HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-13-2019 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting MinutesFEAB M i nutes
December 13, 2019
Members: Gary Gover, Mike Shelton, Ben Frater, Tony Pritchett, Jeanine Normand and Nicole Lo ve
Guests : Lee Faulk and Mike Nance
Minutes taken by: M i ke Shelton
1. Ca ll to order at 3pm
2. Approval of the November m i nute by voice vote . Motion: Frater ; Second : Shelton
3 . Mobile Bay NEP Coasta l Comprehensive Management Plan. Mr. Gover introduced the Board to the
Mobile Bay NEP Coasta l Comprehensive Management Plan (CCMP} to raise awareness of the contents on
the CCMP. The CCMP contains i nformation , strategies and recommended actions to i mprove the health
of Mobile Bay, its watershed and tributaries. The CCMP is ava il able on the Mobile Bay NEP website . The
Board ex pressed interest in the p lan and offered genera l d iscuss ion . No specific action was taken by the
Board on this matter.
4 . Mr. Gover introduced to the Board an infographic -10 ways to make every day-earth-day. The
infographic could be used as an educa ti onal tool provided by COF to residents and employees . Board
discussed the outreach option for the ite m. The infographic is attac hed to the minutes. Mr. Shelton
reported that a climate presentation planned for the Council is scheduled to advance into the next
calendar year due to time constraints . No specific action was taken by the Board on this matter.
5 . Mr. Gover brought to the attention of the Board the pl ight of trees in the COF and that COF has the
Tree City designation. The Board discussed opportunities to educate residents on the m any values of
preserv i ng mature trees and pla nt i ng new trees . The Board d iscussed health benefits provided by trees to
residents and to b i rds and wildlife. Board members identified several educational resource s including the
exi sting Greener by the Yard that identify native trees . Edu cation could accompany tree hand-outs at
Arbor Day events to emphasize the need to plant and maintain trees for the benefits already identified by
the Board . The Board discussed an urban t ree study conducted by the City of St. Lou is that reinforced the
many health , aesthetic, energy conservation , stormwater m anagement and other benefits provided by
urba n tree preservat ion and p lanti ng . The St. Louis study is attached to these minutes . Mr. Pritchett
brought up to the Board the COF tree ordinance. He ex pres sed that there is a need to con si der revis i ng
the ord i nance to i nclude more trees under protection and ment ioned the tree ordinance passed by the
City of Ocean Springs (§4 .11 Tree Protection and Preservation , Code of Ocean Springs , MS} as an
examp le. The Board discussed the need for increased enforcement and raising awareness of protecting
tree to bolster buy -in from residents for additional enforcement on private property. No specific action
was taken by the Board on this matter.
6 . Mr. Gover brought to the Board the topic of the Triang le Conservancy and its structu r e and activitie s
regard i ng the Tr iangle property. The item e l icited discussion from the Board about uses of property and
revived points discussed at past meetings regarding use and conservation easements . Mr. Pritchett
i nformed the Board that Counc il man Conyers brought to the Council a resolution rega r d i ng a plan to
estab l ish a working group made up of residents , Council-people and experts to assi st the COF in explor i ng
option for use and preservation of the property. The Counc il d id not act on the reso lut io n when it was
introduced.
7. The Board discussed at length the development proposed for Single Tax Colony property near Fig
Ave/Tatumville Gully . The Board discussed the problems with loss of habitat, erosion and negative effects
to the adjacent COF-owner property that would result from development. The consensus of the Board is
that in stead of developing the tract the Single Ta x Colony should donate it to the COF . No specific act ion
was ta ke n by the Board on th is m atter.
8 . Th e meet ing adjourned on or about 4 :30p m.
FEAB CONTACT INFORMATION :
Cha i rman: Gary Gover govers@bellsouth .net (251 ) 990-8662
Members:
Shawn Graham ShawnDG12@aol.com (251) 928-5120
Jeanine Normand drjnormand@aol .com (251) 928-2284
Tony Pritchett aQritchettassoc@gmail .com (251) 990-5185
Nicole Love nicolemrobinson@hotmail .com (407) 312-1362
Ben Frater ben.frater@gmail .com (404) 314-8815
Mike Shelton yauQon3@gmail.com (251) 990-2995
Jim Horner none (251) 928-9722
Amy Paulson amy.Qaulson@yahoo .com
CITY CONTACTS :
Ji mmy Conyers, City Council ji mmy.conyers@fairhoQea l.gov
Kim Burmeister, Planning and Zoning Department kim .burmeister@fairhoQeal.gov