for the capital project. A solution to lighten the expense load would be to have smaller, neighboring cities help contribute. The cities of Tarpon, Oldsmar and Dunedin could contribute towards the operations and maintenance costs of the equipment. Another way is if each smaller city were to pay per pound of what goes through the plant. This could be beneficial for a smaller quantity generator. A concern John had with obtaining the Class A residual is the responsibility that comes with it. The difference between Class A and Class B residuals is huge. Class A is strictly regulated, and must meet strict guidelines before leaving the plant. This can be seen as a hindrance for most plant mangers. The three hurdles for the City to get this plan off the ground are: 1 - Operations and maintenance costs, 2 - Start up capital costs for the initial purchase for the equipment, and 3 - Fuel costs. To look at the incentives that caD overcome these barriers, we'll look at each one of issues, and see specifically how each can be dealt with to move ahead with the project. First, the operations and maintenance (O&M) costs are varied because it depends on the frequency of machine usage. John's concern was for Clearwater to take on such a potentially huge O&M expenses for the City. The potentially high costs of repairs and/m downed equipment can be off-set by having the smaller surrounding cities of Tarpon, Oldsmar and Dunedin share expenses, in the meanwhile, ship their sludge to the Clearwater plant as well for Class A residual treatment. If neighboring cities can come to 77 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the table as well with this part of the project, it would be a win-win situation for everyone. The second concern being addressed is the capitol project cost of $14-15 million dollars for 4 years. John stressed the importance of such projects being done over a few years, rather than at one. If a huge project is taken up too quickly, it can have negative impacts on the taxpayers. This is to be avoided by all means; even if a great project idea is in the works, a time frame must be set to disperse the stress of the initial costs. The last issue mentioned is fuel costs. Unstable fuel costs can drive or crash markets and industries in our current economy. The dryers covert our waste product into a great resource,. but it takes fuel to run the dryer stems that treat the residuals. A huge spike in fuel costs can cause extra expenses for the Class A process. If certain energy efficient dryers are purchased, they have capabilities of recirculating their energy, making them more efficient and less expensive to operate. Results and Future Recommendations Earlier, I mentioned the issues of basic sludge land fill and field application implications. Land filling is getting significantly more expensive. Basic land application is getting met with opposition from communities as was seen from the California county law suit. I think John Milligan said it best during our meeting, "Availability of land is what drives residual dryers to be purchased. We are running out ofland." Running out of land is an issue that will have to eventually be addressed, as with all wasting industries. The bottom line for Clearwater tax payers is a benefit for purchasing the dryers. For the fiscal year of October 2006 through 2007, the current cost of hauling Class B sludge out of the City cost $750,000. Estimation for running the fuel dryers to treat the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sludge, with fuel costs estimated at $1.94 a gallon, the number came out to $620,000. Clearwater can save potentially over $100,000 a year by treating their sludge with this dryer method; all the while being sustainable and environmentally friendly. These costs can change however; rising fuel costs to operate this dryer system can become a huge negative factor for the City. Looking towards the future, it can be an option left on the table to treat greater amounts of sludge from a growing population by making even bigger gains through the treatment process. The granulator method can be looked at if and when the Clearwater dryer treatment proves successful. The neighboring City of Largo has a biosolids fertilizer plant which has been operating since 1991. A field meeting conducted with the Largo biosolids plant foreman, Craven Askew, went through the process of how regular wastewater sludge is treated and creates a Class A soil conditioner product. "The City of Largo Wastewater Biosolids Facility utilizes advanced heat-drying technology to produce marketable pelletized domestic waste residuals. The facility produces between 16 and 18 dry tons per day of Class A residuals that are sold for beneficial use as a soil conditioner. The finished product has very little odor, has a high nutrient value and is highly marketable. The finished product is sold to a private entity for resale to various agricultural interests throughout the United States. The final product is used directly as a soil conditioner and also is mixed with other ingredients for use as a fertilizer," (Askew, 2004, p.). A diagram for the facility shows the sludge treatment process from start to finish, (Diagram 1). The end product of the Largo Biosolids Facility is a pelletized, granular residual that is sold and used as fertilizer. The plant currently sells the finished product for $42.50 a ton to 79 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the Centico Company, which has contracts with major fertilizer and agriculture companies throughout the U.S. The major difference between what is being proposed for Clearwater regarding Largo's treatment process is the fact that a pelletizing train is not required to make commercial grade fertilizer. It is very useful to pelletize the residuals, and it makes a better product for agricultural use; however, at this stage of the plan for Clearwater is to treat the sludge with dryers and not put it through the pelletizing part of the process. This won't pull a profit for the City, since the end product will be picked up for free from a distributor. If Clearwater were to put a biosolids processing plant into operation for the city, 100% of their waste stream from sewage sludge could be transformed into a fertilizer resource; hence, the current trend of the City's linear process urban production would be converted to a circular trend of input and output sustainability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part III Transportation 81 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 9 Electric Vehicles in Clearwater John Connaughton Executive Summary The subject of my study is how the city can reduce the generation of greenhouse gases produced there by cars and trucks. I first examine the benefits of low speed electric vehicles, or LSVs. This solution is attractive in terms of ecology and economics, but it is dependent upon a cultural and therefore political modification: it might require lowering speed limits on some roadways in Clearwater. The conclusion of my study is that electric cars and trucks will eventually be the answer to the basic problem of greenhouse gas emissions, even if they are not LSVs. The problem is, affordable models of faster and fully electric vehicles do not exist yet. They will soon, but if Clearwater needed to replace vehicles today, and could not adopt the low speed solution, then the best solution I could present now would be a hybrid. In doing this report I examined several dozens of internet sources, and my links are provided in the references for this chapter. As much as is possible the numbers cited herein come only from government web sites, most notably www.fueleconomv.gov, on the assumption those are the most objective and thorough. I avoided other sites unless they agreed with government sites. For distances I relied on Google Earth's measuring tools. Fuel Alternatives: Ecology From the ecological point of view any alternative to gasoline is better than gasoline. Appendix A shows that the typical mid-sized gasoline car on the road today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emits at least 8 tons of greenhouse gases in the course of an average year's 15,000 miles. Ethanol, natural gas, and hybrids are all notably better, and these could be adopted and used in the city right now with no more preparation than locating the nearest fuel supplier. Greenhouse gases from ethanol are about 80% of gasoline, and natural gas is about 67% of gasoline. For absolute improvement, however, there is only electric. Electric does not produce any greenhouse gases at all, or only traces. Therefore replacing one gasoline car with an electric one cuts pollution by 8 tons or more per 15,000 miles driven. Fuel Alternatives: Economics If electricity is generated by solar, wind or water power, the raw resource is free (as well as clean) and there would be no comparison at all between electricity and other sources of automotive power. But most electricity today is generated from fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are the original energy source for both, gasoline arrives at the pump much more efficiently (82%) than electricity arrives at the outlet (52%). However, production and distribution do not matter, even ignoring the 'free' nature of renewable sources, because this is more than offset by performance at the end. In a gasoline engine several things have to happen to get energy from a burning fuel converted into pressure turning the axles; in an electric car the axle can actually be the shaft in the motor. An electric thus, and in other ways, has significantly fewer moving parts. Because of this electric is about 75% efficient in converting stored energy into useful motion, compared to 20% for gasoline. At the point of use an electric motor approximately triples the productivity of a gasoline engine. (See appendix E.) 83 84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the argument, say gasoline at the pump costs $3.00 per gallon. At 30 mpg, 30 miles costs $3.00, or 10 cents per mile. A gallon of gasoline contains power equal to 33.5 kilowatts worth of electricity. The current cost of kilowatt-hours is about $.10 each (which is probably high, especially if one recharges at night). This means an electric car needs $3.35 worth of electricity to match the power in a gallon of gas-but at three times the efficiency, you go 90 miles for that $3.35, which means 3.7 cents per mile instead of 10. (See appendix A again for annual costs, and appendix C for fuel efficiency data.) Other Technical Considerations On top of the difference in fuel-to-action efficiency, any car that burns any fuel at all for even a moment (meaning hybrids too) needs a containment chamber for the fire and systems for conversion and exhaust, making them much heavier and more complex than an electric car, and therefore more expensive to build, purchase and maintain. Batteries might outweigh a full tank of gasoline, but overall the electric will still weigh less. The life span of an electric motor is 30,000 hours. A gasoline engine driven 1,000,000 miles at an average speed of 50 mph has run only 20,000 hours, and it has probably needed a good amount of servicing along the way, while an electric did not. As of now the weak point in electric cars is the battery. A hybrid Prius set on 'EV' (electric vehicle only) will run out of power in 10 or 11 miles because it draws on a single battery for locomotion; fully electric vehicles have greater range because they use grids of up to 20 batteries. Furthermore, however many there are, current batteries still . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . last for only 3 or 4 years-and batteries are expensive. The owner of an electric vehicle today may need to spend 20 x $100 = $2,000 every 3 or 4 years to replace them. By comparison, the Department of Energy estimates a 4-year average routine maintenance cost for gasoline cars to be $2,983. I do not have an item by item comparison on this, however. Both need tires, for example, and that might be included for the gasoline car but it is not for the electric. Therefore I allow that electric and gasoline maintenance may be an even match, at least for now. I think, though, it will not be that way for long. As I edit in late November 2007, U.S. News & World Report reports that GM is closing in on a 300 lb. lithium ion battery that should extend range by 4 or 5 times the nickel metal hydride in a Prius, let alone the lead acid batteries that preceded that. I also expect that in the end fuel-cell technology will render all batteries obsolete, but I am not going there in this report except to note fuel-cells are intended to produce electricity, so that conversion from batteries at a later date should be a relatively focused and simple process. If maintenance is a draw for now, and fuel costs run 3 to 1 in favor of electrics, and emissions are not even an argument, then it is time to start looking at electric vehicles. Low Speed Vehicles (Lsvs) F or the technical reasons just described, and for reasons still to be discussed, LSVs are lightweight and inexpensive, typically $9,000 - $15,000. They win on purchase price as well as environmental cost and fuel economy. (Appendix E includes links to a number of different makes and models.) But what are they? 85 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Department of Transportation rules on this subject have existed only since 1998, when it became necessary for the public safety to separate smaller electric vehicles-specifically, golf carts-from sharing the same roads as faster, heavier vehicles. The result was the creation of the LSV category. The definition hinges largely on attaining speeds above 20 mph, which keeps golf carts out of this category. LSVs are supposed to be capped at 25 mph, but for technical reasons they are often--ifnot usually- -capable of more; thus how and where they are allowed to be used defines them better than simple speed capability. The federal rule drew upon the dozen or so states that already had rules for this, including Florida. Most of these, including Florida, allow LSVs on private and public roads where pennitted by local government, or in self-contained retirement communities. Arizona took the approach that LSVs can be driven there on any road posted at 35 mph or lower. Like other states that addressed the issue, Florida requires efficient brakes, reliable steering apparatus, safe tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices in front and rear, headlights, taillights, and brake lights. Notably, there is nothing in the rule about side impact panels or any meaningful bumpers-and therefore these vehicles would not pass a crash test. (This is another reason they are so lightweight.) I could find no indication that automobile insurance companies have given LSVs any thought at all yet. I looked for quotes on-line and spoke at some length with a service representative at Progressive Insurance. They had never heard of these vehicles. So for now I assume that LSV s are treated as any other vehicle for insurance purposes; but for several reasons, most obviously speed, insurance on a LSV should cost far less. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Because they are only minimally equipped for safety, though, serious consideration needs be given to whether or not LSV s should be on the same roads as faster moving, heavier vehicles. The easy answer is that they should not. The next question, then, is a planning one: how much of the City of Clearwater could tolerate a speed limit of 35 mph on all traffic so that these vehicles would be reasonably safe? Appendix B shows a map laying out the current speed limits in Clearwater. It is clear from that map that most of the road mileage in Clearwater is already at 35 or 30 mph. These speed zones are located largely in residential areas and in the island communities. Clearly LSVs would do well if they were used exclusively in these areas. The problem is getting from one such area to another one when they are not directly connected. There are significant miles of roadway in Clearwater currently limited to 40 mph. These roads are problems for the LSVs where they divide the lower speed areas from each other. If these speed limits could be reduced by 5 mph, almost the entire city would then be capped at 35 mph. Very little would not be. West of Route 19 only 6.13 miles of road are set above 40 mph, including 4.46 miles of Coachman, Drew and North Belcher roads, and 1.67 miles on The Memorial Causeway Bridge. These are all set at 45 mph. Perhaps the east end could be ignored; but the bridge looms in Clearwater's primary industry, and most obviously divides the lower speed areas. If the bridge could be reduced by 10 mph this entire plan would come together. (In driving the bridge's 1.67 miles, the difference between 45 mph and 35 mph is 38 seconds.) 87 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I must note, however, the bridge is part of an evacuation route, and that makes this more than only a life-style issue. LSVs might be the only means of escape for some, but their presence on the bridge might also be the cause of chaos. This question needs professional consideration that I cannot provide. Higher-Speed Electrics At the other end of the scale, several new electric vehicles like the Tesla can out- perform all but the most powerful gasoline engines. The people behind the Tesla claim it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, then cruise at 130 mph for up to 245 miles. They claim a fuel cost of 2 cents per mile and the equivalent of 135 mpg in efficiency. The first production run of this car sells for $100,000, which could come down with volume; in the meantime it provides a glimpse into the future of electronic car technology. On the more practical end-but still at $42,000---from 1997 to 2003 Toyota sold a 100% electric SUV called the Rav-IV. It matched the speed and perfonnance of any other SUV except for range, and it offered zero emissions and fuel efficiency equal to 111 mpg. The electric Rav-IV was discontinued after 6 years, so something about it still wasn't economical. Or it may have had to do with California loosening an emissions standard the day before they closed it down, but I do not know that. My point is that the technology already exists, even the tooling and assembly line already exist, so full speed electrics could return as fast as demand rises as gas goes up, or legal standards tighten agam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Let me re-cap. We already know that electric is the only really good answer ecologically for personal transportation. We already know it is the least expensive type of fuel consumption. We know that except for batteries there is no comparison in maintenance costs. So what else is there? Hybrids The simplest way to deal with the subject of hybrids is to say a few things about the Toyota Prius. This car owns 40% of the hybrid market in the United States. It has been named Car of the Year in Japan (1997-98), in North America (2004) and in Europe (2005). It claims overall fuel mileage of 46 mpg, and its suggested retail price for 2007 was a low $22,175. More than a million have been sold world-wide. It is used by local governments as police vehicles from Sweden to Ottawa to Laguna Beach, CA. It is also available now at many dealers within or around Clearwater, and it has a history of exemption from sales taxes (at least in Connecticut), federal income tax credits, and 10% discounts on insurance. If Clearwater were in the market to replace a sedan in its fleet right now, one would almost have to endorse this vehicle. Nonetheless, half the time this vehicle is running on gasoline, and every 15,000 miles or so it has put 4 or 5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the air. What Other Cities Are Doing Now What cities are doing right now is buying the Toyota Prius. No-one thinks they can afford to wait for the perfect all-electric vehicle. There is something like a contest going on today in the United States, with cities competing to see who can get greenest, fastest. A website called Sustainlane currently ranks the top ten as follows; the 89 90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . percentage shown for each is how much of their city fleets are powered by alternative fuels. Las Vegas. NV 63% Denver. CO 31% Honolulu. HI 51% Phoenix. AZ 28% Kansas City. MO 45% Los An2eles. CA 25% Albuquerque. NM 42% Seattle. W A 25% Dallas. TX 39% Portland. OR 25% Albuquerque and Denver are on record as pursuing 100% greenness. In Albuquerque ethanol, electricity and biofuels are mandated for city buses, and hybrid cars are encouraged by getting free parking. New York City is noteworthy. They bought 20 of the electric Toyota Rav-IV themselves and have in place major economic incentives to promote private investment in electrics and hybrids and other alternative fuels. The taxi medallions sold for alternative vehicle taxis there run at up to 33% less than for gasoline. The NYC Department of Transportation (NY DOT) will pay up to 80% of the incremental cost for new or converted medium- and heavy-duty natural gas, electric, dual-fuel (80% CNG), or hybrid electric vehicles. The New York City Private Fleet Alternative Fuel/Electric Vehicle Program gives out awards to help private sector fleets convert to alternative fuels. For examples: · UPS was awarded $746,888 to purchase ten (10) electric delivery vehicles for use in the Manhattan South delivery area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc, was awarded $124,237 to purchase five International Eaton hybrid-electric delivery trucks that operate out of their Bronx depot and service the five boroughs. The money for these awards comes from Federal Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds distributed through NYSERDA to address air quality improvement strategies in the transportation sector. And finally, until December 31,2010 New York state is giving a tax credit for the installation of clean fuel vehicle refueling infrastructure located in the state. The tax credit is equal to 50% of the cost ofthe infrastructure. (See Appendix D for more detail on NYC's programs.) Quoting from ZAP's publicity release of March 29, 2007, the City of Richmond, CA, has joined them in launching a pilot fleet program to demonstrate ZAP electric trucks in a city fleet, the first fleet in the country to incorporate all-electric city-trucks. ZAP calls the XEBRA sedan and truck "city-cars," an electric car design for inner city driving up to 40 MPH. XEBRA is manufactured through a strategic partnership with a Chinese auto manufacturer and available through ZAP's authorized dealers at a price of about $10,000. (Note the speed-almost only a LSV. I assume these avoid the higher speed limit streets.) Implementation Ideas For Clearwater 1. Clearwater can work with the state and the county to look at sales taxes, which Connecticut waives on purchases of hybrids. 2. It can work with the state DMV to set graduated fee rates based in part on fuel usage. 91 92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. It can look at reduced license (medallion) fees for electric or hybrid taxicabs. 4. It can consider free parking for obvious electrics or hybrids. 5. It can explore the federal and state agencies which would support such efforts financially. 6. It can explore the LSV idea with adjacent towns and cities. 7. It can promote electric vehicle rentals by rental companies, and electric shuttle service by local hotels, via tax considerations. It could also bring consumer pressure to bear here by offering consumer incentives, like local hotel discounts if they show they rented a hybrid. 8. It can look at partnerships with electric utilities for the development of convenient, credit-card operated charging stations in public parking facilities or even with metered street parking; such convenience for citizens could only encourage private use of electrics. 9. Clearwater could explore a partnership with 'Zip-Cars,' a national rental operation in major cities that rents vehicles out for just a few hours at a time and at a fairly low cost. A fleet of inexpensive electric vehicles might prove a very strong economic model here. 10. Clearwater could buy an electric or hybrid vehicle the next time one of the town's fleet needs to be replaced, and track that vehicle's expenses and performance for the sake of learning more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 10 Sustainable Options for Travelers to Clearwater Johan Gonzalez Executive Summary For the fall semester of 2007 Dr. Robert Brinkmann, Chair of the Geography Department at the University of South Florida, conceived a course outline meant to complement 'greening' efforts being made by the city of Clearwater, Florida. This project is the work of one of the students taking that course. The subject of this project is transportation systems used to get here by visiting tourists and winter residents. This project is related to two other USF projects focusing on transportation, one about electric vehicles and other fuel alternatives, and the second on bicycle use within the city. These however are more about what can be done once a person is in the city, as opposed to how one gets there. Clearwater is a city that is strongly affected, economically and socially, by tourism with a significant percentage of the population here is seasonal due to our attractive beaches and climate. However, the transportation systems our visitors use to get here adversely affect the quality of life in Clearwater for everyone. The goal of this project is to identify the transportation systems that travelers use now to come to the area, and identify alternatives that are more sustainable. The pros and cons to these alternatives will be presented followed by an implementation strategy for their adoption. The city has recognized the need for multimodal transportation in its plans for development, and has made the first step in considering sustainable options. The city, as well as other stakeholders such as shuttle operators, can adopt alternative options with 93 94 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . financial and research assistance from outside as well as internal sources. This would serve to improve the lifestyles of both residents and visitors and make the city a sustainable community and tourism destination Project Definition The scope of the project is to identify the options of that travelers chose to get to Clearwater from the major airport in the area, and to identify the economic, social, and environmental impacts those options might have on the city. Alternatives that could help reduce the impact of tourism on the city shall be presented. This would include a study of the strengths and weaknesses of alternative transportation options, as well as suggestions for making the acceptance of these options more feasible. The project involves several elements of sustainable transportation. In the first place it might be useful to define what sustainability is. The most basic definition is from the Brundtland Report (1987): Sustainable development "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs "J. In tenns of transportation the Environmental Directorate of the OECD defines environmentally sustainable transportation as, "transportation that does not endanger public health or ecosystems and that meets needs for access consistent with (a) use ofrenewable resources that are below their rates of regeneration, and (b) use of non-renewable resources below the rates of development of renewable substitutes. ,,2 This definition is relevant to the project in that it mentions renewable alternatives to petroleum, which will be considered later. 1 Sustainable Transportation and TDM. Online TDM Encyclopedia htto://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm67.htm 2 Sustainable Transportation and TDM. Online TDM Encyclopedia http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm67.htm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . There are several impacts that transportation can have on the environment which are of concern to the city. One of the major concerns today is the depletion of non renewable resources such as gasoline and diesel. The burning of fossil fuels also contributes to air and water pollution, which can affect the city's tourist trade. It also affects the city's efforts in terms of greening itself in that climate change has shown to be linked to human contributions of green house gases. The economic consequences of transportation are also significant. There are the more obvious costs on the building of facilities such as highways as well as concurrent costs to increase access to urban and suburban areas. Traffic congestion due to the increased automobile usage also has economic costs due to increased fuel usage. One of the major concerns of consumers today is the rising cost of gasoline. (This may actually help sustainability efforts, in that it almost forces people to consider alternative means of transportation. Benefits There are several benefits to be gained from understanding how tourists traveling to Clearwater impact the environment through their transportation choices. By addressing this source of potential green house emissions, this study can help the city contribute to the international movement of adaptation to climate change. If it leads to the adoption of fuel efficient vehicles and alternative fuels, it will reduce the consumption of petroleum citywide. New developments can be designed with more sustainable transit options, and of themselves become a draw for residents and tourists. 95 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sustainable Plan Development The need for more sustainable transit options begins with a review of the data gathered on options for travel to the city. Different alternatives will be assessed with examples of success stories to better explain the possibility of adoption. The major data sources on travelers from the airport to Clearwater were gathered from two surveys. The first is the Tampa International Airport Survey (See Appendix 1). This survey though not specific to the area of Clearwater in general was instrumental in revealing the fact that travelers in the airport tended to bed either picked up (36.4%) or were using private vehicle (19.5%). The use of rental cars (36.9%) was also relevant to sustainable development in Clearwater, for several reasons. The survey shows that the major users of transportation from the airport are private or small car users3. It also emphasizes that any sustainable transit approaches by the city government should include rental car companies as prime stakeholders. The second source was the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention and Business Bureau4. The website that is operated by this organization had a number of important surveys that were related to the specifics of travelers to Clearwater. In the 2006 annual visitor profile, the number of travelers who deplaned from Tampa International numbered approximately seventy-two thousand compared to twenty thousand from Orlando internationalS. The number of visitors who used rental cars annually was also significant (fifty three thousand). The rental car companies at the airports offer a number of vehicle choices to travelers, including fuel efficient models as well as those with low efficiency. Some 3 Tampa transit survey Pg 16 htto://www.tamoaaimort.com/ground transPOItation/transit survev.pdf 4 81. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau website htlp://www.pinellascvb.com/ 5pg 19 httu:/ /www.oinellascvb.comlstatistics/Pinellas%20Annual%202006.odf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . companies did offer some alternative vehicle types. An example would be The Dollar Rental Company, which offers a hybrid Nissan Altima6. Alamo also offers a number of hybrids, including the Toyota Prius and Camry7. A number of rental car companies, in fact, are now aware of and working to improve the greenhouse gas emissions problem as it relates to rental cars8. These options have several environmental problems. The major problem would be the emissions that fossil fuelled cars emit. These include major green house gases such as carbon dioxide which contribute to global warming as well as other gases that are detrimental to human health. The other major concern will be congestion on the major roadways to Clearwater especially during the peak tourist season during the winter. Therefore sustainable options should seek to reduce emissions as well as lessen traffic on the roads. Alternatives Light rail is a form of transport that uses electric rail cars on private roads. This mode of transport should be considered an option for bringing travelers from the airport to the city and its tourist destinations. Advantages Light rail can provide a higher capacity service than buses or shuttles approximately 100 persons per car or 150 per train9. They also are less polluting in that 6 Dollar Rental Company undated httn://ww2.dollar.com/CarslFindACar.asox 7 Alamo car rental undated htto:/lwww.alamo.com/ 8 htto://aboutus.enterorise.com/file/1621Customer Cabon Offsets OctO? .oM 9 htto://www.sfeccstudv.com/other transoortation.html 97 98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they give off zero emissions at the point of use. Passenger comfort can be superior to other forms of mass transit. This can enhance the image of using light rail encouraging greater ridership. The costs to passengers are also much less than renting a car. Light rail can also reduce congestion on major roadways by reducing the number of commuters from the airport. Disadvantages The major disadvantage would be costs on construction and implementation. Capital cost can be high (between 3 and 25 million dollars)lO. The infrastructure required will occupy significant urban space and may require modifications to existing traffic flows. Cost of construction will be naturally reduced due to the topography of Florida (flat) especially in the light that there is no need for underground construction. Speed can be a concern with the average being between 15 to 25 miles/hour with a top speed of 65 mile/hour. This however can be ideal if the rail is constructed along scenic areas such as Tampa bay where tourist would most likely visit during their stay. The airport has considered a small light rail project in conjunction with the City of St. Petersburg]]. This should be replicated in Clearwater with the system running along the scenic Courtney. Campbell Causeway. It also serves create a vital linkage with an important shareholder in tourism as well as provide travelers with further incentive to use light rail. Shuttle usage was also a concern, although it does not have as significant an impact on fuel usage as private cars do, according to the surveys. Shuttles can reduce the 10 http://www.sfeccstudv.comlother transportation.html II ttp:/ /www.heraldtribune.comlarticle/200711 02/NEWS/711 020396/-1 IRS SO 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . impact on the environment through the sharing of rides by travelers to their destination. The sustainability of shuttles can be further enhanced buy using alternative fuels or even going completely electric. There are several benefits to conversion Benefits The most important is the reduction of emissions. Shuttles tend to make several trips a day the reduction benefits can be compounded. They can also help shuttle operators reduce operational and maintenance costs as these vehicles are more efficient that their petroleum counterparts. The public relation perception of alternative fuel vehicles are extremely positive as they are cleaner and quieter that thand conventional vehicles. Disadvantages The major disadvantage would be costs of implementation. Typically buses using natural gas or ethanol cost $60, 000 more than conventional vehicles. This is in addition to the new infrastructure needed such as fuelling staion and storage. However this can be mitigated through grant programs from the Federal Transit Administration as well as excises taxes such as an alternative fuel infrastructure tax. credit. One example would be Section 1342 of the Energy Policy Act of200S12. It provides a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of alternative refueling property. Qualifying alternative fuels are natural gas, propane, hydrogen, E85, or biodiesel mixtures of B20 or more. Another program is the Clean Cities initiative. According to the Guide to alternative fuel transportation in Florida by the Clean Fuel Florida advisory Board (2003), Clean Cities is 12 httD://www.eere.enerl!v.l!ov/afdc/nTOJ!S/view ind fed.phD/afdcl35l/0 99 wo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a U.S. DOE nationwide initiative, begun in 1994, to encourage the use of alternative fuels, infrastructure and vehicles through grassroots groups in designated areas throughout the country. The program is a voluntary, locally based government and industry partnership to mobilize local stakeholders in the effort to expand the use of alternatives to gasoline and diesel fuel. The program seeks to improve the quality of life by using clean domestic fuels for transportation. This program can aid in infrastructural implementation of alternative fuels. Portland, Oregon has a program using a mix of alternative fuels, and that city is considering conversion to hybrid busesl3. The experience of The Salt Lake City international airport was also successful in term of working with shuttle companies and offering incentives.14 This suggests that with suitable partnership and incentives, a sustainable alternative to private automobile use from airports can be achieved. Transit buses were not popular choices for travelers to get to Clearwater. However, as an alternative to private cars, public transportation can be less damaging to the environment. They can also serve as means of transit from transit stations of intercity systems such as light rail. The City of Clearwater is served by a number of routes of the Pinellas Sun coast Transit Authority. The most significant to Clearwater, in tenns of tourism, would be the Suncoast trolley (http://www.psta.netlbeachtrolley.htm) and the Jolley Trolley (http://www.thejolleytrolley.coml). Both these trolley services operate between the Cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg on a regular daily schedule. The continuous operation of these vehicles, as well as their accessibility to popular tourist 13 http://www.eere.energy.