Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-2024 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting MinutesMEETING MINUTES -ANNUAL CITY STRATEGY SESSION JULY 12, 2024 / 3 -4 PM, LIBRARY ~ GIDDENS CONFERENCE CENTER ATTENDEES COF Officials: Justin Hammers FEAB Board Members : Amy Paulson, Ben Frater, Gary Gover, Jim Horner, Anna Miller, Carl Couret, Nigel Temple FEAB Members Absent: Jennifer Foutch, Steven Scyphers Official Quorum Count: 7 /9 FEAB Active Participants : Sarah Bogdanovich, Lance Slater, Cynthia Rush Honored Guests N/A Minutes Author : Nigel Temple Commencement: Amy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. SUMMARY OF SALIENT DECISIONS, DISCUSSION, AND ACTIONS • Subcommittee: Sustainable Waste Management Practices (SWaMP) when new recycling bins are issued in support of MERF, SWaMP requests COF consider collecting old recycle bins for SWaMP to be repurposed for compost projects (Contact: Sarah Bogdanovich). SWaMP is partnering with Fairhope HS for a composting demonstration project in August and seeks to establish a compost demonstration project in partnership with COF (Jaime Rollins) at Summit Street lot. • Subcommittee: Greenspace Working Group is in process of defining program elements; intends to adapt/evolve existing greenspace definitions from COF ordinances where possible . • Funding: FEAB is working with COF Grants Coordinator to identify additional funding sources for various environmental projects (e .g., composting , invasive species management, meadow establishment, wetlands restoration). • Water Conservation : FEAB member can provide water quality sampling monitor equipment at massive cost reduction over those commercially available (Contact : Nigel Temple). DETAILED MINUTES 1. Priority Issues and Subcommittee Reports a. Green Space Assessment : (Ben) i. Subcommittee supported by Mayor Sullivan ii. Defining Green Space 1. Add levels for greenspace types (1 -3) 2. Define categories (i .e., neighborhoods, golf courses, etc .) 3. Justin reiterates that the city currently has a ton of unmanaged land 4. Action : Subcommittee to meet at 3pm on 26 July to work through definitions ; will report outcome at next FEAB. b. Green Space Management: (Justin) i. Colony Park : Mayor Sullivan wants two plans for each side of Cowpen Creek -eastern side/floodplain to be mowed flat/ western side to be left more natural with trails ii. Knoll Park : clean up getting started soon iii. Grants available for invasive species and meadow implementation research through Auburn (see Lance) iv. Additional help available from Boy Scouts/ Eagle Scout and other projects c . SWaMP i. Fairhope HS workday for composting in early August ii. Jamie Rollins (COF horticulturist) engaged to consider a Summit Street Compost demo project iii. FEEF (outside group) partnership to do a project iv. Recycle bin swap idea -city can collect issued blue recycle bins when new rolling bins are issued ; old blue bins useful for worm projects v. US Ag grant for up to $75k (see Lance) vi. ~SWaMP will meet again July XX d . Energy Policy -No new updates . i. Outstandioe Actjon: Anna to engage Eric to support code review meeting . ii. Outstandioe Actjon: Anna to engage Lance re : relevant Mobile building codes . e. Water conservation -Volunteer monitoring program starting again (Nicole) i. Action: Nigel to get to get DIV sondes paired with established water sampling locations ii. Outstanding Action: Nigel to reach out to Krebs POC for status on feasibility study for opportunities to incorporate conservation into city projects (like purple water use at new subdivisions) or other community pilot projects . 3. Other Items 1. Green Drinks ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4 p.m . NEXT MEETING: Friday, August 9@ 3 p.m .@ Fairhope Public Library FEAB CONTACT INFOR MAT IO N : Chairperson: Amy Paulson amy.paulson@yahoo.com (251) 654-7401 Board Members: Carl Couret ccouretjr@yahoo .com TBD Jennifer Foutch Eoutcb jeooifec@fi:mail,com (618) 318-0354 Ben Frater beo fratec@email com (404) 314-8815 Gary Gover govers@bellsouth .net (251) 990-8662 Jim Horner none (251) 928-9722 Anna Miller anna@keenliving.prn (251) 279-0395 Steven Scyphers sscvgbecs@soutbalabama edu (334) 701-8864 Nigel Temple zszoi&el@gmail com (757) 803-3589 Active Participants Sarah Bogdanovich smbogi;!anovitch@gmail.com (727) 421-7321 Sarah Chandler sacabcbaodlecSQ~@fi:mail,cgm (504) 239-6651 Jamie Crawford 7jamiecrawford7@gmail.com TBD Cynthia Rush crush300@gmail .com (251) 223-3880 Carole Tebay cftebay@gmail.com (850) 466-6592 CITY CONTACTS: Corey Martin, City Council Nicole Love, COF Grants Coordinator corey.martin@fairhopeal.gov nicole.love@fairhopeal.gov Christina LeJeune, Planning and Zoning Department christina .lejeune@fairhopeal.gov Justin Hammers, COF Urban Forrester justio,hammers@faichopeal.gov