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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20110919_CFMinutes http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp * Decisions and action items are indicated in bold font. Members Present:  Phil Andrus, District 2; Lige Christian, District 3; JD Gallant ‐ Jerry Gorsline, District 2;  Janet Kearsley, District 1; Phyllis Schultz, Interest ‐ Working Lands; Sarah Spaeth, Interest ‐ Jefferson Land  Trust; Fred Weinmann, Interest ‐ Ecology; John Augustus Wood, District 1     Members Absent: Richard Jahnke, Interest – Coastal Areas    County Staff Present:  Tami Pokorny, Water Quality Division and Recorder    Guests:     I. Call to Order:       Chair Fred Weinmann called the meeting to order at 5:53 PM    II. Review of Agenda:        The agenda was approved, as written.     III.  Approval of Minutes:     The minutes of May 2, 2011 meeting were approved as written.     IV. Observer comments:        None    V. Old Business:      BoCC Decision on 2011 Projects  John Wood presented the Committee’s funding recommendations to the BoCC in June. The Carleson  Chimacum Creek and Winona – Bloedel projects were approved in a straight forward manner. One  person present at the meeting questioned why project parcel numbers are not included in the newspaper  announcements.     The CF Committee discussed whether it would be a good idea to include the parcel numbers in future  ads. The project applications, containing parcel information and maps, are also available in hard copy at  the courthouse and scanned for download from the CF website. The website address is included in the  hearing notice. Committee members advised no changes to existing procedures except that landowners  should be made more aware of the public nature of the grant program and process.   Jefferson County Conservation Futures Committee Monday, September 19, 2011 5:45-6:45 PM Jefferson County Library, Shold Room Port Hadlock, WA FINAL MINUTES http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp 3     Outreach Display  Little progress has been made on the outreach display since the last meeting but staff anticipates having  it ready for the end of the farmers’ market season.  Phyllis Schulz volunteered to give input on display  development as needed.     VI. New Business    Possible Changes/Updates to 2012 Round Materials and Process  Changes to the application, ratings sheet and program manual were discussed. Changes will be finalized  at the November meeting in advance of the fall presentation to the BoCC.    The application was discussed first and the following tracked changes proposed.   11. Estimate the total site acquisition costs below, including the cost for the entire property or property right, even if Conservation Futures funds will only cover a portion of that total cost. In the case of projects involving multiple acquisitions, please break out appraisals and estimated acquisition costs by parcel. Estimated or Appraised Value of Property: ________________________________________ Total Estimated Acquisition-related Cost (see Conservation Futures Manual for eligible costs): _______________________________________________________________________ Total Operation and Maintenance Cost:______________________________________________ Total Project Cost: ____________________________________________________________ Basis for Estimates (include information about how the property value was determined , anticipated acquisition-related costs, general description of operation and maintenance work to be performed, task list with itemized budget, and anticipated schedule for completion of work): 12a. Sponsor or other organizations __will __will not contribute to acquisition of proposed site. b. If applicable, please describe below how contributions from groups or agencies will reduce the need to use Conservation Futures program funds. c. Matching Fund Estimate Acquisition O&M % Conservation Futures Funds Requested ____________ ____________ ___ Matching Funds/Resources ____________ ____________ ___ Total Project Acquisition Cost ____________ ____________ 100 d. Source of matching …. NOTE: Matching funds are strongly recommended and a higher rating will be assigned to those projects that can guarantee additional resources for acquisition. Donation of property or a property right will be considered as a matching resource. Donation of resources for on-going maintenance or stewardship (“in-kind” contributions) will not be considered as a match. 21. The proposed acquisition Deleted: Total Estimated Acquisition Cost Deleted: Eligibility Checklist Deleted: Acquisition Deleted: on Deleted: rived Deleted: % Deleted: % Deleted: % Deleted: ¶ http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp 4 ____provides habitat for State of Washington Priority Habitat and/or State or Federal Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive species. __ provides habitat for a variety of native flora or fauna species. __ contributes to an existing or future wildlife corridor or migration route. If affirmative in any of the above, please describe below, and cite or provide documentation of habitat and/or species’ use (add website links).  Rating Sheet   The committee reviewed the changes in question #1 of the ratings sheet regarding project match. The  way the question was originally framed was factual rather than subjective in nature. The question was  rewritten to allow for the exercise of judgment on the question of leveraging. A clear definition of  leveraging is needed. Phil Andrus said that although the Winona‐Bloedel project met the match  requirements, he would prefer to see new land and new money provided as match. The CF Ordinance  says to, “leverage CF funds with other resources.” Members acknowledged the general nature of this  requirement. The other problem with the question was the redundancy of “meets requirement” and  “leverages significantly or moderately.” Ideally there would just be one answer to the question. The  Committee considered adding a “0 points” or “N/A” option to each of the questions but agreed that  simpler option would be to add a single statement at the top such as:  Please note: if none of the answers provided describe the project, answer “N/A” or “0”.   JD Gallant suggested a change to Question #10 to clarify potential education or interpretive  opportunities. One possible approach [subsequently developed by staff] is:      10. To what degree will the acquisition provide educational opportunities, interpretive opportunities, and/or serve as a general community resource?   CF Manual  Recommendations for changes to the manual include:  • Sponsors should inform landowners of the public nature of the application and funding process.    • Add the Threatened and Endangered/priority habitat information websites (that Janet Kearsely  provided) to question #21 of the application.   • Make CF Manual informs sponsors that the match ratio in the application will carry through to  the grant agreement.  • Update the agreement template.  • Rather than ask sponsors to provide maps that read well in black & white, staff will scan and print  maps in color.      It was decided to continue the meeting for an additional half hour.     Rating Process  The committee agreed to discontinue the use of the individual Excel ratings sheet in favor of the Word  version. Individual ratings information will be entered into the composite Excel spreadsheet as before.     Meeting procedures  There had been interest in modifying the quarterly meeting requirement, however this requirement is  contained in the CF Ordinance and cannot be changed by the committee. Staff was requested to gather  the opinions of the committee at such time as the ordinance is opened for other reasons.       http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp 5 2012 Round Calendar  Unfortunately, the wrong calendar was brought to the meeting. At this point, Thursday meetings are  preferred. The next meeting will be November 17 from 4‐6 pm at the county library.     Fall Presentation  This was tabled until the next meeting.    VII.  Other/ Administrative     Fund Balance – The Fund balance as of March 31, 2011 was $504,133.75. Outstanding projects are  Carleson Chimacum Creek, Winona – Bloedel, Tamanowas Rock and Nicholson Short Plat and Salmon  Creek Riparian. Project reports will be available at the next meeting. There is one “open interest” vacancy  that was advertised. One person has expressed interest. Names were suggested as possible candidates.  Staff will be in touch with as many of these individuals as possible.    VIII. Observer Comments     None    IX. Adjournment    Chair Weinmann adjourned the meeting at 7:04 PM.