~ov/afdc/progs/ddown eXP.phD/SHUTL/159 14 http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/Drogs/ddown exp.php/SHUTLI7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . areas, makes them prime candidates for consideration in sustainable transit options as electrical buses. The experience of the Greater New Haven Transit District (GNHTD) in Connecticut is one success storyl5. They began operating four Ebus -22-foot, fully electric trolley replica vehicles in 2002. The most positive aspects of the switch were the reduction of emissions in the immediate area as well as a reduction in fuel consumption. Sustain ability Plan implementation The first step would be construction of a light rail network from the Tampa international airport. This will be accomplished through funding from the Clean cities initative as well as funding from the Federal Transit authority. The airport also has a vested interest in a light rail project as it would reduce congestion to and from the airport and could provide additional funds for construction. The initial cost borne by the city would be recouped through funding sources as well as the user fees once the system is fully operational (7 to 15 dollars per trip). These systems would run along the major route from the airport to the Courtney Campbell causeway. This is the significant link between Tampa and Clearwater and completely above ground eliminating the need for underground sections. This would reduce cost per mile significantly. Shuttle usage can offer significant savings in terms of fuel consumption as well as emissions due to increase in number of passengers. These reductions can be further enhanced with conversion of shuttle fleets to either use alternative fuels or completely electric. A mix of both can be used with electric shuttles being used for relatively short 15 http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdclprol!s/ddown eXD.oho/SHUTUn 101 102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . trips. Infrastructure cost though significant will be reduced through incentives such as tax credits. The city of Clearwater must. actively engage the rental car companies to encourage passengers to choose hybrids as their mode of transport. This can be accomplished by giving financial incentives such as free parking at poular sites or reduced hotel rates for passengers using sustainable rental vehicles within the city the public image of rental car companies will be enhanced by such a program. Results and future recommendations The data reviewed suggested that travelers mainly use either private transportation or rental cars in arriving from the Tampa International Airport. These options were not sustainable as they contribute significantly to petroleum usages and air pollution. The sustainable transportation options such as electric light rail from the air port to Clearwater as well as shuttles and renal vehicles using alternative fuels and engines will help reduce the negative effects of travel to the city. The main disadvantage (costs of implementation) can be reduced through aid from programs offered by the Federal Transit authority and clean cities program among others.. The first recommendation would be to educate travelers about sustainable options before they arrive in the city. This can be done through the My Clearwater website as well as through travel agencies. A clear listing of options should be presented as well as any incentives for choosing to use them. Involvement of the hospitality industry must be a necessary component of any sustainability project involving tourists. A second recommendation would be the hosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of green conventions for business travelers. This would make regular travelers aware of the city initiatives for sustainability as well as provide an opportunity to showcase any environmental business programs the city may have to offer. It also gives hoteliers incentives to adopt technologies such as electric vehicles in their business plans. 1()3 104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 11 A Bicycle Sharing Program for the City of Clearwater: Getting People Out of Their Cars and Into a Greener City Danielle Sobczak Executive Summary Creating a sustainable community involves developing in a way that increases resident's quality oflife while protecting the natural environment. In other words, sustainable communities increase economic and community well-being in ways that promotes healthy environments (Hubbard, undated). It involves the efficient use of resources, meeting local needs through the efficient use of those resources, protection and enhancing in an equitable manner community quality of life and creating new businesses that provide services or products that protect or restore the environment (Hubbard, undated). Designing a sustainable transportation system is an important component in developing a sustainable community. A sustainable transportation system minimizes carbon dioxide emissions, reduces air pollution, promotes physical fitness, reduces noise pollution and provides a healthier and greener image for the community. Developing policies and providing transportation infrastructure that promotes the use ofbicycIes is an important component of developing a sustainable transportation system. The City of Clearwater has recognized this and is taking important steps to promote bicycle use through various infrastructure projects and educational campaigns outlined in Shifting Gears: Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan City of Clearwater 2006. A bicycle sharing program, gaining popularity throughout the United States and across Europe, may compliment the City's current efforts to create a more sustainable transportation system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Project Definition Currently, residents and visitors rely heavily on the use of personal automobiles to navigate the City of Clearwater. This results in traffic congestion, increased air pollution and the image that the city is unsafe for pedestrians. Modifying the City of Clearwater's current transportation system is important and necessary in the city's quest to create a greener image and more sustainable community. A bicycle sharing program is an innovative and environmentally friendly transportation program that also promotes health through exercise, reduces annual transportation costs for participants, reduces traffic congestion, and reduces air pollution and carbon emissions thus creating a more sustainable transportation system and environment. This paper will demonstrate, using Paris as a model, how a bicycle sharing program in the City of Clearwater may compliment the city's current Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and get people out of their cars and into a greener city. There are several ways cities can provide bicycles to their residents and visitors through bicycle sharing programs. The "first generation" bicycle sharing programs are unregulated programs where a city simply releases bicycles into the community for anyone to use (Gordon, p. 2007). There is no charge for the use of the bicycles and the bicycles are typically painted an identifying color (2007). However, this program is plagued with problems, most commonly bicycle vandalism and theft (2007). Other programs, often referred to as "next generation programs" include deposit programs where "a small cash deposit releases the bike from a locked terminal" and can only be retrieved by returning the bicycle to another terminal (Wikipedia, undated). Unfortunately, this program is also plagued with theft problems because the deposit 105 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . amount is only a fraction of the cost of the bicycle and therefore there is no true incentive to return the bike (Wikipedia, undated). Membership programs have fewer problems with theft (Wikipedia, undated). These programs are designed where "bicycles are kept either at volunteer-run hubs or at self service terminals" and "individuals registered with the program identify themselves with their membership card" allowing them to check out a bicycle (Wikipedia, undated). The membership creates a sense of responsibility thus reducing bicycle vandalism and theft (Wikipedia, undated). Another common program involves the long-term checkout of bicycles (Wikipedia, undated). This program allows bicycles to be given "free of charge, for a refundable deposit, or sold at a reduced price" and are "assigned to one person" for an extended period of time (undated). The most common disadvantage of this program is "the much lower using frequency" (undated). Finally, the "third generation" of bike-sharing programs are "high-tech" featuring "electronic payment, tracking and locking systems" (Gordon, 2007). These programs are often the product of public-private partnerships where cities have signed contracts with private advertising agencies that supply the city with bicycles for no charge and also provide the maintenance for the bicycles (Wikipedia, undated). In return the cities allow the agencies to advertise on the bicycles directly or in various locations throughout the city for no costs (Wikipedia, undated). These programs have proven more successful and have successfully combated the theft and low usage problems plaguing most of the other programs. As a result, this program may prove most useful for the City of Clearwater. The following section will use Paris' Velib' program as a model for a successful bicycle sharing program that has the potential to be implemented in the City of Clearwater. Of course Paris and Clearwater are extremely different in numerous ways. However, Paris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . seems to be the leader in this type of program and therefore serves as an excellent model. In addition, with any community bike program local variations should always be considered and adapted to accordingly. Sustainable Plan Development On July 15,2007, "the City of Paris launched a new self-service bicycle" program appropriately named Velib', a "combination of the French words velo (bicycle) and liberte (liberty)" (Velib', undated). Paris' program has been described as "the most ambitious in the world" (Bennhold, 2007). The overall goals of the program include pollution reduction and to reduce "damage caused by intense use of cars, and also to limit the emission of green house gases" 01 elib', undated). Furthermore, the city aims to transform their current transportation system by drastically reducing the use of cars and increasing the use of bicycles (undated). Positive consequences of this change in transportation include healthier residents, improved quality of life and a greener image for the city. Paris' program features 24 hour self-service bicycle terminals (Shown in Appendix 1, Figure 1) where users can take a bike from one terminal and return it to another (undated). In addition, the terminals have computers allowing users to "obtain one-day and seven-day subscriptions," recharge accounts, obtain terminal location information and view their account information (undated). The bicycle terminals are strategically located around the city "to serve centers of interest" (undated). The bicycles (Shown in Appendix 1, Figure 2), costing around 1,300 dollars apiece (Anderson, 2007), are designed for "durability, safety and comfort" (pristine planet, H>7 108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2007) and are painted a soft grey to blend "harmoniously into the urban environment" (Velib', undated). In addition, the bicycles are equipped with an electronic tracking device that substantially deters theft. Computers at the bicycle terminals assess the maintenance needs of the bikes. The costs to rent the bicycles are relatively cheap and affordable to most. For instance, the first 30 minutes are free, the next 30 minutes will cost $1.30, $2.60 will be charged for the next 30 minutes and $5.20 will be charged for the fourth-half hour of use and every 30 minutes after that (Anderson, 2007). The rising rate helps promote the swift return of the bicycles. Paris' program is a public-private partnership with the company JCDecaux (2007). JCDecaux is responsible for providing all of the bikes, building the pickup/drop- off stations, covering start'-up costs and employing the individuals necessary to operate the program (2007). All of the revenue from the program will go directly to the city and JCDecaux will pay Paris an annual fee (2007). In exchange the company will receive "exclusive control over 1,628 city owned billboards" (2007). Additionally, the company is responsible for maintenance of the bicycles and terminals. To further increase the sustainability of the program the company has developed some innovative maintenance techniques. For example, "control of the bikes will be carried out with 20 clean natural gas vehicles" and "the maintenance staff will travel around using 130 electrically assisted bikes" (Velib', undated). Furthermore, the most common maintenance required is washing the bicycles and this is accomplished using "rain water recovered from JCDecaux sites" (Velib', undated). The bicycles are also "99% recyclable" and the company has "set up a recycling network for worn bike tires" (Velib', undated). To date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the largest complaint with the program is that often in certain areas all of the racks are occupied in the terminals making returning a bicycle difficult (Anderson, 2007). It seems that Paris' bicycle sharing program would compliment Clearwater's current sustainability efforts and Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. For instance, the Master Plan outlines the city's vision stating: The City of Clearwater seeks to increase overall mobility and wellness by providing an integrated non-motorized network of bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout the City for the purpose of recreation, conservation, education, transportation and economic development A bike sharing program would bring in bike rental revenue that could be used to further enhance the city's transportation infrastructure and support the city's vision. In addition, bike sharing programs are known to reduce traffic. For instance, the mayor in Lyon, France claims, traffic has been reduced by four percent since the implementation of their bike sharing program (Anderson, 2007). A bike sharing program also has the potential to reduce air pollution, improve parking, and enhance the city's image as a greener, quieter more relaxed place to live and visit (2007). More importantly, a bicycle sharing program may help reduce carbon emissions. Again the deputy mayor of Lyon, France reports that "the cities 3,000 rental bikes have logged about 10 million miles- saving an estimated 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being spewed into the air" (Anderson, 2007). Furthermore, Cambridge reports that vehicles may emit between 280 to 430 grams of carbon dioxide per mile where as using a bicycle emits no carbon dioxide (Cambridge, undated). There are also practical benefits to bicycle sharing programs. For example, in Paris a recent study analyzed various trips around the city comparing "a car, 109 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bike, taxi and walking, and the bikes were always the fastest" (Anderson, 2007). Using bicycles as the main mode of transport also saves money. For instance, AAA reports that "car ownership ranks as the second highest living expense" and "the average yearly cost of car ownership is $8, 431" (Community Cycling Center, Undated). This cost is significantly higher than the costs to participate in the bicycle sharing program described above. Sustainability Implementation Plan The key to getting people out of their cars and onto a bicycle is to make it easy for them and making it the popular thing to do. The City of Clearwater already has transportation infrastructure modifications underway that will undoubtedly promote the use of bicycles. For instance, there are approximately 14 miles of existing multi-use trails and the City plans to add an additional 5.2 miles outlined in their Master Plan. In addition to these modifications, the City is actively promoting education and safety programs as well as campaigns to encourage bicycle use. The City has already conducted studies looking at bicycle use characteristics and has developed a model for prioritization of projects. In other words, the City's efforts in creating a friendlier biking atmosphere will be useful and may even serve as a model to implement the proposed bicycle sharing program. As with any community project it is important to obtain community input from stakeholders representing the diversity within the community. Community participation may be accomplished through interviews, focus groups, workshops and surveys. Through this process' project goals, priorities, timelines and concerns may be established . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and addressed. More specifically, location of bicycle terminals may be identified and strategies to avoid user complaints developed. Furthermore, potential partnerships may be identified through the stakeholder process. These partnerships may include local businesses and the tourism industry that is so prominent in Clearwater. As mentioned in the Paris model the public-private partnership was imperative to their bike sharing program because the private company provided all of the start-up costs, bicycles, terminals, necessary personnel and maintenance of the program in return for advertising privileges. Therefore, the City of Clearwater should make establishing partnerships a top priority in implementing a bicycle sharing program of their own. Getting peopleto use the bicycles will most likely pose the largest challenge and their use will serve as the clearest marker of success. The City can use educational programs and advertising to promote the programs use. These programs would compliment the current programs already in place that are described in the City's Master Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. It seems a bicycle sharing program would be a perfect compliment to this waterfront community and will help sustain the qualities that make it such an attractive community to live in and visit. Results and Future Recommendations "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. " - Albert Einstein Measuring the success of sustainability initiatives is often difficult. In the case of the proposed bicycle sharing program success can be measured in tenns of use. The City may be able to gage the potential success of the project through obtaining public input 111 through the stakeholder process described above. The potential for success can be maximized through careful planning and educational outreach. The City of Clearwater has the opportunity to become a leader in sustainable transportation with the implementation of its own bicycle sharing program. Figure 1. Example of a Velib' Terminal (Velib, undated) ~ ;,: ~:'~k:';:~~:'; ""' ~'-) High itability stand ~,l/, ~...'....-~. \) AdjtJSTabl" height .addle "-...:.:.": .// Figure 2. Example of Velib Bicycle (Velib, undated) 112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Part IV Energy and Buildings 113 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 12 Energy Management Ifetayo Venner Executive Summary As a signatory to the Mayor's Climate Change Agreement, the City of Clearwater is required to strive to meet or exceed Kyoto protocol targets for reducing global warming in its own operations and communities. Under the Kyoto protocol, developed countries are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5% below 1990 levels at a minimum (United Nations, 1998). As energy use in the United States has steadily risen, so too has the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is clear that to reduce energy related emissions the consumption of energy from fossil fuels will need to be reduced. Currently the most cost effective way to reduce greenhouse gases is to reduce overall energy consumption. The City can do much to promote energy efficiency among its constituents through education, tax incentives, building code changes among other things. However, this would be more effective if the City set the example by instituting these measures within its own operations. Discussions with staff indicate that there is some progress towards becoming more energy efficient and the City is moving in the right direction. However, there is no clear policy on energy efficiency, coordination or directive from the higher levels of the City. This means that the full potential for energy savings is not being realized. To engage as many employees as possible and to maximize savings the City should develop an energy management program. This paper presents the key constituents for a successful energy management program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Case for Energy Management As a signatory to the Mayor's Climate Change Agreement, the City of Clearwater is required to strive to meet or exceed Kyoto protocol targets for reducing global warming in its own operations and communities. Under the Kyoto protocol, developed countries are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5% below 1990 levels at a minimum (United Nations, 1998). Most of the man made greenhouse gases in the United States come from burning fossil fuels for energy use; of these, carbon dioxide is the most significant. As energy use in the United States has steadily risen, so too has the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Figure 1 shows the energy consumption and carbon dioxide (C02) gas emissions in the US from 1949 through 2006. It is clear that to reduce energy related emissions the consumption of energy from fossil fuels will need to be reduced. '20,000,000 7000 6000 '00,000,000 S u .. 5000'1; Iii 80,000,000 . c c ~ g. ! . i 4000! 60,000,000 E E .. il 3000 8 ~ u j i <<1,000,000 2000 ~ .. . c .. 20,000,000 '000 o ,,~'\rt>\#.# ,,$.# ~"~'\;.; ~'" ~"i" ~'> ~\~'" ~\#.#' ".# "."\,,,"~,\# ,,'# .# ,f",f"',f'> I--Tal8I EII8l1IJConounipcion.....Tal8ICarllon Dic>licIO EmiIBion& I Figure 1. United States Total Energy Consumption and Energy-Related C02 Emissions (Department of Energy, undated) 115 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Among the actions identified in the Mayor's agreement to reduce emissions due to energy consumption are to promote the use of clean, alternative energy and to make energy efficiency a priority. Clean, alternative energy sources of energy are an alternative to burning fossil fuels and will in the future be critical to reducing the consumption of greenhouse gas generating fuels. Solar energy, for example, could potentially be key in a state with as many sunshine days as Florida. The City should do what it can to promote the development and use of alternative energy sources where possible. However, currently these alternatives are not cost effective and viable for large scale use. For the time being the most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gases is to reduce overall energy consumption. The City can do much to promote energy efficiency among its constituents through education, tax incentives, building code changes among other things. However, this would be more effective if the City set the example by instituting these measures within its own operations. Residents and business would respond to the City's commitment and see that it is possible. Current Practice The City is made up of several departments. Discussions with staff in General Services and Public Utilities, as well a general City Of Clearwater website investigation, indicate that there is some progress towards becoming more energy efficient. Some examples are: · Replacement of older inefficient HV AC equipment · Installation of electronic temperature control systems · Gradual replacement of existing lighting to more efficient types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Specification of efficient lighting products for construction and renovation projects . The use of natural gas for heating, space and water, when applicable. . Replacement of process air blowers and change to more efficient diffusers at the Marshall Street Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility. . Piloting of more energy efficient motors at the City wastewater treatment plants These projects show that the City is moving in the right direction. Some of the staff are committed to saving energy and realize that it can be cost effective and even produce cost savings. However, there is no clear policy on energy efficiency, coordination or directive from the higher levels of the City. This means that the full potential for energy savings is not being realized. To engage as many employees as possible and to maximize savings the City should develop an energy management program with defined goals, employee education and management backing. Developing a Successful Energy Management Program A City energy management program will require several components to be successful. Much of it is outlined in the Figure 2, a guideline established by ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, set up to help organizations save money and protect the environment through energy efficient policies and practices. 117 I I I I .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure 2. Guidelines for Energy Management (ENERGY STAR, undated) Management Commitment F or an energy management program to be a success, and to engage as many people as possible, commitment from the top levels of the City is critical. Money should be set aside to fund the program and from the Mayor on down through the ranks it should be clear that this is a critical goal. It is critical that the program launch be well publicized within the City and that commitment from the highest levels of the City is demonstrated. Communication could be in the form of memos Ie mail to all of the staff from the Mayor, posters and/or an article in a newsletter. Details of the program could be made to management of the various departments who could then communicate the detail to their employees through meetings etc where necessary. 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Management Coordination Ideally someone should be designated with responsibility for energy management, reporting to the City Manager. This may not be possible with the limited budget of the City. However, the City should establish an energy management committee comprised of representatives from the various City departments, as well as stakeholders in the community with relevant expertise. There should be a representative from each department that affects energy use (eg. General Facilities, Engineering, Public Utilities), the Office of Management Budget, the Clearwater Gas System and Progress Energy. This team would initially be charged with developing a formal energy policy, developing strategies and a plan to implement them, identifying barriers and procedures to over come them, and communication with employees. As the program progresses it would be responsible for evaluating proposals, monitoring and reporting progress and branching out into new areas. According to ENERGY STAR (ENERGY STAR, undated), to be successful and energy policy should: · State a clear, measurable objective · Establish accountability · Allow for the policy to be evaluated and updated as needs and priorities change · Set and promote goals, linking them to the overall financial and environmental goals 119 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Establish Goals and Accountability Since the overall goal is to reduce energy, the goal should also be measurable. There should be an overall goal, goals for individual departments and sub-units and goals for processes. Goals should have clear, obligatory deadlines, and be achievable. Managers of the various departments should have input in determining goals and be held accountable for achieving them. Some examples of goals are: · Reduce overall City/departmentlequipment/process energy use by a certain percentage or amount . Reduce greenhouse gas production by a certain percentage or amount . Gain a certain number of additional points related to energy towards achieving a higher Florida Green Building status, a LEED certification for a building . Performance against a certain benchmark such as another similarly sized City. Establish a baseline Before any program begins the City should asses the current overall energy use and the energy use of the individual departments to establish a baseline which is critical for determining trends, success in meeting goals and identifying areas with potential for improvement. A complete assessment of what is currently being done should also be performed to identify successful projects, opportunities and problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Create an action plan Once the general policy is created and goals identified, an action plan should be established to implement the goals. This should be updated at annually to reflect achievements and changing priorities, needs and technologies. The action plan should: · Evaluate the past performance · Identify current energy use and short term and long term goals for the City as a whole and the various departments · Set timelines for the achieving the goals · Establish a system to track and monitor success · Identify critical people and roles · Identify resources Establish criteria for identifying and approving projects Some of the criteria for identifying savings and projects could be · Is the equipment/process needed? · Can the equipment be used more efficiently or the process made more efficient? · Can the same purpose be accomplished using less energy by some other equipment or process · Would new, more efficient equipment be more cost effective · If the project must prove to be profitable the criteria must be determined such as a payback period or a particular return on investment. Engage Employees 121 122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the program to be successful everyone in the City needs to be involved. Some critical factors that will contribute to the success are: · Employees should know why the program is necessary and what the goals are. · Employees should know that they are critical to the program's success, how they can contribute and what is expected of them. They should let educated as to how their activities (at work and at home) affect energy use and impact the environment. · Early success is critical to gaining support and enthusiasm. Management should start out with some programs with the most chance of success and publicize them. · The energy management team could put it its separate newsletter detailing goals, programs and successes. · Individual departments could also form teams responsible for implementing and championing the program. · Employees could be rewarded through publicity, letters, or even gift cards or monetary rewards especially if a suggestion has let to large savings. · Workshops/training with staff Evaluate Progress Once the action plan is implemented energy consumption should continuously be measured and compared to goals established for each department. This energy savings could then be converted to greenhouse gases. Data such as energy, monetary and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emissions savings and return on investment are critical to justifying the need for and success of the program and to make corrective action if necessary. It also can be used to sets a good example when City moves forward with trying to get its residents to and business to establish their own energy efficiency measures. Conclusion If the City adopts an energy management program following the guidelines outlined above, it should be able to improve energy efficiency further, reducing greenhouse gases and saving money in the process. 123 124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapter 13 Sustainable Building Initiatives in Clearwater, FL Jack O'Connor Executive Summary This study report begins by identifying the challenges and opportunities faced by the City of Clearwater in connection with the emerging practices of sustainable or green building development. The costs and benefits of this approach are discussed in some detail. While the issues discussed are seemingly specific to the City, they are representative of much a larger national and global trend. Included in the discussion are references to other venues and how they have used public policy initiatives to further their community objectives. The free market and private enterprise have also waded into the idea pool, while technical organizations have undertaken a wide range of studies and the cost/benefit models are evolving almost daily. Sustainability and green design have become a part of a larger global debate. Climate change, specifically humankind's potential to adversely impact the earth, is a topic to which green design and construction playa part. Energy, water, and related resource consumption/conservation are all themes central to sustainability. This has been an interesting and rewarding study. The initial results provide a necessary platform to support further research and evaluation. Project Definition In accordance with the city of Clearwater's mission to become a more sustainable community, this project specifically deals with current environmental efficiency issues with Clearwater's buildings. This study examines what role Clearwater'scun-entbuilding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . regulations play, if any, in creating and maintaining sustainable offices, retail spaces, hotels, apartment complexes, and other types of buildings. This project will examine various factors that are taken into consideration by cities when analyzing a building's sustainability. These include, but are not limited to: building materials, energy consumption, and waste output. The widespread use of air conditioning in Florida is an unavoidable reality. However, there are numerous steps that can be taken to maintain current service level standards while reducing the amount of overall consumption. Sustainability has become a global area of concern. For example, the California Integrated Waste Management Board states that commercial and residential buildings account for one-sixth of the world's fresh water withdrawals, one-quarter of its wood harvest, and two-fifths of its material and energy flows. The creation of more sustainable buildings is an opportunity to use resources efficiently while creating healthier buildings that improve human function, build a better environment, and provide for improvement of traditional cost/benefit ratios. Sustainable buildings, more commonly referred to as "green buildings," are structures designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource- efficient manner. Green buildings are utilized to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health, improving employee productivity, using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently, and reducing the overall impact to the environment. 