Indian Creek Watershed Management Authority--Formation Committee
Meeting Summary
10:00 am--12:00 pm, April 20, 2012
Marion City Hall
Attending the meeting: Marion--Dan Whitlow; Linn County--Bill Micheel; Cedar Rapids--Craig Hanson & Mike Kuntz; Hiawatha--Mike Powers; Linn County SWCD--Jon Gallagher & Bruce Frana; ECICOG--Jennifer Fencl
Project Administration Update: IEDA offered a contact name for a Homeland Security & Emergency Management staff member that could help incorporate best management practices into WMAs. Jennifer requested that committee members continue to submit a summary of their in-kind devoted to the WMA project to date.
Jennifer has presented initial WMA information to policy makers in all seven political subdivisions in the watershed (Alburnett, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins, Linn Co. SWCD, and Linn County).
Opportunities: No information yet about Marion's response to the Iowa Watershed Project.
Funding for Phase II of the WMA pilot project will be made available later this year (maybe August or September) to develop a watershed management plan.
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is planning a workshop designed to train planning, EMS and other city/county staff about watershed management issues. The workshop is scheduled for May 16th at the Center for Energy & Environmental Education, UNI campus, Cedar Falls.
The third Interagency Team Visioning Workshop is scheduled from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, May 22nd at a location yet to be announced.
DNR is hosting input meetings for the state's Water Quality Plan at various locations.
WMA Framework Issues: The group reviewed the second draft 28E agreement based on examples from Iowa and Minnesota watershed groups. Comments and corrections will be incorporated into a revised third draft 28E agreement for review and discussion at the next meeting. The Committee discussed how to proceed with the next steps of adopting the 28E agreement. There was consensus among the Committee that the WMA by-laws outlining the group's structure, as well as the WMA administration, financing and work plan should be drafted/decided by the WMA board of directors. Discussed hosting a meeting for policy makers to introduce the draft WMA Agreement and seek their input. A suggested date for that meeting was May 23rd and a possible location is the Community Room at Hiawatha City Hall.
Next Meeting: Set the next meeting for 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Friday, May 4th at Cedar Rapids Public Works Building. Plan to finalize the draft 28E Agreement document.
Meeting Summary
10:00 am--12:00 pm, April 20, 2012
Marion City Hall
Attending the meeting: Marion--Dan Whitlow; Linn County--Bill Micheel; Cedar Rapids--Craig Hanson & Mike Kuntz; Hiawatha--Mike Powers; Linn County SWCD--Jon Gallagher & Bruce Frana; ECICOG--Jennifer Fencl
Project Administration Update: IEDA offered a contact name for a Homeland Security & Emergency Management staff member that could help incorporate best management practices into WMAs. Jennifer requested that committee members continue to submit a summary of their in-kind devoted to the WMA project to date.
Jennifer has presented initial WMA information to policy makers in all seven political subdivisions in the watershed (Alburnett, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins, Linn Co. SWCD, and Linn County).
Opportunities: No information yet about Marion's response to the Iowa Watershed Project.
Funding for Phase II of the WMA pilot project will be made available later this year (maybe August or September) to develop a watershed management plan.
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is planning a workshop designed to train planning, EMS and other city/county staff about watershed management issues. The workshop is scheduled for May 16th at the Center for Energy & Environmental Education, UNI campus, Cedar Falls.
The third Interagency Team Visioning Workshop is scheduled from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, May 22nd at a location yet to be announced.
DNR is hosting input meetings for the state's Water Quality Plan at various locations.
WMA Framework Issues: The group reviewed the second draft 28E agreement based on examples from Iowa and Minnesota watershed groups. Comments and corrections will be incorporated into a revised third draft 28E agreement for review and discussion at the next meeting. The Committee discussed how to proceed with the next steps of adopting the 28E agreement. There was consensus among the Committee that the WMA by-laws outlining the group's structure, as well as the WMA administration, financing and work plan should be drafted/decided by the WMA board of directors. Discussed hosting a meeting for policy makers to introduce the draft WMA Agreement and seek their input. A suggested date for that meeting was May 23rd and a possible location is the Community Room at Hiawatha City Hall.
Next Meeting: Set the next meeting for 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Friday, May 4th at Cedar Rapids Public Works Building. Plan to finalize the draft 28E Agreement document.
