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August
30,
2001
Present:
- Brian Bohl, Hamilton Co. SWCD
- David Styer, Citizen
- Tom Brankamp, Woolpert
- Dave Sparke, Anderson Twp.
- Karen Ball, Todd Portune Admin,
Aide
- John Hunter, Citizen
- Joanne Gerson, Montgomery Planning
Commish.
- Cory Chadwick, Hamilton Co. Dept. of Environ.
Services
- Marty Umberg, MSD
- Holly Utrata-Halcomb, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 am and introductions were made.
- Holly (HCSWCD) - Announced that she attended the Ohio Stormwater Task Force Meeting (OSWTRF) in Dayton in August. The Stormwater Task Force annual meeting will be held in conjunction with Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) annual meeting. It will be held on November 8, 2001 at The Holiday Inn East, I-70 and Hamilton Rd. Columbus, Ohio. Fee for the all day meeting is $65.00 - Covers continental breakfast, lunch and ice cream social. Please mark your calendars and you will receive a notice soon.
- The OSWTF received a 319 grant awarded in the amount of $126,000 to look at how stormwater is being administered throughout the state.
- Tom Brankamp (Woolpert) announced that the OSWTF will have a web site. Dave McElroy has already been working on a web site. The address is http://www.warrenswcd.com/ohiostormwatertaskforce All meeting minutes will be posted at that site in the near future. If you would like to be added to the direct mailing list contact Holly at 772-7645.
- Holly - Announced that she will be resigning as chair of Wet Weather Initiative Committee effective December 31, 2001. It will be her fourth year as Chair and she said she felt that it is important to rotate perhaps on a two-year basis in order to provide fresh ideas and direction. Holly is also taking on more tasks for the OSWTF and well as the County Phase II program and time is limited. Holly will stay active with the committee as a participant. She asked for any volunteers to take over the Chair's role - Jeff Leedy of Public Works was recommended. Dave Sparke said he would also consider the position. Any other suggestions should be directed to Holly.
- The Planning Partnership will hold a meeting 10/1/2001 at the Springdale Senior Center, 9158 Winton Rd. to discuss ways to unite the county in obtaining more funding - want to look at state capital budget fund. Call Catalina at 946-4455 to get more information.
- Karen (Todd Portune's office) - Todd Portune brought the 6 minimum control measures required for NPDES Phase II to the County Commissioners meeting and wants to unite the County in the implementation of these measures.
- Holly - Expressed concerns that there are no case studies that show that the Rational Method used to determine detention coefficients actually work. Problem - current detention only looks at individual sites rather than on a watershed basis.
- Marty Umberg (MSD) - Tunnel feasibility study - Need to know how much storm water is coming from Butler County? There is concern that management practices may not be adequately restricting flow.
- Karen - Expressed concern that the deep tunnel may help 17 municipalities and the Mill Creek treatment plant, but what about the development on the west side, Great Miami Watershed or in the Little Miami Watershed. Holly said we need to change stormwater regulations in the county.
- MSD - Modeling data coming out regarding flow capacity. The County Stormwater Study Advisory Meeting on 9/14/01 will discuss potential management structures that could be used in Hamilton County. How should we handle stormwater regionally?
- There is a case study in Toledo counties targeting local projects that would be handled locally, but there would be a regional authority. They have formed a coalition under ORC 6119. Regional defined as watershed basis. OEPA would permit regionally and locally. Regions would be permitted for their responsibilities and local municipalities would be permitted for their responsibilities as well.
- Holly reported that Jane Wittke of OKI called and she is dropping off the Wet Weather Initiative Committee. OEPA water quality funding expired for them and her Director has given her other tasks. Karen suggested that we ask Bruce Koehler of OKI to join the WWI to share the results of his aquifer studies. Karen will call Bruce to be on the committee.
- Holly - There will be meetings concerning how to implement the Issue 1 funds. Contact Hamilton County Parks for the dates. Under Issue I, $2.3 million is coming to the county per year for greenspace preservation.
Long Range Plan:
We reviewed the recommendations from our last meeting. The following suggestions will once again be discussed at the September meeting and hopefully finalized. It is vital that all members attend next meeting.
The following Mission Statement was discussed and proposed:
To promote effective management of stormwater in Hamilton County to prevent pollution of streams, rivers and lakes and to reduce flood damage of structures, streambanks and riparian corridors
Planning
Goals 1: Review of county stormwater plans:
Joanne is Chair of the Planning Commission Partnership with 49 jurisdictions. Goal: get comprehensive plan for Hamilton County to have requirements for buffers, zoning, etc. Montgomery just rewrote zoning codes through the Planning Commission. For example, a minimum size parking lot is required, but why not a maximum size? Most residents who came to planning meeting have no idea of flooding potential. Perhaps education through a web site and a publication could help increase public awareness.
Joanne added that we need to make recommendations to regional planning.
It was pointed out in Committee discussion that the County's Regional Planning Department has no one on its staff who can develop buffer ordinances and address environmental concerns. The County needs a planner who knows environmental planning. The County Prosecutor is not an environmental prosecutor - the county has never taken an environmental case to court; it always goes to the state.
Education
Goal 2: Develop a system to provide stormwater information to the public:
The sentiment was that Public Works should do this. We could also look to UC who put together the Tri State Resource Center web site.
Karen said we need to push for discussion on 6 minimum control measures. Holly responded that the county-wide stormwater study would help us develop ways to implement 6 minimum control measures. Our WWI committee should support their efforts and develop a website for reference. Cory felt the WWI Committee should not be responsible for the web site production. The commissioners should put the information on their web site. John said we could tie into HCSWCD website as well and link to Public Works Stormwater Division. Karen inquired about how many hits a day are these sites getting? We could put the stormwater data and WWI minutes on the web site with the most hits and link all the others.
Action
Goal 3: Lobby for the need for an Environmental Court or Referee:
The current system of going through the Prosecutor's office is long and laborious.
MSD - Industrial Waste Office goes through procedures for violations - talk to violators & negotiate compliance. Karen suggested that we look in to the Environmental crimes unit through the Fire Department. Hilton Davis got fined fairly heavily.
Data Collection
Goal 4: Develop a central recording system for stormwater complaints:
Karen explained that is was vital that we (MSD, HCSWCD, PW etc.) should share data with EMA - Don Maccarone. Holly commented that she has explored the possibility in the past and that we may need a grant to accomplish this. Marty commented that he is working with Ann Lyon and a UC student on the collection of water quality data.
MSD is conducting studies on water quality on numerous streams/rivers. Developing a database to tie to EPA's BASIN model. Karen commented that MSD should contact OKI for data. MSD is actually part of OKI. Karen asked if the Health Dept. could add their data so MSD data could merge with septic area data.
Karen - MSD should contact OKI for data. MSD is actually part of OKI.
Goal 5: Study the impacts of land use practices and promote the protection of riparian
areas.
Announcements:
Joan - Community Compass invited the public for input to address stormwater concerns.
Karen - Announced 2 public hearings on stormwater. Will include:
- The role of stormwater
- The need for a county stormwater utility, which means a tax. MSD already has a responsibility here with its sanitary sewer system. However, there needs to be someone responsible for stormwater flows as well. City of Cincinnati does have a stormwater utility.
Next meeting 9/27/2001 at 9:30 am Same location
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