125 126 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sustainable Plan Development From an economic standpoint, green buildings have traditionally cost more to design and construct. However, evidence suggests that green buildings also generate substantial savings, primarily through lower operating costs over the life cycle of the facility. For example, The Tampa Tribune's Russell Ray recently wrote an article about Verizon's upcoming use of solar power to run the equipment that makes telecommunications possible in the Tampa Bay area. Verizon has recently completed the installation of 140 solar panels at its central office building in Carrollwood. According to Russell Ray's article, the savings would be very significant, and the $300,000 upfront cost of the project would be completely recoupable (Ray, Tampa Tribune, 2007). Currently, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System has been established to accurately gauge a building's level of sustainability. LEED projects are independently certified as including a pre-determined number of energy-efficient and environment-conscious elements into design and construction. LEED Certification can be difficult to achieve, but several newer buildings, utilizing cutting-edge sustainable technology are setting a tremendous example. For example, the largest and most energy efficient LEED building in the state of New Mexico, the Jefferson Green office complex in Albuquerque, is one of the few buildings in the world to achieve a double LEED Gold Certification (Jefferson Green pamphlet, 2007). LEED's point-based rating system is organized into six categories (Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design Process) which contain credits and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . prerequisites. A project must achieve all seven prerequisites in order to attain any level of LEED certification. The prerequisites include Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning, Minimum Energy Performance, CFC Reduction in HV AC&R Equipment, Storage and Collection of Recydables, Minimum IAQ Performance, Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control (Jefferson Green pamphlet, 2007). One of Florida's newest and most environmentally-friendly buildings is already located on Clearwater Beach. The Sand Pearl Resort has recently been considered for LEED certification by the US Green Building Council. This hotel and resort is one of the first of its kind, and is already considered to be a leader among other resorts in energy efficiency and environmental design. The Sand Pearl Resort has taken several innovative steps to ensure quality conservation. For example, in the area of climate control, they have replaced the traditional Freon cooling system through using the building's own water supply. A state- of-the-art chiller system provides high efficiency cooling, using only about 70% of the energy required for other cooling methods. The indoor air quality is subsequently improved by utilizing the chilled water plant to supply the hotel's interior spaces with pre-conditioned air (Sand Pearl information pamphlet, 2007). The Sand Pearl's conservation efforts were underway from the beginning of its design and construction. Approximately 24 million pounds (12,000 tons, to be exact) of materials were reintroduced into the manufacturing process instead of being tossed away into landfills. That meant that over 65% of "normal" construction demolition waste was recycled, providing wood, concrete, plastic, gypsum, and metal for use in other 127 128 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . construction projects which is enough building material for 80 new 2,000-square foot homes (Sand Pearl information pamphlet, 2007). Sustainable Plan Implementation An example of "green legislation" in an area of the state in close proximity to Clearwater is currently taking place in Sarasota County. The Sarasota Green Building Program Resolution, part of a county-wide program popularly known as "Sustainable Sarasota," was first implemented in March of2005. This resolution was designed "to provide the Sarasota Community with a certification-based 'green building' program." This ordinance encourages the county to design and construct sustainable, energy- efficient buildings through the compliance of new county buildings. It also encourages voluntary green building in private development through incentive-based programs. To promote energy efficient construction, this ordinance provides a great deal of incentives for building new energy-efficient homes, such as: fast-track permitting for building permits, and a 50% reduction in the building permit fee with a maximum of $1,000 per building, but no person or organization shall receive more than $5,000 in pennit fee refunds (Romero and Hostetler, 2007). The Sarasota County government also provides marketing incentives, including erection of building signs at the site, placing participants on the city web site, and press releases. Finally, the Board of County Commissioners offers a Green Building Award to recognize one participant each year that demonstrates commitment to the program. An independent third party must certify buildings in order to retain such benefits. Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for development certification are compliant with the Florida Green Building Coalition and the U.S. Green Building Council (Romero and Hostetler, 2007). In addition to the green building program in Sarasota County, similar programs have been adopted in other Florida communities, including the city of Gainesville and Miami-Dade County. Outside of Florida, notable green building programs across the country have been started in Frisco, TX; Boulder, CO; and Arlington County, VA (Romero and Hostetler, 2007). In a fascinating article for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative entitled Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits, Gregory H. Kats analyzes the various economic aspects of green building. Kats acknowledges the fact that green buildings are commonly perceived to be significantly more expensive than conventional buildings and often not justified on the basis of cost. Kats even references an early 2003 article in the New York Times entitled "Not Building Green Is Called a Matter of Economics." However, Kats is quick to point out that, in many cases, green buildings are both environmentally and fiscally responsible alternatives. He goes on to explain that the average premium for green buildings is slightly less than 2%, or $3-5 per square foot, substantially lower than is commonly perceived. The majority of this cost is due to the increased architectural and engineering (A&E) design time, modeling costs, and time necessary to integrate sustainable building practices into projects. Generally speaking, the earlier these green building features are incorporated into the design process, the lower the cost will be. Green buildings are known for providing financial benefits that conventional buildings do not. These benefits include energy and water savings, reduced 129 130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . waste, improved indoor environmental quality, greater employee comfort/productivity, reduced employee health costs, and lower operations and maintenance costs (Kats, 2003). Energy, in particular, is a substantial and widely recognized cost of building operations. Consumption can be easily reduced through energy efficiency and through other related measures that are part of green building design. For example, Kats' article goes on to reveal that green buildings, when compared to conventional buildings, are on average 25 to 30% more energy efficient, characterized by even lower electricity peak consumption, more likely to generate renewable energy on-site, and more likely to purchase grid power generated from renewable energy sources. In addition to energy, green building offers benefits in both health and productivity for all parties involved. Every year, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on health and productivity costs imposed by poor indoor environmental quality in commercial buildings. This is not particularly surprising, as people spend about 90% of their time indoors, and the concentration of pollutants indoors is typically higher than outdoors, sometimes by as much as 10 or even 100 times (Kats, 2003). The relationship between worker comfort/productivity and building design/operation is very complicated. There are numerous studies, reports, and articles that find significantly reduced illness symptoms, reduced absenteeism, and increases in perceived productivity with employees in buildings with cleaner indoor environments. Green buildings are not only 25-30% more energy efficient, on average, but are known to generate much lower emissions. The measures that are often taken to ensure these lower emissions include better siting (e.g., avoiding locating air intakes next to outlets, such as parking garages, and avoiding recirculation), and building better material source controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (including paying the required amount of attention to storage). Certified and Silver-level green buildings achieved 55% and Gold level LEED buildings achieved 88% of possible LEED credits for use of the following: less toxic materials, low-emitting adhesives and sealants, paints, carpets, composite woods, and indoor chemical and pollutant source control. Green buildings offer generally improved thermal comfort and better ventilation, especially in buildings that use underfloor air for space conditioning (Kats, 2003). Increased efficiency of construction materials is yet another benefit of building green. Green buildings utilize reused and recycled materials, zero or low gassing of harmful air emissions, zero or low toxicity, sustainably harvested materials, high recyclability, durability, longevity, and local production. Through using dimensional planning and other material efficiency strategies, the amount of building materials needed are reduced, as is construction costs. For example, designing rooms on 4-foot multiples conform to standard-sized wallboard and plywood sheets (CIWMB, 2007). Water efficiency is a very important characteristic of sustainable buildings. Green buildings are often designed for dual plumbing to use recycled water for toilet flushing or a gray water system that recovers rainwater or other non-potable water for site irrigation. Wastewater is greatly minimized by using ultra low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, and other water conserving fixtures. Other measures that can be taken to ensure a greater level of water efficiency include installing point-of-use hot water heating systems for more distant locations, using a water budget approach that schedule irrigation, metering the landscape separately from buildings, using micro-irrigation (which excludes sprinklers and high-pressure sprayers) to supply water in non-turf areas, and using state- of-the-art irrigation controllers and self-closing nozzles on hoses (CIWMB, 2007). 131 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The issue of cost is an ever-present concern to developers and city leaders alike whenever extra measures are undertaken to pursue an ecologically-friendly environment. While there seems to be a general consensus on the environmental and social benefits of green building, there is a consistent concern, both within and outside the green building community, over the lack of accurate and thorough financial and economic information. Sustainable buildings generally incur a "green premium" above the costs of standard construction, although studies such as those of Kats point to a significant reduction in this capital outlay "premium." However, there is virtually no dispute that green buildings provide an array of financial and environmental benefits that conventional buildings do not. These benefits, such as energy savings, should be looked at through a life cycle cost methodology, not just evaluated in terms of initial costs. From a life cycle savings standpoint, savings resulting from investment in sustainable design and construction dramatically exceed any additional upfront costs (CIWMB, 2007). It is generally recognized that conventional buildings consume a large portion of water, wood, energy, and other resources used in the economy. Green buildings provide a potentially promising way to help address a range of challenges facing the state of Florida, such as: the high cost of electric power, worsening electric grid constraints (with associated power quality and availability problems), pending water shortage and waste disposal issues, continued state and federal pressure to cut criteria pollutants, growing concern over the cost of global warming, the rising incidence of allergies and asthma (especially in children), the health and productivity of workers, the effect of the physical school environment on children's abilities to learn, and increasing expenses of maintaining and operating state facilities over time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e. . . . . . . . . . . . . Results and Future Recommendations The benefits to green building include a great deal of cost savings from reduced energy, water, and waste; lower operations and maintenance costs; as well as enhanced occupant productivity and health. According to a survey done in the state of California, the total fmancial benefits of green buildings are over ten times the average initial investment required to design and construct a green building. Energy savings alone exceed the average increased cost associated with building green (ciwmb.ca.gov - Executive Summary). Additionally, the relatively large impact of productivity and health gains reflects the fact that the direct and indirect cost of employees is far larger than the cost of construction or energy. Consequently, even small changes in productivity and health translate into large financial benefits. Despite data limitations and the need for additional research in various areas, it is clear that building green is cost-effective and makes financial sense. The City of Clearwater would be well-advised to consider legislation that would provide incentives for the future use of sustainable design and construction. Currently, the city's building regulations offer no apparent guidelines or incentives for building green (see Appendix C). I propose that the City of Clearwater use the guidelines set forth in Sarasota County's Resolution No. 2005-048 (see Appendix B), and develQP legislation that would allow for financial incentives for building developers in Clearwater who pursue LEED certification for future construction projects. 133 134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By following in the lead of the city of Gainesville and Sarasota County, Clearwater will find itself in a rare and highly enviable position to set itself aside from a majority of communities not just within the state of Florida, but across the entire country. Creating new building regulations designed to encourage more sustainable construction and operations would not only be environmentally beneficial and fiscally responsible, but could also attract a tremendous amount of favorable publicity towards the city. Clearwater, after all, relies on the tourism a great deal as a valuable source of income. In a world where the environment is one of the most pressing issues, waterfront communities such as Clearwater are most often looked at as having a critically important impact on our planet's ecology. This is an opportunity for the City of Clearwater to take a position of leadership among Florida's cities in what will certainly come to define how cities are planned and constructed in the future. By utilizing green building practices, Clearwater has a chance to be one of a select few cities in the world that set the standard for intelligent, creative, and responsible development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Final Summary Robert Brinkmann These papers represent a body of work that mark a significant moment in the sustainability of Florida. The graduate students provided many suggestions for urban sustainability that were designed specifically for Clearwater. The work demonstrates that Clearwater has already done many things to promote urban sustainability including the development of a bicycle and pedestrian master plan, an environmental education center, and the conversion of traffic lights to LED technology. Indeed, so much has been done that the city is likely to gain 'silver' status if it were to apply for green city status from the Florida Green Building Coalition. The students also explored the strength of support for sustainability efforts among stakeholders in the City of Clearwater. The city has very strong links with community groups. Many members of the community participated in a stakeholder meeting where they provided input on how the city can move ahead with sustainability. The ideas they came up with were very helpful and demonstrate that there is widespread support for sustainability initiatives within the city. Indeed, there is also support within other groups including the Clearwater Beach Innkeepers Association, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the Clearwater Audubon Society. Many cities have distinguished themselves with innovative sustainability projects. For example, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is known for its comprehensive watershed management, the City of Portland, Oregon is known for its comprehensive energy plan, and the City of Cleveland is known for its EcoVillage program. These illustrate the reality and practicality of urban sustainability. The City of Clearwater has 135 136 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the opportunity to become a leader in Florida in urban sustain ability by taking bold moves. Several examples were presented in this report for review, and the students identified willing private and public partners ready to assist with implementation. For example, one idea presented is the development of a solar park. This idea has some traction in that Progress Energy is interested in moving forward with assisting the city in the development of this idea. Transportation is also an interesting issue within the City. 'Several ideas were presented and each provides opportunities for future research and discussion. With Clearwater's unique road network and seasonal residents, there are opportunities and problems. Nevertheless, a focus on bicycle transportation, airport to hotel transportation, and electric fleet vehicles could make a difference. Finally, there are many practical moves the city could make with energy and green building. There is no doubt that the city can save money through the development of green buildings and through an integrated energy management system. There are opportunities to change building codes and to rethink how the city 11lQves forward with redevelopment. We urge that the city continue its progress in sustainability. We believe that the cost savings brought about through conservation would support the hiring of a sustainability officer. Indeed, this is a trend seen in many cities. For example, the City of Dunedin recently hired a sustainability officer in charge of its sustainability initiatives. The University of South Florida will continue its partnership with the City. Three students in this class have expressed a desire to continue their work and develop master's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . theses around their topics. We hope that this document and the future work done by students and faculty will be useful to the citizens of the City of Clearwater. 137 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day Certificates - Bob Swick. Certificates to be presented to City Manager, Mayor, and Council. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 2 SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: We Care Fund - Jim Geary SUMMARY: City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 3 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Turkey Trot - Kevin Dunbar, Parks and Recreation SUMMARY: Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 4 SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: State of the City Presentation SUMMARY: City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 5 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes of the October 1, 2007 Special Meeting and the November 15,2007 City Council Meeting as submitted in written summation by the City Clerk. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 6 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER October 1, 2007 Unapproved Present: Frank Hibbard John Doran Carlen Petersen George N. Cretekos Paul Gibson Also present: William B. Horne II Joe Roseto Pamela K. Akin Cynthia E. Goudeau Brenda Moses The Mayor called the meeting to order at 1. To provide continuity for research, items necessarily discussed in that order. The meeting was called f with Water's Edge One, LLC in Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilmemb Councilme Councilme City Manag Interim Assis City Attorney City Clerk Board Report the City to resolve the Water's Edge One, olving title to real property. Resolution of ding arbitr on. The terms of the proposed agreement ed Circuit Judge James Case would serve as the ould take place on October 2, 2007, that each party would s; that, in the event the arbitrator rules in favor of Water's ive its right to appeal (which, in any event would be limited . P., and 9344.104, Florida Statutes) in exchange for the arbitrator rule in favor of Water's Edge and award damages in e waiver payment would offset and reduce any damages awarded; arbitrator rule in favor of the City, the City would agree to place a referen requesting sale of the disputed parcel to Water's Edge at the election of January 29, 2008, for an amount to be determined by City Council; and that should the arbitrator rule in favor of Water's Edge the parties agree to jointly ask the court to enter judgment affirming the arbitrator's award. City Attorney Pam Akin said an appraisal done for Water's Edge valued the property at $450,000. The arbitration meeting is open to the public. Council Special 2007-10-01 Itenh # 6 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 Discussion ensued and it was consensus, should the arbitrator rule in favor of Water's Edge, the compensation for the City not appealing be $450,000 as per Water's Edge's appraisal. Councilmember Petersen moved to authorize entering into an "Agreement to Arbitrate" between the City of Clearwater and Attorneys for Water's Edge On LLC, in the Water's Edge One, LLC v. City of Clearwater and First Baptist Chu ch of rwater, civil matter, with compensation of $450,000 to the City for not app the n should the ruling be in favor of Water's Edge. The motion was de carried unanimously. 3. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 1 :36 p.m. Attest: City Clerk Council Special 2007-10-01 Itel2l # 6 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER November 15, 2007 Unapproved Present: Frank Hibbard John Doran Carlen Petersen George N. Cretekos Paul Gibson Also present: William B. Horne II Joe Roseto Rod Irwin Pamela K. Akin Cynthia E. Goudeau Brenda Moses Mayor Vice-Mayor Councilmember Councilmember Councilmemb City Mana Interim As Assistant CI City Attorney City Clerk Board Rep The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 Sr. Chaplain from Lakeview Baptist Church offere Pledge of Allegiance. To provide continuity for researc necessarily discussed in that order. 4. Presentations ampa Bay, presented the 2007 Care Cup to anked those who participated in the event n Fertic provided a video of the lronman World eld on November 10,2007. Athletes from around the world Mr. Fertic thanked everyone for their support. acher Presentation - Mar 0 Walbolt ural Affairs Manager Margo Walbolt introduced Mr. Katyama, a middle school teacher who teaches English in Nagano, Japan. She thanked Pinellas County schools, host families, and the City for their support of the Sister Cities Program. Mr. Katyama said he enjoyed his stay and looks forward to returning to Clearwater. Council 2007-11-15 Itenh # 6 4.5 Neiqhborhood of the Quarter, Home of the Quarter and Business Beautification Awards The Neighborhood of the Quarter Award was presented to the Bayview Heights neighborhood. Home of the Quarter Awards were presented to homeowners: 1) Robert and Jacqueline Walters, 615 Minnesota Drive; 2) Anton Talley, 1265 Nicholson Street; 3) Dell Kelleher and Dorcas Downey, 1510 Grove Street; and 4) Kathy and Neil rd,440 Palm Island S.E. The Fall 2007 Business Beautification Award was prese Academy, 1831 Drew Street. 4.6 Citizen's Academv Graduation Graduates of the Citizen's Academy were congratulated: Diane Fitzgerald was thanked for her involvement in the p 4.7 State of the City Presentation The City Manager said the City's Ann on Thanksgiving Day. The State of the City meeting. 5. ed to approve mmation by the the November 1, erk. The motion was duly n the Agenda ooking at traffic on beach; recommended ental rights terminated; alleged Clearwater and Pinellas ternal crime. a disappointed with election being moved to January; questioned Visitor Information Center. dall and Doroth Stanle questioned Council's position regarding eliminating the proposed mini-circle at Grove Street and Lake Drive. Consensus to discuss at next Work Session. Council 2007-11-15 Itel2l # 6 Public Hearings - Not before 6:00 PM 7. Administrative Public Hearings This voluntary annexation petition involves a 0.164-acr one parcel of land occupied by a single-family dwelling. It is 10 Sandy Lane approximately 225 feet west of North Highland Ave requesting this annexation in order to receive solid waste service Planning Department is requesting that the 0.081 acre of abuttin way not currently within the City limits also be annexed. The pr existing City boundaries to the north and west. It is proposed tha e p assigned a Future Land Use Plan designation of Resid rban (RU) category of Low Medium Density Residential (LM The Planning Department determine with the provisions of Community Develop 'stent with and promotes the following objective ent within the urban service area shall rwater Community Development Code. ure Land Use Plan category is consistent with the current of this property. This designation primarily permits of 7.5 units per acre. The proposed zoning district to be IS the Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR) District. The perty is consistent with the uses allowed in the District and the e District's minimum dimensional requirements. The proposed erefore consistent with the Countywide Plan, City's Comprehensive Plan unity Development Code; and The property proposed for annexation is contiguous to existing City boundaries to the north and west; therefore the annexation is consistent with Florida Statutes Chapter 171.044. The Pinellas Planning Council (PPC) staff has reviewed this annexation and no objections were raised. Council 2007-11-15 Ite~ # 6 Councilmember Cretekos moved to approve the Annexation, Initial Land Use Plan Designation of Residential Urban (RU) and Initial Zoning Atlas Designation of Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR) District for 1474 Sandy Lane (Lot 29, Terra-Alto Estates, Section 02, Township 29 South, Range 15 East). The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ordinance 7887-07 was presented for first reading and read by title 0 Councilmember Gibson moved to pass Ordinance 7887-07 on first rea ing. was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: "Ayes": Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, an "Nays": None. Ordinance 7888-07 was presented for first reading and re Councilmember Petersen moved to pass Ordinance 7888-07 0 motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: "Ayes": "Nays": None. Ordinance 7889-07 was presented Councilmember Doran moved t rdi was duly seconded and upon rev tion petition involves a 5-acre property consisting of one arehouse and distribution center. It is located at the Street and North Hercules Avenue. The applicant is In order to receive solid waste and sanitary sewer service ing Department is requesting the 0.67 acre of abutting North -of-way not currently within the City limits also be annexed. The ous to existing City boundaries to the north, south and east. It is he property be assigned a Future Land Use Plan designation of Industrial and a zoning category of Industrial, Research and Technology (IRT). Due to timing constraints, the applicant wished to commence construction prior to annexation. To facilitate this, the City's Planning and Engineering Departments reviewed the building permit prior to issuance by Pinellas County to confirm the site plan is compliant with the Community Development Code and City stormwater codes. After City review, Pinellas County issued a building permit for a 6,040 square-foot addition to Council 2007-11-15 IteA1l # 6 the western end of the building on the site from Pinellas County. The addition will house laundry facilities, which will produce wastewater that cannot be discharged into a septic system. The Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services Department will not issue the applicant a Certificate of Occupancy until the property is connected to the City's sanitary sewer system for discharge of wastewater. Before the City will issue a permit to the applicant to connect to the City's sanitary sewer system, the applicant's petition must be approved at the first reading of City Council. Second readin f City Council will be postponed until the applicant is issued a Certificate of Occup from Pinellas County. After the issuance of the Certificate of Occupanc pe 'II be placed on the City Council's agenda for second reading. The Planning Department determined that the propose with the provisions of Community Development Code Section 4- The closest sanitary sewer line is located in the adjacent right-of-way. The applicant has paid the City's sewer impact an aware of the additional costs to extend City sewer service to the pope solid waste will be provided by the City of Clearwater. operty is 10 Police District III and service will be administered trict head located at 2851 North McMullen Booth Road. 6' medical s be provided to this property by Station 48 loc her Road. has adequate capacity to serve this propert 're and E service. The proposed annexation will not blic faciliti their levels of service; The proposed ann of the Clearwater Comp objective ervice area shall velopment Code; L) Future Land Use Plan category is consistent n of this property. This designation primarily '0 of 0.65. The proposed zoning district to esearch and Technology (IRT) District. ty is consist t with the uses allowed in the District and the minimum dimensional requirements. The proposed tent with the Countywide Plan, City's Comprehensive Plan t Code; and osed for annexation is contiguous to existing City boundaries to ast; therefore the annexation is consistent with Florida Statutes PPC staff has reviewed this annexation and no objections were In response to a question, City Attorney Pam Akin said as a result of litigation, the Church of Scientology has an agreement with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's office to pay a percentage of their overall property values. Councilmember Cretekos moved to approve the Annexation, Initial Land Use Plan Designation of Industrial Limited (IL) and Initial Zoning Atlas Designation of Council 2007-11-15 Itern # 6 Industrial, Research and Technology (IRT) District for 2000 Calumet Street (Lot 8, Clearwater Industrial Park, Section 01, Township 29 South, Range 15 East). The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ordinance 7890-07 was presented for first reading and read by title only. Councilmember Gibson moved to pass Ordinance 7890-07 on first reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: "Ayes": Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hi "Nays": None. Ordinance 7891-07 was presented for first reading and r Councilmember Petersen moved to pass Ordinance 7891-07 on motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: "Ayes": Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and "Nays": None. Ordinance 7892-07 was presented fo Councilmember Doran moved to pass Ordi was duly seconded and upon roll call the v "Ayes": ves a 0.22-acre property consisting of one ingle-family elling. It is located on the north side of 300 feet east of S. Hillcrest Avenue. The applicant is order to receive sanitary sewer service from the City. The ting City boundaries to the north, south and west. It is be assigned a Future Land Use Plan designation of a zoning category of Low Medium Density Residential nning Department determined that the proposed annexation is consistent visions of Community Development Code Section 4-604.E as follows: The City's sanitary sewer impact fee has been paid. The sanitary sewer assessment fee has not been paid and the applicant is aware of the additional costs to extend City sewer service to the property. Collection of solid waste will be provided by the City of Clearwater. The property is located within Police District II and service will be administered through Police Headquarters located at 645 Pierce Street. Fire and Council 2007-11-15 Ite~ # 6 emergency medical services will be provided to this property by Station 47 located at 1460 Lakeview Road. The City has adequate capacity to serve this property with sanitary sewer, solid waste, police, fire and EMS service. The proposed annexation will not have an adverse effect on public facilities and their levels of service; The proposed annexation is consistent with and promotes the following objective of the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan: Objective 2.4: Compact urban development within the urb be promoted through application of the Clearwater Community The proposed RL Future Land Use Plan category is co Countywide Plan designation of this property. This designation residential uses at a density of 5 units per acre. The proposed zo assigned to the property is the Low Medium Density Residential use of the subject property is consistent with the uses allowed i property exceeds the District's minimum dimensional requiremen . Tti annexation is therefore consistent with the Countywide City's Com and Community Development Code; and The property proposed for annexatio the north and west; therefore the annexatio 171.044. PPC staff has reviewed this ann ed for first rea I read by title only. rdinance 7893-07 on first reading. The motion ote was: kos, Gibson, and Hibbard. as presented for first reading and read by title only. oved to pass Ordinance 7894-07 on first reading. The d and upon roll call, the vote was: Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. "Nays": None. Ordinance 7895-07 was presented for first reading and read by title only. Councilmember Doran moved to pass Ordinance 7895-07 on first reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: "Ayes": Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. Council 2007-11-15 Item # 6 "Nays": None. The subject of this request is a dead end right-of-way th access to any other property and therefore is not necessary for applicant is seeking to vacate the subject street right-of-way to i redevelopment potential of the property. If the property is redevel owner may seek vacation of the proposed retained drainage and pay affected utility companies for utility relocations. Verizon, Progress Energy, Bright House Cable subject right-of-way and have no objections provi over the full width of the right-of-way to be vac The City of Clearwater has a 2-inch The City Engineering De provided a drainage and utility of-way to be vacated. oved to appro uest to vacate the reet lying bet s Subdivision and ore particularl he ordinance, (A.K.A. ct to the retentio arainage and utility f-way to be vacated. The motion was duly irst reading and read by title only. d to pass 0 Inance 7896-07 on first reading. The motion roll call, the vote was: , Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. ment Councilmember Petersen moved to continue to December 20,2007, first reading of Ordinance 7835-07. Council 2007-11-15 Ite~ # 6 8. Second Readings - Public Hearing 8.1 Adopt Ordinance 7885-07 on second readinq, amendinq Appendix A. Division XXV, Section (2)(a), Code of Ordinances, chanqinq the cost of a fire hydrant to current market price. Ordinance 7885-07 was presented for second reading and read by titl Councilmember Cretekos moved to pass and adopt Ordinance 7885-0 on s final reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, th w "Ayes": Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, and Gibson. "Nays": None. Absent: Hibbard. Ordinance 7901-07 was presented Councilmember Gibson moved and final reading. The motion was nde 7 was presented for second reading and read by title only. sen moved to pass and adopt Ordinance 7902-07 on second and motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. "Nays": None. 8.4 Adopt Ordinance 7903-07 on second readinq, submittinq to the City electors proposed amendments to the City Charter amendinq Section 7.02, requirinq the Council to appoint a Charter Review Committee every eiqht years. Council 2007-11-15 Ite~ # 6 Ordinance 7903-07 was presented for second reading and read by title only. Councilmember Doran moved to pass and adopt Ordinance 7903-07 on second and final reading. The motion was duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: "Ayes": Doran, Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. "Nays": None. Ms. Akin said staff requests an amendment to the ordinan The Supervisor of Elections has suggested the word "canvass" . Section 8.05 (d) and the ballot question be changed to "certify". Councilmember Cretekos moved to amen of Section 8.05. Elections. (d) Canvassing boa/J certify the election returns no later than 24 h provided to the City Clerk by the Supervisor The motion was duly seconded and carried Ordinance 7904-07 wa title only. Councilmember second and final readin s: nd read by 7 on upon roll s presented for second reading and read by title only. ved to pass and adopt Ordinance 7905-07 on second and as duly seconded and upon roll call, the vote was: , Petersen, Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. City Manager Reports 9. Consent Agenda - Approved as submitted, less Item 9.7. 