Minutes for January 16, 2007 Wilmington LWRP Citizen’s Committee Meeting

Attending:  Four brave souls facing the frigid night:  Holly Aquino, Garrett Dague, Wendy Hall, Kara Page

The meeting began with timesheet completion.  If you haven’t submitted a timesheet and have spent anytime on activities that contribute to the LWRP process, please forward an electronic or paper timesheet to Kara at your earliest convenience!

Proposal to move monthly meetings (only a few remain) to 2^nd Monday of the month from now on.  Please advise if this works for you or if not, what alternative would?  Jeanne to check with calendar and ensure room is available. 

Ongoing work was then discussed:

·         Review of LWRP drafts:  The drafts from this fall, copies of which have been posted on the web page for 3 months, have been reviewed informally by our DOS contacts.  Their comments will be included, then if the committee is happy with the document it goes to the Town Board.  They can then forward it to DOS for the 60 day Agency review, along with a Town resolution supporting it (probably in March) or ask for changes by the committee / consultant before sending it. 

·         Consultants Kara Page and Lisa Nagle are currently revising/cleaning up Inventory and Policy sections, drafting sections 4-6:  Implementation Techniques, State Actions. 

·         The consultant asked the committee to advise on appointing a committee subgroup of 2-3 to coordinate with consultant and oversee drafts.  Nominated (in absentia):  Dawn Stevens , Judi Gould, Garrett Dague.    The drafts will also be posted on the web page and e-mail advisories sent when available, for additional input. 

·         Is sue s to address: 

1. With our heavy emphasis on sedimentation and need for dredging, we will need to cover our bases thoroughly to raise funds for this activity by putting more emphasis on how to solve future sedimentation is sue s from: 

a. construction and development of all kinds, including at Whiteface Mtn. ;

b. natural streambed erosion to the extent that can be addressed; and

c. road maintenance (local and state).  E.g. we will need to establish best stormwater management practices, in site plan review and subdivision regulations; address ditching, catchment basin management, and sanding of roads.  The committee requested that consultant discuss options with highway dept. supervisor and code officer. 

d. Article from Press-Republican ( 12/2/06 ) circulated: “Human impact on erosion significant” – noting that “humans cause erosion at a rate 10-15 times faster than any natural process,” the main causes being agriculture, construction and mining. 

2. Long-term we will need to do some kind of sedimentation source study or corridor stability analysis, e.g. Keene example.  Copies available from Kara.
3. Local wetland protection – wetland role in filtering pollutants and capturing sediment as well as housing wildlife valuable for economy and hunting means that Town should consider establishing local protection mechanism.  Genesee Lakes example provided.  Copies available from Kara.
4. Ped/bike paths and touring routes - where are they planned?  Holly will check with Bert Yost and Kara will check with Bill McGreevy. 
5. Waterfront Funding and Project Committee establishment – who will help raise funds for and manage above projects and others?  Committee requests that Town Board selects a representative to help them design and serve on this group for future LWRP project oversight. 

·         Circulates copy of David Wick presentation on feasibility study, dredging process in general.  Will post on web.

·         Girl Scouts proposal -  Progress by ASRA?  Also spoke to DOS today:  Watershed grant contract almost ready for Wton/ASRA.

·         Ideas on using local expertise to meet match on study / beach plan grant:  Guy Stephenson?

Other related News:

·         Byways opportunity:  History museum / community center idea?  Northern Lights going? 

·         Ideas from Halls on Bird Preserve – get youth involved.   Apply for wildlife stamp funds?  Also, getting inventory done soon, and possibly organizing Wilmington bird count in February.  If interested, send message to ausable_lodge@yahoo.com.

·         Committee:  We should be coordinating with Visitor’s Bureau on these and other LWRP opportunities.  Ask them to send reps to next meeting and invite LWRP reps to their meetings from now on.  Holly will share current concept paper with them. 

·         High Peaks Intermunicipal grant opportunity soon.