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Home My WebLink About03-10-2023 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board MinutesFEAB March 10, 2023 FEAB Plan, 2023 Page 1 March 2023 FEAB MEETING MINUTES *Annual meeting with Mayor and staff* Friday, March 10, 2023 3:00 p.m. in the Fairhope Public Library, Board Room Member Attendees: Gary Gover, Amy Paulson, Nigel Temple, Jennifer Foutch, Nicole Love, Steven Scyphers, Anna Miller, Jim Horner, Ben Frater Members not in attendance: None City of Fairhope: Mayor Sullivan; Erik Cortinas, Building Department; Michelle Melton, Kim Burmeister and Hunter Simmons -Planning and Zoning Department City Council: None Honored Guests: Carol Tebay & Carl Couret (Active participants); Ashley Campbell, Baldwin County; Michelle Frost, resident; Vanessa Elias, resident; Cori Yonge, resident; Jim Watkins, Fairhope Times 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 February: a. Deleted summary item #6 b. Reworded Google share file folder from “tracking” source to “sharing” source c. Corrected Anna’s name throughout (removed “Keen”); corrected Stephen to “Steven” d. Revised summary item #5 stating that FEAB “approved evaluation” of stretch codes for “evaluation” purposes 2. Amy showed a slide show on FEABs accomplishments and missions 3. Amy presented copies of the 2023 Working Paper (bios, organization and priorities) a. FEAB members spoke on their individual areas of authority 4. Mayor and Planning / Building staff provided insight on FEAB priorities FEAB Minutes: February minutes were amended, mostly reword changes and name updates, spelling. Amy provided the Working Paper, “2023 Organization and Priorities”: FEAB March 10, 2023 FEAB Plan, 2023 Page 2 March 2023 FAIRHOPE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD POC AMY PAULSON MARCH, 2023 WORKING PAPER THE CITY OF FAIRHOPE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD 2023 ORGANIZATION AND PRIORITIES Mission: To provide policy advice to the City Council, Mayor, and City Departments regarding environmental matters that concern the City of Fairhope. Vision: to serve as a trusted, scientific resource providing a local environmental perspective to policy decisions to ensure environmental matters are given full consideration in the City’s decision-making processes. We strive to positively affect the quality of life for all residents, their connection to our local ecosystems, and the resilience and sustainment of Fairhope as a small, yet world-class, city. Role: the FEAB is dedicated to increasing awareness of environmental issues, offering recommendations to City administrators, and providing state-of-the-science consultation in the implementation of sustainable solutions. The Environmental Advisory Board may review and make recommendations to the City Council, Mayor, and City Departments on environmental policy issues as follows: (1) Proposed ordinances and codes of an environmental nature. (2) Proposed changes to existing environmental ordinances and codes. (3) Other environmental matters affecting the City as referred to the Board by the City Council, Mayor, City Department, and public citizen stakeholders. (4) Relevant partnerships with other City Boards, Committees, Commissions, or other volunteer functions. (5) Other environmental matters affecting the City that are initiated by the Board. Regular Meeting Timing/Location: 3-4pm on the second Friday of each month / Public Works Conference Room Special Meetings: The FEAB invites guests to bring presentations or new discussion topics to our attention. To give guests our full attention and also adhere to our regular agenda items, these guest presentations/discussions are typically scheduled 30-minutes prior to the regular meeting and are officially publicly announced by the City Clerk in advance. City Points of Contact: City of Fairhope, FEAB-Assigned Councilmember, Corey Martin City of Fairhope, Special Projects and Grant Manager / Admin Dept, TBD 1City of Fairhope, Planning and Zoning Department, Kim Burmeister 1City of Fairhope, Planning and Zoning Department, Christina LeJeune 1 Appointed by City to attend Board functions FEAB March 10, 2023 FEAB Plan, 2023 Page 3 March 2023 Member Information: ● Gary Gover, Co-Chairperson, Business Administration/Public Administration / BS Biological Science. Gary served in the U.S Marine Corps as an electronics instructor and worked for the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs as a manager in information technology. He is a member of the Fairhope Historic Preservation Committee, Recycling Committee, Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee, and Environmental Advisory Board. He is a member of the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. He