HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-2020 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Meeting MinutesFE AB Septemb er 20 20
FEAB MEETING MINUTES
September 11, 2020
3:00 p.m.
Fairhope Civic Center Council Chambers, Fairhope, AL
Member Attendees: Gary Gover, Ben Frater, Mike Shelton, Tony Pritchett, Amy Paulson,
Jim Horner
City Council: Jimmy Conyers
City of Fairhope: Christina LeJeune, Planning and Zoning; Jessica Sawyer, Community
Development; Buford King, Developmental Services Manager
Honored Guests : None
Minutes taken by : Christina LeJeune
FEAB MINUTES:
August 2020 FEAB minutes were approved as written.
DISCUSSION OF ITEMS:
Update on Dyas Triangle:
Amy announced that the Dyas Triangle would be discussed at the next City Council
meeting on September 14, 2020. Jimmy confirmed that the FEAB Bylaws and the Dyas
Triangle were on the workshop agenda for that date . Jimmy suggested that someone
from FEAB may want to be there to represent the board. Jimmy said while having
discussion on what to do with the property it was very important to get an inventory
report for the Dyas Triangle. Amy to attend 9/14 meeting.
Idea for a possible "committee member meeting of Advisory Boards/Committees"
Amy's idea would be for the City to host a large group meeting that would increase
communications between the different Boards/Comm ittees . It would also help with
expectations between the City and Boards/Committees. Jessica thinks this is a great idea
for outreach and should be open to the public to help invigorate the Community and to
help make them aware that there are requirements that the members must meet. Jim
said they may want to consider limiting attendance to 2-3 persons from each
Board/Committee . Jessica mentioned a possible committee fair and recommended all
ideas to be run by Lisa Hanks first . Tony stated that right now it is hard to communicate
with other Boards/Committees due to them not meeting as often .
FEAB September 2020
Update on Climate Action Plan (CAP):
Amy "This update is intended to identify work already done in Community Resiliency
Index (CRI) for Fairhope that was initiated/complete in 2017 and how a CAP -like effort
can evolve from that effort". Amy would like to receive old information from the City,
dig up prior resiliency determination, and rescore selves to see where we stand on
progress -and to identify missing elements or areas for improvement/ create a plan to
move forward . Starting first with the CRI may help "sell" the idea of a CAP to the
community-a robust CRI effort would highlight the relevance of the science , planning,
and potential impacts at our local scale . Additionally, a higher CRI score for the
community is often used by insurance companies to lower rates -a tangible outcome
that would benefit the City and ALL residents. Amy recommends that the CRI effort
would stand as step 1 and then could quickly evolve into a CAP as step 2. Mike stated
that he would be happy to lead the City in rescoring ourselves for the CRI. Afterwards,
there are several ways to pursue a CAP , including technical or grant assistance from the
NOAA Climate and Resilience Community of Practice, Mississippi -Alabama Sea Grant
Consortium. Anna Miller will speak to FEAB further on this topic upon our request in a
future FEAB meeting .
Jim asked how they came up with the questions that are asked in a CRI. Mike explained
you would pick a past storm event from within the community and do a self-assessment
from that info gathered . Gary stated this was big in finding out how your community will
rebound afterwards. Mike said this was also helpful with recovery and response from all
City departments, Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce, Immanuel Services, etc.
Gary suggested that the CAP could be umbrellaed under the Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (LUP). In doing this no separate funding or approval would be needed . Jessica
indicated that, while some resil iency and sustainability planning is included in a LUP,
performing a detailed CAP analysis may not be in the existing contractor's scope of work
for the LUP to the extent that would be necessary to complete a useful/meaningful
effort for the CAP task . Amy stated that she can pull and share several additional
examples of CAPs for similar communities across the U.S. for us to review and discuss as
potential endpoints for a Fairhope CAP .
F EAB September 20 2 0
Update on Living Shorelines:
Amy is proposing that the FEAB can table this as an action item for the time being
because it is a priority for other ongoing efforts, including shoreline engineers and other
scientists, at this time . She stated that researching options for living shorelines is a
component of the current Watershed Management Plan, and may also be included in
the Land Use Plan and Working Waterfronts Plan. Additional FEAB direction and ideas
could be brought straight to the WMP, LUP, and WWP, and as such it is recommended
that the Advisory Board designate a liaison(s) that may participate directly and facilitate
communication between these projects and the Board.
Comprehensive Land use Plan:
Gary shared his concern for trouble of understanding what it is that the community
wants and their acceptance of a plan . Jim said the City has tried hard to get info from
the community. Amy suggested using a third party for recommendations . Tony said
input from the pubic is needed . Mike said that most comprehensive plans have
integrated sustainability and resiliency. Gary mentioned looking at other models out
there to get input.
Update on Fly Creek Watershed Management Plan:
Amy shared that the WMP has started with the p r eparation of a v i deo in t ended to
promote part i cipation in the effort as it gets off the ground . Additionally, a team of
scientists are collecting and reviewing data to characterize the watershed. Full
watershed stakeholde r engagement is anticipated w ithin the next few mon t hs
(Dec/Feb).
Other Business:
Tony shared that Shawn Graham was not longer a FEAB member and shou ld be
removed from contact info . Amy said Nicole Love has resigned as well.
Next m eet in g is Frid ay , O ctob er 9 th @ 3 p.m . D elchamps Ro om (*subj ect to change*)
FEAB CONTACT INFORMATION:
Chairman: Gary Gover
Members:
Shawn Graham
Jean i ne Normand
Tony Pritchett
Ben Frater
Mike Shelton
Jim Horner
govers@bellsouth.net
ShawnDG12@aol.com
drjnormand@aol.com
apritchettassoc@gmail.com
ben .frater@gmail.com
yaupon3@gmail.com
none
(25 1 ) 990-8662
(25 1) 928-5120
(251) 928 -2284
(25 1) 990-5185
(404) 314-8815
(251) 990-2995
(25 1) 928 -9722
FEAB September 2020
Amy Paulson amy.paulson@yahoo.com (251) 654-7401
CITY CONTACTS:
Jimmy Conyers, City Council jimmy.conyers@fairhopeal.gov
Kim Burmeister, Planning and Zoning Department kim .burmeister@ fairhopeal.gov
Christina LeJeune, Planning and Zoning Department christina.lejeune@ fairhopeal.gov
Jessica Walker, Community Development, Jessica.walker@fairhopeal.gov