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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-10-2012 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board. • FEAB MEETING MINUTES October 10, 2012 9:00am FEAB Member Attendees: Jim Homer, Gary Gover, Jeanine Normand, Elaine Snyder-Conn, Ron Heveran City Representatives: Kim Burmeister City Council Members: None Honored Guests: Tom Hearder (NEP) Jim Homer called the meeting to order at 9:00am. Jim asked for Minute approval of the August 2012 minutes. These minutes were unanimously approved. Jim asked that the Minutes from the September 2012 meeting be held over one more month for approval , to allow time for Nancy to send out and finalize Dan McCrory' s comments regarding sewer plant upgrades and renovations . Recycle Board -Jennifer Fidler is in fa vor of reestablishing the Recycle Board. Ron Heveran has agreed to chair this committee. New Coastal Alabama Stormwater Team led by Roberta Swann of NEP and Casi Callaway of Mobile Baykeeper has hired a marketing firm . The firm will will present their marketing plan for stormwater management on October 19 th at the Baykeepers office on Government Street. Baldwin County Long Range Plans for Regional Detention: Baldwin County is making long range plans for regional detention lakes. Jim is working to include Fly Creek in this effort (i.e . City of Fairhope pump station area in the Woodlands subdivision would be a good location). Elaine mentioned that these pumps should have the capability to pump water (for drought conditions). Fecal Pollution: Rapid assessment update : Gary has completed the field work for the rapid assessment. He had a chance to view run off of the park area ( and areas that contribute to stormwater in the park) by the recent rain event on September 29 th (Saturday) and 30th (Sunday) Gary said there was a 450 gallon sewer overflow at 768 Johnson prior to the rain event. ADEM issued a swim alert on the following Wednesday. Gary did not think the SSO was relative to the beach closure ; this was likely due to polluted stormwater which comes as sheet flow across various areas within the Stack and Big Mouth Gully watersheds. Gary suggested the City develop a system to close swimming areas immediately after rain events , instead of waiting for water quality results from ADEM . He noted that there is almost always a swim alert after major rain events and most of the time, a SSO has not been reported. Elaine noted that SSO 's are usually reported by citizens. Gary has pictures of the sheet flow and run off of the parks, during this recent rain event. He was also able to see gully stormwater capacities during this event. Gary suggested stormwater infrastructure/drainage needs to be reviewed by an engineering firm , so that some corrective measures on handling stormwater (into our parks and swim areas) can be addressed. He did not think that SSO's are the key problem with contaminated run off. Jim reminded everyone that the funds for a engineering study (and Auburn follow up / further te sting) would have to be written into the City of Fairhope budget, which is currentl y on hold. Jim said that he has drawn up and submitted a letter to the Mayor and City Council (per Lonnie Mixon's request), and thi s will likely be considered when the budget is considered . Elaine suggested Gary put his rapid assessment findings on a Power Points presentation, for re view from the new City Council / council representative for FEAB. Elaine asked if anyone knew who the ne w council representati ve for FEAB would be. At this time , it has not been announced. Jim thanked the City of Fairhope, Mobile NEP and Jade Consulting for their efforts on the Vol anta Watershed Project, which is currently underway. Jim asked everyone to meet at Volanta Sports Complex : Field Trip to the most recent Volanta Watershed Project. FEAB met on site with Trey Jinright (Jade Consulting) and Jennifer Fidler, who walked through and explained the different detention areas. Some of these detention areas will continue to be used as parking. The detention pond system was designed to attenuate 85% of the stormwater coming off this site. These detention systems are far more than the average detention ponds. Field trip adjourned at 10:30 a.m .