Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District

Wet Weather Initiative

Meeting Minutes

April 24, 2003

Present: Tom Ryther, Chair; Timothy P. Gilday, Hamilton County Engineer's Office; Cory Chadwick, HCDOES; Brian Bohl, HCS&WD; Nancy Ellwood, MCWC; John Hunter, LWVCA; Jim Rozelle, FMSM; Rob Caudill, Hamilton County General Health District; Holly Utrata-Halcomb, HCS&WD; Bob Mason, HC Park District

Hamilton County Stormwater District update

The Oversight Board is being organized to exercise executive functions for the new District under the chairmanship of the County Engineer, Bill Brayshaw. Other members are John Dowlin, County Commission; David Pepper, City of Cincinnati; two Township Trustees; and two representatives of the Municipal League. Five alternates are to be appointed as well.

The Oversight Board is adopting bylaws and acting to get the District up and running. Issues to be addressed are functions, funding, by-laws, officers, meeting dates, and logo. Oversight Board meetings will be open to the public. Todd Long (513-946-4254) of the County Engineer's office is the point man for communication with the Board.

Several functions will remain at the local level: BMP's, plan review, fieldwork, enforcement. Dan Taphorn, HCSWCD, will provide training on BMP's.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Stormwater Management - Jim Rozelle, Chair

The WWIN Long Range Plan adopted at the 2/27/03 meeting calls for six action steps to support the Goal: "TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT HAMILTON COUNTY". Mr. Rozelle proposed specific responses to each action step and after discussion and amendment all were adopted as follows:

1: Support the development and implementation of NPDES Phase II storm water management plans throughout the County.

• Action - Committee members participate in Public Advisory Committee.

2: Seek formal representation on the Public advisory Committee of the Hamilton County Storm Water District.

• Action - Submit letter to Hamilton County Engineer requesting representation.

3: Support amendment of Ohio Revised Codes 6117 and .307 (erosion and sediment control) to permit better enforcement of storm water regulations.

• Action - Provide letter to House Committee supporting legislation, when introduced.

4: Support watershed modeling to improve land use management decisions.

• Action - Submit letter to County Commissioners supporting proposed watershed-modeling program in selected watersheds.

5: Recommend the use of environmental and hydrological experts by the County and other jurisdictions.

• Action - Include recommendation in letter to County Engineer and in letter submitted to Regional Planning Commission.

6. Identify current status of groundwater protection efforts.

• Action- Contact USGS, Mill Creek Conservancy District, ODNR, and OKI and summarize current activities in the County.

Potential members of the WWIN Stormwater Committee chaired by Mr. Rozelle were identified as Sam George, Ali Behar, Todd Long, Tom Brankamp, Lou Ann Winkle, John Hunter.

Education Committee - Rob Caudill, Chair

The committee is working to implement the WWIN GOAL " TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF STORMWATER IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES".

Watershed Signage

The watershed signage subcommittee (renamed Project SIGNS - Signage Inspires Great Neighborhood Streams) is functioning as an independent organization under the guidance of Nancy Ellwood and Brian Bohl with projects in Hamilton, Butler Warren, and Clermont County and South Eastern Indiana. There is discussion with Northern Kentucky about joining the group. The scope of the project is reflected by the potential number (2000) of stream crossings by county and municipal roads in the area. Watershed signs are being designed with three different messages depending on the crossing.

Three sub-committees are being formed in addition to the already existing Steering Committee. Private funding sources are being sought to fund the signage itself and public awareness campaigns.

WWIN Brochure

A sub-committee of Holly Utrata-Halcomb, Bob Mason, and Nancy Ellwood is charged with designing a brochure explaining the Mission, Goals, and activities of WWIN.

Legislative Update on Phase II

State Representative Patricia Clancy has attached an amendment to the Budget bill authorizing the attachment of Stormwater District fees to property tax bills.

Stream Monitoring Data Collection - Ann Lyon and Marty Umberg, Chairs

The Chairs had schedule conflicts preventing attendance at the WWIN meeting. In the absence of a report, the group discussed the appropriate use of non-professional monitoring of water quality and monitoring vs. indicator testing. A list of all the stream quality monitoring efforts in the County will be requested from MSD.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Nancy Ellwood reported that the Domain name www.wwin.us is available for use as a web site.

• Nancy Ellwood distributed the draft of a press release announcing the Long Range Plan for WWIN. A copy of the draft is attached. Revisions were requested by May 5.

• WWIN meeting notes and related information are posted on the HCS&WD website. Holly asked that member organizations establish links to the site to promote wider awareness of WWIN.

NEW BUSINESS:

Miami River Conservancy and other watershed groups are planning a workshop on land use and conservation easements for November and WWIN has been asked to be a co-sponsor. Discussion centered on the relationship between land use and stream quality. We currently have $5,686 in our account. A motion was made and passed to donate $50.00 to support this conference.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Ohio Stormwater Task Force planning retreat is scheduled for May 21. Contact Holly for details.

• Brian Bohl mentioned that the Brandywine Creek Bioengineering project will have a tree planting tomorrow (April 25). Volunteers are needed and welcome.

• Household Hazardous Materials Collection Event for 2003. Dates: April 26, May 3, Oct 18, Oct 25. See web site www.hcdoes.org or call 946-7777 for details. Electronics Collection Event will be held at Cincinnati State on May 29,30,31. Must be registered in advance.

NEXT MEETING OF WWIN:

The next meeting of the Wet Weather Initiative is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2003 at 9:00 A.M. at Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, 250 Wm Howard Taft Road.