Meeting+2010+Oct+21

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

Gary P. will be absent (at a conference in SC instead) Kaytee will be absent (but will report next meeting on MOU)
 * Attendance Notes**

Present: Steelman (chairing), Hess (notes), Pohlman, Anderson, Snow, Lobsinger, Connors


 * Annotated Agenda Items**

//Please add items you'd like to see on the agenda by 5PM Tues before the meeting.//

//Please add your pre-meeting discussion of these items under the item right here on the agenda, or on the appropriate linked page.//


 * Introductions as needed**


 * REPORT BACK ON APPLICATION REVIEW MEETING-CHRIS/GEORGE**


 * //Bottom line:// The ad-hoc review committee approved (or recommends approval of) Wake County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space's application for Turnipseed Preserve to be accorded WakeNature Preserve status, subject to changes in the management plan suggested by the committee. Chris Snow raised no objections to the requested changes.**

The review subcommittee met on 2010 Oct 19 10A-12:30P at Triangle Land Conservancy's offices.
 * Committee present:** Hess (NCSU, chairman, not voting), Anderson (NC Wildlife Resources Commission), Cienek (Triangle Land Conservancy), Connors (NC Museum of Natural Sciences), Pohlman (NC Natural Heritage Program).
 * Committee absent:** Salter (Raleigh Parks)
 * Others present:** Snow (Wake County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space


 * Question 1:** Does the site have features that qualify it as a WakeNature Preserve? (based on WNPP Criteria)
 * Result:** Yes, by consensus. The management plan provided ample documentation of the presence of qualifying features. WNPP sets no standards as to nature or number of such features required.


 * Question 2:** Does the management plan address adequately the protection and management of those features? (again, with reference to WNPP Criteria, and particularly the management priority and preserve alternation sections of those criteria)
 * Result:** Some changes are required to the plan to satisfy the committee.


 * Motion:** The ad-hoc review committee approved (or recommends approval of) Wake County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space's application for Turnipseed Preserve to be accorded WakeNature Preserve status, subject to changes in the management plan suggested by the committee. (made by Pohlman, seconded by Anderson)
 * Result:** Approved 4-0


 * Next steps:** Each committee member has mark-ups to the document that will be sent to Hess for tracking purposes. Hess will transmit to Snow. Snow will make requested changes and send back to Hess for verification. Once verified, the provisional status will be removed and Snow will be notified that he may call Turnipseed a WakeNature Preserve.


 * Discussion:**
 * Salter was absent - how does that affect the process?
 * Does the ad-hoc committee approve, or recommend approval for further consideration by the full WNPP?


 * NOTES**
 * Ad-hoc committee recommends to the full WNPP group
 * Full WNPP group is somewhat undefined until Memorandum of Understanding is put into place
 * For this case, we will take this to the full committee for a vote, to add strength. Do by email. Yes, no, abstain.
 * Take the vote AFTER Wake County returns the revised document.
 * In future, require quorum of MOU signatories
 * Site visit by at least some members of ad-hoc committee will be part of the review process
 * Hess will incorporate these procedural changes on the wiki for review at next meeting

**update about COSP estimate of time, $ to get Turnipseed operation**al


 * NOTES**
 * Working with Leung and C. Smith from NCSU Parks, Rec, & Tourism working with their classes to move opening of Turnipseed along
 * Snow will talk with Leung and find out when their presentations are so that we can attend, and ask also if Leung can report at one of our meetings
 * No firm cost or time schedule, but it shouldn't be overly expensive or time consuming


 * REPORT BACK ON PRINT MEDIA//OUTREACH- JAMIE**

From Jamie: Sorry, I had every intention of being there tomorrow morning and discussing this item, but an emergency has come up and I won't be able to attend. Please see the attached draft press release and make any changes you'd like. I'll be in touch soon to bring you up to date on progress with reporters. [|Turnipseed Preserve release.doc]


 * NOTES**
 * Direction is right
 * Connors will review and revise the bullet list of Turnipseed Highlights
 * Steelman & Snow will review and revise and get comments to Jamie
 * We will revisit at our next meeting.


 * REPORT ON RALEIGH NATURE PRESERVES TASK FORCE-- GEORGE/TODDI**

At our last meeting we made progress with the very prelminary categorizing of parks. We continue to refine our definitions of nature preserve and natural area. We are also simultaneously refining how we are using the criteria we apply to the specific preserves/areas. We anticipate tackling and additional 4-5 parks at our next meeting while continuing to refine the process. We hope to be able to delegate the Dec round of categorization to staff. This might leave us with a preliminary full list of parks and preserves in Dec. or Jan. The steps after that are unclear.


 * NOTES**
 * Connors will attend in Hess' place at next Raleigh meeting


 * ADDITIONAL INVENTORIES-- GARY P./TODDI/CHRIS**

Moss, Bats, Mussels Hi Toddi, I talk with my field coordinator and see what we can do to help. We can probably handle a couple of small sites without funds, but if there are numerous locations we will have to identify a source of funds to cover the cost (our entire crew is working off of extra-mural funds).

