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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-11-2025 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting Minutes MEETING MINUTES ~ MONTHLY MEETING APRIL 11, 2025 / 3-4 PM, FAIRHOPE PUBLIC LIBRARY ~ UPSTAIRS BOARD ROOM ATTENDEES COF Officials: Christina LeJeune, Justin Hammers FEAB Board Members: Amy Paulson, Ben Frater, Jim Horner, Gary Gover, Nigel Temple, Jennifer Foutch FEAB Members Absent: Carl Couret, Anna Miller, Steven Scyphers Official Quorum Count: 6/9 FEAB Active Participants: Sarah Bogdanovich Honored Guests Cassidy Redding - SALT, Nancy Harrison Minutes Author: Nigel Temple Commencement: Amy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. SUMMARY OF SALIENT DECISIONS, DISCUSSION, AND ACTIONS ● Great! TOTALLY BEST MEETING EVER! DETAILED MINUTES 1. Housekeeping a. Approved March Meeting Minutes b. Meeting with the Mayor - May 9th meeting - 2pm (2-hr) 2. Priority Issues & Subcommittee Reports a. Greenspace & Native Habitat i. Colony Park - disc golfers working with Justin to plant natives ii. Flying Creek Nature Preserve - opening planned for August/September iii. Working Group: 1. Reviewed model and associated parameters 2. Surprising results; useful for conversations 3. They are preparing a PowerPoint of findings for presentation/conversation to Mayor - Ben et al. to send draft at least a week in advance of Mayor presentation iv. SWAMP Committee 1. Met with AL Wildlife Foundation re: outdoor classroom; Sarah to consult on their composting program 2. Engineering Students at FHS are nearing the completion of their composting educational program 3. Waste Free Schools program idea pitched to Fairhope schools; positively received 4. Justin mentioned chemical-free (charring) for composting tray frames 5. She met with Sanitation department rep for tour to gauge their needs; they identified need with education assistance 6. Compost hub at community garden on pause at the moment 7. Hope community interested in compositing hub; provided grant to build trays/worm farming 8. South Alabama project: compost and garden beds for all abilities 9. Earth day event will raffle off a compositing bin; needs help/volunteers 3. Wrap Up a. Involvement & Education Opportunities b. Future Agenda Items i. May: annual FEAB meeting with CoF Mayor, Council, and Departments ii. June: Daphne EAB Chairperson - Kathy Barnett iii. Future: Rhydonna Mosely, FEEF - Pelican’s Nest iv. Futurel: Greener By the Yard, Guest(s): Johanna X, SALT; Troy X, Extreme Turf ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3 p.m. NEXT MEETING: 2-4, Conf room - Annual Mayor Meeting 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 smbogdanovich@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 Jean Normand DrJNormand@aol.com TBD 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 MEETING REFERENCES FEAB Vision: to serve as a trusted, scientific resource providing a local environmental perspective to policy decisions to ensure environmental matters are given full consideration in the City’s decision-making processes. We strive to positively affect the quality of life for all residents, their connection to our local ecosystems, and the resilience and sustainment of Fairhope as a small, yet world-class, city. FEAB Role: the FEAB is dedicated to increasing awareness of environmental issues, offering recommendations to City administrators, and providing state-of-the-science consultation in the implementation of sustainable solutions. MEETING READ-AHEADS Land Use Plan - Environmental Issues See NOTES and SUPPORT LETTER TO CITY The following list identifies specific sections of the LUP that are relevant to the FEAB’s mission, speak to member professional expertise, or have been identified as Board priorities. We offer our utility to the City as you identify opportunities and track progress across the LUP and particularly for the following Tasks: Ongoing ❖ Task C-2: Preserve natural areas and wetlands for recreational use ❖ Task C-3: Enforce green space requirements within new developments ❖ Task C-6: Encourage pest control and landscaping companies to implement best practices when applying pesticide and fertilizer ❖ Task C-7: Promote living shorelines ❖ Task C-8: Preserve and maintain gullies for recreational areas ❖ Task C-11: Implement Low Impact Development through the use of green infrastructure ❖ Task C-12: Construct Low Impact Development pilot projects in public right-of way and green space ❖ Task G-1: Design more parks for passive recreation Year 1: ❖ Task C-9: Develop and/or update City codes to protect the environment ❖ Task C-10: Identify development incentives for environmentally friendly project components Year 2-3 ❖ Task C-4: Develop and implement green space maintenance plans for areas that are not covered by existing maintenance agreements ❖ Task E-20: Develop a citywide Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Masterplan Year 3-5 ❖ Task G-2: Develop new parks in the eastern and southern portions of Fairhope