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Home My WebLink About01-13-2023 Regular MeetingFEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page 1 FEAB MEETING MINUTES Friday, January 13th, 2023 3:00 p.m. in the Public Utilities Conference Room, 555 South Section Street Member Attendees: Gary Gover, Jim Horner, Ben Frater, Amy Paulson, Nigel Temple, Jennifer Foutch, Nicole Love Members not in attendance: None City of Fairhope: Kim Burmeister -Planning and Zoning Department City Council: None Honored Guests: Anna Keene Miller, Keen Living; Dr. Steven Scyphers, University of South Alabama; Carole Tebay, resident of Fairhope; Carl Couret, resident of Fairhope Minutes taken by: Kim Burmeister Amy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Summary of meeting: 1. Draft minutes were revised from December: a. FEAB has representation on the Triangle steering committee (currently Nigel, previously Rick Speight) b. The triangle project is still moving forward as previously discussed, no major changes or changes in direction, per Nicole (ESWMP representative) c. Richard Johnson is the key City of Fairhope representative for the Triangle project 2. Motion approved: Anna Keene and Steven Scyphers were nominated for membership to FEAB to fill the two vacancies. There is also a 3rd membership application (Vanessa Elias) and she will be invited to attend meetings. 3. Nigel has created an on-line drive (google document location) for document sharing among FEAB. All FEAB members and liaisons will have access. 4. Amy has drafted goals for FEAB and plans to schedule another Mayor/FEAB meeting for 2023, to go over goals. 5. Anna has energy code information for stretch goals, which will elevate Fairhope’s current building standards and resiliency. 6. Amy encouraged non-members to participate as “active participants” and consider inclusion on any action plans that might interest them. 7. FEAB suggests city consider website update and include a place for FEAB to offer information / environmental outreach items. 8. City should promote natural nature based features (versus bulkheads and other hardened features) with possible demonstration projects on city property. FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 2 9. FEAB is concerned that the City of Fairhope is not subject to its own zoning and sub regulations. FEAB Minutes: December minutes were approved as amended. Gary 1st; Jim 2nd. FEAB Membership Amy introduced Anna and Steven as potential FEAB members to fill the two (2) vacancies. Motion: Nominate Anna Keene Miller and Steven Scyphers as new FEAB members (Amy: 1st, Jim 2nd). Motion approved. City Council will be sent these nominations for the next Council meeting. Amy said a 3rd application has been received (Vanessa Elia) and she will be encouraged to attend meetings. Introductions: Honored guest Carl Couret, a resident of Fairhope since 1991, introducted himself. He is interested in local environmental efforts. He is a retired biologist. Invasives: Carol brought examples of two invasives: Nandina and Coral Ardesia. She has drafted a PSA on a new aquatic invasive, Giant Salvinia. This will be discussed / reviewed at February’s meeting. Once review is complete, Kim may share this on City of Fairhope’s Facebook page. Document Sharing Nigel has sent up an on line account for document sharing among FEAB and staff. Access and passwords will be assigned soon. Triangle Property Nicole: she is on the ESWMP and is involved in triangle development plans. The City has representation through her (she is on the watershed management planning team) and the assigned FEAB member (Nigel). Previously it was Rick Speight but he has resigned. Mission Statement, Goals for 2023 Amy shared her draft of the revised mission statement and goals for 2023, including bios for everyone. She asked everyone to review and offer comments, suggestions. She is suggesting some items from 2022 be removed: 1. Clean Marina – work in progress. Harbor Board is working with Nicole on compliance items and final site checks. Nothing further is needed from FEAB. 2. Community Resiliency Index – City is moving forward on this and nothing further is needed from FEAB. 3. Triangle Property – underway and nothing further is needed from FEAB at this time. FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 3 Jim would like to add the Stormwater Inventory Project as a goal for 2023. New hot topics for 2023 appear to be: 1. Native plantings (Carol) 2. Habitat and shoreline restoration, living shorelines (Nigel, Steven) a. Nigel suggested Eric Sparks from MSU as a good source of information on living shorelines and potential pilot projects. b. Kim suggested South Beach Park as city owned property that is problematic from erosion of the existing bulkhead; could be a good location for a living shoreline project. 3. Environmental Outreach – City website (Gary, Amy) Amy suggested the City website could be improved with more information easily available on City environmental projects and initiatives. Gary has a technical background and may be of some help. Triangle property should have its own link on the website; this may be underway. Amy asked everyone to look at the city website and suggest items of improvement for environmental education. Kim said most environmental projects are under the Planning Dept. page. She agreed this needs to be improved with easier access, a direct location and more information. Steven has seen success with on line surveys. Fairhope Planning Publications and Forms | City of Fairhope, AL (fairhopeal.gov) Amy suggested a potential resource for the community would be for FEAB to have a direct link on the City of Fairhope website with information access on current initiatives. 4. Meaningful participation in other groups: Amy and Gary will continue working with Baldwin County / Ashley Campbell in the draft of a standardized wetland ordinance. FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 4 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 5 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 6 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 7 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 8 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 9 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 10 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 11 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 12 Council Meeting Attendance Schedule and Talking Points: Amy shared the draft: FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 13 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 14 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 15 FEAB January 13th, 2023 Minutes Page | 16 City Exemptions on Zoning and Subdivision Regulations Gary had a recent email conversation with Hunter Simmons, Planning and Zoning Director. Gary is concerned because the City of Fairhope may not be subject to local regulations, such as the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. Stretch Building Codes Anna discussed our stretch goals could benefit the existing Fairhope Building Code. These would be voluntary. Incentives would help encourage residents and builders to strive for stretch goals. This could help with resiliency in Fairhope. Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m. Next meeting is Friday, February 10th @ 3 p.m. @ Library Board Room. FEAB CONTACT INFORMATION: Chairman: Gary Gover govers@bellsouth.net (251) 990-8662 Co-Chair: Amy Paulson amy.paulson@yahoo.com (251) 654-7401 Members: Ben Frater ben.frater@gmail.com (404) 314-8815 Jim Horner none (251) 928-9722 Nigel Temple 757nigel@gmail.com (757) 803-3589 Jennifer Foutch Foutch.jennifer@gmail.com (618) 318-0354 Nicole Love nlove@thompsonengineering.com (407)-312-1362 CITY CONTACTS: Corey Martin, City Council corey.martin@fairhopeal.gov Kim Burmeister, Planning and Zoning Department kim.burmeister@fairhopeal.gov Christina LeJeune, Planning and Zoning Department christina.lejeune@fairhopeal.gov