HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-2024 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting MinutesMEETING MINUTES ~ANNUAL CITY STRATEGY SESSION
AUGUST 9,2024 /3 -4 PM,LIBRARY ~GIDDENS CONFERENCE CENTER
ATTENDEES
COF Officials:Christina LeJeune
FEAB Board Members:Amy Paulson,Ben Frater,Gary Gover,Jim Horner,Carl Couret,Nigel Temple,Steven
Scyphers,Jennifer Foutch
FEAB Members Absent:Anna Miller
Official Quorum Count:8/9
FEAB Active Participants:Sarah Bogdanovich,Sarah Chandler,Jeanine Normand
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
●COF Comprehensive Land Use Plan (LUP):FEAB excited to help implement the LUP and maintain it as a
“living document ”-especially to assist Mayor with responsibility for annual review.FEAB will identify,
track,and communicate Plan elements that could be used to advance environmental priorities and/or
leveraged in future grant opportunities.
●FEAB Greenspace Working Group:has defined land use/property type categories for greenspace
identification and has started to identify/organize City parcels accordingly in GIS.Team suggests this work
could be tied to LUP in the future.
●COF Greenspace Management:Justin engaged FEAB to consult on proposal for enhancement projects at
the Winn Dixie Pond.
●Water Conservation:FEAB requests meaningful participation in water conservation study led by KREBS.
Need COF to make introduction with KREB project manager/lead.
DETAILED MINUTES
1.Priority Issues and Subcommittee Reports
a.COF LUP (Ben)
i.Overall thoughts:Limited in scope.Document understood to be final for now.
ii.Plan expected to be reviewed annually by Mayor.
iii.FEAB interested in assisting with annual review;could highlight opportunities to advance
COF environmental priorities.
iv.Action:Ben to get more information about annual review on upcoming webinar.
b.Green Space Assessment (Ben)
i.Subcommittee met late July
ii.Defining Green Space
1.Added levels for greenspace types
2.Defined categories (i.e.,neighborhoods,golf courses,etc.)
3.Action:Subcommittee to organize parcel by level/categories in GIS exercise
c.Green Space Management
i.Winn Dixie Pond proposal (Carl)
1.FEAB appreciates the level of specificity in the proposal.
2.Carl to lead compilation of FEAB feedback on proposal,focused on:regulatory
compliance with stormwater management function and potential for
engineering /hydrologic study,partnership with DPW,native species
introductions,and identification of appropriate recreation
opportunities/liability issues.
3.Action:Carl and Ben to meet with Justin to discuss further.
ii.Colony Park (Amy report notes from Justin):mowing has resumed due to complaints
from disk golfers.Justin to identify specific areas to restore.Working to increase
messaging,including in progress restoration areas as identified and installation of a
trailhead kiosk.
d.SWaMP (Sarah)
i.SWaMP subcommittee is still working with Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation
(FEEF)
1.Establishing a compost hub at their site
2.Assisting with FEEF grant requests to support establishment of compost
systems at Fairhope High School and Fairhope East Elementary.
ii.SWaMP has also been asked to submit a proposal to COF for a compost demonstration
area adjacent to the Summit Street Community Garden that will allow for workshops
and other educational opportunities.
e.Energy Policy -No new updates (Anna)
i.Outstanding Action:Anna to engage Eric to support code review meeting.
ii.Outstanding Action:Anna to engage Lance re:relevant Mobile building codes.
f.Water conservation
i.Volunteer monitoring program starting again (Nicole)
ii.Outstanding Action:Nigel to get to get DIY sondes paired with established water
sampling locations.Will reach out to Nicole when ready
iii.Nigel tried several times unsuccessfully to contact Krebs POC for water conservation
study.Need CoF to initiate communication between Nigel (FEAB)and Krebs POC
g.Spring Run HOA Pond Management &Algal Mats -(Amy)was contacted by Phase 2 HOA for
recommendations.This issue is out of City ’s jurisdiction (i.e.,Eric)to enforce a response.Other
biological and other controls may include:
i.Introduce beneficial bacteria and algae-eating fish (add fish later -once system is not
toxic)
ii.Fountain /aeration
iii.Manually remove algal mats with a rake or skimmer
iv.Chemical pesticides /algaecides (applied only by EPA-certified/licensed professional)
v.Plant native plants around pond to filter excess fertilizers and catch soil erosion
vi.Limit use of fertilizers in neighborhood.
ADJOURNMENT:The meeting was adjourned at 4 p.m.
NEXT MEETING:Friday,September 13 @ 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 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
Lance Slater lanceslater@gmail.com
Sarah Bogdanovich smbogdanovitch@gmail.com (727)421-7321
Sarah Chandler sarahchandler504@gmail.com (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,COF City Council corey.martin@fairhopeal.gov
Nicole Love,COF Grants Coordinator nicole.love@fairhopeal.gov
Christina LeJeune,COF Planning and Zoning Department christina.lejeune@fairhopeal.gov
Justin Hammers,COF Urban Forrester justin.hammers@fairhopeal.gov