is a board member and officer of the Local Food Production Initiative, Inc. and Earth Day Mobile Bay, Inc. Has lived in retirement in Fairhope since 1997. FEAB since 2006, (FEAB Chairperson “many” years). ● Amy Paulson, Co-Chairperson, MS Conservation and Sustainable Development / BS Ecology 25+ years in environmental planning, including the evaluation of project environmental impacts for private corporation site development and for federal decisions under the National Environmental Policy Act; sustainability, resiliency, habitat and watershed management plans; pollution prevention and environmental compliance; military installation master planning; renewable energy systems; and conflict negotiation and facilitation. Worked special environmental projects for the Environmental Protection Agency; the Mayor of Denver, CO; and various federal, state, local, and international agencies. FEAB since 2019. ● Kim Burmeister, City Liaison, Biology / USACE Wetlands Delineation Certified and Qualified Credentialed Inspector - MS4 Management Certified 27+ years working for the City of Fairhope, initially with Public Works and currently with the Planning and Zoning Department as the Code Enforcement Officer (since 2006). City FEAB liaison since 2006. ● Christina LeJeune, City Liaison, Master Environmental Educator, Certified Alabama Water Watch tester (pathogens), Qualified Credentialed Inspector 8+ years working for the City of Fairhope, currently as a Planning and Zoning Enforcement officer (since 2018) and previously as Correction Officer for Fairhope Police Department. ● Jim Horner, Engineer After serving in the U. S. Navy, Jim was employed as an engineer for Scott Paper Company in Mobile and then in St. Louis, MO, and Appleton, WI, again doing technical service work for the paper industry. He and his wife returned to Alabama through the rest of his working career and into retirement. Jim’s focus in the FEAB has been mainly on the regulation and control of stormwater run-off. FEAB since 2003 (FEAB Director 9 years). ● Ben Frater, MS Fish and Wildlife Biology / BS Biology. Master Gardener 25+ years in environmental mitigation and habitat management. Moved from Panama City, FL to work on Deepwater Horizon-related restoration projects through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Gulf Restoration Office. Currently serves as the Chief of Compliance for the Department of the Interior on activities throughout the Gulf related to the RESTORE Act, NRDA, and Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. Earlier in his Fish and Wildlife Service career, Ben worked with city and county planners to permit mitigation banks and habitat conservation preserves for endangered species in CA and FL. Ben has also worked many years in fisheries management and as a Forest Planner for the U.S Forest Service. His love for his community and interest in outdoor recreation, compromise, community service, and green space drew him to volunteer for FEAB. FEAB since FEAB March 10, 2023 FEAB Plan, 2023 Page 4 March 2023 2017. ● Jennifer Foutch, JD / BA in Administration of Justice and Political Science 24+ years, including practicing law criminal law in Perry County, Illinois for over 18 years. She held positions as the Assistant State's Attorney and then as the Public Defender for Perry County, IL. In 2016, she relocated to Fairhope with her husband and two daughters. She is currently licensed as a member of the Alabama Bar, and she is a member of the Baldwin County Bar Association. She is employed as the Association Executive Officer for the Baldwin Realtors Association. FEAB since 2021. ● Nigel Temple, Ph.D. Coastal Restoration Ecology 10+ years developing, implementing, and managing research projects related to freshwater and coastal ecology, conservation, restoration, environmental engineering, sensor development, science communication, nutrient management, and other drivers of events, relevant to restoration and conservation project outcomes, and development and implementation of robust project monitoring programs. Current work is focused on the development, permitting, and installation of small- to large-scale living shorelines projects and monitoring of success criteria while also developing novel research on coastal resilience issues. FEAB since 2021. ● Nicole Love, MS Biology / BS Biology 20+ years in the environmental field working in state government, non-profit, and the private sector. Nicole brings an extensive environmental background as well as community outreach and engagement experience to the Board that will assist our communication of scientific data and research out to the general public and increase support for important City projects. FEAB from X – X and since 2022. ● Anna Keene