Meeting+2012+July+12

//**Wake County Nature Preserves Meeting**//
Thursday 8:30-10 1214 Jordan Hall, NCSU Campus IRREGULAR MEETING DATE - 12 July to avoid 4 July holidays

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 * Attendance Notes**
 * Steelman will be unable to attend-- I have been called out to a fire in Colorado so will be unable to make this. : (. It was to be my last meeting and I am very sorry to miss it. Please know that even if I am not there in body, I am there in spirit. It has been wonderful working with you all over these past four+ years. Toddi
 * Hess will be away
 * Charlynne Smith away at staff retreat
 * Perlmutter won't be able to attend

Attending: Pohlman (presiding, notes), K Murphy (TLC intern), B Hoffman (TLC intern), Hammerbacher, Massa, Sullivan, Cheshire, Lobsinger, Ander

//**Promotion Committee**//
GOALS: Create more public awareness and appreciation of our highest quality natural areas in Wake County. In 2012 we will: 1) develop a website (completed); 2) maintain/update the website (on-going); 3) promote WakeNature through one or more Stewardship Awards (in process); 4) Promote WakeNature by holding a training session for resource managers (being planned); 5) Create promotional materials to get the message of WakeNature out to a broader audience; 6) Work on fundraising provided key fundable priorities are identified

1. Update on MOU: Melissa Salter Is everyone OK with the proposed language suggested by the City of Raleigh?

2. QR Codes Anything more to discuss on this matter?

From George: Hi, folks,

Seems someone is already moving the idea of having QR coded signs available forward. I don't know who this person is, but maybe someone can track him down. I'm away for the next 5 weeks. In particular, I note that there's a Lake Johnson sign on one of the slides. @http://prezi.com/ssh2vlnnbyg6/americas-smartest-park/ From Charlynne: this was from a city competition. @http://citycampral.org/  and @http://www.raleighpublicrecord.org/news/2012/06/04/citycamp12/

This one is not QR codes, but a mobile application in development for smartphones, RGreenway. Looks like it is still in development but is a greenway trail location map from my interpretation. For WakeNature, we need to define the purpose, goal and desired audience of an application or mobile website before moving forward. Exciting to see these in development! Charlynne

Leigh Ann will discuss a development with Wake County's Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee - they are discussing the idea of the "Seven Wonders of Wake" ... sound familiar?

Follow up on QR Codes / Mobile Applications: Resource links from educational sessions recently conducted: >
 * Planning Worksheet to brainstorm if considering mobile applications: @http://cnr.ncsu.edu/rrs/pdfs/TrendsMobileTech_Worksheet.pdf
 * If you are interested in additional information on this topic see the Trends in Mobile Technology presentation slides @http://cnr.ncsu.edu/rrs/pdfs/TrendsInMobileTechnology_web.pdf
 * NOTES**


 * **Signs:** Emily Ander also conveyed some information about signs and posts, with respect to Raleigh Parks. Posts/trail markers are $200 apiece (last meeting’s notes included that the signs the City of Raleigh uses cost about $2,200 each). There is currently an effort to develop apps for mobile devices to include on the posts. Raleigh is considering a sign at Anderson Point, and trail markers at Lake Johnson. Leigh Ann noted from experience that perhaps some mobile apps are too ephemeral, and thought that perhaps a direction to go would be to have a website link for mobile phones; that way the website could be changed/updated. A post at Lake Johnson could be thought of as a mobile(?), or at least updateable, kiosk. Linking the post to website would allow WakeNature to tell a story and provide information. Could we buy one post/trail marker, and spend money on website development?
 * **Memorandum of Understanding:** Emily Ander of the City of Raleigh provided an update that the City of Raleigh is moving to sign on as a partner with the Wake Nature Memorandum of Understanding. In addition to some questions that were answered prior to the meeting (e.g. WakeNature Preserve Partnership is not a 501(c)3 non-profit organization; the current MOU expires May 5, 2015; etc), there were some clarifications to the MOU that the City would like to include as signatory. In order to achieve this without having other signatories sign a new copy of the MOU, the City’s request was to include some notes on the signature page. Not all the partners had seen the proposed language/notes, so a vote/decision was held off until August, giving all a chance to review. The proposed language will be sent to members of the Partnership through e-mail prior to the August meeting.
 * **Wake Open Space & Parks Advisory Committee:** Leigh Ann noted a development with Wake County’s Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee, who have been discussing the idea of the “The Seven Wonders of Wake.” The discussion has been enthusiastic, and perhaps wide-ranging, and a subcommittee has been formed (not known if the subcommittee has met). Next discussion among full committee is July 23.

//**Inventory Committee**//
GOALS: 1) to compile a list of potential WakeNature preserve sites that contain examples of excellent ecological resources that either are being managed for their sustainability or are in need of management, 2) select two potential sites to focus on resource inventory building and management plan development for WakeNature Preserve designation. Focus sites for 2012 include TLC's Swift Creek Bluffs (nearly complete) and City of Raleigh's Lake Johnson Park. With Swift Creek Bluffs nearly complete, a third site for focus is an assemblage of properties in the Marks Creek watershed near Turnipseed: Beech, Williamson and West tracts.


 * NOTES**
 * It was noted that we should make sure that we have all of David Carr’s data, before he gets too busy. (David had generously offered to stay involved, even though he is taking a new job in Arkansas). Scott Pohlman will work with Gary Perlmutter to make sure we have the data in a usable format.

//**Capacity Committee**//

 * Anna is working with Melissa Salter about potential work at Lake Johnson.

//**Other Business**//

 * NOTES**
 * Brittany Hoffman is developing a comprehensive plan for the cluster of conservation properties at Swift Creek Bluffs (TLC, DOT and former Futtrell Tracts). The comprehensive management plan is incorporating information from previous planning efforts for individual sites, as well as recent work by NCSU students that addressed all three. The plan should be ready August or September, and will be submitted to WakeNature as part of application for designation as WakeNature Preserve.


 * Kevin Murphy is helping plan the invasive workshop for September. Kevin is looking at dates and places, and waiting on Gary Blank to return to move the effort along.


 * Leigh Ann also noted that TLC is moving forward with inventory of Williamson and West tracts in the Marks Creek watershed.


 * Heather Cheshire asked whether the WakeNature Preserves Partnership model is being exported to other counties. We noted some of the presentations made, including Chapel Hill and ANREP, but we had to respond that we haven’t been thinking about it too much yet, while we focus on making WakeNature a success. At some point, it would be good to do a survey of North Carolina counties to see where it would be most appropriate. In the mean time, folks can keep it in mind as they talk to others around North Carolina.