9.1 Award a contract to Harbor Guard Boats of Costa Mesa, California in the amount of $172,000 for the purchase of one (1) new FIREHAWK 28 MCD, Fire/Rescue boat in Council 2007-11-15 Itsr6) # 6 accordance with sec. 2.564 - (IV)(A)- authorize lease purchase under the City's master lease purchase aqreement, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. ( consent) 9.2 Declare the list of vehicles and equipment surplus to the needs of the City and authorize disposal throuqh sale to the hiqhest bidder at the Tampa Machinery Auction, Tampa, Florida, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (con nt) 9.3 ove the Consent Agenda as submitted, less uthorized to execute same. The motion e August 16, 2007 City Council meeting, the Planning Department presented an analysis and proposal for increased overnight accommodation density on Clearwater Beach. At that time the Department recommended that the City pursue increasing hotel density from 50 to 150 - 210 units per acre for properties governed by Beach by Design. The proposed increase was based on an economic analysis prepared by Dr. Owen Beitsch that concluded hotel density must be greatly increased if economic parity is to be achieved between condominium and hotel development. The Department's Council 2007-11-15 Itanh # 6 proposal indicated that an infrastructure analysis would need to be conducted to ensure that the adopted Levels of Service for water, sewer and transportation could be maintained with such substantial increases in hotel density. To date, the water and sewer analyses have been completed. The Planning Department is requesting that DKS Associates, an Engineer of Record, be retained to conduct a traffic analysis to determine whether there i capacity in the road network to support the proposed increase in hotel ensi Associates is very familiar with the traffic issues on Clearwater Be e t significant amount of work the firm has done on various beach tr: ects. proposed scope of work includes an analysis of maximum buil onditions Clearwater Beach and Sand Key incorporating the proposed d for the the density allowed by the Pinellas Planning County for the are n hotels can be constructed. If the analysis identifies Level of Servi will identify low-cost and easily implemented mitigation measures significant failures, DKS Associates will determine the threshold be supported without creating LOS deficiencies. The Planning Department is requesting th this study and the contract be awarded to DKS first quarter budget amendment will transfer impact fees to establish capital project 315- e 150-210 units increase was be greatly increased if otel development. an analysis of maximum build-out 'ty allowed by the Pinellas Planning Key where Is can be constructed. If the analysis es, the report will identify low-cost mitigation measures. If failures, DKS Associates will determine the threshold of ported without creating LOS deficiencies. uestion, Mr. Delk said the PPC recommendations would apply roved by Council. If successful in obtaining increased densities ould be applied only to areas covered by Beach by Design. ncilmember Petersen moved to approve Item 9.7. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. The meeting recessed from 7:19 to 7:27 p.m. 10. Other items on City Manager Reports Council 2007-11-15 Itar2l # 6 10.1 Approve the Marina five-year business plan for FY 2008 throuqh FY 2012, includinq increasinq slip fees to market rates, charqinq commercial tenants for slip location in the marina, decreasinq the amount of discount on fuel sales, and amendinq the dock permit to provide a value back to the City if tenant sells vessel. In order to improve the financial status of the Marina operation, the business plan sets forth goals, objectives and strategies to be implemented in FY 2008. To ach these goals, we respectfully request that City Council approve the: Incremental increases as submitted to reach average m residential, non-residential and commercial rates. Direct staff to prepare an amendment to Sec. 33.028 of include market surveys of all local area marinas, not just municip comparing rates. Charge commercial slips for location in the marina. Increase marketing and advertisement tow Maintain control over city slips by am back to the City. Decrease the amount of 1 and 2. ncreased to bring the ntown boat slip rates by In 2010 the slip rates will be at market and equal to the downtown boat slip rates. The slip rates for commercial slips will be raised: 2008 - 15% 2009 - 10% Council 2007-11-15 Ita~ # 6 2010 - 10% 2011 - 25% 2012 - 25% 3. Charge commercial slips for location in the marina The preferred location in the Marina are the slips along Coronado Driv those renting those slips should pay a premium over the lower visibilit area Marina. 4. Increase marketing and advertisement toward transient Increasing the number of transient slip nights has the ab significant additional revenues without impacting our current tena 5. Maintain control over city slips by amending the dock p back to the city. Amend the commercial & private dock per Amend the commercial dock permit t boat is sold and the slip is transferred to a n also be amended or changed to a lease ter year agreement with the option 'IN at year "use" term will coincide wi nsfe ide value back to the City by providing a hen a commercial business is changed 2007 slip e will be used to determine the basis for the increase will be based on the Consumer Price Index for all uth Urban area, for the twelve-month period ending June ave CPI increases applied from the June 30th index. This lied by the October 1 each fiscal year. aining as the same business will have a transfer fee equivalent to based on 2007 rates with annual CPI increases applied. Inesses that are changing the type of business operation will have a transfer fee equivalent to two year's slip rent based on the 2007 rates with annual CPI increases applied. The fee will be based on the current business operation slip rate. Council 2007-11-15 ItaA1l # 6 Harbormaster reserves the right to maintain a diversified selection of commercial boating activities. 6. Decrease the amount of discount on fuel sales. Revised strategy for fuel discounts: Bring fuel price to market average. This would provide a 71-ceot mal1 the current cost of diesel fuel and a 54-cent markup over the curre Discontinue the 5-cent discount for a volume purchase more. Discontinue the 14-cent discount for diesel for private recr Decrease the 27-cent discount for diesel for commercial discount. Provide an 11-cent discount for gasoline fa Provide a 4-cent volume discount in commercial tenants that purchase more tha quantity will be tracked and a credit will be month. aters. In d mp prices he prices do not ggested staff narrow to the Marina. t slip rates for residents and nonresidents at the It was noted that by 2012, the differential pears. Residents will have first choice of garding proposed transfer fees, City subsidizing recreation stricting other vendors from City property, and Special rasail operations. a private property owner, the City has the ability to prohibit a n its own property. It was remarked that recreation centers are eneral Fund and the PILOT charged to the covers support provided y General fund Departments Discussion ensued regarding special purpose fees. Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris said previous management imposed the fee, which was never increased. Approximately $36,000 a year is generated from the fee. Consensus was that parasail businesses' slip rents are to be determined on the same basis as other commercial boats; premium fee for prime slip location to be studied; Council 2007-11-15 Itarn # 6 fuel fee to be City's cost plus 20% with 10% discount for commercial users. Revenues from fuel sales will be monitored for 6 months to determine if fees are appropriate. Councilmember Doran moved to approve the Marina five-year business plan for FY 2008 through FY 2012, including increasing slip fees to market rates, studying charging commercial tenants for slip location in the Marina, setting fuel rates at cost plus 20% with a 10% discount to commercial users, and amending the dock permi 0 provide a value back to the City if tenant sells vessel. The motion was duly se onde d carried unanimously. sented for first ss Ordinance the vote was: title only. ading. The motion Currently, market surveys of slip rates are based on rates municipal marinas as per Section 33.028 of the Code of Ordina operates as an enterprise fund and is required to make a profit to e ba sustaining, provide adequate reserves for future redev nt, and pro back to the general fund. Market surveys should i I area man municipal marinas as recommended in the Mar' 'ness Plan. needs to be amended to include all marinas. Councilmember Cretekos moved to Section 33.028 of the Code of 0 es marinas, not just municipal ma n c seconded and carried una Cretekos, Gibson, and Hibbard. ger Rod Irwin acknowledged Tony's Pizzeria on Cleveland tscape and is celebrating 2-year anniversary. anager requested list of analyses Council wants to go forward to iser regarding potential reduction of property tax revenue if property tax asses. 12. Other Council Action Councilmembers reported on events in which they recently participated and reviewed upcoming events; thanked all involved re lronman event - will be even better Council 2007-11-15 Ita~ # 6 next year; congratulated Margie Simmons for winning Finance Officer of the Year at the Florida League of Cities Awards Banquet; City Attorney Pam Akin was a finalist for City Attorney of the Year; Duke Tieman was a finalist for Citizen of the Year; wished all Happy Thanksgiving. Councilmember Doran said Florida Communities Trust committed to $4.8 million grant for Lake Chatauqua Equestrian Preserve - 50 acres of open space aro d lake - grant coming to Council December 20,2007. Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar updated Cou Chatauqua Equestrian Preserve project. Councilmember Cretekos wished Councilmember Gibson birthday; urged all to consider those less fortunate by contributin stores. Councilmember Petersen congratulated Citize Mayor Hibbard said PMI decided go fo support guideway; will share FDOT options r interchange instead of overpass; $69 millio County; new PSTA Executive Director wan congratulated former Senator D 'van 13. Adjourn Mayor, City of Clearwater Council 2007-11-15 Itam # 6 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Approve the City of Clearwater FY 2006-2007 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) SUMMARY: The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is the principal administrative report, documenting the City's expenditures for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) programs to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For FY 2006-2007, the City's budget was as follows: $969,479 in CDBG; $543,850 in HOME; and $200,000 in program income for a total budget of $1,713,329. The CAPER document serves as the basis for program monitoring for compliance and for financial audits for all activities conducted during the FY 2006-07 as outlined in the Consolidated Plan for that program year. The report provides HUD with necessary information for the Department to meet its requirement to assess each grantee's ability to carry out relevant Community Planning and Development programs in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations. It also provides information necessary for HUD' s Annual Report to Congress and it provides grantees an opportunity to describe to citizens their successes in revitalizing deteriorated neighborhoods and in meeting objectives stipulated in their Consolidated Planning document. In addition to reporting on our activities with federal money, we also included a summary of activities conducted with the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program in the narrative section; however, these numbers are not included in the totals below. Through CDBG and HOME program activities, we expended a total of $1,766,224 in FY 06-07. This included prior year funds as well as program income and recaptured funds. Those funds not expended from this year's budget will be programmed in future years. The City of Clearwater FY 2006-07 CAPER contains information on the City's assessment of the activities listed below: Assessment of Three to Five Year Goals and Objectives Affordable Housing Continuum of Care Leveraging Resources Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Citizens Comments Self- Evaluation Through the programs covered under the CAPER, over 17,000 persons were assisted through Public Services, Public Facilities, Housing Rehabilitation and New Construction, Fair Housing, and Economic Development projects. We have worked with 20 non- profits to complete this activity. Also, during this past fiscal year, eleven (11) homes were rehabilitated and seven (7) downpayment assistance loans were completed through our CDBG and HOME programs. The City's Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board is scheduled to approve the FY 2006-07 CAPER at their meeting on November 27,2007. The FY 2006-07 CAPER is due to HUD no later than December 29,2007. Cover Memo Review Approval: 1) Clerk Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 FY2006-2007 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER) Community Development Block Grant And HOME Investment Partnership Programs Budget and Expenditure Summary "'Prior Year Remaining & Other Total Activity Budget Expenditures Balance" Expenditures Expenditures Demolition $ 30,000.00 $ 7,000.00 $ 23,000.00 $ 6,000.00 $ 13,000.00 Relocation $ 20,000.00 $ 7,689.00 $ 12,311.00 $ $ 7,689.00 Acquisition $ $ $ $ CDBG Program Administration' $ 233,895.00 $ 166,715.00 $ 67,180.00 $ $ 166,715.00 CDBG-PD-ED $ 30,000.00 $ 27,254.00 $ 2,746.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 37,254.00 CDBG-PD-Rehab $ 125,000.00 $ 65,012.00 $ 59,988.00 $ $ 65,012.00 CDBG-PD-Infill $ 15,000.00 $ 12,772.00 $ 2,228.00 $ $ 12,772.00 HOME Program Administration' $ 54,385.00 $ 48,418.00 $ 5,967.00 $ $ 48,418.00 Public Services $ 165,421.00 $ 110,579.00 $ 54,842.00 $ 66,823.00 $ 177,402.00 Public Facilities & Improvements $ 341,421.00 $ 73,005.00 $ 268,416.00 $ 257,684.00 $ 330,689.00 CDBG Program Housing (Housing Pool) $ 185,000.00 $ $ 185,000.00 $ 330,439.00 $ 330,439.00 HOME Program Housing (Housing Pool) $ 307,889.00 $ 239,593.00 $ 68,296.00 $ 319,037.00 $ 558,630.00 HOME Acquisition, Transitional Housing $ 100,000.00 $ $ 100,000.00 $ $ CDBG Economic Development $ $ $ $ Community Housing Development Org. $ 81,577.00 $ $ 81,577.00 $ $ Rental Housing Development-HOME $ $ $ $ $ Fair Housing - CDBG $ 23,741.00 $ 10,641.00 $ 13,100.00 $ 7,563.00 $ 18,204.00 TOTAL $ 1,713,329.00 $ 768,678.00 $ 944,651.00 $ 997,546.00 $ 1,766,224.00 , The Program Administration Equals 16.8% of the Total Budget. CDBG Allows 20% of Allocation for Program Administration and 20% of Program Income. HOME Allows 10% of Allocation for Program Administration and 10% on Program Income. " Funds not expended this year will be expended in future years. 12/4/2007 Item # 7 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 Number Persons Assisted 3 4 o o o o o o 4,826 12,183 11 7 o o o o 124 17,158 12/4/2007 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 1 of 51 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 2 of 51 ASSESSMENT OF FIVE YEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES In August 2005, the City of Clearwater City Council approved the FY 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan for funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP). In September 2005, the City's Consolidated Plan was approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Five-Year Consolidated Plan included three (3) key activities: 1. Provide decent, safe, and affordable housing. 2. Increase public services and facilities to Improve the safety of the neighborhoods. 3. Expand economic opportumtles for low and moderate-income people by creating or retaining jobs or creating and/or expanding businesses in low to moderate- income neighborhoods. The City's Mission is to assist its residents achieve self-sufficiency through decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities. The goals for community development include: . Promote community self-investment in low/moderate income areas. . Provide facilities/services to address critical social services needs. . Provide facilities/services for seniors, children and persons with special needs. . Expand economic opportunities. The goals for housing and the homeless include: . Revitalize older housing and demolish unsafe structures. . Produce high-quality affordable housing. . Provide housing assistance. . Provide services/housing for the homeless. The City has identified five (5) general strategies to provide affordable housing over the Consolidated Plan period. They are to provide decent, adequate and affordable housing in safe and desirable environments for: 1. Renters 2. Homeowners 3. Homebuyers 4. Homeless, and 5. Non-Homeless with Special Needs 2 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 3 of 51 Rental Strate2:V The strategy for rental activities includes maintaining the existing rental housing stock through rehabilitation, new construction, conversion, and provide additional funding for acquisition/rehabilitation to very low-income households to ensure that housing costs, including utilities, does not exceed 30% of their gross monthly income. The priorities listed in the current five-year strategy calls for providing decent, adequate and affordable housing in a safe and desirable community for renters. To fulfill this strategy, the City will facilitate meetings with developers and discuss potential funding for renovations of existing rental properties and/or new construction projects. In the next five years, the City proposes to build 200 new mixed income rental units in conjunction with ongoing redevelopment/revitalization projects. The City also proposes to acquire and/or rehabilitate 50 units in small rental complexes for mixed income affordable rental housing. Housin2: Strate2:ies The City of Clearwater implemented three basic strategies for assisting in the provision of decent, safe and affordable housing. The strategies consist of: 1. Homeowner rehabilitation - which include emergency repairs and disabled retro fitting 2. Down payment and closing cost assistance for homebuyers 3. Acquisition/rehabilitation/new construction To preserve the existing housing stock, the city proposes to rehabilitate 100 units owned by low-income households. The City will preserve the housing stock by funding the acquisition and rehabilitation of 50 existing units for new low-income owner households during the next five years. To encourage new homebuyers, the City will provide direct down payment/closing cost assistance to 100 low and moderate-income homebuyers. The City has proposed to construct 20 new affordable, for sale, infill housing units to support the city's ongoing revitalization/redevelopment efforts. To encourage participation in the city's homebuyer's activities, the City will provide credit counseling and homeownership training assistance to 100 prospective low-income homebuyers. During the FY 2000-01 funding year, the City of Clearwater implemented its Housing Pool. Primarily SHIP and HOME monies fund the Pool and are used for down payment and closing cost assistance, lot acquisition, rehabilitation and new construction. For larger developments, a non-profit and/or for-profit may be allocated funds in a line of credit format. This allows for the development of small infill projects, as well as the acquisition of several single existing units for rehabilitation and resale. 3 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 4 of 51 Clearwater's Economic Development and Housing Department - Housing Division oversees the activities of its subrecipient participants and administers the City's rehabilitation and emergency repair program using CDBG, HOME and SHIP funds. The Housing Pool participants submit a client case for approval for down payment and/or closing cost assistance. Once approved, the City encumbers those funds. Upon home closing, the Housing Pool participant will request reimbursement of the funds they expended and their loan processing fee(s). The loan processing fee(s) are not funded until we carefully review the client file and have determined that all necessary documentation has been obtained to verify household income and assets and to substantiate any rehabilitation that may have been done on the home that was purchased. The City made available a total $1,484,228.15 (program income and annual entitlement) for housing related activities in the Housing Pool during this reporting period. This amount is comprised of $307,888.25 in HOME funds, $991,339.90 in SHIP funds, and $185,000 in CDBG funds. The Housing Pool continues to be one of the most effective ways for our housing partners to access funding for income eligible clients. State Housin2: Initiatives Partnershiv (SHIP) Pro2:ram During the City's FY 2006-07, the period of October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007, the City expended the following dollars in association with the development and preservation of loans for housing units for low to moderate-income families with down payment and closing cost assistance for new and existing units. Down Payment and Closin2: Cost Assistance Pro2:ram SHIP Funds Expended $ 624,800 Public Funds Expended $ 171,599 Private Funds Expended $ 1,049,018 Owner Equity $ 40,858 TOTAL $ 1,772,475 Among the more notable accomplishments during this SHIP reporting period was the completion of the Woodlawn Oaks Subdivision developed by the Largo Area Housing Development Corporation and Tampa Bay CDC. This mini-subdivision consists of eleven homes. SHIP funds were used to assist the eleven families with down payment and closing cost assistance. Two (2) additional families were provided with down payment and closing cost assistance during this period, making the total number of families assisted to 13. Of these families, nine (9) had income that was less than eighty (80%) of median area income. Assistance was provided to four (4) families whose income was between 80 and 120 percent of area median income. 4 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 5 of 51 Rehabilitation Pro2:ram SHIP Funds Expended $ 292,535 TOTAL $ 292,535 Funding from this program provided rehabilitation funds to assist four (4) families whose income was less than fifty percent (50%) of median area income. Three (3) families with income between 50 and 80 percent of the area median income were provided a loan to rehabilitate their homes. Multi-Familv Housin2: Pro2:ram SHIP Funds Expended $ 88,834 TOTAL $ 88,834 SHIP funds were used to rehabilitate an eleven unit multi-family dwelling. Foreclosure Prevention Pro2:ram The City developed the Foreclosure Prevention Program to provide one-time assistance to low to moderate-income families who had previously been assisted with SHIP funds in order to prevent foreclosure. According to the City's SHIP Annual Report, a total of $1,960,994 in total revenues (allocation, program income and recaptured funds) was deposited into the Local Affordable Housing Trust Fund during State FY 06-07. These funds were generated through the following: State Annual Distribution $ 1,023,711.00 Program Income $ 735,576.45 Recaptured Funds $ 201,707.45 Total $ 1,960,994.90 Homeowner Strate2:ies The strategies for homeownership activities are listed as follows: 1. Increase homeownership within the City of Clearwater; 2. Bring housing up to standard (and modernize when possible); 3. Remove architectural barriers; 4. Demolish units that prove economically infeasible to rehabilitate and provide relocation benefits; 5. Ensure housing costs are in the general range of30% of household income, and; 5 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 6 of 51 6. Promote energy efficiency and prevent loss of homes. The five year (2006-2010) goal is to renovate a minimum of 100 housing units through the Homeowner Rehabilitation Program, complete 25 emergency repairs through the Emergency Repair Program, and retro- fit 25 homes to make them more accessible for physically challenged individuals through the Disabled Retrofitting Program. Twenty-eight (28%) of the housing units in Clearwater are over 30 years of age. To assist homeowners who need rehabilitation, the City offers loans through the Housing Division and through the approved housing non-profits participating in the City's Housing Pool. The loans are available to owner-occupied households with incomes that are very low to moderate, with a priority on very-low and low-income households. During FY 2006-07, the City made a total of eighteen rehabilitation loans with CDBG, HOME and/or SHIP funds. Fourteen loans were provided to low-income families and four (4) loans were provided to very low-income families. This activity resulted in expenditures in the amount of$687,500. Homebuver Strate2:V The strategies for homebuyers include housing counseling programs that address pre- ownership issues, credit counseling, budgeting and foreclosure prevention to the very low, low and moderate-income households. Other strategies include: easy access to affordable homeownership opportunities by providing larger subsidies to the very low income credit-ready households and those purchasing homes within the City's target areas. The homebuyer strategy will also provide a means to finance the cost of rehabilitation as part of acquisition, providing additional affordable housing units to very low and low-income households, upgrade neighborhoods and encourage activities to promote safer neighborhoods. The 2007 Median Income for a family of four in the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area is $54,400. The low-income threshold is $43,500 and the very-low income is $27,200. The five-year goal for homebuyers calls for assisting 100 homebuyers per year with down payment and closing costs assistance and assisting 100 homebuyers to receive educational services concerning purchasing a home. The City offers several programs that help make housing more affordable to very low through moderate-income homebuyers. The City's Home Ownership Program will lend funds to purchase land, provide down payment assistance, pay impact fees, disposition costs, closing costs and build new homes for income eligible home buyers. Funds in this program are also available to approved non-profit agencies financing their clients home ownership needs. Currently these agencies include: 1. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. 6 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 7 of 51 2. Community Service Foundation 3. Homes for Independence 4. Habitat for Humanity 5. Largo Area Housing Development Corporation 6. Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation 7. Consumer Credit Counseling The funds will also be leveraged against private sector financing to provide affordable housing. The City provided an allocation to Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation (TBCDC) to administer their Home Buyers Club and Homeownership Counseling Program, to Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) for budgeting and foreclosure counseling, and Community Services Foundation (CSF) to administer a Partnership to Homeownership Program and Homebuyer Education Program. In addition, the city provided funding to Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services to implement a Housing Education/Counseling Program. All of the education and counseling programs were funded through the SHIP Program on a reimbursement basis. Over 290 individuals/families took part in the education/counseling services during this reporting period. A total of 161 participated in both TBCDC Programs (Homeowners hip Counseling and Homebuyer Education Programs), 81 participated in Community Service Foundation's Partnership to Ownership and Homebuyer Education Programs and 48 through Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Housing Education/Counseling Programs. Homeless Strate2:V lO-YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS OVERVIEW The Pinellas County Homeless Policy Group (HPG) was formed in the Fall 2004. The mission was to develop a Countywide, 10-year plan to end homelessness. This plan was a result of an 18-month research and planning process. Included in the planning process were 40 members represented by elected officials, a school board member, a Public Defender, community and business leaders from a variety of industries, including faith- based organizations, housing authorities, healthcare, law enforcement, businesses, foundations, the homeless coalition, and formerly homeless persons from the general community. Several factors were at the forefront of our research and planning discussions. The factors included: improving the quality of life for homeless individuals and families, improving the quality of life for those at risk of becoming homeless, eliminating barriers to housing and services, finding ethical and economical solutions, developing unified and comprehensive efforts that demonstrate best practices in housing and service delivery, and being able to demonstrate returns for our forthcoming efforts. 