Jay [Levine]

Here's an e-mail response from Mary Kay Clark, the bat specialist I (Gary P) referred to: "Chris and Gary, I'm very interested in helping out with this. It is difficult to get good results at this time of year for bat surveys. When the temps go below 60 there isn't much activity. I hope that you can put this on the calendar for next spring. In the meantime, if I am in the area in the next few weeks it would be helpful to go by and visit to see what the possibilities are for the spring.

Mary Kay


 * NOTES**
 * No new information on this
 * Steelman will contact Levine to see if any progress has occurred
 * Clark is interested in doing bat survey, but timing (temperature) suggests it be put off until next spring - Snow will keep this on his radar


 * VOLUNTEER WORK DAY SCHEDULE-- MEGHAN**

Pleasants Road pond drain date - Fri 29 October with Leopold Wildlife Club Schedule of future activities


 * NOTES**
 * 9 Leopold people signed up for pond draining
 * We'll have transport from the County
 * Snow and Connors will bring waders for people
 * Snow and Connors will each bring a pump
 * Snow will look into access to water for hosing things and people down after use


 * Still no schedule of future activities, but it should happen soon - looking for meaningful activities for professionals

**RIGHT OF ENTRY**

We need to discuss briefly the Wake County Right of Entry Permit and the Research and Collecting Permit. -Chris

**NOTES**
 * County attorney wants more liability language in the permit - research application will include a liability release


 * FUTURE SITES?? WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS?**

Temple Flat Rocks Swift Creek Cary Apex


 * NOTES**
 * Postponed to next meeting


 * SIGNS**

I have attached the proposal from Rodneys and the design PDF of the sign. They quoted for the sign to be about 4' above ground. I would like it taller than that, but just haven't got him to requote that yet until I got your feedback on his pricing. I am sending an electronic request to Correction Enterprises, can't seem to get anyone on the phone there... Shawn

See quote here. [|Microsoft Word - Wake County Parks & Rec 9.28.10.pdf]

So I don't have an official quote from Correction Enterprises but generally they thought $25ish for each sign (not sure of the painting or the aluminum and the quality of the vinyl work) plus posts (that are just galvanized, can't be painted) and no additions as far as installation etc. Shawn

Also would need to be purchased through charlynne at NCSU or chris at parks and rec


 * NOTES**
 * $300 per sign from Rodneys
 * Snow will take quote to County sign shop and see what they can do to get a better price
 * Agency pays cost for signs
 * This raises the issue of what the benefits are to the organization to have a WNP, given the costs of things like this
 * Would be nice if there were a way for WNPP to pay for (whole are part) signs
 * Will our sign meet municipal sign ordinances?


 * WakeNature video posted on NCSU YouTube:** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZCuBOVx5oQ


 * CONSERVATION REGISTRY**

is this something we want to do? http://www.conservationregistry.org

Scott Anderson: The Wildlife Resources Commission is hoping to develop a portal on this site. We would like to identify conservation efforts that are relevant to the Wildlife Action Plan, but not associated with the Commission.


 * NOTES**
 * Can register projects, call for volunteers - focus is on on-the-ground work
 * Could be a good way to increase our visibility
 * Snow suggested that for sites this is the responsibility of the landowner - he will follow up.


 * VOLUNTEER HOURS**

Scott will bring volunteer forms to complete. Please refer to attendance table below for days of attendance. Thank you!

From Gary P. - As I won't be in this meeting, I would like to submit my hours via e-mail (I'm using the Excel spreadsheet form). Jacquelyn Wallace is still listed as the WRC contact on the Report Your Service page on the wiki; this should be updated since she has moved on. Who do we send reporting sheets to? Can we have an e-mail address? Thanks.
 * ||  || 15-Jul || 19-Aug || 2-Sep || 16-Sep ||
 * L Cienek ||  || ? ||   || x || x ||
 * Snow ||  || ? || x ||   || x ||
 * Ramsey ||  || ? ||   || x || x ||
 * Holcombe ||  || ? || x ||   || x ||
 * Shumate ||  || ? ||   ||   || x ||
 * Lobsinger ||  || ? ||   || x || x ||
 * Steelman ||  || ? || x || x || x ||
 * Hess ||  ||   || x ||   || x ||
 * Blank ||  ||   || x || x ||   ||
 * Connors ||  || ? || x ||   ||   ||
 * Lobsingher || ? || x ||  ||   ||
 * Perlmutter || ? || x || x ||  ||
 * Adrian Zeck || ? || x ||  ||   ||
 * Hester ||  || ? || x ||   ||   ||
 * Anderson ||  || x || x ||   ||   ||
 * C Smith ||  || ? ||   || x ||   ||
 * Schmidt ||  || ? ||   || x ||   ||

From Jamie: I have forms here that I've completed and will give to Scott at our next meeting.


 * NOTES**
 * Include anything associated with the partnership - this includes preparation for meetings, meetings, web maintenance, field work, transport to field sites
 * Hess will create a web page for each person on the Report Your Service part of the wiki