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Home My WebLink About03-08-2024 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting MinutesMEETING MINUTES ~ANNUAL CITY STRATEGY SESSION MARCH 8,2024 /3 -4 PM,LIBRARY ~GIDDENS CONFERENCE CENTER ATTENDEES City Officials:Hunter Simmons,Cristina LeJeune,Mayor Sullivan,Corey Martin,Justin Hammers, Darrel Morefield,Eric Cortinas FEAB Board Members:Amy Paulson,Ben Frater,Gary Gover,Jennifer Fouch,Jim Horner,Anna Miller,Carl Couret,Steven Scyphers FEAB Active Participants:Sarah Bogdanovich,Cynthia Rush Honored Guests:Erin Fouch Minutes Author:Nigel Temple Commencement:Amy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. FEAB Minutes:December minutes approved.Jim (first),Gary (2nd),unanimous agreement SUMMARY OF SALIENT DECISIONS,DISCUSSION,AND ACTIONS ●FEAB communications from and to City will filter through Amy as POC so as not to overwhelm anyone. ●FEAB is available quarterly for special topic focus meetings with City to progress priority items.City to initiate request through Amy. ●Energy Policy.Anna to connect with Eric/code inspectors association meetings as requested. ●City Policy /Ordinance.Hunter to forward documents if requesting FEAB assistance on wetlands,LID,and gully protection,or other ordinances. ●City Coordinations.Group agreed on the benefit of enhanced communication and alignment on various environmental issues. DETAILED MINUTES FEAB Process Changes ●Engagement Process.City to contact Amy with requests to engage FEAB.2-wk deadline lead is requested, but FEAB can be flexible and responsive if needed on short notice.All requests from FEAB will come through Amy.Nicole is COF FEAB POC. ●2024 Meeting Times and FEAB Accessibility.FEAB will conduct monthly core meeting every second Friday afternoon.We also available for quarterly special meetings for City or as needed for subcommittees or special topics. ●FEAB Vision.FEAB is a volunteer advisory body to COF,structured to augment/diversify City environmental skillset -not supplement labor capacity Available Advisory Support: ●General:deliverable review,advice on env policies,review of contract scope/consultant qualifications ●City Council:working session attendance to support ongoing/highlight new env issues ●COF Mayor ’s Office &Departments:communicating env messages to community ●COF Grants Coordinator (Nicole):grant support letters,funding opportunities/strategy ●Urban Forester (Justin):Flying Creek Preserve and Nature Center,Colony “Nature”Park,gullies,butterfly gardens,pursuing other acquisitions/easements Actionable Priorities and Member-driven Initiatives: ●Colony Park:Fair Tax prepared and implemented a Management Plan for park restoration that was not transferred or implemented by City.2022 FEAB recommended review/revising that Plan to assess habitat health and to balance land uses/compatible recreation options and greenspace priorities.Frisbee golf recreation is generally compatible with natural ecosystem,but the current mowing management regime is exacerbating weed proliferation and severely degrading ecosystem health. ACTION:FEAB to provide previous Plan to Justin and help assess next steps as needed. ●Energy Policy/Code Enforcement (Anna).Eric discussed state building codes (especially City needs re: permit review).Anna mentions several challenges associated with tradesmen who are interested in new techniques but don’t know how;offers educational support.Eric is in full support. ACTION:Anna to provide lunch and learn opportunities for code inspectors association or other engagement opportunities determined in strategy session with Eric. ●MURF (Jennifer).MURF launch will include recycling education and marketing.Mayor stated COF will do a large-scale branding campaign and will engage FEAB to assist with messaging. ●Composting (Sarah B).Sarah is currently working with outdoor classrooms for onsite composting operations.Suggests City could save money by encouraging citizens to set up their own onsite composting. Need to figure out how to encourage it/scale across multiple levels (homeowner,business/restaurants, city,etc.).Mayor supports and suggests wrapping composting initiative within recycling branding campaign.Sarah describes practical considerations (small scale is preferable -logistics of community operation are beyond her vision at this time) City 2024 Priorities ●City generally agrees with FEAB advisory role and supports member focus described above. ●Policy Support (Hunter). ○Protections for gullies,stormbanks.COF had a consultant provide a draft policy,which they will need reviewed for policy and before going to council,etc.Hunter clarified that this request is limited to drafting policy to prevent unsafe development,not for greenspace acquisition. ACTION:Hunter to forward draft policy to Amy to distribute for FEAB review. ○LID techniques (coord with Rebecca Bryant). ACTION:[none determined] ○Wetlands policy/ordinances.Request FEAB input and potential revisions,especially in light of new WOTUS definition. ACTION:Hunter to forward draft policy to Amy to distribute for FEAB review. ●Water conservation education (Mayor):rain barrel campaign,irrigation.Amy brings up feasibility study for water reuse as part of broader WWTP evaluation -City clarifies that task is still in process. ●FEAB participation in planning commission meetings (Hunter).PC meetings occur 1st Monday of each month and FEAB input on stormwater,greenspace,wetlands issues,etc.would be valuable. ACTION:FEAB will discuss process and commitment to read/review the agenda and send a representative as relevant topics arises. ●Winn Dixie Pond (Amy).Amy recommends that additional coordination between public works and environmental personnel could go a long way to align City priorities across departments and support environmental goals.Everyone is in broad agreement. ACTION:[none determined] The meeting was adjourned at 4 p.m. Next meeting:Friday,April 19 @ 3 p.m.@ Fairhope Public Library FEAB CONTACT INFORMATION: Chairperson: Amy Paulson amy.paulson@yahoo.com (251)654-7401 Board Members: Carl Couret ccouretjr@yahoo.com TBD Jennifer Foutch Foutch.jennifer@gmail.com (618)318-0354 Ben Frater ben.frater@gmail.com (404)314-8815 Gary Gover govers@bellsouth.net (251)990-8662 Jim Horner none (251)928-9722 Anna Keene Miller anna@keenliving.pro (251)279-0395 Steven Scyphers sscyphers@southalabama.edu (334)701-8864 Nigel Temple 757nigel@gmail.com (757)803-3589 Active Participants Sarah Bogdanovitch smbogdanovitch@gmail.com (727)421-7321 Sarah Chandler sarahchandler504@gmail.com (504)239-6651 Cynthia Rush crush300@gmail.com (251)223-3880 Carole Tebay cftebay@gmail.com (850)466-6592 CITY CONTACTS: Corey Martin,City Council corey.martin@fairhopeal.gov Nicole Love,COF Grants Coordinator nicole.love@fairhopeal.gov Christina LeJeune,Planning and Zoning Department christina.lejeune@fairhopeal.gov Justin Hammers,COF Forrester justin.hammers@fairhopeal.gov