7 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 8 of 51 The HPG adopted the plan on January 13,2006 and the City of Clearwater approved the plan unanimously at their March 16, 2006 Council Meeting. The HPG has transitioned into the Homeless Leadership Network (HLN) and will monitor and oversee implementation of the plan to ensure accountability and results consistent with the plan. The make-up of the HLN is very similar to the HPG, but now executive members of the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless (PCCH) serve on the group. The PCCH now will serve as the Operations Network group and deal with the operating and actual implementation of the 10- Year Plan, while getting direction from the HLN. In creating this plan and demonstrating our commitment to work together to develop and enact this plan, we hope this will provide motivation for others to get involved and support the effort. The City provided CDBG funding to four (4) agencies assisting the homeless in FY 2006-2007 - Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project (CHIP), Westcare of Florida (a/k/a The Mustard Seed) - Turning Point and Religious Community Services - Food Pantry/The Haven and Homeless Emergency Project. Westcare's - Turning Point Program received $30,000 to cover administrative costs. The Turning Point is an inebriate receiving center that provides a safe haven for both walk-in clientele and those who are picked up by law enforcement and other agencies. The program provides food, temporary shelter, and counseling. After an initial assessment, clients are placed in longer term housing, assisted in finding a job and are provided other services as necessary. The facility has a capacity to handle 132 clients and two (2) staff members. The facility averages 56 beds and 10 clients on the floor. The City funded the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Program (CHIP) in the amount of $30,000 for operational support for a program that provides temporary shelter, food and clothing. The agency assisted 1,356 individuals during this reporting period. The program requires participants to seek and retain employment and receive counseling in order to stay at the shelter. Upon stabilization, clients are moved into transitional housing. The Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) received HOME funding in the amount of $75,000 to build a kitchen and dining room facility for the homeless. The city provided an additional $75,000 during the previous year for the kitchen and dining room improvements. In addition to short and long-term housing for the 8 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 9 of 51 homeless, the HEP provides job placement, medical, dental and psychological counseling. The facility will provide meals to 1,000 homeless individuals yearly. A total of $54,000 was provided to Religious Community Services - Food Pantry to renovate their facility that provides food for deserving low income and homeless individuals and families. The agency provided services to 7,188 families during this reporting period. In addition to the food pantry, the city provided $9,698 to the agency for improvements for their Haven's Spouse Abuse Shelter. The chart below illustrates the allocations and expenditures for FY 2006/07 and prior funds expended in this reporting year. These allocations resulted in many homeless individual/families being provided a place to live and get back on their feet and obtain other essential services. FY 06/07 Budget Prior Yr. Budget FY 06/07 Exp. Prior Yr. Exp. Westcare $ 30,000 $ 1,666 $ 23,229 $ 1,666 CHIP-Public $ 30,000 $ 11,524 $ 23,141 $ 11,524 Service CHIP-Public Facility $ 42,875 $ 42,875 HEP $ 75,000 $ 75,000 $ 75,000 $ 75,000 RCS-Food Pantry $ 54,000 $ 30,309 $ 54,453 $ 30,309 RCS- The Haven $ 9,698 RCS-Grace House $ 575 TOTAL $199,273 $161,374 $175,823 $161,374 Non-Homeless Strate2:V In 1991, the Area Agency on Aging conducted a Service Needs Assessment to determine which services were identified as most needed by seniors. Transportation for shopping and medical appointments was reported as most needed. Following this category was information about services and programs, home delivered meals, help in getting legal advice and house cleaning. The ability to provide in-home and community services to seniors positively impacts their ability to live independently in the housing environment of their choice. Since the elderly are no longer able to perform the more strenuous chores for themselves and may lack the finances to hire help, homes become a health and fire hazard. By providing these types of services, the elderly may live independently for a longer period of time. The Area Agency on Aging has found that transportation (food and medical) is their largest request. This is followed by in home meals, cleaning and yard service. It is also 9 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 10 of 51 stated that households headed by someone over 75 or older are most likely to have frail elderly members who have severe mobility problems. Persons with severe mental illness are most likely to need psychiatric care and life skills counseling. The developmentally disabled tend to need life skills training and supervised housing. The strategy for housing and supportive services for non-homeless persons with special needs (the elderly, frail elderly, severe mental illness, developmentally disabled, physically disabled, alcohol/other drug addiction and/or person with HIV/AIDS) include upgrading existing and/or providing additional supportive housing and services. The City's five-year plan calls for providing services for 500 special needs persons. It also provides for the construction/expansion of beds for 50 special needs persons. The five-year plan has concluded that low-income elderly households are often in need of services that will help them maintain their independence. The City is working with Neighborly Care Network, Inc. to establish an affordable and accessible senior ride service. The service will provide a reduced fee-for-service, volunteer based transportation program that will enhance the quality of life for elderly (age 65 and older) and disabled residents (age 55 and older). The service is scheduled to begin in early 2008. In addition, the City will assist programs that provide services to marginally mentally disabled residents with basic life skill programs to assist them in becoming self- sufficient. The creation of self-sufficiency programs geared toward the specific challenges such as attention deficit disorder, anger control and completion of education may accomplish this objective. Other programs the City will address during the Consolidated Plan period include: . Programs to assist those entering the work force such as corporate/private sector mentoring programs, affordable childcare and transportation programs to strengthen small businesses such as micro-lending programs, and other small business support . Programs for older teens, including after school programs, programs to assist in encouraging them to stay in school, transitional living facilities for homeless youth, street outreach programs, and maternity services CDBG funds were provided in the amount of $30,000 to Pinellas Opportunity Council to administer their Chore Services Program. Through this program various chore services were provided to 69 elderly, frail elderly, developmentally disabled and physically disabled individuals to assist them in remaining in their home and not be placed in a nursing home. To further assist non-homeless individuals with special needs, the City provided funding to Directions for Mental Health, Religious Community Services and Personal Enrichment 10 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 11 of 51 through Mental Health Services. All of these agencies provide a vital function to individuals with special needs. Directions for Mental Health and Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services provide a facility for individuals to obtain mental health counseling. They also provide needed medicines for related mental health illnesses. A total of $4,500 was provided to Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services for operational support in FY05106 and expended in this reporting period. During this reporting period, the City also provided funding in the amount of $8,400 to Directions to Mental Health for renovations. $9,698 was provided to Religious Community Service to renovate their facilities that provides housing and case management services to victims of spouse abuse. As a result of these expenditures ($22,598), a total of 14,861 individuals with special needs received assistance through these organizations. NON-HOUSING OBJECTIVES The City also identified non-housing objectives in its five-year strategy. These objectives addressed the elimination of slum and blight influences in the City's Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas, the Community Redevelopment Area and other areas exhibiting decline. The objectives also address: . Eliminating conditions that are detrimental to public health, safety and welfare . Reducing the isolation of income groups within the community . Improving conditions in physically and economically distressed areas through stimulation of private investment . Establishment, stabilization and expansion of small businesses To facilitate the objectives listed above over the Consolidated Plan period, the City will support activities listed: . Facilitate community and economic development within the North and South Greenwood Neighborhoods and the Community Redevelopment Area . Assist not-for-profit agencIes m achieving goals revealed during the citizen participation process . Assist not-for-profit agencies in expanding their programs and/or relocating services to better serve the community In 2002, the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) initiated a 11 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 12 of 51 20 I-acre expansion of the CRA District with the preparation of a report entitled "Findings and Declarations of Necessity Analysis for the Expansion of an Existing eRA District. ,,] The report's findings demonstrated a need for revitalization beyond the adopted CRA District boundaries based on the following conditions: . Poor lot layout relating to size, accessibility and use . Site and environs deterioration/inadequate and outmoded building density patterns . Defective or inadequate street configurations, transportation facilities and parking facilities . Excessive emergency calls . Unsanitary and unsafe environment . Excessive violations of the Florida Building Code . Diversity of ownership . Falling lease rates . High residential and commercial vacancy rates . Lack of appreciable increase in the past five years of the aggregate assessed values The CRA District expansion was approved by the CRA in 2003, and the CRA updated the Downtown Redevelopment Plan in 2004. The plan serves as the guide redevelopment activities and infrastructure improvements in the CRA District. Encompassing parts of the original and expanded CRA District is the East Gateway Neighborhood. This 17 6-acre neighborhood is characterized by a mixed land use pattern of residential housing interspersed with pockets of poorly maintained rental properties and outdated strip commercial developments. East Gateway's commercial sector is burdened with a declining business base, deteriorating infrastructure, a mismatch of uses and vacant storefronts. The neighborhood struggles with code issues, homelessness, high rental rates and a negative image of crime due to problematic land uses and businesses. In 2005, the primary traffic route to Clearwater Beach was rerouted to connect to the realigned Memorial Causeway Bridge. This action diverted traffic away from the East Gateway area and the resulting decrease in traffic volumes affected business activity in the neighborhood. This condition further emphasized the need for a targeted business development and investment strategy. In 2006, the CRA initiated a neighborhood planning effort for the East Gateway Neighborhood to create a comprehensive, community development action program. The overarching goals of the action program are to: . Engage residents, businesses and other neighborhood interests in the creation and implementation of the action program; 1 Recipient of the Ron Kenzie Merit Award for Planning Studies/Marketing Communications, Florida Redevelopment Association, 2003. 12 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 13 of 51 . Achieve neighborhood stability by addressing the social, economic and physical issues that plague the area; . Establish a unique and positive identity that instills neighborhood pride and sense of ownership; and . Revitalize the neighborhood to attract reinvestment in private property. With significant input from neighborhood stakeholders, the East Gateway Task Force developed a Five-Year Action Program in 2007. The program areas include: . Safety and security . Business environment . Neighborhood appearance . Economic growth and housing . Hispanic community integration The East Gateway Task Force provides leadership for the implementation of the action program. However, it is envisioned that a combination of governmental and non- governmental organizations and neighborhood leaders will assume lead roles in the implementation of action items. Additionally, the East Gateway Task Force will seek strategic partners for targeted redevelopment in the area. Generally, the action program will be implemented through: . Application of applicable objectives, policies and design guidelines to redevelopment projects during the site plan review process; . Use of the Public Amenities Incentive Pool; . Public strategies (e.g., Code revisions or new program to address a neighborhood issue); and . Capital improvements projects (public and private). Periodic monitoring and evaluation of the action program will ensure that the neighborhood vision is continually strived for and neighborhood assets are protected and enhanced. Action program progress will be gauged through the evaluation of performance measures in an annual report submitted to the CRA for review and action, as appropriate. We anticipate that there will be several infrastructure needs that will be identified in the Five-Year Action Plan. Along those lines, the City Council approved the reallocation of $248,727 in CDBG funds that will be used to assist with the City's infrastructure needs in the East Gateway area. 13 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 14 of 51 Brownfields Pro2:ram A key economic development tool used to improve conditions in the City's Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas and the CRA is the Brownfields Program. A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. These sites are usually impaired by a negative environmental stigma. A new element that the City used this year is the Sales Tax Exemption on Building Materials Program. Florida Statutes provides a sales tax exemption on building materials used in housing and mixed use projects in brownfields areas in which the developer agrees to set asides at least 20% of the housing units in the project for low to moderate- mcome persons. Economic Development worked with Tampa Bay CDC's Woodlawn Oaks project to process the reimbursement for $23,563.21. In addition, the City received $400,000 from EP A to conduct environmental assessments activities. One new focus of this grant is to develop a public health monitoring plan to address environmental justice issues impacting health and welfare. This plan will include blood lead testing and potential residential lead-based paint issues. NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION STRATEGY The City of Clearwater's Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy (NRS) is a component of the City's Five Year Consolidated Plan. The Strategy was established to promote a flexible design in the City's allocation of funds provided by HUD and CDBG funds to promote innovative programs in economically disadvantaged areas of the City. The NRS provides for enhanced regulatory flexibility in the program requirements for providing CDBG funds for economic development, housing and public service activities. In terms of economic development relief, the strategy allows job creation or retention efforts relief by not requiring businesses to track the income of people hired or retained. Economic development activities carried out in the approved neighborhood revitalization areas are also exempt from the aggregate public benefit standards. The relief for public service activities can be viewed in terms of the regulatory requirements that no more than 15% of the total CDBG allocation may be used for public services activities. Under this strategy, all public services offered within the subject neighborhoods and carried out as part of qualified projects by a Community Based 14 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 15 of 51 Development Organization (CBDO) are exempt from the public service cap of 15%. Therefore, the City will be able to offer a more intensive level of service to stimulate revitalization. This allows the City to address some of the urgent needs of the disadvantaged community by offering job training and other related economic development assistance. In the housing arena, the revitalization strategy will allow the City to track scattered site housing units as a single strategy. This will enable the City to provide housing opportunities to not only very-low to low income families, but to other families who earn between 80-120% of Area Median Income (AMI). This will increase the level of affordable housing units and thereby raise the income level of the neighborhood and in the process create a mixed-income community. There are several non-housing factors that cause a blighting influence on communities. They range from vacant boarded structures, to crime, to lack of commercial/retail activities. To help stimulate economic development opportunities within the North Greenwood Neighborhood, the City took several measures to ensure that the neighborhood would be stable. The City built a new 8,000 sq. ft. library and a state-of-the-art aquatic/recreational center. In addition, the City provided roadway enhancements on Martin Luther King Avenue from Seminole to Palm Bluff Avenue. These were provided from non-federal resources. The NRS includes two different neighborhoods - the North Greenwood Community and South Greenwood Community. They both have their own goals and objectives. The North Greenwood Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area has identified the following strategies to improve their neighborhood: 1. Eliminate poor conditions of structures 2. Remediate low-level contaminated sites 3. Reverse declining property values 4. Expand business opportunities 5. Create new investment opportunities in the neighborhood 6. Increase new job training and placement opportunities 7. Reduce the unemployment rate 8. Empower neighborhood residents to eliminate crime 9. Strengthen coordination of community organizations in the redevelopment effort The Lake Belleview (A.K.A. South Greenwood) Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area has the same general strategies of the North Greenwood Area. The Lake Belleview area would like to see the following: 1. Additional educational opportunities of businesses 15 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 16 of 51 2. A new neighborhood training facility 3. A new childcare facility 4. Job training opportunities 5. A community library 6. New homes 7. Better social services 8. Better collaboration of existing organizations 9. More crime awareness programs The City has taken several steps over the years to address the strategies m the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy. Steps included developing a flexible code enforcement program, purchasing and demolishing dilapidated buildings, working with local law enforcement to reduce crime, funding outreach programs and providing loans to small businesses. North Greenwood Strategy Area Listed below are projects the City has completed over the past few years in the North Greenwood Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area. . North Greenwood Branch Library - (2003) . North Greenwood Recreation/Aquatic Complex - (2003) . North Greenwood Apartments Renovation - (2003) . North Greenwood Corridor Enhancements . North Greenwood Reclaimed Water In this reporting period, the City provided federal funding for several projects in the North Greenwood Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area. They include: Public Service Willa Carson Community Health Center $30,000 Public Facility Homeless Emergency Project - Transitional Housing $75,000 Rental Housing Homeless Emergency Project-Fairburn Housing Projects $500,000 Down payment iAssistance $286,338 Rehabilitation $15,000 TOTAL $906,338 Funding for these programs assisted in meeting some of the strategies identified in the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy. The funds provided to HEP enabled the organization to tear down the deteriorated structures to build new ones and reinvest in the community. The enhancements will expand business opportunities. 16 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 17of51 Lake Belleview (A.KA. South Greenwood) Strategy Area Woodlawn Oaks In this reporting period, Largo Area Housing Development Corporation completed the development of a small niche subdivision called Woodlawn Oaks. The development consists of eleven new homes. The City provided $425,000 in SHIP funds to assist with the costs to put in the roads and other required infrastructure. In addition to the subdivision, the city provided $753,500 in HOME and SHIP Program funds to families to purchase homes with down payment and closing cost assistance. South Greenwood Task Force The City formed a Lake Belleview Neighborhood Task Force during the last reporting period. This task force is made up of various City departments that are active in Lake Belleview. Among some of the departments include - Economic Development and Housing, Development and Neighborhood Services, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Engineering, Information Technology, Police, and Fire. One of the goals of the Task Force was to develop a three (3) strategy matrix listing all of the programs and projects, either existing and/or proposed for the Lake Belleview Area. The task force meets on a quarterly basis to provide updates and to dialogue on events happening in the area. Through the collaborative efforts of the task force, it allows various departments to interact and plan their programs and projects very efficiently and effectively. The City also is continuing their efforts to rehabilitate homes and develop infill housing in the Lake Belleview Area. For this reporting period the City, along with our Housing Partners, provided funding for eleven infill homes, two (2) down payment assistance loan, three (3) rehabilitations and one (1) business loan in the Lake Belleview Area. Through the general fund the city built a new aquatic/recreation complex, added new baseball fields, skateboard park and a fishing pier on Lake Belleview. AFFIRMATIVEL Y FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING Until October 1999, the City of Clearwater had designated the Human Relations Department as the lead agency in affirmatively furthering Fair Housing and enforcing the local Fair Housing Ordinance. They investigated and enforced the Fair Housing laws and provided the administrative procedures that the City follows to enforce the Fair Housing laws, as well as to respond to any Fair Housing complaints received by the City. The City of Clearwater no longer directly enforces Fair Housing laws. The responsibility was assigned to Pinellas County Human Relations Department since their office investigates and makes recommendations on all Fair Housing issues for other areas of 17 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 18 of 51 Pinellas County with the exception of the City of St. Petersburg. The City of Clearwater plays an active role in affirmatively furthering Fair Housing. The City adheres to the Human Rights Ordinance that Pinellas County adopted in 1984. Pinellas County maintains an interlocal agreement with the City of St. Petersburg for the enforcement of the ordinance. The City of St. Petersburg handles enforcement south of Ulmerton Road and the County undertakes enforcement north ofUlmerton Road. In 2002, the City of Clearwater along with the, Cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo, Pinellas County, Pinellas County Housing Authority, and the UNO Federation formed a Fair Housing Partnership to coordinate efforts countywide to support and expand the availability of housing to all, regardless of familial status, national origin, race, accessibility, and disability. The Partnership's tools for furthering this effort are educational programs, training, testing, assessments, and enforcement through the appropriate channels. The Partnership meets periodically to review programs and to set and review goals. The City remains active in the provision of affordable housing, accessible housing, and promotion of home ownership. The City of Clearwater provides information concerning home ownership, home financing, and home repairs in printed matter and is working with our Public Communications Department on providing information on a variety of other mediums. Over the past year, the City has put a substantial amount of educational information on the Housing Division's webpage pertaining to Fair Housing, Elderly Housing, Lead-Based Paint, Predatory & Fair Lending, and Financial Education (SEE Appendix). The City will continue to expand the availability of information about housing programs and Fair Housing laws. The City has also requested to meet with the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity representative from HUD Tampa when the time is convenient for them to obtain technical assistance to improve our Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity activities. Sale or Rental of Housin2: Fair Housing complaints with the City's Equity Services Department and the Pinellas County Office Human Rights/Human Relations indicate that discrimination in the sale or rental of housing and provision of housing brokerage services does occur. Public Policies The high percentage of build-out in the City affects the availability of suitable land for multi-family and affordable single-family development. The City's Community Development Code, design standards, adequate public facility (concurrency) ordinance and Building Code requirements influence the feasibility of affordable housing projects. Development regulations can limit the potential use of small or irregular infill parcels for affordable housing or increase costs associated with site development and construction. 18 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 19 of 51 Administrative Policies Administrative policies generally support Fair Housing. These include: 1. Marketing housing programs in targeted areas 2. Providing City-wide home buyers' assistance and education 3. Educational material on the Housing Division's webpage 4. Carefully reviewing where affordable housing developments will be located, and 5. Avoiding a concentration of very-low to moderate income households in multi - family developments Actions Taken to Overcome the Effects of Imvediments Identified Throu2:h the Analvsis The City, in conjunction with the Pinellas County Fair Housing Partnership (Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas County Housing Authority, and the UNO Federation) initiated a Fair Housing Study beginning early in 2002 to determine if persons seeking rental housing were given differential treatment based on familial status, national origin, race, accessibility, and disability; and to determine if further educational and outreach programs were needed. Two consulting firms conducted the testing process and prepared the report giving the results. Two hundred tests were conducted; not all sites were tested on every basis. The report was completed in the fall of 2002. Differential treatment was shown in 59% of the cases tested. Broken down by area, the percentage of cases showing differential treatment was: St. Petersburg, 52%; Clearwater 55%; Largo 67%; Pinellas County (balance of county including small cities) 61 %. This information was presented to each of the Partners' boards or commissions, and all tested rental complexes were sent a copy of the study. Results were reported in local newspapers and on television. As a result of the study it was recommended that the following steps be taken to improve the current situation: 1. In cases where there is overwhelming evidence of differential treatment, a complaint against the housing provider should be filed with HUD and/or any similar local governing agency. 2. There should be aggressive education and outreach efforts to both the housing providers and the general public. 3. The Pinellas Partnership has the opportunity to retest properties that demonstrated "some type of differential treatment" for possible future enforcement effort. 4. All local government permitting agencies should implement an accessibility 19 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 20 of 51 review process before permitting newly constructed multi-family dwellings. 5. Mandate Fair Housing training for any developer or builder receiving city or county funding. The Partnership conducted a series of forums, seminars, and other outreach efforts to educate housing providers and the general public on Fair Housing issues, rights, and regulations. Testing will be done in the future on a smaller scale to determine if enforcement efforts are needed. The City funds programs that offer free classes for persons desiring to become homeowners. The Pinellas Realtor Organization subscribes to the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement (V AMA) and works to educate its members about Fair Housing. Training and marketing materials have been videotaped and translated into American Sign Language and Spanish. The City promotes home ownership and education at various homebuyer fairs and expositions. The City also provides funding to Community Service Foundation to provide Fair Housing Education. In addition to the Human Relations Department, the City is working with Pinellas County Realtors through the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement (V AMA) Program to further Fair Housing opportunities in real estate transactions. To further these efforts of the V AMA, the Pinellas County Board of Realtors enlisted the services of the Community Housing Resource Board to focus on the federal, state and local enforcement agencies, housing industry groups and volunteer community groups working together to promote Fair Housing practices. These efforts include the following: . Providing public information on Fair Housing. . Assessing community Fair Housing needs and identifYing local problems and issues that impede equal housing opportunity. . Evaluating performance and effectiveness of the V AMA. . Expanding minority involvement in the real estate industry. . Expanding public awareness of housing opportunities in the community. . Developing cooperative solutions to problems associated with the implementation of the V AMA. Other actions during the FY2006-07 included: . Continued support of Pinellas County Human Relations Department, Pinellas County Board of Realtors, and the Community Housing Resource Board. . Continued to work with the local committee of American with Disabilities to view housing related issues for homeowners, renters, or homebuyers with disabilities. . Provided $17,000 in funds through the CDBG Program to the Community Service Foundation, $37,000 to Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation, $8,000 to Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Inc. and $13,000 to Clearwater Neighborhood 20 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 21 of 51 Housing Service to implement homebuyers training programs, fair housing education and assistance, and foreclosure prevention and counseling services. . Provided funding in the amount of $10,141 to Gulf Coast Legal Services to implement a Fair Housing program that offers fair housing counseling services, initial needs assessment, rental eviction intervention, and marketing of Fair Housing programs. . Provided funding in the amount of $13,600 to Community Service Foundation to administer a Fair Housing Program. The Pinellas County anti-discrimination efforts focus on public information and enforcement of Fair Housing regulations and the County's Human Rights Ordinance. The County publishes a Housing Resource Directory that includes an overview of Fair Housing law, information about reasonable accommodation and accessibility, and a list of state and local enforcement agencies. The County produces a brochure entitled, Fair Housing in Pinel/as County, and distributes approximately 5,000 copies annually. Below market rate mortgages, down payment and closing cost assistance are readily available through the County's Housing Finance Authority and through other agencies. The County is also active in providing and promoting affordable housing, providing low cost funds for home purchase or repair, and modification to homes to make them accessible to persons with disabilities. The City directs significant resources to expand the supply of affordable rental housing and partners with a variety of for-profit and non-profit developers and the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County. The City also assists developers with a variety of incentives aimed at reducing development costs, impact fees, and regulatory impediments. The City encourages mixed-income, multi-family developments to develop affordable housing in areas that are not predominantly low to moderate areas as part of a continuing effort to deconcentrate poverty. Funding is denied to developers who do not provide mixed-income housing where the effect could be to racially or economically segregate low-income households. AFFORDABLE HOUSING The Housing Element of the City's Comprehensive Plan, last updated in July 2006, states as one of its objectives, that "the City shall continue to provide assistance and incentives for the development of housing that is affordable to very low, low, and moderate-income households, including those with special needs, consistent with the level of growth in these income categories". The following policies have been prepared to effect this change: 21 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 22 of 51 13.2.1 Continue to utilize CDBG funds for the construction and/or rehabilitation of housing units that will be affordable to very low and low-income households consistent with federal income guidelines. 13.2.2 Continue to use federal programs to provide rental subsidy assistance to low and some moderate-income households. 13.2.3 Continue to review new construction techniques, materials, building codes, and housing codes in order to determine where housing costs can be reduced without sacrificing the quality of housing for very low and low-income households. 13.2.4 The City shall continue to utilize the Challenge 2000 Program to assist very low, low, and moderate-income households in obtaining mortgage financing. 13.2.5 The City shall continue to support the addition of rental housing as needed to meet the needs of very-low, low, and moderate-income households. A copy of the City's Housing Element is located in the Appendix. CONTINUUM OF CARE NARRATIVE The City continues to work closely with the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless and various other homeless services providers in addressing the needs of the City's Homeless. The City of Clearwater listed Continuum of Care issues as a high pnonty in the Consolidated Plan. During this reporting period, the City provided $30,000 in CDBG funds to Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project (CHIP) as operating capital for their Emergency Shelter Facility as part of it's Continuum of Care. The facility provided shelter, food, counseling, and case management services to 1,356 individuals during this reporting period. A total of $30,000 was provided to the Westcare of Florida (a/k/a The Mustard Seed) - Turning Point for inebriated homeless individuals. During this reporting period, the agency assisted 132 homeless individuals from Clearwater. The Homeless Emergency Project received $75,000 to complete the development of a kitchen and dining hall for homeless individuals and families and $17,500 for operational support. The facility offers food to homeless individuals and families. The agency's goal is to serve 1,000 people annually. In addition to short and long-term housing for the homeless, the HEP provides a variety of other services including job placement, medical, dental and psychological counseling. A total of $54,000 was provided to Religious Community Services - Food Pantry to complete the renovation of their distribution facility that provides food for deserving low income and homeless individuals and families. The agency provided services to 7,188 22 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 23 of 51 families during this reporting period. In this reporting period $8,400 in CDBG funds was provided to Directions for Mental Health to renovate their office complex. Directions for Mental Health -provides a wide range of high quality behavior health services for all ages. The agency assisted 3,265 individuals for effective treatment of mental illness. CDBG funds were provided in the amount of $30,000 to the Pinellas Opportunity Council to administer their "Chore Services" Program. Through this program various chore services were provided to 69 elderly, frail elderly, developmentally disabled and physically disabled individuals to assist them in remaining in their home. OTHER ACTIONS Fosterin2: and Maintainin2: Affordable Housin2: The City of Clearwater has been very proactive in fostering and maintaining affordable housing. Although the City cannot control the cost of labor, goods or land costs, the City continues to look for new and creative ways to address the issue of affordability. Some of the steps the City has taken in the past and/or are currently doing include: . Design homes that are practical and efficient . Subsidize impact fees . Provide financing at below market rates, zero percent and/or deferred payment loans . Fund subrecipients to acquire vacant properties and build affordable houses . Work with subrecipients to acquire homes foreclosed by HUD and resell them as affordable housing units . Pay for infrastructure improvements with general revenue funds . Change the City's Development Code to reduce street size and other development Issues . Work with the local housing authority to buy property and resell for affordable housing . Work with developers to put together applications for funding through the Low- Income Housing Tax Credit Program, State of Florida Housing Bond Program and other resources to build or rehabilitate rental units for affordable housing Barriers to Affordable Housin2: In the early years (1992 - 1995) of the City's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program, the Clearwater's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee reviewed the following areas to identify potential barriers to affordable housing: . Affordable Housing Definitions . Permit Processing . Impact Fee Requirements . Infrastructure Capacity 23 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 24 of 51 . Residential Zoning Density . Transfer of Development Rights . On-Site Parking and Setback Requirements . Zero-Lot Line Development . Sidewalk and Street Requirements . Regulatory Review Processes . Inventory of Lands Suitable for Affordable Housing Development The City of Clearwater began receiving State of Florida - State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program funding in 1992 when the Florida Legislature adopted the Sadowski Act. The SHIP Program is a dedicated source of affordable housing funds that are provided annually to the cities and counties within the state. In fiscal year 2006-2007 the City received $1,023,711 in SHIP funding and another $937,283 in program income and recaptured funds, for a total of $1. 