The Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) held a special meeting on November 12, 2025, at 4:00 PM in the Clearwater Main Library Council Chambers. The primary agenda item was a detailed presentation on the city's Vulnerability Assessment, followed by a Director's Report and discussion of upcoming board consolidation. The meeting included citizen comments and board member remarks.
Sustainability Specialist Melody Yin and Sustainability Manager Cassie Hardova presented the findings of the city's Vulnerability Assessment, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Resilient Florida program. The study began in 2022 and concluded in early 2025. It used a geospatial resilience modeling tool (Simulator) to create a digital twin of Clearwater, simulating conditions from 2020 to 2100. The assessment covered tidal flooding, riverine flooding, pluvial flooding, storm surge, and heat stress.
Key Findings:
Adaptation Scenarios (10 initial, 5 refined):
Refined Scenarios:
Technical Advisory Committee Recommendations: Include integration with St. Petersburg tidal station data, surface water and groundwater modeling, public education on rain gardens and permeable pavements, land acquisition for stormwater retention, and pursuing grants for visualization and outreach.
Next Steps: Prioritize high-ROI projects, expand tree canopy in vulnerable areas, enhance data collection, engage community in resiliency planning, and pursue grant funding (already applied for $79M in grants).
Cassie Hardova provided updates:
Board members expressed support for this consolidation and requested work sessions prior to meetings to allow more in-depth discussion under Sunshine Law constraints.
I don't know. How do you make me the microphone? They're on. No matter what? It's four o'clock. I think we will go ahead and get started. Can everyone hear me? Okay. I've been knocking it over, so um. All right, I'm calling this uh meeting to order. Uh today's meeting of the environmental advisory board is called to order on November twelfth, twenty twenty-five. Welcome everyone. Uh, this is my uh first time chairing this committee, so I hope you all bear with me. Uh the members of the environmental advisory board were appointed by the city council. We serve voluntarily. The board's objective is to provide citizen insight to the city council and staff on environmental activities within and affecting Clearwater. Agendas of today's meeting are on the wall at the entrance to the chambers. Please remember to turn off your cell phones and electronic devices. To ensure a complete record of the board's actions, we ask each individual wishing to speak to clearly state your name and spell your last name for the clerk. Um, we'll take roll call. Uh, will members of the board and staff please introduce yourselves? We'll start on our far left. Cassie. Cassie Hardova, sustainability manager. Tim Hughes. Kelly Dobman. Michael Rabina. Glena Wentworth, Chair. And uh, I don't know, anybody heard from Jason. I haven't heard. I assume he's on the case. He's always coming from work, so I'm assuming he'll be here. But we do have a quorum, so we can't proceed. Thank you. Um, the minutes, our first order of business is uh to review and approve the minutes of the board's last meeting. Everyone, I hope had a chance to read the minutes. Are there any changes or corrections? Seeing there's none may have a motion to approve the minutes. Motion approved. Have a motion. Second. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Thank you. Minutes are approved. Um, citizens to be heard. Um, items on the agenda. Is there anyone here to speak to items not on the agenda? Please step to the podium and state your name for the public record, and please spell your name for the clerk.