Meeting+2015+Jun+4

//**WakeNature Preserves Partnership Meeting**//
Thursday 8:30-10 Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Green Square Building, 217 W Jones Street, Videoconference Room 3001

Tweet about this meeting ... media type="custom" key="9797796"


 * Attendance Notes**

Connors will not be attending. Present: D. Shouse (presiding), G. Hess (notes), G. Blank, Salter, S. Pohlman, D. Robertson, B. Massa


 * Annotated Agenda Items**


 * Introductions as needed**

// **Steering** // ** Committee ** (John Connors, chairman) GOAL: ** Increase momentum ** by growing active signatory membership.


 * MOU revised language and process for renewal and recruitment (Hess & Shouse)
 * Current language reads ... " Commencement/Expiration Date: The instrument is executed on the date of the inaugural signing of the MOU (May 5, 2010) and is effective through 5 years at which time it will expire unless extended." [ Bottom of page 6 here ... https://wakenature.wikispaces.com/file/view/WakeNatureMOU.pdf/230124826/WakeNatureMOU.pdf ]
 * Proposal is to "flip it" so that there renewal is the expectation. "This instrument is executed on the date of signing and is effective for 5 years, at which time it will renew upon mutual agreement between WakeNature and the signatory."
 * The proposed process is that WakeNature sends the signatory a memo that highlights recent WakeNature accomplishments and either (a) thanks the signatory for their continued involvement or (b) politely asks that they become more involved (possibly with some idea about how they can) AND asks for a response that the signatory either (a) wishes to continue association with WakeNature or (b) wishes to DISassociate. Question: What would failure to respond constitute?


 * NOTES**
 * Send package including accomplishments letter, MOU, signature page to our main contact in agency and ask them to take to the signing agent for completion.
 * For soliciting new agencies, find best contact and make the connection.
 * Failure to respond implies continued association
 * Wake Soil & Water Conservation District responds best to specific requests for management assistance
 * Next step - revise MOU as per new language and start the process of renewal [ Hess will do ]

//**Promotion Committee**// (Kaytee Smith, chairwoman) GOAL: ** Tell the story ** of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County and the stewardship they have and need.


 * Discuss WakeWonder roll-out process and criteria. Here is a discussion draft from the Inventory Committee ...




 * NOTES**
 * Work has been proceeding through the inventory committee
 * There could be big marketing opportunity for "The Top 20 WakeWonders" all at the same time - would we lose something by rolling out some without a full list? Could even have a Top Twenty book.
 * Alternative approach - put out a list and get public input - almost a voting approach - maybe a photo contest (create calendar of best)
 * Blank showed a simple matrix that subject matter experts can fill out to help determine which sites should be listed
 * Connors feels features should be identified for each site, plus description of other interesting features in the area - can the lay person enjoy it?
 * Need a list of the people to send list to for review
 * Hess presented his idea of 4 categories (open to public; open to public, needs guide; not open to public, needs guide; need more information)
 * Salter - two major categories: open to public, need guided tour
 * List of subject matter experts to be developed [ D. Robertson, B. Massa ]
 * Public engagement requires a lot of effort - can we leverage existing channels that do public engagement
 * How can we leverage marketing channels we have association with (eg, Raleigh Parks, Wake Open Space)
 * Inventory committee will meet between now and the next regular meeting


 * Robertsons Mill Pond scheduled to be open late summer / early fall - County can apply for it to be WakeNature Preserve [ Robertston will follow up ] - announce as WNP at the opening

//**I**////**nventory Committee**// (Scott Pohlman, chairman) GOAL: ** Places on the ground ** - designate publicly accessible WakeNature Preserves.

//**Capacity Committee**// (Gary Blank, chairman) GOAL: ** Bring resource managers together ** to carry out appropriate stewardship of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County.

>> We did work with Wake Audubon volunteers, park staff and the US Fish & Wildlife Service to plant 3-4 acres of milkweed at Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve and also at Harris Lake Park in early May...96 seedlings at each park.
 * Fall workdays
 * Connors: We will be planting milkweed at quite a few parks in October. We haven't picked dates yet but having help on those days would be great. The parks include: Horseshoe Farm, Durant Nature Preserve, Anderson Point Park, Turnipseed Preserve, Lake Crabtree, and maybe several more. We may return to Wilkerson. But I will have to work out details with park staff for each site.
 * Bus tour (Spring 2016) - focus and invitees
 * Information only: Raleigh Parks wrote a short website article about the BioBlitz ... @http://www.raleighnc.gov/parks/news/content/CorNews/Articles/PRecBioBlitz.html


 * NOTES**
 * Michaux sumac to plant at Turnipseed - any time in fall would work
 * Need decisions on where to put the plants in each park
 * We will do sumac and milkweed at Turnipseed
 * Hess might be able to get ConBio students involved
 * Ask Lobsinger if she can get any students involved from EcoVillage
 * Maybe another day with WakeNature people only plus a select handful
 * Hodges Mill Creek - Watkins Road