Meeting+2011+Aug+4

Thursday 8:30-10 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**

Tweet about this meeting ... media type="custom" key="9797790"


 * Attendance Notes**

Leigh Ann Hammerbacher is out of town, but supports the monthly schedule and should typically be able to make the first Thursday. TLC has assembled much of the SCB assemblage data and is planning to have a package ready for Gary's class on Aug 19th.


 * Attending**: Bockhahn, Lobsinger, Hess (notes), Steelman (presiding), B. Kirkman, Perlmutter, Salter, A. Willis

I (george) would like to record this meeting for Lina Dostilio's research on WakeNature. This was the last meeting she planned to attend, but unfortunately she cannot make it. The recording will be kept confidential by Lina, under the same guidelines she has used for all of the interviews. To wit (from Lina): "Audio recordings will be kept in a locked file drawer in my home until they are transcribed. All identifying information about WNPP members or the organizations mentioned will be deleted during the transcription process. The resulting transcriptions will not contain any identifying information. The audio will be destroyed as soon as the transcriptions are made."
 * Recording Meeting**


 * Action sought:** unanimous agreement to allow recording - otherwise we will not record.


 * NOTES:**
 * No objections
 * Quick round of introductions


 * Lake Johnson Park Nature Education Facility update** - added to agenda by Benson Kirkman and done first


 * NOTES:**
 * Controversy over location of the Nature Education Facility at the Lake Dam site and manner of development (eg, talk of using septic field rather than sewer hookup; talk of cutting trees to create lake views)
 * Different visions of what the Facility will be - "simple" nature education facility vs larger community center facility
 * Site choice is being reviewed again - choice is between Lake Dam site and pool site
 * Raleigh's Budget and Economic Development Committee meeting will be next Thurs (11 Aug)
 * Steelman reviewed WakeNature involvement to date - we've sent two letters of support
 * Salter noted that Lake Johnson Nature Preserve management plan is on-track for completion within 6 months
 * No further action will be taken by WNPP at this time - we have had our input and there is no apparent threat to the resource at this time

**What Committee Do You Want To Be On??**

 * 1. Inventory committee:** Consonant with our goals to ...
 * identify and designate as “WakeNature Preserves” protected open spaces in Wake County that contain important ecological or geological resources or meet other criteria that qualify them for this distinction;
 * create more public awareness and appreciation of our highest quality natural areas in Wake County;

... this committee will develop a list and maps of the highest quality natural areas in Wake County - those that might ultimately be designated as WakeNature Preserves. For each area, the committee will catalog its status, including what natural resources are on site, whether or not the area is a WNP, has a management plan, is being stewarded, is accessible to the public, and so forth. Once we've identified these places, we might bring together the municipalities they are in for another round of capacity-building workshops.

//From Gary P. - Here's a rough outline of what we have accomplished so far from which we can build upon.// [|WNPP Inventory Outline.doc]


 * Gary P (Chair)**
 * George**
 * Kacy**
 * Heather**
 * Charlynne**
 * Leigh Ann**


 * 2. Promotion committee:** Consonant with our goal to "create more public awareness and appreciation of our highest quality natural areas in Wake County," this committee will develop a website that highlights the natural resources of WakeNature Preserves as they come on line. The website will also highlight the places identified by the inventory committee, and their status. This site will be separate from the wiki and have higher-level production values. Fundraising, marketing, signs, and grant-writing are part of this committee's duties.


 * Toddi (Chair)**
 * Amanda**
 * Kaytee** - I won't be able to attend meeting but please let me know what I can help with.
 * Jamie**
 * George** (website issues)


 * 3. Capacity-building committee:** Consonant with our goals to ...
 * develop the organizational capacity to conduct natural resource inventories on and develop management plans for Preserves;
 * develop an organized, volunteer base of citizen-scientists to monitor Preserves.

... this committee will develop a list of people willing to devote time to developing nature preserves, including how they are willing to help. We'll make sure to let people know that they may not hear from anyone for a while. --> Colleen and Wake County Park staff have already put together a list like this. We may be able to use and add to this.

-Standard Operating Procedure for analyzing, conducting inventories, developing management plans for applicant parks/properties and/or existing WakeNature Preserves?


 * Meghan (Chair)**
 * Ross**
 * Colleen Bockhahn**
 * Benson Kirkman**


 * NOTES**
 * Steelman reviewed committee organization and new monthly meeting structure
 * Perlmutter reviewed what he's done so far in terms of listing nature preserves
 * Steelman reviewed Promotion committee
 * Salter raised question of branding and who gets "top billing." WNPP position on this is that the municipality gets "top billing" and WNPP is secondary. This includes websites as well. We need further discussions about this, jurisdiction by jurisdiction.
 * Lobsinger reviewed capacity-building committee
 * At future monthly meetings, committee chairs will report out on progress
 * Hess will create a wiki page for each committee

I think the next step in moving the MOU forward with the City is to present it at our Parkplan (a biweekly meeting with the director, superintendents, etc.). I know one of the main questions that will come up is the issue of “branding”. The City will want to emphasize for any park or highlighted natural resource that the property is a Raleigh Parkproperty. I think WakeNature could be included as a partner, or a “secondary”identifier… For example, if we have an Element Occurrence on our park property that is listed on the WakeNature website as a WakeWonder, it would need to be clearly labeled as a City of Raleigh property, and if we have a sign for the EO – it would emphasize Raleigh Parks, but could also include a WakeNature or WakeWonder symbol (again as a secondary identifier). Does that make sense? Is there a way to clarify what branding will entail?
 * MOU Update**

Melissa Salter


 * TLC has signed.
 * Wake Soil and Water Conservation District signed
 * Natural Heritage has signed
 * NC Museum of Natural Sciences has signed; John couldn't make it today because has a cold
 * WRC will **not** sign - questioning the appropriateness and need of this formal arrangement (do we need think through what this means for us and them??) What does it mean if someone does not want to be a partner, but wants our help on projects?


 * NOTES**
 * Sign issue covered under committee discussion
 * Unsure how to proceed with WRC
 * Salter has placed the issue in front of Raleigh Parks and is pursuing

From Gary P - vegetation data from this spring's Carolina Vegetation Survey's sampling efforts in Wake County are currently being analyzed. In Forbes Boyle's absence (he's moving to Georgia for a new botanist job with the USFWS) I'll give an update on what has been done so far and when we can anticipate the results. [|WakeCountySummary.doc]
 * CVS Update**


 * NOTES**
 * Perlmutter reviews the document
 * Community types and dominant species have been listed
 * There was a sample at Swift Creek Bluffs and Hemlock Bluffs, both WNPP candidates


 * NOTES**
 * Bockhahn announced that on 18 Aug the Wake County Natural Resource database will be live!!