96 million. One of the driving forces behind the passage of the Sadowski Act was the Florida Homebuilders and Contractors Associations. As a result of their lobbying effort, SHIP jurisdictions each year must expend seventy-five percent (75%) of their funds ( entitlement and recaptured funds) on activities that involve construction and/or rehabilitation of homes, and in addition, sixty-five percent (65%) of the funds (entitlement and recaptured funds) must result in homeownership. A major requirement of the SHIP Program, as well as a condition of receiving continued funding, was each jurisdiction had to adopt affordable housing incentives that would assist in the implementation of their affordable housing activities. Each SHIP entitlement community was required to adopt an Affordable Housing Incentive Plan (AHIP), which contained, at a minimum two statutory required incentives: 1. Assurance that permits as defined in Chapter 163.3164(7) and (8) F.s. for affordable housing projects are expedited to a greater degree than other projects; 2. An ongoing process for review of local policies, ordinances, regulations, and plan provisions that increase the cost of housing prior to their adoption (420.9071 (16) F.s.). Several years ago the State required local jurisdictions to combine their AHIP into their SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP). Jurisdictions adopt their LHAPs for a one to three year period. The City of Clearwater performed this task with the development and adoption of our fiscal year 2005-06 LHAP. The City is currently performing activities from the FY2006-07 LHAP, FY 2007-08 and FY2008-2009 LHAP. As we continue to address the affordable housing needs of our residents, we must also ensure that we continue to meet the statutory requirements of the SHIP Program. In future years, as part of the monitoring process conducted by the State of Florida, the monitors will be evaluating how local jurisdictions are implementing their affordable housing incentives in order to ensure they are meeting their statutory obligations. These evaluations will review the process and policies that all affordable housing projects go through from start to finish. This process is not totally exclusive to affordable housing projects using SHIP dollars, but any affordable housing project taking place in the City, 24 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 25 of 51 regardless of the funding source(s). Below is a section from the City's recently adopted "Expedited Processing and Ongoing Review" Policy. Exvedited Processin2: Building Department All affordable housing projects, as defined in Chapter 163.3164(7) and (8) F.S., that are located within the City limits are required to include with their application for building permit a request for Expedited Processing. A copy of this request must be provided to the Building Official and to the Assistant Director of Housing. Expedited Processing affords eligible projects priority over projects without this status. When an affordable housing project receives approval, the Building Division notifies the Assistant Director who, in turn, will document the timeframe for the application process. Planning Department The Planning Department will follow the City of Clearwater - Community Development Code when processing all affordable housing applications for activities that require rezoning, land-use amendments, variances, development orders, etc. Under the Code, all projects are reviewed and may be scheduled for the next meeting of the Development Review Committee (DRC - staff level review) and if needed, the Community Development Board (CDB). Many applications can be decided at the staff level and may not need to go DRC and/or CDB. When affordable housing projects and/or applications are submitted that can be decided at the Staff level, they shall receive priority and be reviewed before any non-affordable housing project and/or applications. Applicants must indicate that the project will be an affordable housing development and/or project. The Planning Department has and will continue to implement, where possible, the expedited plan amendment process for large-scale amendments related to the provision of affordable housing. On2:oin2: Process for Review As part of the review process for proposed policies, regulations, plans and programs, the sponsoring City department requests that the Economic Development and Housing Department to analyze the economic impact of the action as it pertains to the cost of housing. The analysis shows the estimated increase in cost to an average home. The analyses are maintained on file in the Housing Division of the Economic Development and Housing Department. The City holds public hearings and meetings to obtain citizen input and to respond to citizen proposals and inquiries about activities and program performance. Citizens and other City stakeholders have emphasized the need to consider the City's diverse interests in the establishment of goals, objectives, policies and priorities; the identification of new 25 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 26 of 51 projects and programs; and in the application, monitoring and evaluation of existing programs. Typically, the Economic Development and Housing Department staff meets with prospective affordable housing developer to determine the level of assistance and project needs. If the developer proceeds with a project, staff facilitates the plan review and permitting process through the Planning, Building and Engineering departments. This allows the Economic Development and Housing Department to troubleshoot and streamline the process. Florida Statutes 163.3164(7) & (8); Community Development Code Section 8-102 (7) "Development order" means any order granting, denying, or granting with conditions an application for a development permit. (8) "Development permit" includes any building permit, zoning permit, subdivision approval, rezoning, certification, special exception, variance, or any other official action of local government having the effect of permitting the development of land. Florida Statutes - Chapter 420.9071(16) (16) "Local housing incentive strategies" means local regulatory reform or incentive programs to encourage or facilitate affordable housing production, which include at a minimum, assurance that permits as defined in s. 163.3164(7) and (8) for affordable housing projects are expedited to a greater degree than other projects; an ongoing process for review of local policies, ordinances, regulations, and plan provisions that increase the cost of housing prior to their adoption; and a schedule for implementing the incentive strategies. Local housing incentive strategies may also include other regulatory reforms, such as those enumerated in s.420.9076 and adopted by the local governing body. Comvrehensive Plan Analysis The City of Clearwater Comprehensive Plan includes a state mandated Housing Element that analyzes the City's existing and projected housing need. The element contains goals, objectives and policies that work in tandem with other City housing policy documents. Fostering and maintaining an affordable housing supply is one of the element's primary goals. The goal is supported by policies that aim to reduce barriers to public and private sector construction of affordable units. The Economic Development and Housing Department coordinated with the Planning Department in 2005 for the preparation of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for the Comprehensive Plan. A focus of the EAR was affordable housing. In this regard, the EAR included an assessment of the successes and shortcomings of the City's affordable housing polices and programs, along with recommendations for improvement. The EAR recommendations will be addressed in a major update of the Comprehensive Plan in 2007/2008. The Economic Development and Housing Department will have an advisory role. 26 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 27 of 51 Lead Based Paint Lead based paint continues to be a serious problem throughout cities across America. It is usually prevalent in homes built prior to 1978. Clearwater's housing stock is relatively new with the average home being built after 1970. However, the City still maintains that lead based paint is a serious issue and conducts housing inspections to determine if there are defective paint surfaces. If lead conditions are present, the lead paint is either removed or covered in a manner described by HUD. No lead based paint conditions were found during this reporting period. The City will continue its effort to rid structures of lead based paint and will inspect any homes built prior to 1978 for any presence of lead based paint. The City will continue to test and remove all lead based paint surfaces in structures that are being rehabilitated under our programs that are using federal funds. Clearwater will use the services of the Pinellas County Environmental Department to test all structures with defective paint surfaces and the local Health Department to test children for elevated blood levels. The Willa Carson Community Health Resource Center continues to participate with the City by providing a meeting area for neighborhood based education programs, disseminating information on the hazards of lead based paint, and provide blood screening. The City continues to put information about lead based paint and safety on to the Housing Division web site (SEE Appendix). Program activities will include the following: . Collaboration between public-private agencies involving housing, health, and community-based organizations to facilitate a Healthy Home Team to go door to door in the targeted Brownfields area to identify children and homes at risk. . Assurance that children identified at risk receive blood lead testing and the child with elevated lead levels receives follow-up care. . Promotion of a public awareness campaign through education via physicians and the community and disbursement of educational materials. . Routine placement of educational materials on the Housing Division's webpage. . Assessment of homes at risk to identifY lead hazard control services to eliminate hazards identified in homes. . Initiation of supportive lead hazard control services to eliminate hazards identified in homes. . Evaluation of prevention activities to measure the impact and outcome of program services and intervention efforts in the community. 27 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 28 of 51 Poverty Level Assessment Reducing the number of residents who live below the poverty level is very important to the City of Clearwater. The City realized that the most effective way to reduce the number of persons below the poverty level was to increase their income through providing employment opportunities. The City will provide funding to support service organizations that reduce impediments for families allowing them to rise above the poverty level. Clearwater provides economic development opportunities to non-profit and for profit businesses that agree to hire lower income individuals. Through the coordination among programs, including the Environmental Protection Agency and State Brownsfield Redevelopment initiatives, the federal Weed and Seed Program, Juvenile Welfare Board, Clearwater Stars, United Way, the Eckerd Foundation, and the University of South Florida, Clearwater will continue expand our efforts this year to reduce impediments. Institutional Structure To overcome gaps in institutional structures and enhance coordination, the City implemented several practices that have been very successful. First, local lenders were provided with information relative to the City's housing programs and offer a coordinated effort for the lending institution to prosper. This relationship has continued to work very well. Together we are able to provide home ownership and homebuyer opportunities for very low to moderate-income families. The City and its subrecipients pre-qualify clients to the lender's and City's specification and provide financing in the form of down payment assistance. Public Housin2: and Residential Initiatives The City understands the benefits of improving public housing and residents' initiatives. To improve the lives of families residing in public housing the City targeted the children to break the cycle. The City will continue to work and strengthen our relationship with the Clearwater Housing Authority (CHA) to foster innovative public housing developments, potential joint ventures and residential initiatives. There are several potential projects in the pipeline that the City is coordinating with the CHA. These include the former jasmine Courts property and the Homer Villas property. No specific plans have been provided to the City yet. To help with resident initiatives, the City provided $30,000 for operations to the Partners in Self Sufficiency Program. This program provides residents on public assistance (Section 8) housing, counseling and case management services that encourage participants to become self-sufficient and purchase their own home. The agency assisted 87 families during this reporting period. 28 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 29 of 51 Levera2:in2: Resources The City's efforts to provide affordable housing and other services to very low to moderate-income families have resulted in leveraging a great amount of additional resources. Through the City's SHIP and HOME Programs, the City expended $938,715 m downpayment assistance and leveraged $1,317,936 in private sector funding. Through the Infill Housing and Down Payment Assistance Programs the City continues to work closely with the lending and housing non-profits in the community to leverage private investment in home ownership. (Please see Homebuyers Section for accomplishments). In addition, Clearwater works with Community Service Foundation, Partners in Self Sufficiency, Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, and Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc. to provide homeownership counseling to support our housing programs. Pro2:ram Income and Recavtured Funds In FY 06/07, the city generated the following funds through program mcome and recaptured funds in the CDBG and HOME Programs: City of Clearwater FY 2006/07 Proaram Income and Recaptured Funds Program Recaptured Total Program Income Amount Received Community Development Block Grant Program Rehabilitation Program $77,499.00 $74,585.00 $152,084.00 Economic Development Program $34,520.00 $57,168.00 $91,688.00 Infill Housing Program $30,694.00 $30,694.00 Subtotal $142,713.00 $131,753.00 $274,466.00 HOME Investment Partnership Program $231,905.00 $231,905.00 State Housing Initiatives Program $674,602.00 $228,342.00 $902,944.00 Total $1,191,933.00 $491,848.00 $1,683,781.00 29 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 30 of 51 Citizen Comments If any Citizen Comments are received they will be located in Appendix. 30 Item # 7 SELF EVALUATION Attachment number 2 Page 31 of 51 FY 2005 - 2010 PRIORITIES AND SPECIFIC HOUSING OBJECTIVES. Our assessment of the previous year's activity shows that the City has made strides in addressing many of the high priority projects. The areas listed as high priority include: 1. Economic Development 2. Funding and Implementation of Senior Centers 3. Youth Centers 4. Day Care Centers 5. Health Facilities 6. Parking Facilities 7. Employment Training 8. Fair Housing Counseling 9. Tenant-Landlord Counseling 10. Commercial/Industrial Infrastructure 11. Micro-Business Lending, and 12. Code Enforcement In FY2006-2007 the City's Action Plan federal funds budget was as follows: CDBG ntitlement $ 969,479.00 rogram Income $ 200,000.00 OME ntitlement $ 543,850. 00 $ 0 TOTAL $ 1,713,329.00 With the above funds the following activities were funded: Demolition Relocation Fair Housing CHDO Set Aside Program Administration CDBG Economic Development Home Ownership/Rehabilitation Public Facilities Public Services Total 31 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 30,000.00 20,000.00 23,741.00 81,577.00 288,281.00 30,000.00 732,889.00 165,421.00 341,420.00 1,713,329.00 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 32 of 51 Through the Public Service awards, the City funded eight (8) organizations in operational support. This funding provided to the organizations listed below a total of$165,421. The individual awards to the public service organizations are as follows: Clearwater Homeless Intervention Proiect, Inc. - received $30,000 in operational support to operate an overnight homeless shelter for individuals. The shelter provided overnight housing and case management services to 1,356 homeless individuals during this reporting period. Partners in Self Sufficiency - received $30,000 to administer a family self sufficiency program for single family households on public assistance to turn their lives around and become self sufficient. During this reporting period 60 clients were served. Pinellas Opportunity Council - was awarded the second highest allocation in the public sector arena at $30,000 to provide chore services to the elderly and physically impaired households. During this reporting period 69 elderly/physically-impaired households were assisted. Westcare of Florida (flk/a Mustard Seed) - Turning Point - was awarded $30,000 to operate an inebriate center for homeless individuals who were intoxicated or abused drugs. The center assisted 132 individuals during this reporting period. Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services - was awarded $4,777.60 for their Community Care for Disabled Adults and Homemaker Program to allow the agency to assist 198 disabled individuals and frail elderly to remain independent in their homes. Willa Carson Community Health Resource Center - was awarded $20,000 for salary and operational support to assist 2,104 individuals at the health center. Kimberly Home - was provided $8,643 for operational support to provide housing services to 47 pregnant teenagers and other low-income families. YWCA of Tampa Bay - was provided $12,000 for salary and operational support to administer an outreach center for 433 individuals. HOMELESS ACCOMPLISHMENT The City provided CDBG funding to four (4) agencies assisting the homeless in FY 2005-2006 - Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project (CHIP), Westcare of Florida (a/k/a The Mustard Seed) - Turning Point and Religious Community Services - Food Pantry/The Haven and Homeless Emergency Project. Westcare's - Turning Point program received $30,000 to cover administrative costs. The Turning Point is an inebriate receiving center that provides a safe haven for both walk-in clientele and those who are picked up by law enforcement and other agencies. The program provides food, temporary shelter, and counseling. After an initial assessment, 32 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 33 of 51 clients are placed in longer term housing and assisted in finding a job and are provided other services as necessary. The facility has a capacity to handle 155 clients and two (2) staff. The facility averages 56 beds and 10 clients on the floor. The City funded the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Program (CHIP) in the amount of $30,000 for operational support for a program that provides temporary shelter, food and clothing. The agency assisted 1,039 individuals during this reporting period. The program requires participants to seek and retain employment and receive counseling in order to stay at the shelter. Upon stabilization, clients are moved into transitional housing. The Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) received HOME funding in the amount of $75,000 to build a kitchen and dining room facility for the homeless. The city provided an additional $75,000 during the previous year for the kitchen and dining room improvements. In addition to short and long-term housing for the homeless, the HEP provides job placement, medical, dental and psychological counseling. The dining and kitchen facility will provide meals to 1,000 homeless individuals yearly. A total of $54,000 was provided to Religious Community Services - Food Pantry to renovate their facility that provides food for deserving low income and homeless individuals and families. The agency provided services to 14,824 families during this reporting period. In addition to the food pantry, the city provided $9,698 to the agency for improvements for their Haven's Spouse Abuse Shelter. In all, a total of $273,698 was allocated and/or expended to homeless needs in FY 2005- 2006. These allocations resulted in many homeless individual/families being provided a place to live and get back on their feet and obtain other essential services. SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS CDBG funds were provided in the amount of $30,000 to Pinellas Opportunity Council to administer their Chore Services Program. Through this program various chore services were provided to forty-seven elderly, frail elderly, developmentally disabled and physically disabled individuals to assist them in remaining in their home. To further assist non-homeless individuals with special needs, the City provided funding to Directions for Mental Health. Directions For Mental Health provides a facility for individuals to obtain mental health counseling. They also provide needed medicines for related mental health illnesses. A total of $8,400 was provided to repair their parking area. During this reporting period, the City provided funding in the amount of $9,698 to Religious Community Service to renovate their facilities. They provide housing and case management services to victims of spouse abuse. A total of $54,000 was provided to Religious Community Services to renovate their food bank facility. Religious Community Services and Directions for Mental Health provide assistance to the elderly, 33 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 34 of 51 persons with mental and physical disabilities, and victims of spouse abuse. These services are classified as special needs. NON-HOUSING ACCOMPLISHMENTS East Gatewav Area The first goal for the East Gateway is to stabilize the area. The major strategies address the key issues that plague the area including crime, code issues, homelessness, and high rental rates. A second goal is to bring identity and increase the business vitality of the neighborhood and engage the neighborhood and business community in the area's improvement. The Task Force will develop a Five-Year Action Plan that will incorporate these strategies as well as those concerns expressed by the community. These efforts will assist in avoiding further the economic decline that the City is experiencing in the Downtown area. We anticipate that there will be several infrastructure needs that will be identified in the Five-Year Action Plan. Along those lines, the City Council approved during the last reporting period the reallocation of $248,727 in CDBG funds that will be used to assist with the City's infrastructure needs in the East Gateway area. The City has placed its highest priority on helping 'working poor' renter households find affordable housing; and assisting low-income owners maintain their properties with housing rehabilitation. This priority has been affected by parallel Community Development objectives to maintain the existing housing stock and revitalize older neighborhoods. The City's specific Housing Objectives for FY2005 through FY2010 are: Housing Objective One: Build 200 new mixed-income rental units in conjunction with ongoing redevelopment/revitalization proj ects. . Federal Funds: HOME/CBDG . State/Other Funds: SHIP, FHFC programs Housing Objective Two: Acquire and/or rehabilitate 50 units in small rental complexes for mixed-income affordable rental housing. . Federal Funds: HOME/CBDG . State/Other Funds: SHIP, FHFC programs Housing Objective Three: Preserve the existing housing stock by rehabilitating 100 units owned by low-income owner households. . Federal Funds: HOME/CBDG . State/Other Funds: SHIP 34 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 35 of 51 Housing Objective Four: Preserve the existing housing stock by funding the acquisition and rehabilitation/expansion of 50 existing units for new low-income owner households. . Federal Funds: HOME . State/Other Funds: SHIP Housing Objective Five: Provide direct down payment/closing cost assistance to 100 low and moderate-income homebuyers. . Federal Funds: HOME . State/Other Funds: SHIP, HF A Bonds Housing Objective Six: Construct 20 new affordable, for sale, in-fill units in support of the City's ongoing revitalization/redevelopment activities. . Federal Funds: HOME/CDBG . State/Other Funds: SHIP Housing Objective Seven: Provide credit counseling and homeownership training assistance to 100 perspective low-income home buyers. Goals Actual FY Actual FY Actual FY 2005 2006 2007 Build Mixed 200 Income Rentals Acquire/Rehab 50 Mixed Income Rentals Rehab Low 100 43 20 18 Income Owner Housing Acquire/Rehab 50 4 Low Income Housing Down Payment 100 15 12 14 Assistance Low Housing Build New 20 3 10 14 Affordable Housing Housing 100 460 312 132 Consulting Total Housing 520 61 46 46 Units 35 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 36 of 51 HOUSING ACCOMPLISHMENTS During FY 2006-07, the City made a total of eighteen rehabilitation loans with CDBG, HOME and/or SHIP funds. Fourteen loans were provided to low-income families and four (4) loans were provided to very low-income families. This activity resulted in expenditures in the amount of$687,500. The City worked with Largo Area Housing Development Corporation (LAHDC) to complete a small niche infill subdivision in South Greenwood called Woodlawn Oaks, consisting of eleven homes. The City set-aside $425,000 in SHIP funds to assist LAHDC with the infrastructure improvements for the proposed subdivision. Down payment and closing costs were provided to the homebuyers. The City offers several programs that help make housing more affordable to very low and moderate-income homebuyers. The City's Home Ownership Program will lend funds to purchase land, provide down payment assistance, pay impact fees, disposition costs, closing costs and build new homes for income eligible home buyers. Funds in this program are also available to approved non-profit agencies financing their clients home ownership needs. Currently these agencies include: Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Community Service Foundation Home for Independence Habitat for Humanity Largo Area Housing Development Corporation Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation In addition to loans, housing education and counseling services were provided by four (4) of the City's Housing subrecipients. The City has allocated $75,000 for housing education on a per household served basis. The City provided an allocation to Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation (TBCDC) to administer their Home Buyers Club and for Homeownership Counseling Program, Consumer Credit Counseling Services for budgeting and foreclosure counseling, Community Services Foundation (CSF) for administering the Partnership to Homeownership and Homebuyer Education Program and Lighthouse Credit Foundation for homebuyer counseling. All of the education and counseling programs were funded through the SHIP program. Over 249 individuals/families took part in the education/counseling services during this reporting period. A total of 161 participated in both TBCDC Programs (Homeowners hip Counseling and Homebuyer Education Programs), 81 participated in Community Service Foundation's Partnership to Ownership and Homebuyer Education Programs, 48 participated from Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services and Consumer Credit Counseling Service counseled one. 36 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 37 of 51 MONITORING PLAN All subrecipients will receive federal and local regulations relating to their specific activity, along with an explanation as to how these apply to the particular project. Specific Performance Agreements will be executed with each subrecipient, giving measurable objectives for the eligible activity to be carried out. Each project is monitored on an ongoing basis. Documentation submitted with reimbursement requests are reviewed for compliance with applicable regulations and measurable objectives prior to issuing funds. On-site monitoring of selected subrecipients will be scheduled and completed annually by the housing manager. A checklist will be completed and reviewed to insure all aspects of the activity are carried out in accordance with applicable regulations. In addition to the above documentation, any subrecipient determined to be in need of and/or requesting additional training on how to meet grantee and federal requirements will receive technical assistance in the form deemed most appropriate to the circumstances by the Assistant Director or Housing Manager. Additional technical assistance, if needed or requested, will be given at the time of the annual monitoring. To further illustrate the monitoring process, the city utilizes three (3) main approaches to monitor subrecipients. The first begins during the application process. In this process, subrecipients will provide the city their goals and objectives along with an implementation schedule. If funded, the goals, objectives, budget and implementation schedule are included in their subrecipient agreement with the City. Next, the City provides the subrecipient with the format for monthly activity reports. These reports must be completed and returned to the City on a monthly basis. The Housing Division Staff monitors those reports and if the subrecipient is not meeting their goals, technical assistance is provided. Subrecipients who are provided housing assistance are monitored on a loan-by-Ioan basis. Each loan is monitored and approved by the City prior to loan closing to ensure compliance. Lastly, the City provides direct monitoring of all subrecipients annually. New agencies receive two (2) monitoring visits. The first visit is to provide technical assistance to ensure the agency understands the compliance process. The second visit is a detail- monitoring visit from an approved checklist. Agencies who have received funding in the past are monitored once. 37 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 38 of 51 CDBG NARRATIVE Relationshiv Of The Use Of CDBG Funds To The Priorities. Needs. Goals And Svecific Obiectives The City utilized a strategy of diversification when selecting CDBG eligible activities. Funds in the amount of $257,637 were allocated for administration (including Fair Housing activities), $226,000 for housing activities (rehabilitation, acquisition, disposition, etc.), $341,420 for public facilities and improvements and $165,421 for public services. Details of how these funds addressed the individual objectives are listed in the Self- Evaluation section of this report. Nature And Reasons For Anv Chan2:es In Pro2:ram Obiectives There were no changes or amendments to program objectives. Assessment Of Grantee Efforts In Carrvin2: Out The Planned Actions . All resources (CDBG, HOME and SHIP) listed in the Consolidated Plan were obtained. . The City supported the Homeless Emergency Project in an application for federal funds. . In addition to CDBG, HOME and SHIP funds, the City was successful in obtaining private sector leveraging for new housing construction and financing home purchases. Actions Of Funds Used Outside The National Obiectives All CDBG funds were used for activities that meet the national objectives. ACQuisition. Rehabilitation And Demolition Narrative Neither the City, nor its subrecipients, acquired or rehabilitated buildings that resulted in the displacement of business, individuals or families as a result of projects funded with CDBG or HOME dollars. All properties that were acquired with CDBG funds were voluntary and mostly vacant parcels. The City's subrecipients purchased all properties acquired during this reporting period. They include Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Service, Inc., Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation, Community Service Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. When subrecipients become interested in a property they want to acquire, the following steps are required: 1. The Subrecipient informs the property owner they are interested in the property. 38 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 39 of 51 2. The Subrecipient sends out HUD Guide Notice-Disclosures to Sellers with Voluntary, Arm's Length Purchase Offer. 3. The Subrecipient informs the owner they do not have the power of Eminent Domain and the purchase would strictly be a voluntary transaction. 4. If the owner is interested in selling the property, an appraisal is obtained. 5. The Subrecipient determines just compensation for the property. 6. The Subrecipient offers just compensation to the owner. 7. Should the owner agree to the offer, the Subrecipient may purchase the property. 8. If the offer is not acceptable to the owner, both parties walk away from the deal. Temporary relocation benefits were provided to eligible homeowners while their homes were being rehabilitated. Temporary benefits include moving, storage, temporary rents, and utilities. A total of $13,000 was expended to demolish three (3) vacant dilapidated buildings. The demolition of those buildings resulted in the construction of two (2) homes for low to moderate-income families. The homes were built with federal assistance. Economic Develovment Narrative For fiscal year 2006-2007 the City expended $27,241 for economic development program delivery. The program delivery costs were associated with managing the economic development loan portfolio. Limited Clientele Narrative The City and its subrecipients maintain files that document all clients who qualifY for the limited clientele designation. Pro2:ram Income Narrative Please see HUD Financial Summary Report - Program Income Section Rehabilitation Pro2:ram Narrative Please see Self Evaluation Section of Report Please see HUD Rehabilitation Report. HOME NARRATIVE HOME Pro2:ram Distribution Analvsis The City received an allocation of $543,850 in HOME Entitlement Funds for FY2006- 2007. The majority of the funds were set aside for housing development. The budget for 39 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 40 of 51 this reporting period shows funds for the entitlement allocation were budgeted in the following manner: Subrecipient Housing Pool $ Community Housing Development Organizations $ Housing Rehabilitation $ Homeless Activities $ Program Administration $ TOTAL $ 307,888.00 81,577.00 o 100,000.00 54,385.00 543,850.00 Funds set aside in the Subrecipient Housing Pool may be used for homeownership rehabilitation; new single-family housing construction, down payment and closing cost assistance, acquisition of real property and other related housing costs. Funds set aside for the Community Housing Development Organization are undetermined. The table below lists the activities by which the funds were expended during this reporting period with the FY 2006-2007 entitlement allocation, program income and reprogrammed funds from prior years. Rehabilitation Owner-Occupied $ 88,440.00 AdministrationlProgram Delivery Costs $ 48,417.00 New Construction - Single Family $ 46,004.00 New Construction - Rental $ 3,803.00 Acquisition & Development $ 49,370.00 Demolition $ 0 Community Housing Development Organizations $ 364.00 Temporary Relocation $ 510.00 Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance $ 441,273.00 Total HOME Expenditures $ 678,181.00 The City of Clearwater has four (4) certified Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) to date. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., Largo Area Housing Development Corporation, Mt. Carmel Community Development Corporation, and Homes for Independence, Inc. