Council Environmental Quality Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Environmental Quality Committee met on January 31, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., with Chair Blues presiding. The committee heard four informational presentations during the meeting and received one public comment. No votes were taken during this session.

The agenda focused on updates and reports across several areas of environmental management. Committee members received an update on the Stormwater Program, a presentation on Greenways Responsibilities, a Financials Report, and a review of Items Referred to the committee. All four agenda items were presented for informational purposes only.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on January 31, 2012:

• Blues
• Stinnett
• Gorton
• Farmer
• Crosbie
• Myers
• McChord
• Martin
• Henson
• Lane
• Kay

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included appropriations for two environmental and recreational initiatives:

Stormwater Program LFUCG received an appropriation of $12.2 million for stormwater program capital construction and operations. [timestamp: not provided]

Greenway Maintenance Parks and Recreation received an appropriation of $150,000 for Greenway maintenance and management. [timestamp: not provided]

Public Comment

Edward Cushy addressed the board regarding the exemption of a large horse farm from the water quality management fee 1:37:12.

Mr. Cushy raised concerns about a horse farm located in the South Elkhorn watershed that is currently exempt from the water quality management fee. He noted that despite the exemption, the farm has extensive impervious surfaces and contributes to pollution through manure runoff. His comments highlighted a potential inconsistency in how the fee exemption is applied, particularly regarding agricultural operations that may have significant environmental impacts on local water quality.

Contested Items

Funding and Maintenance of Greenways

The committee was divided on whether to accept new greenway acquisitions without secured maintenance funding already in place.

Members supporting the current deferral policy argued that accepting new greenways without guaranteed long-term financial commitments would create unsustainable financial burdens for the municipality. They advocated for maintaining the existing practice of declining acquisitions until funding mechanisms were secured.

Other committee members emphasized the importance of proactive planning and structure to effectively manage both existing greenways and future acquisitions. They contended that a more forward-looking approach would better serve long-term community needs.

The disagreement resulted in a split vote, indicating that the committee could not reach consensus on this policy matter.

Stormwater Program Update

Water Quality Director Charlie Martin presented an update on the stormwater program 14:17, covering progress on consent decree requirements, environmental projects, and flooding initiatives.

Performance Standards and Compliance

Martin reported that all 40 performance standards under the consent decree were being met, demonstrating compliance with regulatory obligations.

Supplemental Environmental Projects

The program approved $820,951 in green infrastructure projects under the Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) requirement, representing progress toward environmental improvement goals.

Financials

The update included financial information for Fund 4051, though specific details were not elaborated in the presentation summary.

Priority Flooding Projects

The committee discussed progress on priority flooding projects, noting that $4.7 million was spent in fiscal year 2011 toward the program's $30 million total obligation. This represents approximately 16 percent of the planned expenditure for these initiatives.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, providing the committee with a status update on stormwater program activities and financial progress.

Greenways Responsibilities

Acting Commissioner Susan Bush presented on the status of the greenway program, covering current acreage, funding sources, and operational challenges 1:03:31.

Key Topics Discussed

The presentation addressed several critical areas of greenway management:

• Current acreage and inventory of greenway properties
• Existing and potential funding sources for the program
• Challenges in maintenance and long-term planning

Committee Actions and Decisions

The committee identified several needs to strengthen greenway program operations:

• Formalize the establishment of a Greenway Coordinating Team
• Update the Greenway Manual to reflect current practices and standards
• Establish a centralized maintenance budget to ensure consistent funding for upkeep

Policy Reaffirmation

The committee reaffirmed an existing policy to defer accepting new greenways into the program until adequate maintenance funding is secured. This approach prioritizes the sustainable management of existing greenway properties over expansion.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with the committee receiving updates on program status and identifying organizational improvements needed to support effective greenway management and maintenance.

Financials Report

The committee reviewed financial details for Fund 4051, with presentations from Charlie Martin and Stephen Mulligan 1:31:04.

Financial Overview

The report presented the following financial figures for Fund 4051:

• $11.5 million in revenue from ERUs
• $12.2 million in appropriations

Concerns Raised

The committee identified discrepancies in fund balance reporting. Specifically, a prior audit had noted a $6 million fund balance that was not fully reflected in the current financial statements. Committee members requested clarification on how the fund balance was being rolled forward and what accounting methods were being used to reconcile this difference.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature. The committee did not reach a final decision but instead requested additional information and explanation regarding the fund balance accounting and roll-forward procedures to resolve the identified discrepancies.

Items Referred

No specific items were referred to the committee during this meeting. While the agenda included a section designated for matters referred from other bodies, no such items were presented or discussed. The committee acknowledged this agenda category but proceeded without addressing any referred business.