Anne Arundel
Waterway Restoration Alliance

Meeting Notes 2004-11-02

Broadwater Farms - 100 homes

Duvall Creek Environmental Trust 200 homes Hilsmere, Kitty Creek, Key Harbor, Fishing Creek farms, North shore, unincorporated homes per Jay Phillips

Bruce Saylor introduced himself as a new rep for Loch Haven on Pocahontas Creek - wants to dredge Loch Haven Cove, having problem with Corps of Engineers.

Nov 15 time frame for budget is an internal deadline of first draft. Then DPW and budget office and County Exec office react and comment.

In January, pull entire county budget together.

April 30 - County Exec submits budget to County Council which reviews and approves in May.

Have included all 19 projects from May wish list - $8 million operating and capital funds ( matching state funds)

Whitcomb asked if he has enough staff and resources

Plait suggested sending a letter to Ron Bowen asking about this

Exec gets input from Departments thru Dec; works out details until April- council has little opportunity to influence a $1 Billion budget

Executive has had control and power for last 40 years

Council cannot shift funds or add money

Can cut funds in order to cover educational issues.

Once budget is final on June 1, almost impossible to change.

First priority is to pay teachers, firemen, and police, but other items like a swim center for Glen Bernie get through

Confirmed we need to lobby Ron Bowen.

Roads, bridges, sewer, water - public works extends budget over long period of time, not scrutinized too closely- should be okay if includes dredging dollars

Send Reilly a copy of our letters so he can let Ron Bowen (and others) know dredging is a good idea

List every community associated and leader.

Cc John Hammond, Al Collins - chief of staff

Budget director and very knowledgeable

Good chance we will have a surplus at end of this cycle ($10-15 million)- discretionary dollars that could be used for one time uses such as fire hall, dredging, etc.)

Mrs. Owens decides how to use while working out budget in winter and spring.

Mrs. Owens is a very fiscally conservative person - fairly accurate on expenditures, rarely over budget.

Keep trying - if at first you don't succeed

But projects get some more expensive over times.

Emergency 800 MHz radio system added $25 million.

85% of budget is fixed - payroll, pensions, health insurance, negotiated with unions.

Constituents always remind officials and council about their projects, so not forgotten (like community center).

He represents one third of county with most waterfront - met with Broadwater Creek - Cape Anne community recently.

Council cuts very little so if dredging gets to them, won't be cut.

Constant philosophical public policy question whether to give council ability to transfer and cut budget items - proposed referendum to do this lost 4-3 so charter change was not on the ballot this year.

Reilly - Need to fund staff and consultants to do the project.

Reilly - Anne Pearson working on storm water utility fund very articulate and influential person - gets back to whether the general public will support it - if Mrs. Owens wants it, there's a good chance it will pass - cost of repairs and restoration is enormous.

Whitcomb - had presentation on Waterway improvement fund form Bob Gaudett - any other source of Funds EPA, Department of Environment,

Whitcomb - encourage county to obtain grants and monies to extent possible.

Reilly - knows county gets lots of housing and education grants

helps to have community organization letters of support when submit a grant

Focused and coordinated ground swell efforts are effective.

Work with Joan Cadden on state issues - she and Mrs. Owens should meet together with us and county officials

Reilly - its slow arduous process that requires a long term commitment.

Need to add Loch Haven and Lake Ogleton to Plait's list.

AAWRA research workgroup - Steve Goins reported collecting figures and numbers regarding impact of dredging on communities, number of boats, registered, length of shoreline, estimated homes and property values, out of county and out of state boats kept in AA county, and effect on economy.

Maritime section of code had info on number of marinas, boats, etc, form past - share with Whitcomb - County slogan advertising the county is 'Come sail away' Therefore County has an obligation to maintain our waterways. From Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau.

Paul Rickett - reviewing county dredging guide- trying to put and overview guide together- written as if everything moving forward smoothly (permits, funding, etc.) getting input form others, talking to people who have had successful dredging projects, include steps and timeline, budget process least clear.

Bill Edmonston Bylaws - will have final draft at next meeting 1st Tuesday in January is to be the annual meeting (1/4/05) hope to adopt in Jan. Suggestion that 2 of 9 directors be at large posts for those who may not represent a particular community or are from a less formalized area or can't join if board has not endorsed AAWRA. This proposed change received general support from everyone.

Could have more than one rep from a community or creek on Board, but hope to have broad representation throughout the county and creeks.

Non-Profits- 501©3 can't lobby, but 501©4 can promote social and welfare issues and could lobby - incorporate once have bylaws in January for tax purposes.

Try to invite other council members and Mrs. Owens in Dec. Reilly suggested inviting various community specialists - Gail Smith is one of four.

Parole Redevelopment - offer to clean up Church Creek

fact or fiction?

Could this be modified to really fix the Creek - who to approach?

Reilly said to talk to Mrs. Owens - also Joe Rutter, Spurge Eismier, Ron Bowen.

Council Members can be fined or jailed if try to influence administrative process directly.

Call ethic department or Jodie of Public Relations) for info on meeting reports, etc., re Parole

Reilly strongly encourages AAWRA to approach major developers for financial money and other concessions to gain community support

Will affect several creeks, also Annapolis Mall - AAWRA should approach them - address next 30 year of run off

Getting creek restoration funds is huge nut to crack

Whitcomb drafted six potential resolutions to consider - stay narrowly focused on dredging as opposed to preventing runoff. Some of the other proposals overlapped, and after some discussion, three of the proposals (#1,#2, and #4 were voted on affirmatively, as listed below.

SRF got a stop work order on large project along Forrest Drive base on zero runoff requirements.

Use of performance bonds related to runoff up to three years after a construction project is completed

Reilly - we should invite all prospective candidates who may run for County Exec - interested in citizen's issues.

Potential Resolutions of Support

Resolutions for AAWRA to adopt. Determine whether we need to start sending out letters on these. Some possible issues would be:

1. To endorse legislative proposals by Delegate Leopold to require, during any year of budget surplus, a replenishment of Trust Funds (including the Waterway Improvement Fund) of monies appropriated in previous years from these funds. Proposed letter to State.
2. To endorse legislation proposed by Delegate Leopold to place higher priority usage of Waterway Improvement Funds for projects where public works projects led to the sedimentation of waterways
3. To support the Anne Arundel Watershed Network in their effort to secure a Stormwater Utility Fee in the County to pay for needed repairs to the stormwater system. (One sentiment expressed is that we avoid this matter and focus only on dredging.)
4. To push for government accountability where highway or other public works projects have led to significant sediment run-off into adjoining waterways
5. To urge that Water Improvement Funds be allocated based on boat registrations (or other specific measure)
6. To urge that Water Improvement Funds be allocated based on boat registrations (or other specific measure). Wait to determine if county is getting its fair share or not, or more.

Begin drafting letters -- possibly from AAWRA or start a letter-writing campaign involving all of us. Whitcomb was urged to invite a prominent member of the County Executive's office for the next meeting.

Charlie Burke, Secretary