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, a long time housing partner, was formally adopted in October 1999. They were awarded the FY-1997 and 1998 CHDO allocations of $60,400 and $63,500, respectively. In June of 2000, the Largo Area Development Corporation (LAD C) was approved as a CHDO. They were awarded the FY-1999 CHDO allocation of $64,700 and the FY-2000 allocation of $67,500. Mt. Carmel Community Development Corporation was certified as a CHDO in 2002 and was 40 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 41 of 51 allocated the City's FY-2001 CHDO allocation of$71,000. The City awarded $77,100 in FY-2002 CHDO funds to Homes for Independence, Inc. for the pre development costs associated with the proposed special needs rental development for physically disabled individuals. The City awarded the FY-2003 CHDO allocation of $88,902 to Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services to build a single family home. An additional $300,000 was provided to the agency for construction related costs to build three (3) single-family homes. The FY 2004 CHDO award went to Homes to Independence to build affordable rental units. In this reporting period, the city awarded Largo Area Housing Development the FY 2005 allocation. The city has not awarded the FY 2006/07 CHDO allocation. HOME Match Report Please see attached Match Report in Appendix under "IDIS Reports". Minoritv and Women's Business Enterprises Report - HUD Form-4107 Please see attached Minority and Women's Business Enterprise Report in Appendix under "IDIS Reports". HOME Inspections. Affirmative Marketin2: Actions. Outreach To Minoritv And Women Owned Businesses Three (3) rental housing developments previously funded and subject to HOME monitoring were inspected during this reporting period. Those housing developments included Wellington Apartments, Fulton Avenue Apartments and Lexington Apartments. Wellington Apartments and Fulton Avenue Apartments provide housing for all low to moderate-income families and Lexington Apartments provide housing for the elderly. The monitoring visit to Wellington Apartments, Fulton Avenue Apartments and Lexington Apartments did not show any areas of non-compliance. HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS NARRATIVE The City of Clearwater did not receive any HOPW A funding during this reporting period. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT NARRATIVE The City of Clearwater did not receive any ESG funding during this reporting period. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The City maintains a Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board to encourage public participation. The Board meets periodically to discuss and make recommendations to City Staff and the City Council on housing related issues. The City Clerk's Office maintains minutes from those meetings. 41 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 42 of 51 APPENDIX CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) 1. City of Clearwater-Housing Element 2. City of Clearwater-Housing Division Website Information 3. Citizens Comments 4. City of Clearwater-Direct Benefit Information 5. Budget & Expenditure Summary 6. IDIS Reports (To be included with HUD submitted copy) Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 43 of 51 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 44 of 51 CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Comprehensive Plan - Housing Element Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 45 of 51 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 46 of 51 CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Item # 7 Housing Division Website: www.mvclearwater.com/eov / depts/ econ devel/housine.asp Attachment number 2 Page 47 of 51 Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 48 of 51 CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Citizen Comments Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 49 of 51 CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Direct Benefit Information Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 50 of 51 CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) Budget & Expenditure Summary Item # 7 Attachment number 2 Page 51 of 51 CITY OF CLEARWATER FY -2006-2007 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT (CAPER) IDIS Forms (To be Included with HUD Submitted Copy) Item # 7 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7887-07 on second reading, annexing certain real property whose post office address is 1474 Sandy Lane together with the abutting right of way, into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include said addition. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 8 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 ORDINANCE NO. 7887-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, ANNEXING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SANDY LANE APPROXIMATELY 225 FEET WEST OF NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE, CONSISTING OF LOT 29, TERRA- ALTO ESTATES, WHOSE POST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 1474 SANDY LANE, TOGETHER WITH THE ABUTTING RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SANDY LANE, INTO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY, AND REDEFINING THE BOUNDARY LINES OF THE CITY TO INCLUDE SAID ADDITION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the owner of the real property described herein and depicted on the map attached hereto as Exhibit A has petitioned the City of Clearwater to annex the property into the City pursuant to Section 171.044, Florida Statutes, and the City has complied with all applicable requirements of Florida law in connection with this ordinance; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. The following-described property is hereby annexed into the City of Clearwater and the boundary lines of the City are redefined accordingly: Lot 29, Terra-Alto Estates, according to plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 45, Page 5, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida, together with the abutting right-of-way of Sandy Lane (ANX2007 -08022) Section 2. The provisions of this ordinance are found and determined to be consistent with the City of Clearwater Comprehensive Plan. The City Council hereby accepts the dedication of all easements, parks, rights-of-way and other dedications to the public, which have heretofore been made by plat, deed or user within the annexed property. The City Engineer, the City Clerk and the Planning Director are directed to include and show the property described herein upon the official maps and records of the City. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption. The City Clerk shall file certified copies of this ordinance, including the map attached hereto, with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and with the County Administrator of Pinellas County, Florida, within 7 days after adoption, and shall file a certified copy with the Florida Department of State within 30 days after adoption. PASSED ON FIRST READING Ordinance NoI.tem7#rB Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Leslie K. Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk 2 Ordinance NoI.tem7#rB Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7888-07 on second reading, amending the future land use plan element of the Comprehensive Plan of the city to designate the land use for certain real property whose post office address is 1474 Sandy Lane, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Residential Urban. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 9 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 ORDINANCE NO. 7888-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY, TO DESIGNATE THE LAND USE FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SANDY LANE APPROXIMATELY 225 FEET WEST OF NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE, CONSISTING OF LOT 29, TERRA-ALTO ESTATES, WHOSE POST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 1474 SANDY LANE, TOGETHER WITH THE ABUTTING RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SANDY LANE, UPON ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, AS RESIDENTIAL URBAN (RU); PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the amendment to the future land use plan element of the comprehensive plan of the City as set forth in this ordinance is found to be reasonable, proper and appropriate, and is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. The future land use plan element of the comprehensive plan of the City of Clearwater is amended by designating the land use category for the hereinafter described property, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as follows: Property Lot 29, Terra-Alto Estates, according to plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 45, Page 5, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida, together with the abutting right-of-way of Sandy Lane (ANX2007 -08022) Land Use Cateqorv Residential Urban (RU) Section 2. The City Council does hereby certify that this ordinance is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption, contingent upon and subject to the adoption of Ordinance No. 7887-07. PASSED ON FIRST READING Ordinance No. 7888-07 Item # 9 PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Approved as to form: Leslie K. Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Attest: Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk 2 Ordinance No. 7888-07 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 Item # 9 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7889-07 on second reading, amending the Zoning Atlas of the city by zoning certain real property whose post office address is 1474 Sandy Lane, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR). SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 10 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 ORDINANCE NO. 7889-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF THE CITY BY ZONING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SANDY LANE APPROXIMATELY 225 FEET WEST OF NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE, CONSISTING OF LOT 29, TERRA-ALTO ESTATES, WHOSE POST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 1474 SANDY LANE, TOGETHER WITH THE ABUTTING RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SANDY LANE UPON ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, AS LOW MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (LMDR); PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the assignment of a zoning district classification as set forth in this ordinance is found to be reasonable, proper and appropriate, and is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. The following described property located in Pinellas County, Florida, is hereby zoned as indicated upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, and the zoning atlas of the City is amended, as follows: Property Lot 29, Terra-Alto Estates, according to plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 45, Page 5, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida, together with the abutting right-of-way of Sandy Lane (ANX2007 -08022) Zoninq District Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR) Section 2. The City Engineer is directed to revise the zoning atlas of the City in accordance with the foregoing amendment. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption, contingent upon and subject to the adoption of Ordinance No. 7887-07. PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Leslie K. Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Item # 10 Ordinance No. 7889-07 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7893-07 on second reading, annexing certain real property whose post office address is 1404 Satsuma Street, into the corporate limits of the city and redefining the boundary lines of the city to include said addition. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 11 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 ORDINANCE NO. 7893-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, ANNEXING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SATSUMA STREET APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET EAST OF HILLCREST AVENUE, CONSISTING OF LOT 20, HIGHLAND OAK, WHOSE POST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 1404 SATSUMA STREET, INTO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY, AND REDEFINING THE BOUNDARY LINES OF THE CITY TO INCLUDE SAID ADDITION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the owner of the real property described herein and depicted on the map attached hereto as Exhibit A has petitioned the City of Clearwater to annex the property into the City pursuant to Section 171.044, Florida Statutes, and the City has complied with all applicable requirements of Florida law in connection with this ordinance; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORI DA: Section 1. The following-described property is hereby annexed into the City of Clearwater and the boundary lines of the City are redefined accordingly: Lot 20, Highland Oak, according to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 40, Page 25, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida (ANX2007-09024) Section 2. The provisions of this ordinance are found and determined to be consistent with the City of Clearwater Comprehensive Plan. The City Council hereby accepts the dedication of all easements, parks, rights-of-way and other dedications to the public, which have heretofore been made by plat, deed or user within the annexed property. The City Engineer, the City Clerk and the Planning Director are directed to include and show the property described herein upon the official maps and records of the City. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption. The City Clerk shall file certified copies of this ordinance, including the map attached hereto, with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and with the County Administrator of Pinellas County, Florida, within 7 days after adoption, and shall file a certified copy with the Florida Department of State within 30 days after adoption. PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Leslie K. Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Item # 11 Ordinance No. 7893-07 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7894-07 on second reading, amending the future land use plan element of the Comprehensive Plan of the city to designate the land use for certain real property whose post office address is 1404 Satsuma Street, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Residential Low. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 12 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 ORDINANCE NO. 7894-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE PLAN ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY, TO DESIGNATE THE LAND USE FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SATSUMA STREET APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET EAST OF HILLCREST AVENUE, CONSISTING OF LOT 20, HIGHLAND OAK, WHOSE POST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 1404 SATSUMA STREET, UPON ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, AS RESIDENTIAL LOW (RL); PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the amendment to the future land use plan element of the comprehensive plan of the City as set forth in this ordinance is found to be reasonable, proper and appropriate, and is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. The future land use plan element of the comprehensive plan of the City of Clearwater is amended by designating the land use category for the hereinafter described property, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as follows: Property Lot 20, Highland Oak, according to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 40, Page 25, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida (ANX2007 -09024) Land Use Cateqorv Residential Low (RL) Section 2. The City Council does hereby certify that this ordinance is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption, contingent upon and subject to the adoption of Ordinance No. 7893-07. PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Leslie K. Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Item # 12 Ordinance No. 7894-07 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7895-07 on second reading, amending the Zoning Atlas of the city by zoning certain real property whose post office address is 1404 Satsuma Street, upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, as Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR). SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 13 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 ORDINANCE NO. 7895-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF THE CITY BY ZONING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SATSUMA STREET APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET EAST OF HILLCREST AVENUE, CONSISTING OF LOT 20, HIGHLAND OAK, WHOSE POST OFFICE ADDRESS IS 1404 SATSUMA STREET, UPON ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, AS LOW MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (LMDR); PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the assignment of a zoning district classification as set forth in this ordinance is found to be reasonable, proper and appropriate, and is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. The following described property located in Pinellas County, Florida, is hereby zoned as indicated upon annexation into the City of Clearwater, and the zoning atlas of the City is amended, as follows: Property Lot 20, Highland Oak, according to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 40, Page 25, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida (ANX2007 -09024) Zoninq District Low Medium Density Residential (LMDR) Section 2. The City Engineer is directed to revise the zoning atlas of the City in accordance with the foregoing amendment. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption, contingent upon and subject to the adoption of Ordinance No. 7893-07. PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Leslie K. Dougall-Sides Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Item # 13 Ordinance No. 7895-07 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7896-07 on second reading, vacating the 30 foot right of way of Hart Street lying between Block 3, Jones Subdivision of Nicholson's Addition to Clearwater Harbor and Block 3, Hart's Second Addition to the Town of Clearwater, subject to a drainage and utility easement which is retained over the full width thereof. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 14 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 2 ORDINANCE NO. 7896-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, VACATING, THE 3D-FOOT RIGHT-OF-WAY OF HART STREET LYING BETWEEN BLOCK 3, JONES SUBDIVISION OF NICHOLSON'S ADDITION TO CLEARWATER HARBOR AND BLOCK 3, HARTS SECOND ADDITION TO THE TOWN OF CLEARWATER, SUBJECT TO A DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT WHICH IS RETAINED OVER THE FULL WIDTH THEREOF; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, David J. Gangelhoff, owner of real property located in the City of Clearwater, has requested that the City vacate the right-of-way depicted in Exhibit A attached hereto; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that said right-of-way is not necessary for municipal use and it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City and the general public that the same be vacated; now, therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. The following: 3D-foot right-of-way of Hart Street lying between Block 3, Jones Subdivision of Nicholson's Addition to Clearwater Harbor as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 13, of the Public Records of Hillsborough County, Florida of which Pinellas County was formerly a part, and Block 3, Harts Second Addition to the Town of Clearwater, as recorded in Plat Book 3, Page 47, Public Records of Pinellas County, Florida is hereby vacated, closed and released, and the City of Clearwater releases all of its right, title and interest thereto, except that the City of Clearwater hereby retains a drainage and utility easement over the described property for the installation and maintenance of any and all public utilities thereon. Section 2. The City Clerk shall record this ordinance in the public records of Pinellas County, Florida, following adoption. Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption. Ordinance No.I~-#l714 PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Approved as to form: Camilo A. Soto Assistant City Attorney Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 2 Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Attest: Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk 2 Ordinance NoI.teroo#r114 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Ordinance 7899-07 on second reading, amending Chapter 33, Section 33.028, Code of Ordinances, relating to rental charges to include market surveys of local area marinas, not just municipal marinas when comparing rates. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 15 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 ORDINANCE NO. 7899-07 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 33, SECTION 33.028, CODE OF ORDINANCES, RELATING TO RENTAL CHARGES, TO INCLUDE MARKET SURVEYS OF LOCAL AREA MARINAS, NOT JUST MUNICIPAL MARINAS WHEN COMPARING RATES; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. Section 33.028 is amended to read: Sec. 33.028. Rental charges. The city manager shall establish charges for the use of boat slips and docking spaces, which charges shall be uniform as to type of space or services to be furnished, shall be established in writing, shall be posted at the marina building on Clearwater Beach, and shall be effective 72 hours after written notice of a change thereof has been so posted. The city manager is authorized to approve vessel slip rent increases up to ten percent annually, based on surveys of rates charged by other municipal and local area marinas. Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Camilo A. Soto Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Item # 15 Ordinance No. 7899-07 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Continue to January 17,2007 second reading of Ordinance No. 7835-07, making amendments to the Community Development Code by amending Article 2, Zoning Districts; amending Article 3, Development Standards; amending Article 4, Development Review and Other Procedures; Amending Article 8, Definitions and Rules of Construction. SUMMARY: Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 16 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Appoint Dan Carpenter to fill Frederick 1. Ziegler's remaining two year term as a Trustee of the Clearwater Firefighters' Supplemental Trust Fund in accordance with Sec. 175.061 of the Florida State Statutes. (consent) SUMMARY: . The Clearwater Firefighters' Supplemental Trust Fund is the recipient of monies obtained by the State of Florida from insurance companies doing business within the community. These monies are required to be administered by a Board of Trustees whose composition must consist of two legal residents of the City appointed by the City Council; two City firefighters elected by the firefighters; and a fifth member chosen by a majority of the other four members and submitted to the City Council for appointment. The Board of Trustees is solely responsible for administration of the trust fund. . Fredrick Ziegler, past legal resident of the City of Clearwater, has moved out of the City limits. Dan Carpenter, a legal resident of Clearwater, has indicated his willingness to serve the remainder of Mr. Ziegler's term. Mr. Carpenter is the Director of Administrative Services with the City of Gulfport, FL and is a co-owner of a retail business in Clearwater. He is a current member of the Board of Trustees for City of Gulfport General Employees Pension Plan. Mr. Carpenter worked 15 years for the City of Clearwater and holds a BS in Accounting. . Once approved, Mr. Carpenter will serve the remaining term which will be effective the City Council Meeting date of December 6,2007 through June 30, 2008. Type: Current Year Budget?: Other None Budget Adjustment: None Budget Adjustment Comments: Current Year Cost: Not to Exceed: For Fiscal Year: o Annual Operating Cost: Total Cost: o o to Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 17 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Approve participation by the Clearwater Public Library System in the new county-wide Library Automation System to be managed by the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, approve the Hosting Agreement and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent) SUMMARY: A County-wide Library Automation System will improve library service while saving money. Currently there are six separate automation systems in the county supporting fourteen different municipal library systems. Each is administered separately and has only a limited ability to communicate with the other systems. Although only one PPLC library card is necessary throughout Pinellas County, it has to be registered separately in every library automation system. Patrons can only see the holdings of the individual library when they check the on-line catalog. Staff must duplicate work that has already been completed once by the staff of other libraries. The Clearwater Library System currently has a stand-alone system serving only the Clearwater library locations. The cost of converting the current system to the county-wide system will not exceed the amount budgeted for our annual maintenance contract this year, or about $28,000. The on-going costs should be about $6,000 a year less than our current maintenance costs. No additional FTEs will be needed. It is expected that this system will be implemented in two phases approximately one year apart. Clearwater will be part of phase one, with implementation in early 2008. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 18 Page 1 of 10 HOSTING AGREEMENT NOVEMBER 8, 2007 Clearwater Public Library, Clearwater, FL Polaris Library Systems PO BOX 4903 . SYRACUSE, NY 13221-4903 1-800-272-3414. FAX 1-315-457-5883 . http://www.polarislibrary.com 11/8/07 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Con~ffiBil ;,ag~1 of 10 11/8/07 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 2 of 10 1 THIS AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as the "HOSTING AGREEMENT") is made between GIS Information Systems., Inc. doing business as Polaris Library Systems (a qualified Subchapter S subsidiary of The Croydon Company, Inc.,) a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, with its principal place of business at 103 Commerce Boulevard, Liverpool, New York (herein after referred to as "Polaris"), and the Clearwater Public Library, 100 North Osceola Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33755 (hereinafter referred to as "LIBRARY"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS the Clearwater Public Library is a member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (the "COOPERATIVE"), and WHEREAS the COOPERATIVE has entered into an Agreement for Hosted Services with Polaris on behalf of the members, and WHEREAS Polaris has developed a computerized system (hereinafter referred to as "POLARIS ILS"@) consisting of hardware and software and related services and provided as a hosted service; NOW, THEREFORE the parties mutually agree as follows: 1. Polaris will provide the services listed and set forth herein ("Hosted Services" )and which, upon the mutual agreement of the LIBRARY and Polaris, may be modified, added to, or replaced during the term of this Hosting Agreement. 2. This HOSTING AGREEMENT is hereby incorporated by reference into the MASTER AGREEMENT between the Cooperative and Polaris as if set forth in full. 3. This Agreement is effective upon latest date of signature below and for an initial term ending one (1) year from the Operational Date, as defined in the Master Agreement. It shall then be renewed automatically for one-year periods unless the LIBRARY notifies Polaris of its intention not to renew at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the original or any extended term. 4. Services to be provided are specified in Schedules B through D of this Hosting Agreement and the Master Agreement. One-time and ongoing annual costs are itemized in Schedules B through D of this Hosting Agreement and are summarized in Schedule E herein. Payment for all services and deliverables shall be made in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule E herein. Payment in full on all invoices is due according to the terms of this contract or within 30 days of the invoice date, whichever date is later. Notwithstanding the terms of this Article, the LIBRARY is bound by the Florida Prompt Payment Act, which shall have precedence over this Article in the event of a conflict. 5. Following the initial term of this Agreement, and upon receipt of notification of any such change in the Software Maintenance fee and Hosted Services fee, the LIBRARY may, with ninety (90) days prior written notice, terminate this Agreement upon the effective date of such increase. Otherwise the new fees will become effective upon the date specified in the notice. 6. This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws of the Federal Government of the United States of America and to the laws of the State of Florida. The applicable law for any legal disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be the law of the State of Florida. The prevailing party in any action brought under this Agreement shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs as awarded by the court including any action at the appellate level. 7. At the written request of the LIBRARY, Polaris agrees to provide continued access to software and data by placing software source code and system design documents into an escrow account, access to which will be provided to the LIBRARY at the option of the LIBRARY should POLARIS cease to support and/ or maintain the software licensed to the LIBRARY. Terms and conditions of the source code escrow agreement will be made available to the LIBRARY upon request by the LIBRARY. The LIBRARY will maintain an active Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract POage 2 of 10 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 3 of 10 1 subscription to the escrow agreement by paying the annual fee shown under Optional Services, Schedule D. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have duly executed and delivered this Agreement, which shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the respective parties, as of the last date indicated below. ACCEPTED FOR THE LIBRARY ACCEPTED FOR POLARIS LIBRARY SYSTEMS By: By: Title: Title: President, Polaris Library Systems Date: Date: APPROVED AS TO FORM FOR POLARIS LIBRARY SYSTEMS By: Title: Manager, Contracts and Proposals Date: 11/8/07 Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract POage 3 of 10 11/8/07 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 4 of 10 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Estimated Number of Patrons Estimated Number of Items Estimated Number of Titles Estimated Number of Authority Records Items Issued Annually 6.1 Staff Client Licenses: 6.2 Dedicated PAC workstations: 200,000 600,000 400,000 NjA 1,100,000 x x #1 85 32 (Unlimited licenses) Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract POage 4 of 10 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 5 of 10 1. Data Migration Number of MARC Records: Number of Item Records: Number of Patron Records: 400,000 600,000 200,000 Source: Polaris Bibliographic and Authority Record Migration /Load - 400,000 records Item Record Migration/ Load - 600,000 records Patron Record Migration/Load - 200,000 records Circulation Transaction Migration/ Load (includes reserves and patron account information) Total Cost $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $6,000 2. Merge and de-duplication Merge and de-duplication of bibliographic, item and patron records Total Cost $4,000 Cost for Merge and De-duplication assumes that the LIBRARY's records will be merged and de- duplicated with those of the other libraries participating as part of the Group 1 implementation; cost quoted above is the LIBRARY's share of the overall cost for Merge and De-Duplication with the records from these libraries. 11/8/07 Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract POage 5 of 10 11/8/07 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 6 of 10 Subject to the terms and conditions of the MASTER AGREEMENT, Polaris will grant non-transferable and non- exclusive licenses for the following Software for use by the LIBRARY. Total Cost 1. POLARIS ILS Software - Server Includes: POLARIS ILS Database, Z39.50 Server, SMTP for email notification, Remote Patron Authentication, System Administration, System Reports, NjC 2. Client Software Includes: Find Tool, Acquisitions, Serials, Cataloging, Circulation,Z39,50 Client, PowerPAC. Total Staff Licenses: 85 Unlimited PowerPACjInternet access licenses NjC NjC 3. SimplyReports (up to 50 concurrent users across the consortium) $1,200 4. Spanish language interface to PAC NjC 5. Self-Check interface x 1 unit NjC 6. Phone Notification - Outbound only x 4 lines NjC 7. Collection Agency Interface to Unique Management Systems NjC 8. E*vanced - Room Reservation and Events NjC 9. EDI Setup - B & T, Ingram, Midwest (service already performed) NjC 7. POLARIS ILS Software Materials- Complete set of Polaris ILS documentation on CD + one set of User Guides NjC Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract POage 6 of 10 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 7 of 10 Implementation Services Profile Development and Setup: PAC Branding Initial Project Consultation Follow-up Project Consultation Policy File Creation, Data Migration, Project Planning Implementation Process, Staff Client System Administration Implementation $3,135 POLARIS ILS Application Training/Consultation: Not Required 7 Days on-site training covering the following subsystems (including expenses) (To occur after system installation and initial database load) Up to ten (10) trainees allowed per session. . PAC . Patron Services . Cataloging . Acquisitions . Serials . Workflow Installation Services. Server and server Software - Installation and Integration: Polaris Servers $300 11/8/07 Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract POage 7 of 10 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 8 of 10 Support Services: Software Maintenance and System Support Software Maintenance Fees: POLARIS ILS server Software POLARIS ILS client Software Sim ply Reports Spanish language interface to PAC Self-Check interface Phone Notification E*vanced Room Reservation and Events Collection Agency Interface EDI- 3 Vendors Annual $3,600 $10,530 $300 $40 $90 $1,260 $1,440 $525 $750 Optional Services additional days follow-up training/ consultation: to address workflow efficiencies, new functionality, outstanding questions @1,650 per day inc. expenses. Live-Day assistance at $1,650 a day inc. expenses Source Code Escrow Agreement Subscription: Annual Deposit Account Fee Ite$rf;O(# 18 11/8/07 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract :rage 8 of 11 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 9 of 10 System Costs Purchase Price Database Services (Schedule B) $13,000 POLARIS ILS Software Licenses (Schedule C) $1,200 Services (Schedule D) Implementation Services: Profile Development and Setup Implementation Services: Training Installation Hosted Services - Year 1 $3,135 N/A $300 $11,321 1. Payment on Delivery 1.1 Services (Schedule D) Less Discount Total Costs $14,756 ($5,791) $8,965 2. Payment for Database Services 2.1 Total Cost (Schedule B) Payment for this cost to be made as follows: 50% upon completion of test load 50% upon completion of final load $13,000 $6,500 $6,500 3. Payment for Software 3.1 Sub-Total Costs (Schedule C) $1,200 11/8/07 Payment for these costs to be made as follows:- 33% upon signing the Agreement $396 33% upon completion of Hardware/Software delivery $396 Item 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract Page 9 of 11 POlARIS l.JlilL<l.ll"f ""!lT1UU Page 10 of 10 1 34 % upon Operational Date $408 4. Annual Payments to Commence One (1) Year from the Operational Date 4.1. Software Maintenance and System Support (Schedule D) 4.2. Hosted Services (Schedule D) $18,535 $5,460 11/8/07 Item # 18 Clearwater Public Library Hosted Services Contract Page 10 of 11 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Approve renewal of a three year lease agreement between the City of Clearwater and the Civil Air Patrol SER FL153, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, for use of City property at the Clearwater Airpark, 1000 N. Hercules Avenue, Clearwater in consideration of one dollar ($1.00)and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent) SUMMARY: The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a volunteer organization and the official auxiliary to the US Air Force. The Civil Air Patrol 153 has a membership of 28 senior members and 27 cadets. Group wide (Pinellas and Pasco), they have 156 senior members and 138 cadets for a total of 294. The future plans for the airpark call for a new airpark office/support building. The new structure, approximately 6,000 sq. feet, has about 3 times the size of the former building and has enough joint use meeting and training space to accommodate the Civil Air Patrol. The Civil Air Patrol brought in their current mobile home at no cost to the City, and placed it on an existing slab on the airpark property adjacent to the existing parking area. They will be required to remove the mobile home once construction of the new airpark office/support building construction begins, at no cost to the City. The Civil Air Patrol pays its own utilities and provides volunteer labor and supervision for airpark open houses and airpark beautification projects. