Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District

Wet Weather Initiative

Meeting Minutes

August 28, 2003

Present: Tom Ryther, Chair; Cory Chadwick, HCDOES; John Hunter, LWVCA; Jim Rozelle, FMSM; James Kalle, MSD; Chris Geffite, HCGHD; Holly Utrata-Halcomb, HCS&WD; Tom Brankamp, Woolpert; Sam George, SMU/MSD

Review of Meeting Summary, June 26, 2003
The June 26, 2003 WWIN amended meeting summary was approved without correction.

Hamilton County Stormwater Management Update
Dues have been received from most of the member jurisdictions enabling the startup of the District. A planning meeting is scheduled for 9:00 AM on September 12, 2003 at the Winton Woods Center in Winton Woods Park.

The County will be focused primarily on NPDES Phase II water quality issues. The Cincinnati stormwater utility will emphasize reductions in stormwater quantity including illegal connections.

Committee Reports

Stream Monitoring – No report.

Stormwater Management - Two of the six committee action items (Items 2 and 5) adopted on 4-23-03 have been completed. Jim Rozelle will arrange an on-line or teleconference committee discussion to initiate plans for implementing the remaining four items.

Amberly Village is forming a storm water utility with a focus on flood control. The Village will continue to participate in the County Stormwater District for NPDES Phase II activities.

Fairfield – Butler County has experienced flood damage to over 100 homes in the Pleasant Run sub-watershed (part of the Great Miami River Watershed), which lies partly in Hamilton County, which has experienced considerable development pressure. A proposal for a FEMA buyout of impacted homes is being developed.

Education - Holly reported that a Stephen Small Seminar – Preserving Family Land will be held on November 12, 2003. The seminar will provide hands-on training for establishing conservation easements including legal requirements, estate planning, tax and real estate problems. WWIN donated $50.00 in support of this program and a letter of thanks was received.

Holly held a meeting with Nancy Ellwood, Brian Bohl and John Kellis of Miami Valley RC&D. They are looking at planning a Low-Impact Development tour for next summer or fall to Northern Ohio. The Miami Valley RC&D will hold a meeting in late winter on specific tools needed pertaining to zoning, health and building to achieve low-impact. Holly proposed that due to several general meetings in the past two years, most people on both sides of the development fence are in favor of low-impact development. The problems arise with existing regulations that require variances and prolong the permitting process. The late winter meeting will address these issues specifically and also look at redevelopment. The WWIN tour could be a follow-up to this meeting. Anyone wishing to serve on this committee should contact Holly at 772-7645.

Speaker for October 23, 2003 meeting
The County Engineer will be invited to the October 23 meeting of the Wet Weather Initiative to discuss the launching of the new Hamilton County Stormwater District.

Proposal to become Partner Organization of Regional Greenspace Alliance, Green Umbrella
Tom Ryther proposed that the Wet Weather Initiative consider joining the Green Umbrella. Green Umbrella is a 501.3c organization made up of organizations that are interested in preserving regional greenspace. It grew out of the Regional Greenspace Initiative of the Hamilton County Environmental Priorities Project. The organization is funded by a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. A regional greenspace vision and plan is being developed. The relationship between stormwater runoff and greenspace preservation suggests that it would be appropriate for Wet weather Initiative to join the collaboration. Members are aware of no advocacy or controversial issues confronting the Green Umbrella. The Green Umbrella website is: www.greenumbrella.org.

The proposal was tabled until the October meeting in order to allow members to consider the matter further.

Old Business .

Web Site Links
HCS&WD maintains a website (www:hcswcd.org) to which other organizations with related interests can link.

New Business

The December meeting of the Wet Weather Initiative has been moved to January. The meeting schedule for 2004 continues as the fourth Thursday of every other month from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at HCDOES. Meeting dates are:

January 22, 2004
March 25
May 27
July 22
September 23
November – to be determined

General Announcements

The annual meeting of the Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District is being held at Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Avenue on September 25, 2003 at 6:00 PM. Robert Peterson, Park Ranger, from the Dayton Aviation Heritage-National Historical Park, will be the guest speaker. One supervisor will be elected for a three-year term. Cost for the dinner is $20/person - $35/couple. Registration deadline is September 19.
Clermont County is proceeding with an Open Spaces Initiative focused on headwater - preservation and NPDES Phase II implementation.
The fall meeting of the Water Managers Association of Ohio (WMAO) is November 5-6, 2003 in Columbus, Ohio. When program information is available it will be forwarded to all on the WWIN e-mail list.
Hamilton County farmers suffering greater than 35% crop loss due to flooding or drought might be eligible for payments under the USDA’s Crop Disaster Program. Call the FSA office at 513-887-3727 for a CDP application.

NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Wet Weather Initiative is Thursday, October 23, 2003 at 9:30 AM at HCDOES, 250 Wm Howard Taft Rd.