[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6057429,"mediaKeyId","3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46","parentId",3306878,"title","Staff updates: city solar projects coming online, EV fleet expansion and vulnerability report outreach","audioSeconds",289,"startMs",5469000,"endMs",5758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46&start=5469&end=5758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46/thumbnail_5469000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057429/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Staff-updates-city-solar-projects-coming-online-EV-fleet-expansion-and-vulnerability-report-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057429-54117339bd4da869924409db94f8b127/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142899&Signature=Vqqgqw6~U~cnZq6lVDoGKj~0q0bKTO15zq4oFnv08f3F6CNfe-NTG5BobECoskzHvH1WtYBhHNgXJGEB1RYOJLHbfBXnh1Uwd4~WDQiXUHc3e-hoGOQ7AmT6pCMWA875DPMAkHH0pNzH~HkokgKHe6lUujiCVa6PGpFtvOo8frUTYjs8w3XkKqItDFkBZrtCnXwxneOaWXu~RR2usDfpCXXN8LrVO5l4T4b7DeKbr8tqV1nSqQzScvOrdsR89tlKMCbolKpQ0pyGDw7AdtHbaYK79ijmdNnhFnfxJadjHldkEUpCVtWOW~OZLxOxfD1dHAp6nviScJoLyQNdwD4mlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clearwater, FL","date","2025-05-15T09:48:13Z","article","City environmental staff reported May 14 that multiple municipal sustainability projects are advancing, including completed solar installations, electric vehicle acquisitions and the near-complete vulnerability assessment.

Cassie Cordova, the board liaison and city environmental staff, said the city has four solar projects under construction or operational: Morningside Recreation Center (now live and interconnected), General Services (installation complete, pending final inspections), the Solid Waste Transfer Station (built, awaiting interconnection) and the Clearwater Gas building (permit issued; construction beginning in May with an expected July online date). \"Morningside Rec is complete. It is interconnected, and it is live,\" Cordova said.

Cordova also updated the board on the city's first four electric vehicles purchased with an EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant) allocation of about $169,000. The city has received three of the four vehicles; the third arrived days before the meeting and will be assigned to an environmental inspector when tags are issued. The city received complimentary EV chargers with the vehicles and had those installed at the municipal garage.

On planning and outreach, Cordova said the city’s vulnerability assessment paperwork has been accepted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and staff will apply for grant reimbursement. The final technical report is dense, she said, so communications staff will prepare a summarized, public-facing package at myclearwater.com/vulnerability. She announced a solar celebration event at Morningside Recreation Center on June 10 at 9 a.m., inviting board members and the public to attend.

Cordova also briefed the board on the federal elective-pay (clean energy) rebates the city received: roughly $106,000 reimbursed for 2023 projects (Coachmen Park solar and EV chargers) and an estimated ~$26,000 expected for 2024 solar parking-meter installations. She said the city plans to apply for 2025 projects in next year’s cycle. The city intends to start a new greenhouse-gas inventory (targeting 2024 data) with an incoming intern who has prior experience conducting inventories.

Board members welcomed the progress and suggested the city highlight project accomplishments for public recognition and transparency.

Context and limits: Cordova’s report described project status and timelines; funding estimates were described as reimbursements and projections. No new formal policies or procurements were approved during the meeting.

Ending: Staff will return with public-facing vulnerability materials, continue interconnection work with Duke Energy, and host the solar celebration in June.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Clearwater –Environmental Advisory Board Special Meeting - 5/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","City staff told the Environmental Advisory Board that several municipal solar installations and four electric vehicles are moving into operation, a vulnerability assessment final reimbursement is pending, and the city plans public-facing materials and a June 10 solar celebration at Morningside Recreation Center.","taxTitle","Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",4656,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057435,"Students demonstrate 'Orca' beach-trash robot to Environmental Advisory Board",668,450000,1118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46&start=450&end=1118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46/thumbnail_450000.jpg","/articles/6057435/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Students-demonstrate-Orca-beach-trash-robot-to-Environmental-Advisory-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057435-c1dd90570cd1f22a54876b3ab90c7bcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142899&Signature=m0rv0yVDxDtS0rhBXFZF6hTpWEwF4yWzdhHsR5CguI7eFMO76OBqOuqP3WAOntoH-oq2mAccIl4hzKUmUEnJxQ6Gi~YuZ2XpgbL3Ym9Z8m5oO8zhjphdqp2qG9IZkYeFbrXSYzlPEcg6gQMsheP1C0-SnTocfgtN2AntGidmDEVCWxset9sAwoKRkjE-p~e-dDoODUxR5D7p9dBxs81IChISiZEvFO27nizGAHiqdqwbAtUHz9Wsnac3lCMtbbwGwgXr-sl6XgQ0H1gVu-jgFNiESdxciNE84sJuuAjmTB9wSIhujoKQLP5sGeZpKrXtoLCw3NQqIifdJWdyV3iYXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fifth-graders Aris Isaac and Caden (last name not specified) presented ORCA — short for Ocean Robot Collection Administration — to the Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board on May 14 as a prototype designed to collect beach litter and encourage public participation.

