Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 06/05/2006

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Exhibit 1 2) EPB Work Plan Environmental Policy Board (EPB) Members Chair Joe McDilda, Vice Chair Michael Max, Members John Freeburg and Bob Bentz were present to discuss the EPB Work Plan with the Council. Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Anderson stated the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) is present tonight to review the EPB Work Plan for 2006/2007 with the Council. EPB Chair McDilda informed the Council the list of objectives is not in any specific order. The hope of the EPB is that the order of objectives will rise to the surface as the plan is worked through. The Council and the EPB Board reviewed the EPB 2006/2007 Work Plan, including the following issues: · Importance of communication from the EPB and public awareness regarding environmental preservation and the work of the EPB. o Chair McDilda indicated the EPB can provide a more detailed plan on communication and the educational process. · A joint work session with the Council regarding the cluster development ordinance. · Implementation of green space banking. · Creation of public grants and funding calendar. o Possible endowment savings program similar to the program for parks. o Possible ballot referenda that allows residents to vote on a tax to pay for environmental initiatives. o Prioritization of the Work Plan to determine where funds are needed and how to raise funds. o Staff person to work on environmental funding and grants. o EPB to prioritize top three goals with input from staff, and to pursue grants to achieve the determined goals. The Council expressed interest in the EPB working on the goals of greenways and open space banking. Chair McDilda indicated there is still a fair amount of activity involved with the analysis of the wetlands, which will need to be completed before the EPB can move onto their next task. Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Anderson indicated when the wetland buffer ordinance was adopted, Council directed staffto review the ordinance after six months. It has now been roughly six months; however, there have not been many opportunities to apply the new regulations and therefore, a review at this time may be premature. However, the EPB wanted to update the Council in regard to the wetland functions and values inventory that was a component of the buffer ordinance. The office portion of the study has been completed and staff has received the preliminary wetland management classification map. Field verification of the higher quality wetlands is expected to commence in mid to late May. Staff is in the process of notifying property ownem of the upcoming field work so the consultants can access the wetlands on private property. Upon completion of the field work, a final report and map will be presented to Council for adoption.