Meeting+2010+Apr+15

Thursday 2010 Apr 15 8:30-10 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus
 * Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**

Steelman out-- Teaching NRLI Module. Feel free to assign me something to follow up on e.g. County Commissioners or UDO. Alexander out Wallace will be absent
 * Attendance Notes**


 * Annotated Agenda Items**


 * Introductions as needed** (5 minutes)

LaTroya Hester will be working on a video for the Outreach & Scholarship Conference.


 * Notes** by Hess


 * WakeNature Video** - LaTroya Hester needs about 30 minutes to discuss and get initial input for WakeNature video

Backstory (from Hess) ... WakeNature has been invited to be the "featured partnership" during the opening plenary session of NCSU's Outreach Scholarship Conference ( @http://www.ncsu.edu/project/OPDWebSpace/2010OSC/ 2010 Oct 4-6 Raleigh Convention Center). As part of this plenary, we will show a 5-minute video describing what WakeNature is and placing it in the context of the conference theme of "The Five P's" : Program, Place, People, Process, Philosophy (described on the conference home page ref'd above). The video is being funded by NCSU Office of Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development. LaTroya is coordinating the creation of the video and is here today to get some initial ideas from all of us.

Here is a note from LaTroya: I'd like the group to consider ways in which the organizations reflects these "5P's". Additionally I'll want to learn who WNPP's key voices are, what their stories are, and what messages they would like audiences to take away after viewing the video. Keep in mind that this will be an effective marketing tool for the organization, so I want your members to feel that it is their own. I'd like their input about the feel and pacing of the video--I'll be asking them to help me build the preliminary scenes/storyboard. Note that a discussion guide will accompany the video, so I'll ask them to think about ways the video may facilitate this as well.


 * NOTES**

LaTroya will be getting to know us during the next few months.
 * Who are the key people and voices - Hess, Steelman, Snow, Connors, Ramsey, Wallace ... others
 * What are the key places - Turnipseed, Futrell
 * What are the key messages
 * need for stewardship
 * inventory of resources
 * partnership - mutual benefits
 * working toward public access for the enjoyment of the people
 * uniform, cross-jurisdictional umbrella for enjoyment of nature

LaTroya took notes on these items.

Hess will set up a 5Ps wiki page for us to collect our ideas - need talking points on each of the Ps. Note that it's important to reflect scholarly work throughout - a scholarship thread has to run through all of this.


 * Communications Plan**
 * Status
 * Final presentation - when and where is it and who can go?


 * NOTES**
 * Final draft submitted to prof TODAY!! He will comment and then a final report will be created.
 * THey will have comments back from prof next week.
 * Final presentation will be held Thurs 13 May 1- approx 2P Room 110 1911 Building NCSU campus
 * The team might give us a presentation to WNPP at the next meeting on 6 May

Status of PPT Who is doing presentation? Who needs help with what? Van Tour Dates//Promotion
 * County Commissioners Presentation/Van Tour Update**


 * NOTES**
 * Chris submitted agenda write-up for the commissioners - Frank Cope is reviewing
 * Aiming for Mon 3 May meeting - the meeting starts at 2PM - our place on agenda will be known during the next two weeks
 * Would like a good representation of the partnership available for potential questions
 * Connors and Hutchinson are considering a field trip with Commissioner Bryan and possibly Commissioner Gurley
 * PPT will be ready for comment shortly
 * Van tour will be after the county presentation - Chris will make that offer at the end of his presentation

We have an opportunity to comment on the UDO. The following is from Thomas Crowder: The UDO (Uniform Development Code) update will predicate what future development will look like in our city for the next 20-30 years. Why is it so important that you participate? The code will become **__LAW__** unlike the Comprehensive Plan, which is only a guide. Therefore this document is the most important legislation being created, which will impact how our city and neighborhoods will look for the rest of our lifetimes (for many of us anyway). I strongly urge you to visit the City Planning Department website and review the "Raleigh's New Code Diagnostic and Analysis Report" at: @http://www.raleighnc.gov/publications/Planning/Plans_in_Process/New_Development_Code/NRC_Diagnostic_and_Approach_Report.pdf On May 4th, from 2 PM - 6 PM there will be a work session held at the Downtown Urban Design Center, located at the corner of Fayetteville Street and East Hargett Street. There will also be a public comment period held at 7 PM that evening in the City Council Chambers. There's a resource protection section that we may be interested in. We could include natural heritage areas in addition to tree preservation and stormwater management.
 * UDO Public Comment**

Is this something we want to pursue?

From Jaquelyn: Hello all,

I definetly think we should comment and encourage the City to include--or at least explore including--wildlife habitat protection (or ecosystem/biodiversity protection--not sure of the best phrasing) alongside tree protection and stormwater management in the resource protection section of the UDO. I do not think we should limit protections just to SNHAs.

I think we can point toward the Wildlife Habitat Protection & Preservation section (section C.6, pgs 131-132) in the Comp Plan as support for incorporating such protections in the UDO. In addition, Action EP-6.2 in the Comp Plan specifically states: Habitat Protection Regulations: During the update of the City's development regulations determine how to best address conservation, protection, and preservation of wildlife and habitats. Use the body of knowledge, designations and tools available through the NC Natural Heritage Program, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and other conservation-oriented organizations and agencies. Explore the creation of a wildlife habitat overlay district modeled after that used by the City of Tampa, Florida."

The City of Tampa (and Hillsborough County, within which Tampa resides) is one example of an urban city and county that have similar habitat protection language in their comp plans that has been translated into ordinance. I'm not sure if it is politically feasible in Raleigh/Wake County to do adopt something similar, but if so, it could be a model for the rest of the state.

www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=50201&sid=9__, go to planning and land development, click on upland habitat protection. ]]

I am in the process of putting together a contract with a consultant to research the feasibility of and draft model upland habitat ordinance language for NC based on something like the City of Tampa's. If such language turns out to be legal in NC, and if timing works out, this could be a nice opportunity to insert this language into Raleigh's UDO.

I do not completely understand the "diagnostic and approach report," nor the best way to go about providing comments. But basically, I would be interested in finding out the most politically suitable way to encourage the city to expand their resource protection section. Jamie, any thoughts on how to go about this? And thoughts on timing?

Unfortunately, I have to miss Thursday's meeting due to a scheduling conflict, but I would be interested in helping out with this effort.

Jacquelyn


 * NOTES**


 * Hess will follow up with Wallace with notion of getting written comments in - need other headings to go in with stormwater management and tree preservation eg natural heritage, wildlife habitat


 * Environmental Awards :-(**

The 2010 Environmental Awards Jury has reviewed the applications and made their decisions for this year. Your project was not selected for an Environmental Award. However, your project is worthy of consideration again next year, and we hope you will consider reapplying. Please contact me if you would like to discuss your application. The good news here is that we have a good application as a base for next year and will have more accomplishments to include in our application. Toddi


 * Together Green Grant**


 * Alexander and Holcombe are working on this with Connors
 * looking for $25-$30k - most for a part-timer to organize
 * plant 20acres long leaf, put up boxes and nest structures, restoration meadows, design signage for projects
 * this is a one-year grant
 * deadline 7 May - hear by August


 * WNPP Identity**
 * Sean Gillen will be helping with this