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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20121126_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 – District 3; Ray Hunter, Interest – Fallow Farms; Richard Jahnke, Interest – Coastal Areas; Janet Kearsley, District 1; Lorna Smith, Interest – Ecotourism; Sarah Spaeth, Interest - Jefferson Land Trust; John Wood, District 1 Members Absent: Scott Brinton – Agriculture; Jerry Gorsline, District 2 County Staff Present: Tami Pokorny, Water Quality Division and Recorder Guests: None I. Call to Order: Chair John Wood called the meeting to order at 4:37. II. Review of Agenda: The agenda was approved as written. III. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the September 17, 2012 meeting were approved with one grammatical change. IV. Observer comments: None V. Old Business: Materials and Process for 2013 Funding Cycle Historic and cultural resources Staff provided her suggested changes to program materials in 2013 for committee discussion. At the September meeting, the historical nature of the Boulton Farm barn was discussed. Committee members felt that more guidance may be needed in order to determine whether cultural assets such as barns or salmon qualify a CF project for points in question #11 of the Jefferson County Conservation Futures Committee Monday November 26, 2012 4:30-6:30 PM Tri Area Community Center Chimacum, WA FINAL MINUTES http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp 2 ratings sheet. Staff distributed a Historic Places map developed by the WA State Department of Archeology & Historic Preservation for East Jefferson County showing the locations of the recognized historic sites. She was asked to send committee members a link for more information on the specific sites. [Access the Washington Information System for Architectural and Archeological Records Data (WISAARD) at https://fortress.wa.gov/dahp/wisaard. There are 498 historic property records for E. Jefferson County] There was some confusion as to whether the Boulton Farm was historical or not – despite the fact that it’s not listed on the register. If it’s 50 years old or older it could be awarded points potentially. The RCWs for cultural resources are already listed in the CF application and available online so there’s no need to site them at length in CF materials. Sponsors should be encouraged to review these state codes when preparing their applications. Phil Andrus moved to approve staff changes to program materials. Sarah Spaeth seconded the motion. All in favor: Unanimous. The motion carried. Draft 2013 calendar Committee members discussed holding the site visits in early April, in advance of the project presentation meeting. This would help elicit good questions at the presentation meeting by familiarizing committee members with the project properties ahead of time. Sponsors should align both the site visits and presentations with the application as much as possible. There is no need to attend the site visits in person. DVDs will be available to those who are unable to participate. VI. New Business Annual Project Reports The 2012 annual project reports from sponsors were reviewed. Staff asked if any of the information provided in them should be brought to the attention of the BoCC with the staff request to finalize program materials for 2013. There was general agreement that the projects were proceeding as anticipated and there was no need to call out anything specific. Sarah Spaeth provided an update on the Tamanowas project: The tribe and the land trust are working with staff to transfer the rock property to the tribe. The conservation easement from the first 20-acre property funded by the CFF will be amended to cover the rock and the specific conditions of that property. Washington State Parks closed on the Nicholson Short Plat today; it’s an addition to Anderson Lake State Park. The committee briefly discussed algae-related issues in Anderson Lake and Quilcene Bay. Climate Change Staff introduced this topic which was a suggestion for the committee from a meeting observer, Cynde Jane. Given the growing scope of this topic, perhaps the committee would consider what relevance, if any, climate change has to its work. Associated impacts include sea level rise of 2-4 http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Conservation/conservation.asp 3 fee by 2100 with implications for salt marshes, spits, and estuaries. Another prediction is bigger storms events, increased flooding and more severe droughts. Lorna Smith mentioned an example of a community being affected by beach erosion and attempting to protect improvements in an environmentally friendly manner. “When you think of two feet of sea level rise, you think it's slowly going to fill up the bathtub slowly but that's not necessarily the case. As hurricane Sandy demonstrated, the impacts may not be incremental.” Phil Andrus felt he would be in favor of preventative measures in relation to climate change. Perhaps the legislature could be encouraged to incorporate a climate change reference into the authorizing RCW for conservation futures. If that occurs, the application and ratings sheet would evolve as needed. Examples were given of vegetation shifting northwards and other indications that climate change is already taking hold. Could the county add selection criteria to address the challenges of climate change? Staff said that such changes to the program could arise with the committee or the county commissioners. Lige Christian asked, “If you have a project in an estuary - is it useful to consider whether it will be inundated?” Some felt that asking how specific projects address climate change would be a daunting task for sponsors. John Wood asked, “How does an applicant know how their little project can address climate change? This is a lot to ask.” Perhaps those projects that do could receive bonus points. So much money and effort is going into restoring the shoreline that was impacted by Superstorm Sandy, for example. In California, the state bought the rights to a huge swath of floodplain and are reserving it for agriculture and preventing other kinds of development with the understanding that, if necessary to control flooding, the land will be inundated. In such areas the message seems to be “use it but don’t live on it.” Ray Hunter felt that citizens should be encouraged to work their own property and also take steps to minimize their carbon footprint. VII. Other/ Administrative Fred Weinmann has resigned from the committee, and Phyllis Schultz is considering doing so as well. Staff will work to fill the vacancie(s) and invites committee members to help identify potential candidates. At the end of October, the fund balance was $711,249.24. VIII. Observer Comments None IX. Adjournment Chair Wood adjourned the meeting at 5:45 PM.