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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 Noticed the material for recycling is outdated and not informative and tried working with the program to change the curriculum but wasn’t getting a lot of traction.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