\"We selected this project because we like going to the beach, we like helping the environment, and we like animals,\" Aris said, explaining the students tested the prototype at a local beach to gauge public interest. Caden narrated a short demonstration describing how ORCA approaches beachgoers, prompts them to deposit litter and, according to the students, attracted curiosity and participation.

The students described engineering challenges and iterative solutions. They said they adjusted wheel placement, added weight and reinforcement to improve balance and stability, and used zip ties to secure suspension components. They also described limits to data collection at their scale and focused their testing metric on interest and participation: ORCA approached 32 people during testing and, among those who agreed to be videotaped, the presenters reported 100% participation in depositing trash.

The students described improvements they would pursue with additional funding: a mechanism to pick up litter while sifting sand, a guided-path navigation system rather than a remote-control chassis, and a more water- and wind-resistant body. They framed ORCA as a public-engagement tool rather than a complete clean-up solution.

Board members praised the students’ presentation and awarded certificates of appreciation and achievement. Chairman Jared Leone said the project was \"a great way to raise awareness about this problem.\" The board encouraged the students to continue development and community outreach.

Context and limits: The presentation was a student STEM demonstration; the students and board stressed the prototype nature of ORCA and that broader data on beach litter rates or long-term collection impacts were not collected at scale. The students’ testing emphasized participation rates and public response rather than an engineering-ready litter-collection system.

Ending: Board members asked the students to continue refining ORCA and invited them to remain engaged with local beach outreach and educational events.","Two fifth-grade students from Bridal Elementary presented a prototype beach-trash robot named ORCA and described testing at local beaches; the board praised the STEM outreach and gave certificates of appreciation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6057440,"Environmental board backs gathering data, moves to draft letter supporting local slow-speed (manatee) zone for Stephenson Creek",2000,1163000,3163000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46&start=1163&end=3163","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306878-86bc6231dfd1727af3133193d9afcb46/thumbnail_1163000.jpg","/articles/6057440/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Environmental-board-backs-gathering-data-moves-to-draft-letter-supporting-local-slow-speed-manatee-zone-for-Stephenson-Creek","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057440-beb6f3e11937d81ea429c12e1afde886/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142899&Signature=O3adajzJLT8IAcFTxJVUkTxmod8LGCUX5nlr9IugaBog1qddKmedG~wpjvYwf4WNj9w8eUf5FW3R2WTIENVUWpeuXo7brnkt19lysn2ybBciBn6kEFTJum--R4~yYMlNCn78sh3QWDHRpSZFTQr9yAJrVsQ6VG7Ku79CDUNERUHD-9P1rzd4cXlma91i10CfEr5zNyO-slCrT0M~pbRTrlJbQNGwe5vWHKCGy06kS9IlfMizS7qhJHhXStXmliHK7O8SUqLMNmCp~f0WiRbUm2a2Cpk6zN8moF4M6SO2LSOgZ1-MRgIHxiYzdUx~JqTbrqwYsu01rSZ7v1lgWGOo2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clearwater Environmental Advisory Board voted May 14 to ask staff to draft a letter of support for pursuing a local-government manatee slow-speed zone in Stephenson Creek following a feasibility presentation and sustained public comment.