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 19 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 4 Lease Agreement THIS LEASE AGREEMENT is entered into this day of 2007, by and between the City of Clearwater, a municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to as "Lessor", and the Civil Air Patrol SER FL 153, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force located at 1000 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater, Florida 33765, herein referred to as "Lessee". That in consideration of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable considerations to it in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further consideration of the covenants herein contained on the part of the Lessee to be kept and performed, the Lessor does hereby lease property as described in "Exhibit A" at the Clearwater Airpark located at 1000 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater, Florida 33765. The parties hereby agree as follows: 1. The term of this lease shall be for three (3) years beginning January 1, 2008 and ending December 31, 2010. The Lessor retains the right to terminate this lease for any municipal purpose consistent with the Lessor's charter; and, in addition, Lessor may terminate this lease if the State of Florida or any of its agencies or political subdivisions thereof acquire the demised property or any portion thereof for a public purpose. Should construction on the new Fixed Base Operator (FBO) building be started prior to the completion of the term of this renewal agreement on December 31, 2010, the Civil Air Patrol will be required to remove the trailer from the airpark premises. Desk space will be provided in the new FBO building, office of the Airpark Operations Manager. Use of the meeting room will also be available. 2. It is understood and agreed that the leased premises are to be used as a training facility for seniors and teenage cadets in ground crew operations and communications systems. The squadron will be "on call" to assist in times of emergency and to aid in search and rescue missions as approved and assigned by the U.S. Air Force. It is further understood and agreed that the leased premises shall be used only for public purposes and that in no event shall the Lessee permit the premises or any portion to be used for a purely private or individual purpose. It is likewise understood and agreed that all alteration and installation expenses incident to the above shall be borne by the Lessee, and that any significant alteration of the demised premises shall require prior approval of the Lessor. 3. It is understood and agreed between the parties that the Lessee shall not make any assignment, sale or other transfer of this lease. 4. In the event that the City Council of said Lessor should at any time during the existence of this lease decide that said premises or any part thereof is needed for any municipal purpose, the lease shall cease and terminate after thirty (30) days written notice to the Lessee. Iter:n#19 Attachment number 1 Page 2 of 4 5. It is further provided that if at any time in the future, improvements or additions of a permanent or lasting nature are made to said premises, and at the time of the making of said additions and improvements, the City Manager of the Lessor corporation is notified in writing of the cost and nature of same, and his written approval is obtained, then and in that event, and upon cancellation of this lease in the manner set forth in paragraph 4 of this lease, the Lessor shall pay over to the Lessee the cost of such additions and improvements, less depreciation. 6. The said Lessee covenants and agrees to make no unlawful, improper or offensive use of said demised premises nor to permit its use in any way to become a nuisance to other users of the property in its area. 7. The Lessee may place appropriate signs on the demised property as long as said signs conform to the ordinances of the City of Clearwater, Florida, presently in force or passed during the term thereof regarding signs; provided, however, that no sign other than the signs as aforesaid shall be painted, erected, constructed or maintained by the Lessee and provided further that the Lessee shall upon the expiration of the term hereof completely remove any signs as might be permitted during the term hereof. 8. The Lessee will be responsible for all electric, water and telephone service. 9. It is further agreed between the parties hereto that in the event said Lessee should breach any of the covenants herein contained or should the demised premises cease to be used by the Lessee for the purposes herein set forth for a period of thirty (30) days at any time after the inception of this lease, then said Lessee shall become a tenant at sufferance and the said Lessor shall have the right, privilege and option after notice in writing to said Lessee of the breach of said covenants or agreements, to declare this lease terminated. 10. The Lessee assumes full responsibility for and covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Lessor, its agents and employees, from and against any and all actions, claims, losses or expenses (including attorney's costs) for any damages because of bodily injury, personal injury or property damage, including loss of use thereof, resulting from the Lessee's use or occupancy of the demised prem Ises. 11. This lease shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their successors, adm inistrators and assigns. 12. The Lessee agrees to comply with the insurance requirements shown in Exhibit B. Iter:n#:19 Attachment number 1 Page 3 of 4 In Witness whereof, the parties hereto have set their hand and seals, this day of ,2007. Countersigned: CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA By: Frank Hibbard Mayor William B. Horne, II City Manager Approved as to form: Attest: Camilo Soto Assistant City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk By: Col. Patrick O'Key Florida Wing Commander Item..#.19 Attachment number 1 Page 4 of 4 Exhibit "B" INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS 1. Lessee shall maintain: a. Comprehensive General Liability insurance on an occurrence basis in an amount not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability. b. Workers' Compensation Insurance applicable to its employees, if any, for statutory coverage limits in compliance with Florida laws, including Employers' Liability, which meets all state and federal laws. 2. Additional Insurance. The City is to be specifically included as an additional insured on all liability coverage described above. 3. Notice of Cancellation or Restriction - All policies of insurance must be endorsed to provide the City with thirty days notice of cancellation or restriction. 4. Certified Copies of Policies/Certificate of Insurance. Upon specific written request of the City, the Lessee shall provide the Lessor with certified copies of all policies of insurance as required above. In the absence of a specific written request, the Lessee shall provide the Lessor with Certificates of Insurance showing the Lessee has, at all times, the insurance coverage required by the Lease. Unless notice is given to Lessee otherwise, such Certificates of Insurance shall be provided to the Marine & Aviation Director. The first Certificate of Insurance required by the lease shall be provided to the Marine & Aviation Director before occupancy of the demised premises by the Lessee. Item.. #<:19 L ~ A III ~ Attachment number 2 Page 1 of 1 pi ~ _ T.If ll! - ...... r I: II II' - ..~ - -~.. ..... - l~~~ L1- _ "1'. I tlilJ'1l' . ~ Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Approve acceptance of a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) vehicle that will be purchased by the City of Tampa through its Urban Area Security lnitiati ve (U ASl) grant. ( consent) SUMMARY: The Clearwater Police Department has been advised that the City of Tampa will purchase a CBRNE vehicle for Clearwater utilizing Tampa's UASl grant. UASl grant funding addresses the unique planning, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high threat, high density Urban Areas, and assists them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. As a member of the U ASl regional coalition, Clearwater is eligible to receive equipment that is purchased with Tampa's UASl funds. Clearwater had requested that Tampa purchase the CBRNE vehicle in order to provide Clearwater's first responders with a vehicle that will transport the necessary personnel and equipment to a location that has experienced a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive event. The CBRNE response vehicle will also allow Clearwater to respond more effectively to other types of emergency calls, such as SWAT-related incidents. This vehicle will also give the police department the ability to assist other agencies in the event of a catastrophic event through the state's Mutual Aid Agreement. CPD is now seeking City Council approval to accept the CBRNE vehicle that will be purchased by the City of Tampa with UASl funds. All necessary equipment, some of which was provided by the UASl grant in previous years, will be self-contained within the CBRNE response vehicle. Projected operational costs related to the use and maintenance of the CBRNE response vehicle are minimal because the vehicle will be under standard factory warranty and is replacing an existing outdated vehicle, therefore, adding no future additional maintenance cost. This vehicle was presented to the Resource Management Committee on October 3,2007 and received their approval to present this as an agenda item to the Council for final approval. There is no match required for this vehicle and no new positions associated with it. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 20 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Approve a contract (purchase order) for $116,450.00 to Broyhilllnc. of Dakota City, NE for the purchase of one new Broyhill Load-N-Pack Mode180-HD Refuse Collection Vehicle in accordance with Sec. 2.564(l)(d), Code of Ordinances, authorize lease purchase under the City's Master Lease Purchase Agreement and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent) SUMMARY: We currently have two Broyhills that we operate on the beach to empty the refuse containers. The oldest unit is a 2000 model that has numerous obsolete parts and has outlived its expected life of 6 years. The second unit was purchased in 2005 and has been the primary unit since that time. The older unit serves as a backup but has been experiencing failures recently when operated and has rust issues due to the salt air environment. This older unit is becoming unreliable and could prevent us from collecting the containers on the beach if the primary unit is disabled. We have a third unit, 1993 Broyhill that was declarded surplus earlier by City Council and has been used for parts. The 2000 unit was included in the preliminary budget last year but was removed with hopes that the 2000 model unit could survive another year. Current Price of New Unit $118,450.00 Salvage Credit for 1993 Unit 2,000.00 Final Price $116,450.00 Type: Current Year Budget?: Purchase Yes Budget Adjustment: None Budget Adjustment Comments: Current Year Cost: Not to Exceed: For Fiscal Year: $33,170.00 Annual Operating Cost: Total Cost: $16,266.00 $49,436.00 2007 to 2008 Appropriation Code Amount 0316-96438-591000-581-000- $116,450.00 0000 Appropriation Comment LIP ClP Bid Required?: No Bid Number: Other Bid / Contract: Bid Exceptions: Sole Source Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 21 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATION: Reappoint Jan Regulski and appoint Elizabeth O'Brien to the Library Advisory Board with the term expiring on December 31, 2011. (consent) SUMMARY: The Appointment Worksheet is Attached. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 22 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 APPOINTMENT WORKSHEET BOARD: Library Board TERM: 4 years APPOI NT ED BY: City Council FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Not Required STAFF LIAISON: Library Director RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: City of Clearwater SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: None MEMBERS: 7 CHAIRPERSON: Jan Regulski MEETING DATES: 2nd Thursday, 10:30 am PLACE: Library Conference Room APPTS. NEEDED: 2 THE FOllOWING ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER(S) HAVE TERMS WHICH EXPIRE AND NOW REQUIRE EITHER REAPPOINTMENT FOR A NEW TERM OR REPLACEMENT BY A NEW APPOINTEE. 1. Michele F. Krentzman - 505 N. Glenwood Ave., 33755 - Original Appointment 09/07/06 Resigned 10/11/07 2. Jan Regulski - 1045 Chinaberry Rd., 33764 - Original Appointment 04/03/03 Interest in Reappointment: Yes (1st term expires 12/31/07) THE FOllOWING NAMES ARE BEING SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION TO Fill THE ABOVE VACANCIES: 1. Elizabeth M. O'Brien - 895 S. Gulfview #104, 33767 - Realtor 2. Bernard Ward - 2706 E. Grand Reserve Cir. #1118, 33759 - Retired Zip codes of current members on board: 1 at 33755 1 at 33756 1 at 33759 1 at 33761 1 at 33764 1 at 33767 Item # 22 Attachment number 2 Page 1 of 1 " -~ Name: CITY OF CLEARWATER - APPLICATION FOR ADVISORY BOARDS (must be Clearwater resident) Jr:t 11/ - /(g t;Lj~:S t:-- ( Home Address: Office Address: /tJ~5 CAI-///Iv9/38/l/lY e~ CL-f~ ZiP3~7t.,.f Zip Telephone: f?/3- 53l --- f-a2.s-1 Telephone: How long a resident of Clearwater? lo-7'rS Occupation: ~ - Employer: Field of Education: Other Work Experience: If retired, former occupation: '7" 6;~ - [L,Itf?9;:/' 1J.;k0 Community Activities: ~ E# tJp ~ C/e. u..;cakL h~L~q )h,fl ~&5gl/TEL/#-#. /?,4/~u.#5 (]'77h7u--n27'~.# ~ ~41c1 Other Interests: Board Service (current and past): fJjZ- 1"YL5 Iff- 5 en Board Preference: .L/6/2/9/2...y &&/Z-D. AddiiionalComments: ~ /p--.t!..~~- '~l ~'-,~ A ~~ ~-:?' ~ ~ i?A-.#t!~-&,<;2.,~v. ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~6,-J:-.~~ Sign~ ~~J~ Date: ~ /<L /99~ See attached list for boards that require Financial Disclosure at time of appointment. Please return this application & board questionnaire for each board listed to: City Clerk's Department, P. O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 or drop off at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue. P i'? n .1f.i'Q. . "f fa 0 /06 \I~ t\ t;'e:J co.,t. I ",~Kf+ '^) ~, I V E D MAY 19 1998 crTV CLERK "PT;1f 22 x:;,Lt-/1~~ ~ BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE / (./".....-- ~ - ~-U 1 0 1. What is your understanding of the board's duties and responsibilities? /. If ~ &7....../ ~/ ~ L;L... V ~7' ~-- t:?'~...A--C 4- .c. -:7 ~ 2. Have you ever observed a board meeting either in person or on C-View, the City's TV station? ~ 3. What background and/or qualifications do you have that you feel would qualify you to serve on this Board? -be ~ .-L<-<"'""""2.,/" ~ ~ ~-/ ~ ~ ~ ~ -4.-7 C-e.c.--4 4.- ~<< --L1 A;;._ ~ .xL A ~ -- - Lf!I .J .I,~ ,~ r-</ ~ rk- J.i-L<--rI'-"':'>~ 4. Why do you want to serve on this Board? ~~ ~ ~ -b~~'~r ~-- pj;::T .,~~..u ~ ~<-~~ ~. Name:~~ Board Name: U .JtIt RJ?J()RlrVDn ~ :J-- .fl. J~, --- MAY 19 1998 OIly GLI;;H . Item"# fJ1?iEPt Attachment number 3 Page 1 of 1 CITY OF CLEARWATER - APPLICATION FOR ADVISORY BOARDS (must be Clearwater resident) Name: ~~?'no C9 '.4",.:..) Home Address: Office Address: -fJ:5-,'!::t::!!:~:,.~ ~':sl 'I€A?J..~ j.J'~,- _~ ~ li - 3 ::j' 1 ~d .~'-" {+A liD -3:>, 2 t. ., Telephone: 7 ~ 1 If 'f- ~ - ? 3 0 7 Telephone: 7;;.. 7 'f t.f- L~. -3:3::L 0 How long a resident of Clea~ter? ~;J... ~~ .. - . . OcaJpation:'.a.~ _ . . ......Employer: e~~ ~7~ .'&J.A-~ Field of Education: . Other Work Experience: >>tL~ ~ a~J~~ - 'l14. - ~14d t,;,~/~U ~. 'd.-rCX~~-..../~ Ifrelll8d, furmeroccupation: (}t...U ~ ~ (r. 44J.~ - f4~~ Community Activities: '~J. lJ"--,J~d- nJ~~J_ ~ ~ . () I 0Iher1nteresls: ~ ~ ~J I .A-<.~, ~~ 7 Iloatd Service (~and pa . Board Preference: . . 0 _ ~~~ ~*~A?~~ ~, ~~~~ .' . ~i/~t~-~~~~ Sl9r4~~ ~ fIn. 0- ~ Date: ~ Ii ~ /0 {- See attached list for boards that require financial disclosure at time of appointment Please return this application and board questionnaire to the Official Records & Legislative Services Deparbnent. P. O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748, or drop off your application at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue. !"'-'f{ 'fIV~:~ ... SEP 20 lOOS ~ .. Item # 22 . :"...i."f.. ;/:.1 .~.-":,~..,,oJ".1 '+~. :: r,ISJ AllVF ~-Jlvr: Ii I ,_;;- ,-- Attachment number 3 Page 1 of 1 BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE 1. What is your understanding of the board's duties and responsibilities? . ~~~~7J-~~~j~ .~ ~ ~ ,~~ "'Y~_f~ ~ "~~-~~.;L:.. ~~.L~ ~,.----t. Ai ~.;/.~~~-t;~~ 2. Have you ever observed a board meeting either in ~rson or on C-~, the City's TV station? ~. 3. What backgrouriq and/or qualifications do you have that you feel would qualify you to serve on this Board? ~ 3~.~ <-f#'n. ,;___~.J pq~a- .a.....~ ~~~~~~-::;-:~~; ~~~ ~~=~ ~~ ~.L- ~~~~ ~ -=4~ ~~~ ':P ~-dO you want to serve is Board? ~ ~ ~, ~~~h~~~~:::~ ~~r~- ~ ~M.~~ ;t. ~ Nan>:/~?h. (),~ brdNa"",: ~ ~ ~ .. , Item # 22 Attachment number 4 Page 1 of 1 CITY OF CLEARWATER - APPLICATION FOR ADVISORY BOARDS (must be Clearwater resident) Name: ARA/Or-d Ward. Home Address: Office Address: dJ1;L/P -!;-G~'ID ~'Yrw ~R.;///~ LJ _/11- & I-~_ Z-L 337J "1 Telephone:'7,a 7- /J- tf- / :;( q / Telephone: ::u:~:o~:reSidj~zrv;~d 4&zQ. r:::'hn'h~e 26 y~.J RECEIVtD Field of Education: A//4 / Zip Other Work Experience: 05 2007 ();::-F;t~;.l\~ l)f~r""'OROS .^,~J[) Date: q- ~~1 See attached list for boards that require financial disclosure at time of appointment. Please return this application and board questionnaire to the Official Records & Legislative Services Department, P. O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748, or drop off your application at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue. Item # 22 Attachment number 4 Page 1 of 1 ,1"' BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE '11/ htl V n./ bL1 d4R..,2; 16 V /,f uJ hat is your understanding of the board's duties and responsibilities? Ik }1;f 1. n;~ / Hckl?~ f2J/;:;~RIW4'& / 2. Have you ever observed a board meeting either in person or on C- View, the City's TV station? \!~~ I 3. What background and/or qualifications do you have that you feel would qualify you to serve on this Boar~? J J /J 1 Q :5J~tJeJ O,JJ '2/Y/A kr-iJp~ -<liMHt 1'fSIl//.q,Q~ ~d Zf1Vl anN! LOLl/ -~~O~ _ hlijrWt~ 1-/ 4;h! . ; - .. }-;! ZIJ"~ . M-f /vi b./ " ~ r- dJj VI S'Ptf1, ba tl;!d f.v h-l-N O/CUI-V/ N ,f &qUA.1 [:O;e L6rart EY?#A/5/8Z-/ 4. Why do you want to serve on this Board? rf. b{>/I-{~ n11 !Jze:~~ tJl-f 4' !;b~rr DlJiltrd IAJJLuL~ _ ~~~ -L Name: rei ) / IL1 / ~ I b;'~ ~~ /Jrt1J.~ net tllSif'1 ~ ' Board Name: Item # 22 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT 1 RECOMMENDATION: Appoint Herbert W. LcLachlan as the citizen representative to the Pension Investment Committee for a two year term. (consent) SUMMARY: See Attached Application. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 23 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 CITY OF CLEARWATER - APPLICATION FOR PENSION INVESTMENT COMMITTEE (must be Clearwater resident) CE Name.' ~~~~/.2~'7' d f'2/7 ~'/.7/'i - ~ A'J L J c.C":':: ,"" '1f)r,rL /'9'~/c".o'..c /CL ~/ ~~ ~v " ' , i L'JI,~ Home Address: //0 GdL'~ /3Ltt,/,D ~oz.~ C_LL:71I?aJ.47L/2 zip~7tf7 Telephone: 72-- ~.Jf:3".-/JRJ? Cell Phone: ?Z7--?e'o-A3/~ Office Address: A ~/ /.? ,"", \L\~' ~:.~}<..,,[:;,~. ,\,[\;C' ",:"'>-"."" c"".'"'-."'-', ,') .''0...<:< ;,):,,:,:;'- j Zip Telephone: E-mail Address: How long a resident of Clearwater? /0 t/ ~ /' Occupation: e/4 Employer:.e~NS~ /{HA:J6 - K.&-7/A?8 / Field of Education: Other Work Experience: ....s:..s--y/<.5 7'i?cN./~4.v S'//;17""L- dJ,V'~72..ro/- .4c.c.o4.p7/# C - 4'?/ .' Financial background/experience/certifications: C-/#--d~~~~ ~ .~ ~4 ~/ ~.-<'_". ~. If retired, former occupation: .E'R,A)ST ~ ~UAJ6 - ,/9// ~ /.9"7'C /' Community Activities:..5; '..L) /p/c - ''"1 .-1 ,.., 2: / 1 ' , C-a dJ:.7~~' c;&-d-~ ~ Other Inter sts:~ s..L.~___ ," Board Service (current and past): ? (!/v 6uo&~'~A"" ~,k)c~- Board Preference: Additional Comments: Signed: Individual will be consi Date: 5'-,<5-0 7 red a fiduciary of the pension fund and will be required to attend training. Please return this application and board questionnaire to the Official Records & Legislative Services Department, P. O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748, or drop off your application at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue. Item # 23 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE 1. What is your understanding of the board's duties and responsibilities? ~ -L-b? /-;J ,/) ~~ ..,./ JL/. ~ , ~_~. ~_ ~~~"......,..-""~~~ .' ~.J?P~ .~ lUz;.~~~_/ ;;d~-~f~~~~ ~ ~~,,_~,~~--P~ ~~ ~/~~~~7;---~~~ ?J 2. Have you ever observed a board meeting either in person or on C-View, the City's TV station? r-~7!~~- 3. What background and/or qualifications do you have that you feel would qualify you to serve on this Board? ~c~~~~~0P. ? ~ ~ .~. '-C e ",.- rY~'" .'--c..1 ~1../ c., 4. Why do you want to serve on this Board? ~~~~-,- ~- Name: ~~-x?6 ~/ ~cd~4AJ , r Board Name: ~~..~~ Item # 23 Attachment number 2 Page 1 of 1 CITY OF CLEARWATER - APPLICATION FOR PENSION INVESTMENT COMMITTEE (must be Clearwater resident) Name: )J C1 (/ (I d ii, I? 0 /; y Home Address: 3 3 j {p 5c-t 1'"\ ~ C1 }' 10 S 5 r Q IE? a rw C'l f t? Y; F / Zip 33759 Telephone: 727 -/7 Z 6 -225'z Telephone: Cell Phone: 72 7 - 7 if - 7 (/ /-f 9 E-mail Address: How long a resident of Clearwater? 28 V-fCi. t 5' , Occupation: ~ ~ 'f /" '" e d Field of Education: Sf/V 1- A UCFtk(Jff\ SICA.. It' -- (35-~ E"CCfJ1 () CI J: :So uth lJfl\fc" f f - MI3/l-F, J1cr HC~ Office Address: AJ/11 , Zip orc. El\.-"":' ~t: ','~' \ft::r.) N[)V 1 cr 2007 oFff"tALRECOIU>S ~J:) Employer: LfGISLA1JVE SRVCS ~PT Other Work Experience: Financial background/experience/certifications: 5'~-e ~ H ~ c 4 t:! cI If retired, former occupation: N (J Y '1- hill/-/> 51 ~ y n )-11/1 f <A t.. I 1.. If" e Community Activities: Other Interests: Board Service (current and past): Board Preference: PEJ h S'-O' Yl ~11 u -(? C3 f Yr\ e ;vi 5 Additional Comments: Signed: Date: Individual will be considered a fiduciary of the pension fund and will be required to attend training. Please return this application and board questionnaire to the Official Records & Legislative Services Department, P. O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748, or drop off your application at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue. Item # 23 Attachment number 2 Page 1 of 1 . Financial Back2round: Thirty-four years in commercial real estate investments with Northwestern Mutual (NML). After six years, NML promoted me to officer and assistant manager of the eastern half of the USA. Twenty-eight years ago, NML asked me to transfer to Tampa and open a real estate investment office. I opened the office and managed it for 26 years, generating a portfolio in excess of $2 billion. Also, I manage my own investment portfolio, which is in excess of $1 million. Community Activities: Volunteering for Meals on Wheels and completing income tax forms with AARP during the tax season. Other Interests: Managing my investment portfolio, travel, golf, and spending time with our grandchildren. Board Service: F or several years, I served as a board member and secretary of the Real Estate Investment Council. Other Comments: I believe my financial background would be an asset on the Pension Investment Board. Board Questionnaire: 1. To make wise investment decisions so as to preserve the assets of the public employees' retirement funds. 2. No. Please let me know when the board meetings are so I can observe. 3. I have an MBA in finance, I manage my own investment account, and I managed a real estate investment office for 26 years for Northwestern Mutual Life, one of the most respected life insurance companies in the USA. 4. Now that I am retired, I want to give back to the community by volunteering my services, where I can contribute with my financial expertise. Item # 23 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT 1 RECOMMENDATION: Reappoint Linda S. Damsky and Robert A. Freedman to the Sister Cities Advisory Board with the term expiring on December 31, 2011. (consent) SUMMARY: The Appointment Worksheet is Attached. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 24 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 APPOINTMENT WORKSHEET BOARD: Sister Cities Advisory Board TERM: 4 years APPOI NT ED BY: Sister Cities Advisory Board FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Not Required RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: One member of the City Council and a representative of the Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. MEMBERS: 6 CHAIRPERSON: Linda S. Damsky MEETING DATES: No less often than quarterly PLACE: TBD APPOINTMENTS NEEDED: 2 SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Representatives of the local business community, the School Board's World Language Coordinator or designee, and the Clearwater Arts Foundations shall not be required to reside within the City of Clearwater. THE FOLLOWING ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER(S) HAVE TERMS WHICH EXPIRE AND NOW REQUIRE REAPPOINTMENT FOR A NEW TERM. THESE TWO MEMBERS WERE ALREADY APPROVED BY THE GROUPS THEY'RE REPRESENTING. 1. Linda S. Damsky - 212 Grove Circle North, Dunedin, FL 34698 - Educator Original Appointment 01/15/04 (World Language Coordinator) Pinellas County Schools Interest in Reappointment: Yes (1st term expires 12/31/07) 2. Robert A. Freedman - 1612 Farrier Trail, 33765 - CEOIRuth Eckerd Hall Original Appointment 01/15/04 (Clearwater Arts Foundation) Interest in Reappointment: Yes (1st term expires 12/31/07) Zip codes of current members: 1 - 33761 2 - 33765 1 - 33767 1 - 34698 Item # 24 11I1U/ ;;:UUJ U1: J U f"AX 7 H5~HHS516 PIN~LLAS SCHUUL MAGN~T Attachmen~WMer 2 Page 1 of 1 I. M." . 'J'P' -'/ ~~~~.;}' , ,,:/' t " CITY OF CLEARWATER - APPLICATION FOR ADVISORY BOARDS (must be Clearwater resident) Name: Lin:1aS.I:arsky Home Address: 212 ~ G:iJ:cle l'b:1h Zip 34693 Office Address: WU::lm.1 Fiur.i:ili n1 Llrl, O:::t-l"'Pl<>r qJ largo, FI.r:RIJ}\ Telephone: Zip Telephone: How long a resident of Clearwater? Occupation: Edt nqtar Field of Education: W:Jrld ~ Employer: S:-h-nl Jbm-rl of PiTPlJ.<l.c:: Camty Other Work Experience: If retired, former occupation: Community Activities: Volunteer- Jazz Festival, Il.Iaii.n Art Harvast, Sister Cities, Taste of CJ.69l:t\nter' GJ.e.3n..a1:et-N3garo ~ Other Interests: Board Service (current and past): Cl..eatw:lter Sister Cities Board Preference: Additional Comments: I rave c.c.oclinata:l t:h; Qa:m..ater N9garo Edu:aticnal ~ Ft~(:m for tie Pin:>lbc:: Cr!lnty .c:clrnl ~t~ Tl"Ir n ~ T ~ll~ .<lC:: ~ ttllmtPPr to ~ with OPHr'Wlter- Sister:" Cities fot:' t:h3 Ol}lIpics ani t::raire:i the camurri.ty lI1=J1L==r.s in Clean..ater as ~ as wrote an :ins t.:imsl cross turnl rrarull. Signe Date: ~ 6, 2CD3 See attached list for boards that requir nancial Disclosure at time of appointment. Please return this application & board questionnaire for each board listed to: City Clerk's Department, P. O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 or drop off at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112S, Osceola Avenue Item # 24 ll/lUI ~UUJ Ul: JU l''AX H75~HHHllt5 f'. _~".)r;';V ,;.J,:' , t'lN~LLA:S :SCHUUL J\1AtiN~T Attachment~lll1lJ~r 2 Page 1 of 1 BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE 1. What is your understanding of the board's duties and responsibilities? Col.1ah:n:ate to plan c.ciEsive pagc-dlt"i to ccntirue to stlJlDrt th; CJ..eaw:iter- Nagam Sister City IElatimtri.p. 2. Have you ever observed a board meeting either in person or on C-View, the City's TV station? I have ol:setve:l a corm:issim rIEEt:i.rg In fELSYI arri Ctl '1 V . 3. What background andlor qualifications do you have that you feel would qualify you to serve on this Board? I ~ u..vWilHLW U~ Ck:u.~Lt::c; N:i~U) ~Llv..~ r.:..J.~~ 1.-'1.'-'6'-.;\" fiX' ~ QHlty S::h:ols foc 13 yem;. I tave t:tairai t:h: Sister City vo1J.Jnt:Eer:s \to tl:avellerl to th= N3garo OijHpic3. Jh!ve trainai ax ~ an:i ot1..rlcnm....m tEavel to ~ 00 ,:".l,y..:;jr;....".l ~. I have written tra:inirg rraruals far this ai.x:atiornl ~ prcgran. My gra:iJate cIegI:e: ~i5'- in ~i~ RilirglF] fn.r.<:lrirn ~ T .<m .<l rrn..c:;r1<>r I"~in:rr- for t~irg Erg):ish as a Foreign ~. 4. Why do YOlJ want to serve on this Board? I ~ ~ 'VI=t!::ttc:rl i"t'Pmr;::t pmf@1~.CliCl'1!311y am persmally in N9gpm. I first visite:i in 1987 as an ~ t:.e:rber- arrl have cmt:in.ai to l:.e a::tively irM:llVEd in tl-e ~1I :in a 169d::I:-sip role. r-y irdepl:h urderstarJ:lin:. of ~ culture, ~ arrl carnuri.ty l1EIkes llE a very &d:icatErl ~ in prarotirg tte dt1tirurl relationship 1:eUfiIl tle tw:l CJ..ues. Item # 24 Sent By: RUTH ECKERD HALL; 7277245976 ; 13 Nov 03 11: 40AM; J ob 124;tfa~R~enH~mber 3 Page 1 of 1 CITY OF CLEARWATER ~ APPUCA TION FOR ADVISORY BOARDS (must be Clearwater resident) K "" \:, '--r- + 'i. f'r L e.... J. "'" It..... Name: Home Address: --. I C-l ~ F........:., -4...... J r-Q , I C. \ <-I ... .., ~4<... l" F L lip ::3 3 '), \ .-, I Telephone: ( 12.-.,) ') 1 z--- a d I 0 How long a resident of Clearwater? S Y ~ ...-.J Occupation: C. E-o I (l....~ 'c..k.........I '4." I \ Field of Education: -n<..... 4....-c- Office Address: do (tv-i\. '[... 1<..,.. J 4-\c It 1111 {1}r...(J)vllt" ~~(ll C-I~~"""W.-.l.-Lt'. P L Zip 33')$<) Tel;Phone: (7 2.. -; ') .., ll,,~ i i 0 'f Employer: l>f\C\, I nit:. /flv'f1... LLIt:.._J N,I/ Other Work Experience: If retired, former occupation: Community Activities: Other Interests: Board Service (current and past): c.. \ ___r- "-' ... ~'"L~ A -'\.5.: fa..r".......f. ~ Jr"'\ Board Preference: -:;:I.:.+-- r c., o4.'1 A J... V" ( S ~ t""., ~ 0 ......J Additional Comments: Signed: ~.F~ Date: UILf/J3. See attached list for boards that require Financial Disclosure at time of appointment. Please return this application & board questionnaire for each board listed to: City Clerk's Department, P. 0. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 or drop off at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 112 S, Osceola Avenue Po9t~lt"' brand fax lrrmsmlttal memo 7071 1# of pages ~ Depl. Fax 1*'18;).5"' Item # 24 Sent By: RUTH ECKERD HALLj 7277245976j 13 Nov 03 11: 41 AMjJob 124Alta~~ffiel~Jn~mber 3 Page 1 of 1 BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE 1. What is your understanding of the board's duties and responsibilities? - ,~ aJ-V'lc.. ~ c.,- 4- 't C,,",.-.. t"o'\ l ~ t . :>.'""\ ""~ ... .,...J, '.. ~~ ~... 4- Iv.. .'J~"'t- ,.- J::>~.... + ~. ._~!'.,(' &.l,-~" I /.-.. ~ P- ~ S',j h.- (... i~.....1 P r-6J r-~ ........ ?..... ~ ~ .,.a ""'- , .!..s ..rt.,J o (" J. . lie... '"" ~ ~" ..,.. 2, Have you ever observed a board meeting either in person or on C-View, the City's TV station? No 3. What background and/or qualifications do you have that you feel would qualify you to serve on this Board? "2> '- ~_~"__~ 1?" · ~ "" ~ Ek. j ......1 ,....JI _~..:!._.. -I l ~ (t) (: c...\,............. ..:t.....- (4,.~~ t'~...._.l..4. \r....... ..-...,. . ....-... 4. Why do you want to serve on this Board? "1 '" .:':::l"~ tow- + CA.<-I r-"", ".~,... q r-..\ S ~......_ ~...~\~"'" .... Q S 4-...A .... ~ I ~ --h. '"'" .J ~~...~.!. __~ ~ ,: r- ~ to.. '..' '- CAJ l --4-" ~ Name: Q. 0 ~...... 4- A-. f're. Co.. J..~.. .... Board Name: S \ J' \" - c..... -\- , A-J v \,...,.. 7 B 0 ~r-'/ Item # 24 Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall SUBJECT 1 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution 07 -33, requiring members of the Clearwater Housing Authority to file Financial Disclosure statements under Section 112.3144, Florida Statutes. SUMMARY: The Clearwater Housing Authority was established by Resolution 69-5 of the City pursuant to the Florida Housing Authorities Law, Chapter 421, Florida Statutes. The members of the Clearwater Housing Authority have been filing financial disclosure as local officers pursuant to the requirements of S 112.3144, Florida Statutes. The State of Florida Commission on Ethics has recently determined that members of dependent special districts were not "local officers" for purposes of financial disclosure pursuant to S 112.3145(l)(a)2, Florida Statutes. The Clearwater Housing Authority qualifies as a dependent special district pursuant to S 189.403(2)b, Florida Statutes, therefore, pursuant to S 112.3145(l)(a)2.g, Florida Statutes, the City desires to exercise the local option to require members of the Clearwater Housing Authority to file financial disclosure pursuant to the requirements of S 112.3144, Florida Statutes. Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 25 Attachment number 1 Page 1 of 1 RESOLUTION NO. 07-33 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING ITS INTENT TO REQUIRE MEMBERS OF THE CLEARWATER HOUSING AUTHORITY TO FILE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE; PROVI 01 NG AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Clearwater Housing Authority was established by Resolution No. 69-5 of the City pursuant to the Florida Housing Authorities Law, Chapter 421, Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, the members of the Clearwater Housing Authority have been filing financial disclosure as local officers pursuant to the requirements of S 112.3144, Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, the State of Florida Commission on Ethics has recently determined that members of dependent special districts were not "local officers" for purposes of financial disclosure pursuant to S 112.3145(1)(a)2, Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, the Clearwater Housing Authority qualifies as a dependent special district pursuant to S 189.403(2)b, Florida Statutes; and WHEREAS, pursuant to S 112.3145(1)(a)2.g, Florida Statutes, the City desires to exercise the local option to require members of the Clearwater Housing Authority to file financial disclosure pursuant to the requirements of S 112.3144, Florida Statutes; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA: Section 1. Pursuant to S 112.3145(1)(a)2g., Florida Statutes, the City of Clearwater hereby exercises the local option to require members of the Clearwater Housing Authority to file financial disclosure pursuant to the requirements of S 112.3144, Florida Statutes. Section 2. The City Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this Resolution to the State of Florida Commission on Ethics no later than December 31,2007. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of ,2007. Frank V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: Attest: Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Resolution N~ -#325 SUBJECT 1 RECOMMENDATION: City Manager Verbal Reports SUMMARY: City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 26 SUBJECT 1 RECOMMENDATION: Traffic Mini-Circle at Grove and Lake SUMMARY: City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 27 SUBJECT 1 RECOMMENDATION: Marine Aquarium Funding Request SUMMARY: City Council Agenda Council Chambers - City Hall Meeting Date: 12/6/2007 Review Approval: 1) Clerk Cover Memo Item # 28