Miller, BS Environmental Studies 10+ years in the environmental field as a building consultant specializing in energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Anna’s company, Keen Living, provides technical support, HVAC design, and field verification for high performance building projects. She is a RESNET HERS Rater, Fortified Evaluator, and a National Green Building Standard Verifier. Keen Living was a key partner on the first two homes in the country to achieve both the Zero Energy Ready Home and Fortified Hurricane Gold certifications, including a Department of Energy Housing Innovation Award winner that uses over 70% less energy than a code-built home. Anna serves on the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Gulf Housing Committee, Green Coast Council Sustainability Summit Planning Committee, and the South Alabama Land Trust Native Habitat Steering Committee. CoF Recycling Committee, 2013 – 2015; FEAB from 2008 – 2010 and 2023. ● Dr. Steven B. Scyphers, Ph.D. Marine Sciences, Postdoc, Social-Ecological Systems 15+ years in the environmental field. Currently Associate Professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Sciences and Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work; Director of the Center for Socio-Environmental Resiliency at the University of South Alabama; and Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Steven's research integrates ecology and sociology to understand and overcome major challenges facing coastal communities. His work focuses on sustainable coastal fisheries, shoreline development, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation. He lives in Fairhope with his wife Mallory and daughters Hadley and Maren. FEAB from 2023. Active Participants FEAB March 10, 2023 FEAB Plan, 2023 Page 5 March 2023 ● Carole Tebay, Alabama Master Gardener / Certified Florida Master Naturalist / Baldwin County Extension Master Environmental Educator 50+ years of native plant gardening, including membership in the Santa Rosa County, FL Master Gardeners Speakers’ Bureau, Longleaf Chapter of the Native Plant Society, Francis M Weston Chapter of the Audubon Society (Board Member), and Santa Rosa County RESTORE Council. As a Friends of Pensacola State Parks volunteer, Carole led weekly bird walks through Big Lagoon State Park. Led many citizen science projects on plastics, invasives, oysters, terrapins, and seagrasses. Active with the South Alabama Land Trust Natural Habitat Steering Committee, including developing a native habitat certification checklist, offering tours of homes using native plants, a book club discussion group on Douglas Tallamy's Bringing Nature Home, and Zoom sessions with Dr Tallamy. As a Baldwin County Extension Master Environmental Educator Program, Carole teaches Backyard Wildlife Habitat lessons to elementary school classes. FEAB participant since 2023. ● Carl Couret, BS Biology and Zoology 34+ years in the environmental field. Retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service as specialist in freshwater ecosystems of the Gulf Coast, Pacific Islands, and desert Southwest. After serving in the US Air Force in Japan and Hawaii as a photo interpreter, graduated from the University of Hawaii with a published paper on an endemic Hawaiian shrimp. Served as the lead biologist for relicensing of Alabama Power Co. hydropower plants and project leader for protection of the endangered Alabama beach mouse. Selected as a federal representative for the Department of Interior in Compact negotiations during the early years of the Alabama-Georgia-Florida water wars, and managed the Everglades Restoration Project biological team. Resident of Fairhope since 1991, occasional instructor for ESILL and speaker at the Fairhope library, leader of the Easter n Shore Ukulele Club, and president and past board Chair of the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship. Daughter and her family live in Daphne. FEAB participant since 2023. FEAB February 10th, 2023 Minutes Page 1 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 2 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 3 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 4 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 5 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 6 Amy presented a slide show: FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 7 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 8 FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 9 POC / FEAB members spoke about his/her area of authority: Native Planting: Ben: has resources from other communities for native landscaping. This includes lessions learned from around the country. This is his line of work. Natural and Nature based shorelines, streambanks