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Anne Arundel
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Anne Arundel
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Following introductions, the meeting at South County Police Headquarters began at 7:10pm with Bob Gaudette, DNR's Director of the Waterway Improvement Program giving an overview of the sources and uses of monies in the Waterway Improvement Fund WIF). This fund receives its money solely from the 5% excise fee on boat purchases and 0.3% from motor fuel tax, not from any general fund taxes. It is administered by DNR as a separate budget, with approximately 1/3 going to local projects, 1/3 to state projects and 1/3 to navigational projects. The general goals of the WIF are to expand or improve access to waterways, improve safety on the waterways, and to help with environmental waterway projects. An important criteria when funding projects is to ensure the monies will actually be spent on these goals within the next fiscal year. For FY 2006 (the current fiscal year) DNR received requests to help finance 96 projects costing over $31.5 million. Of that they were able to extend about $22 million of aid. There are currently over 150 requested projects, and Bob's job is to assess each of these and recommend to the Secretary, DNR and the Governor which ones to fund. They try to share some funds with every County, yet Anne Arundel is acknowledged as having the largest number of requests, especially for dredging, yet has the fewest public access points to their waterways. Baltimore County has essentially completed their dredging projects, and manly needs moneys for maintenance dredging. Bob also explained the three types of financing available from the WIF for a project: 100% state paid, 50% matching, or tax district loans. We then had a discussion about the primary criteria for evaluating a project's qualifications for funding: Boat Counts. We've long been told that a project is evaluated based on how many would enjoy the improved channel access, yet this was the first time that boat counts seemed to be the overriding method for determining this. Bob relies on airborne photos showing the number of boats, piers, and slips as a key way of measuring, so we discussed the implications of determining these counts fairly on creeks that have become heavily silted in (with little watercraft access). Bob commented 70% of the boats in Maryland are trailered. He also mentioned Annapolis city dock not on the list but the dredging got done with this state funding. Also the county had been holding up its funding of 50/50 dredging projects until the state repaid the $1M backlog on prior projects it had owed. Retrofits are only county funds not state. Delegate Joan Cadden also gave an overview of the Legislature's role in approving the annual budgets, and ensuring that the WIF funds are approved, without being appropriated for some other use. She has tried to restore previously-mis-appropriated monies, and is working closely with Bob to develop proper language to introduce as a proposal in the next session. She showed continued great interest in helping some of the requested projects obtain permits and funding, especially as there were several residents of Brady Cove expressing frustration of waiting many years for their dredging project. Delegate Cadden was also surprised by the emphasis on boat counts. Several people wondered if there should be other factors considered, such as how long the project's been on the wait list, whether commercial watermen are waterway users, and the impact that highway or major construction projects have caused the sediment build-up. Delegate Cadden also brought up the fact that the State will have about $60 million in surplus funds this year. Could these be used to replenish the WIF? It was also asked if some other agencies, such as SHA use the surplus to retrofit failed Stormwater systems or dredge sediment caused by previous state funded construction. Much discussion went to the backlog of dredging projects and how long residents have to wait for these fixes. The State will only allocate monies next fiscal year, if the County is able to spend them. So it came back to whether the County has sufficient resources to tackle all the requests, such as the list of 16 (now 18?) projects they submitted to DNR in July. Plus some of these projects are getting costlier due to inflation, fuel costs, and the scarcity of places to put the dredged material. In answer to questions about proposed major construction projects (e.g. Parole Plaza) it was suggested that communities request more involvement from MDE, to ensure these projects don't further impact the waterways. Both Bob Gaudette and Joan Cadden praised AAWRA's efforts to band together and show strength of support for the WIF and the importance of dredging projects in our County. At the end of the meeting, we welcomed two newly paid community members; the Bodkin Creek Coalition and Wilelinor Community on Church Creek. Treasurer Jay Phillips reminded everyone of the importance of community or individual membership, which enables us to work together as an alliance. Jay also emphasized the importance of member dues for applying for 501c(4) non-profit status. Bob Whitcomb reported he had followed-through on the suggestion last month to ally with anyone in Baltimore County pushing for dredging. He learned that their alliance was formed twenty years ago, and successfully lobbied for their dredging program, but has since disbanded. Baltimore County officials believe they have a good monitoring program, and are mainly working on maintenance projects. We are hoping that the Univ. of MD professor who does research work on marine trades, will be our December speaker, and that MTAM may also have someone at that meeting. The January meeting is our annual meeting for election of directors and officers. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm, although we then reviewed potential logos that could be used on any press release material. Those in attendance were: Bob Whitcomb/Saefern Jay Phillips, DCET Geoffrey Thomas/Admiral Heights Steve Goins, Cape Anne Charlie Burke Shore Acres/Harbor View Pat Lynch/Amberley Mike Geers, Loch Haven Joan Liddy, Cape Anne Paul & Gloria Rickett, Broadwater Farms Bob Gallagher, West River Riverkeeper Laura & Bill Jones, Bodkin Creek Coalition Duane Wilding, Bayland Consulting Sepehr Baharlov, Bayland Consulting Jackie Anderson, Green Haven Highpoint Ellen & Louis Cerasuolo, Green Haven Highpoint Rhonda Harris, Green Haven Highpoint Kathleen Benson, Green Haven Highpoint Alex LaGrange, Green Haven Highpoint Anne Pearson, ASE Christine Reinert, Poplar Point Mary Lawrence, Poplar Point Elish Moore, Deale Beach Kathleen Benson, Broadneck Federation Frank Pittelli, Wilelinor Community |