The board’s action followed a presentation by Stacy Roberts of First Line Coastal, who reviewed a study comparing three approaches: a boating-restricted area, a state-level manatee protection zone, and a local-government manatee slow-speed zone enforceable by city ordinance. \"For a local government manatee slow-speed zone, the criteria are the same as a state zone, but the process can be implemented by the city and requires approval by FWC,\" Roberts said.

The feasibility study recommended the local-government slow-speed option as the most viable path for Clearwater, while flagging key data gaps: limited vessel-traffic records inside the creek, insufficient seagrass/submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) surveys within the creek boundaries, and sparse aerial manatee-survey coverage in the small, tidally influenced segment. Roberts recommended targeted, lower-cost alternatives including bathymetric surveys, seagrass surveys and structured citizen-science programs in lieu of heavy aerial or county-scale vessel-traffic studies. She estimated a data-collection and review process of roughly two years.

Why it matters: Stephenson Creek is a 3.2-mile watershed with about 1–1.5 miles of tidally influenced navigable water that opens into Clearwater Harbor. The creek was dredged in 2014 in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ecosystem restoration project; the presentation said the dredge removed roughly 90,000 cubic yards of muck and about 10,000 cubic yards of sediment. The creek remains listed as impaired largely for bacteria indicators even though other water-quality metrics have improved since 2007. The presence of manatees and recent mortality records in the region were cited as reasons to consider additional protections.

Board and public discussion focused on three lines of concern: (1) what data FWC and other agencies require to approve a zone, (2) the practicality and cost of data collection, and (3) the pace of nearby development that could change conditions before a multi-year rulemaking finishes. Roberts warned that adding Stephenson Creek to a state FWC rule could open the county-wide rule to review and prolong the process, which is why the local ordinance path was preferred.

Members of the citizen-led Stephenson Creek Advisory Group and residents pressed the board to move forward. Ami Trukenberg of the Stephenson Creek Advisory Group said the group has been documenting manatee sightings and boat activity and is coordinating with Save the Manatee Club. \"Manatees now are present year round,\" Trukenberg said, adding the group will deploy signage and camera counts and collect sightings data.

Sherry Day, also with the advisory group, described concerns about an ongoing permit process for new private docks near the creek mouth and said permit applicants made a payment to a conservation nonprofit as part of the permitting review. \"If it was a manatee-protected area, the docks would have been forbidden by FDEP rules,\" Day said, urging stronger local protections.

Riparian resident Michael Foley, who addressed the board during public comment, urged the board to press for designation as a manatee zone, saying the creek is an estuary that has benefited from restoration work and should not be opened to development that would reverse gains.

Formal action: Chairman Jared Leone moved and Board member Kelly Daven seconded a motion that the board draft a letter of support for pursuing a local-government manatee slow-speed zone and for initiating the targeted data collection recommended in the feasibility study. The motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded roll-call. The board directed staff to coordinate with FWC and relevant partners, to encourage structured citizen-science protocols acceptable to FWC, and to request that city staff bring a draft letter of support for the board’s review.

What comes next: Roberts and members of the advisory group urged councils and staff to start the data-collection conversation with FWC and to consider lower-cost citizen-science and targeted surveys (bathymetry and seagrass reconnaissance) as immediate first steps. The board discussed drafting a community letter and asked staff to return with a draft.

Context and limits: The board’s vote was to draft a letter of support; it did not adopt an ordinance or change regulations. Roberts cautioned that state-level rulemaking historically takes years (she cited past examples that took about four years) and that expanding a state rule could invite broader county-wide review. The presentation also noted that some seagrass and manatee surveys available at the county or regional level did not explicitly include Stephenson Creek, leaving uncertainty about habitat use in creek limits.

Ending: Board members and advisory-group speakers emphasized continued local monitoring, interagency coordination (including FWC, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Pinellas County), and the use of citizen science to fill data gaps while formal processes proceed.","After a feasibility presentation, the Environmental Advisory Board voted to draft a letter supporting pursuit of a locally enacted manatee slow-speed zone for Stephenson Creek, urging targeted data collection (including citizen science) and interagency coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other partners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff updates: city solar projects coming online, EV fleet expansion and vulnerability report outreach

Students demonstrate 'Orca' beach-trash robot to Environmental Advisory Board

Environmental board backs gathering data, moves to draft letter supporting local slow-speed (manatee) zone for Stephenson Creek