and gullies: Nigel: has nature based solution conceptual plans for areas in Fairhope. Steven: The Mobile area is unique. He has ideas and experience in engaging home owners and property owners in projects that benefit the public. Internships are available. Amy: Most property owners need direction in how to do the right thing. FEAB is hoping to aid in proposing a pilot project in the future on city property. (i.e. Winn Dixie pond, Triangle property) FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 10 Resilient and Efficient Buildings: Anna: has gathered information in regards to stretch codes. Water conservation is top priority. Erik: Solar panel installations in Fairhope are challenged by State codes regulating installation business licensing. Some items in the slide show presentation (house diagram) are already in place. Amy said this slide is just an example of efficient housing but not necessarily an example of suggested stretch codes. Hunter: main complaint received is on drainage. City would like to establish design guidelines for the public to use. Mayor: asked FEAB to put together a fact sheet for stretch building codes, including water conservation. Vanessa: suggested City and FEAB be mindful to suggest building code supplements that are not cost prohibitive. Cost of building is already high. Waste Management and Recycling: Amy: FEAB would like the City to target and reduce single use plastics. This will help with waste management and litter control. Mayor: Recycling committee is currently defunct. Countywide recycling facility will greatly help with Fairhope’s recycling marketing. Eastern Shore Watershed Management Plan: Nicole: draft is complete and is being cleaned up before distribution. Some of the natural and nature based solutions FEAB is proposing may be included in the ESWMP, including gully and steep slope protection ideas. Comments from Mayor Sullivan: She would like FEAB to offer comments for website updates and environmental grants, such as potential “pollinator project” grant. Kim can help facilitate FEABs involvement with both of these. https://www.neefusa.org/resource/2023-biodiversity-conservation- grant-enhancing-pollinator-habitats GOMESA grant may also be utililized in the future to facilitate park management. FEAB is welcome to provide draft park management plans for consideration. FEABs current time of 3 p.m. on Friday is still difficult time for staff to attend. Cmments from Erik Cortinas, Building Official: Jurisidictional changes have greatly impacted the City ordinances including wetland ordinance. Fairhope’s authority over wetlands has been greatly reduced by SB-107. FEAB is encouraged to include Baldwin County in discussions regarding area wetlands. Most bayside bulkhead permits are now under County authority as most of the Point Clear area is not within Fairhope’s permitting or jurisdictional authority. Comments from Hunter Simmons, Planning and Zoning Director: Planning Department is researching gully/ steep slope protection ordinances in hopes that Fairhope can adopt FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 11 one soon. We are seeking expert information for this hot topic. Surveys will need to be completed to show where our gullies and steep slopes are. Baldwin County Joint Environmental Advisory Committee: Amy introduced Ashley Campbell, the Environmental Planner with Baldwin County. Ashley also heads up the Baldwin County Joint EAC, which includes Baldwin County, Fairhope and Daphne. Ashley: current item of importance is a standardized wetland ordinance template which may be used by entities without a wetland ordinance. 2nd item of importance will likely be red soils and clay, and/or gully/slope protection ordinances. This is a citizen driven effort. She would like to see a social event organized in the near future to involve more stakeholders in Baldwin County. Comp Plan: Hunter said 1st draft was presented to staff in October 2022. Staff was not happy with the draft and is working on a 2nd draft, which may be ready by Spring 2023. Jim: Future growth of Fairhope was not adequately referenced in the Comp Plan draft he saw. He referenced recent article suggesting millennials are coming to Fairhope in bigger numbers than retirees, thus driving the need for multi-family units. Comp plan 1st draft suggested the opposite. FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 12 Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m. FEAB March 10th, 2023 Minutes Page | 13 Next regular monthly meeting is Friday, April 14th @ 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 Steven Scyphers sscyphers@scsengineers.com (334)-701-8864 Anna Keene Miller anna@keenliving.pro (251) 279-0395 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