HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-13-2025 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Meeting Minutes
MEETING MINUTES ~ ANNUAL MAYOR & CITY WORKSHOP
JUNE 13 2025 / 2-4 PM, FAIRHOPE PUBLIC LIBRARY ~ COMMUNITY ROOM
ATTENDEES
COF Officials: Michelle Melton, Mayor Sullivan, Nicole Love, Christine LeJeune, George Ladd, Erik
Cortinas, Hunter Simmons
FEAB Board Members: Amy Paulson, Ben Frater, Jim Horner, Gary Gover, Nigel Temple, Jennifer Foutch, Anna
Miller, Steven Scyphers
FEAB Members Absent: Carl Couret
Official Quorum Count: 8/9
FEAB Active Participants: Sarah Bogdanovich, Jean Normand, Jaime Crawford, Nancy Harrison, Cassidy Redding
Honored Guests:
Minutes Author: Nigel Temple
Commencement: Amy called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
DETAILED MINUTES
1. Housekeeping
a. Approved April Meeting Minutes
b. Approved Carl Couret retroactive appointment to FEAB
2. Process updates
a. Review our mission and intent - see back of notes
i. Align with and implement various environmental management plans (watershed plan,
comp plan, etc).
ii. Available expertise is advisory, not necessarily free labor
b. New approach: Comp Plan alignment
i. We do not attend City Council meetings, but depend on our relationships to be engaged as
needed and vice versa..
3. Progress on Major Initiatives - Greenspace Assessment Project (Ben and Steven - Presentation)
a. Why assess greenspace?
i. Direction of Mayor
ii. Citizens frequently desire more of it
iii. Need is referenced in various city planning documents (LUP, WMP, etc)
b. What is greenspace?
i. No universal definition of greenspace; complicating factor
ii. Chat GPT Definition: Greenspace enhances urban environments by improving air quality,
providing habitat for wildlife, offering recreational opportunities, and contributing to the
overall quality of life for residents. Greenspace can also help mitigate urban heat and
manage stormwater runoff.
iii. City has similar definition in ordinances/zoning, generally defines open space divided by
type with helpful diagrams.
iv. FOR THIS ASSESSMENT, City’s definition was used to identify parcels for GIS tool,
including the following details:
1. Within COF limits
2. Accessible to the public
3. Not developed or developed with the intent to attract outdoor human use
4. Primarily covered in vegetation or water
5. Any acreage (no min size requirement)
c. Method: Partnered with USA (public access specialists) to do GIS exercise of parcels in Baldwin
County parcel viewer GIS database.
d. Results:
i. Various parcels of differing sizes and locations are available. More active recreation
identified than natural area.
ii. Mostly western Fairhope - public greenspace/open space is under-represented/largely
unavailable east of 98.
iii. Does not include Fairhope Single Tax or other private-owned/public-accessible parcels
(i.e., COF-owned property, only)
e. Discussion:
i. Mayor would prefer a map documenting results.
ii. Mayor interested in an assessment of potential greenspace.
iii. Mayor interested in creating greenway to Flying Creek Nature Preserve
iv. Mayor listed several other potential greenspace and/or park projects in the works.
v. Comments on Tool
1. Create “potential/target sites” map with details in appendix (Mayor)
2. To avoid semantics and different perception/definition of “Greenspace” avoid
use of word “Greenspace” and start identification one tier down at “type.” Then
expand property types (maybe color-coding) to identify balance of available
opportunities. (Note, City cannot publicize anything besides City property).
3. Hunter wants city lines on map.
4. Hunter suggests adding links of examples/exemplar greenspaces.
f. NEXT STEPS / ACTION ITEMS:
i. Mayor requests that FEAB present at City Council Meeting
ii. Hunter appreciates work done and would like to organize meeting between working
group (FEAB and USA) and COF-Planning Office
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3:09 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: 3-4, Upstairs 7/11/25
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
Jeanine Normand DrJNormand@aol.com (251) 278-4866
Cassidy Redding credding@southalabamalandtrust.org TBD
Nancy Harrison twicethroughdunloe@gmail.com (251) 923-9453
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