HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2023 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board MinutesFEAB May 12, 2023
FEAB MEETING MINUTES
May 12th, 2023
3:00 p.m. in the Fairhope Public Library, Board Room
Member Attendees: Gary Gover, Amy Paulson, Nigel Temple, Nicole Love, Steven Scyphers, Anna Miller,
Jim Horner, Ben Frater, Carole Tebay
Members not in attendance:
Jennifer Foutch
City of Fairhope: Nicole Love- Grant Coordinator; Kim Burmeister -Planning and Zoning Department;
Christina LeJeune-Planning and Zoning Department
City Council: None
Honored Guests: Carl Couret (Active participant); Cynthia Rush
Minutes taken by: Kim Burmeister
Amy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
FEAB Minutes:
April minutes were approved as written. Jim 1st , Nigel 2nd, unanimous.
Summary:
1. New FEAB Member: Carole Tebay
2. Nicole gave FEAB a list of suggested items city needs help with: Grants-letter of support; locating
and information; invasives – maintenance and park management plan for control of invasives;
quarterly social media outreach PSA draft
3. Carole will note non-natives currently listed in City Tree Ordinance
4. Butterfly garden needs kudzu removal and park management plan
5. Anna is working on draft of stretch goals, water conservation tips for residents
Membership:
Carole is officially a FEAB member.
Agenda from Amy:
FEAB May 12, 2023
FEAB May 12, 2023
FEAB May 12, 2023
FEAB Goals and Assistance to the City of Fairhope
Nicole suggested FEAB focus on needed projects, to include but not be limited to:
1. Letter of support for grants
2. Gathering of information for grants
3. Seeking and forward grant opportunities to her
4. Locate funding sources or maintenance groups for control of invasives in park area
5. Identify best treatment method city should adopt for invasive control
6. Provide subject matter and draft information for quarterly Facebook post from FEAB,
environmental hot topic area. Provide draft to Kim. PSA will have to be approved by Paige and
Mayor.
Nigel asked for more information on what is needed for #6: what is and is not acceptable? Kim suggested
any hot topic of environmental concern FEAB thinks warrants outreach to our community. Giant Salvinia,
or information on invasives, for example, would be a good start.
Nicole said grants with no match are preferred and easier to run through the approval process than
grants with match. Steven said he will be glad to assist with seeking of grant opportunities.
Jim said city staff should bring ideas to FEAB more often.
Amy said this has been the goal all along, to assist city as needed.
Action Plan: Steven to seek grant opportunities for the City; will send information found directly to Nicole.
FEAB May 12, 2023
Butterfly Garden and Pollinator Habitats / Native Plantings
Jamie, city horticulturist, recently met with Carole and Ben at the butterfly garden area. Main concern is
maintenance and control of invasives, mostly kudzu. Carole identified some native bloomers still there
but struggling to thrive under the kudzu.
Carole said the options for invasive / kudzu removal are goats, herbicides and/or manpower to pull.
Jamie said city has limited staff to perform maintenance and removal of invasives. He is in support of
butterfly garden enhancements, plantings. City will need assistance with maintenance.
Carole said the bluff area “Magnolia Beach Park” needs a park management plan.
Per Carole, Jamie would prefer one butterfly garden area vs. several, for maintenance.
Ben said step one is treating and removing the invasives. Professional advice is needed.
Amy said it would be helpful to have a group adopt certain areas for garden maintenance. Community
could be invited to help with an outreach day for invasive control on the bluff.
Action plan: Carole will identify non-natives listed in the city Tree Ordinance. Non-native does not
necessarily mean invasive or problematic.
Action plan: Steven will send Auburn Extension contact information to FEAB; Auburn Extension may be of
some help with invasive removal and park management plan for kudzu control.
Action plan: Kim will add park brochure to Google Drive so FEAB can see location and names of existing
city parks.
Per Carol, Jamie stated city will use Chinese elm that they have on hand but will not purchase any more,
since it is listed as an invasive species.
Nature Based Solutions
Nicole said city has applied for GOMESA grant for shoreline improvement (nature-based) of Magnolia
Beach shoreline, south of Pier Street boat launch.
Giant Salvinia
Carole previously submitted a PSA for FEAB to consider recommending for Fairhope social media. It is an
invasive aquatic nuisance plant.
Action Plan: Amy will recirculate Giant Salvinia PSA to FEAB.
Fairhope Outdoor Classrooms
Carole is waiting on a call back from Fairhope West to see how FEAB can help.
Stretch Building Codes
Anna has been asked by Mayor to provide Paige Crawford, Community Affairs Director, with draft of clear
information on stretch codes and water conservation tips for residents and business owners. Anna will
provide this to Paige within 2 weeks. Anna will place draft will be on Google Drive for FEAB review.
Gary said City had an energy audit several years ago and is overdue for a new one.
Action plan: Anna to provide Paige with draft of water conservation and stretch code tips.
City Budget
Gary wants FEAB connected and to stay in touch with city of Fairhope budget deadlines.
FEAB May 12, 2023
Osprey Initiative, end of year data
Osprey Initiative representative reached out to Amy and would like to come speak at an upcoming FEAB
meeting to discuss findings from the Winn Dixie Pond project. Amy suggested having Osprey Initiative at
the July meeting, tentative.
Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.
Next meeting: Friday, June 9th @ Fairhope Municipal Library, 3 p.m.
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
Steven Scyphers sscyphers@southalabama.edu (334)-701-8864
Anna Keene Miller anna@keenliving.pro (251) 279-0395
Carole Tebay cftebay@gmail.com
CITY CONTACTS:
Corey Martin, City Council corey.martin@fairhopeal.gov
Nicole Love, Grant Coordinator nicole.love@fairhopeal.gov
Kim Burmeister, Planning and Zoning Department kim.burmeister@fairhopeal.gov
Christina LeJeune, Planning and Zoning Department christina.lejeune@fairhopeal.gov