HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-2026 Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Meeting MinutesMEETING MINUTES ~ Standard Monthly Meeting
July 10, 2026 / 3-4 PM, Fairhope Public Library ~ Upstairs Board Room
ATTENDEES
COF Officials:Nicole Love, Michelle Melton
FEAB Board Members:Amy Paulson, Anna Keene, Sarah Bogdanovich, Jennifer Foutch, Nigel Temple
FEAB Members Absent:3
Official Quorum Count:5
FEAB Active Participants:Nancy Harrison, Resident; Gary Gover, Resident; Sarah Chandler, Resident
Honored GuestsNone
Minutes Author:Nicole Love
Commencement:Amy called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
SUMMARY OF SALIENT DECISIONS, DISCUSSION, AND ACTIONS
NA
DETAILED MINUTES
Housekeeping
RESOLUTION: May meeting minutes were approved.
Several members filled out the ethics form. Nicole will scan them and send to Lisa Hanks. Carl Couret still needs to complete.
Jim Horner has stepped down from the Board. Sarah Chandler would be the next in-line to take the vacated position. Amy has offered the position to Sarah. Next steps to be taken at the
next meeting in September.
Monarch/Bee City Discussion
None
Priority Initiatives and Subcommittee Reports
Greenspace & Native Habitat – Michelle updated
Stephen and grad student met with Planning Department again, not sure what came out of that discussion.
Update from Justin / Natural Parks:
None
SWAMP – Sarah B.
Next work day – July 10that Hope community
Next meeting/work day – August 14th
Website created for “What Now” guide – sarahbogdanovich.com
Can we share this through City sources? Nicole will check.
Sarah became a Master Environmental Educator (MEE) to be able to help with educating about recycling and composting.
Noticed the material for recycling is outdated and not informative and tried working with the program to change the curriculum but wasn’t getting a lot of traction.
Site plan for the hub has been developed
New logo coming up.
Working on having a classroom set up at Hope Community
International Compost conference
New Items
Auburn Extension collaboration
Amy has been working with Carmen Flammini (Auburn Extension Agent) on ways the FEAB can collaborate with her on efforts to promote pollinator species in Baldwin County.
Interested in building on the Bird Sanctuary designation in the area – more details to come.
Carmen has a massive effort to cultivate native milkweed; including 14 endemic species. 10 species that are easy to grow but need to be paired with another species.
Nicole mentioned that there will be a plot at FCNP that Carmen will be collecting seeds from.
Working to schedule a tour of the Extension grounds – August 7th - 2pm
Airport Environmental Assessment
FEAB was sent the EA to provide comments.
Gary has sent two items to review: proposal for a study on the impact of fireworks
Do a business case study on transitioning from fireworks
Gary, Sarah and Sarah will work on this.
See about adding “drone fireworks” to a smaller celebration (Earth Day, EagleBash, Bird Weekend, etc.)
Wrap up
Involvement & Education Opportunities:
SWAMP work day – July 10th at Hope community
Mobile Baykeeper Community Meeting – July 16th
Tour of Auburn Extension - August 7th - 2pm
SWAMP work day – August 14th
Joint EAC meeting with Baldwin County and Daphne Environmental Committees – September 23, 2026, 4:00-5:30pm – Fairhope Satellite Courthouse, more info. to come.
ADJOURNMENT:The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 pm
NEXT MEETING: September 11, 2026: 3-4, Fairhope Public Library Upstairs BoardroomSubcommittees will meet August 14th
FEAB CONTACT INFORMATION:
Chairperson:
Amy Paulsonamy.paulson@yahoo.com(251) 654-7401
Board Members:
Sarah Bogdanovichsmbogdanovich@gmail.com(727) 421-7321
Carl Couretccouretjr@yahoo.com(251) 518-6376
Jennifer FoutchFoutch.jennifer@gmail.com(618) 318-0354
Ben Frater ben.frater@gmail.com(404) 314-8815
VACANT
Anna Keeneanna@keenliving.pro(251) 279-0395
Steven Scypherssscyphers@southalabama.edu(334) 701-8864
Nigel Temple757nigel@gmail.com(757) 803-3589
Active Participants
Sarah Chandlersarahchandler504@gmail.com(504) 239-6651
Lance Slaterlanceslater@gmail.com(251) 599-5259
Jamie Crawford7jamiecrawford7@gmail.comTBD
Cynthia Rushcrush300@gmail.com(251) 223-3880
Jean NormandDrJNormand@aol.com(251) 278-4866
Nancy Harrisontwicethroughdunloe@gmail.com(251) 923-9453
Gustavo Douaihigdouaihi@gmail.com(225) 772-0258
Gary Gover govers@bellsouth.net(251) 990-8662
CITY CONTACTS:
Nicole Love, COF Grants Coordinatornicole.love@fairhopeal.gov
Justin Hammers, COF Urban Forresterjustin.hammers@fairhopeal.gov
Christina LeJeune, COF Planning and Zoning Department christina.lejeune@fairhopeal.gov
Michelle Melton, COF Planning and Zoning Departmentmichelle.melton@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 FEAB NOTES and 2024 FEAB LUP 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