Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Stormwater Stakeholder Advisory Committee met on December 1, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Phoenix Building – 3rd Floor Conference Room, with Amy Sohner presiding. The committee worked through 5 agenda items during the session, covering a mix of administrative business and informational presentations. Two votes were taken: the committee approved the minutes from the September 8, 2023 meeting, and approved meeting dates for 2024. Three informational presentations were delivered, covering the effects of conservation activities on riparian soil health, the Tree Equity Score tool by American Forests, and an MS4 Program Update and Year in Review. No public comments were heard during the meeting.

Attendance

The following 47 members were present at the December 1, 2023 Committee meeting:

Doug Burton, Jennifer Carey, Jim Conner, Ken Cooke, Steve Garland, Jim Griggs, Don Hill, Charlie Martin, Malissa McAlister, Richard McClure, Elizabeth McGee Lewis, Mary Murray, Hunter Pace, Amy Sohner, Russ Turpin, Tracy Wade, Jerry Weisenfluh, Denice Bullock, Sarah Donaldson, Jason Drew, Jared Gabbard, Mac Hall, Brian Hayes, Gabe Hensley, Becky Irwin, Demetria Kimball-Mehlhorn, Greg Lubeck, Frank Mabson, Craig Morgan, Jennifer Myatt, Lindsie Nicholas, Mark Sanders, Abby Terry, Richard Walker, Heather Wilson, Jerry Davis, Hunter Dockery, Audrey Ernstberger, Ken Johnson, Nathan Krebs, Sam Lee, Cooper Samuelson, Kenton Sena, Lesley Snead, John Steinmetz, Brian Stephens, and Bailee Young.

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Two motions were brought to a vote during the December 1, 2023 committee meeting, both passing unanimously.

• Approval of September 8, 2023 Meeting Minutes 0:31: A motion to approve the minutes from the September 8, 2023 meeting was made by Mary Murray and seconded by Jim Conner. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote was recorded.

• Approval of 2024 Meeting Dates 1:47:57: A motion to approve the committee's meeting dates for 2024 was made by Jennifer Carey and seconded by Steve Garland. The motion passed unanimously. No roll call vote was recorded.

Approval of 9/8/2023 Minutes

0:31

The committee took up the approval of minutes from its September 8, 2023 meeting. Key speakers on this item included Amy Sohner, Mary Murray, and Jim Conner.

• No corrections or amendments to the minutes were proposed during the discussion.
• The minutes from the September 8, 2023 meeting were approved as presented.

The item was resolved without debate or outstanding concerns.

Effects of Conservation Activities on Riparian Soil Health

1:03

Kenton Sena, Cooper Samuelson, and Hunter Dockery delivered a research presentation on the effects of conservation activities on riparian soil health. Their findings indicated positive impacts on both water quality and soil conditions as a result of conservation efforts in riparian areas.

The presentation was informational in nature, and no vote or formal action was taken by the Committee following the remarks.

Tree Equity Score by American Forests

28:59

Heather Wilson presented this agenda item, providing the committee with an overview of the Tree Equity Score and the tools available for managing urban forests.

The presentation focused on the Tree Equity Score, a resource developed by American Forests, and emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable distribution of tree canopy across urban areas. Wilson highlighted tools that can be used to assess and manage urban forest resources with an equity lens, underscoring the significance of canopy coverage as it relates to different communities.

The item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken or vote recorded as an outcome of the presentation.

MS4 Program Update and Year in Review

1:06:00

Lindsie Nicholas presented an update on the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Program, offering a year-in-review overview of the program's activities and an outlook on future priorities.

The presentation covered several core areas of the program's work, including:

• Inspections conducted as part of ongoing MS4 compliance and oversight activities
• Water quality monitoring efforts carried out throughout the year
• Future goals focused on watershed planning and hydraulic restoration

The update was informational in nature, and no votes or formal actions were taken by the Committee as a result of the presentation.

*Note: Additional detail on specific inspection numbers, monitoring results, and project timelines was not available in the source materials for this summary.*

Approval of Meeting Dates for 2024

1:47:57

The committee took up the matter of scheduling its meeting dates for the coming year, with discussion focused on ensuring the proposed dates did not conflict with holidays. Key participants in the discussion included Amy Sohner, Jennifer Carey, and Steve Garland.

The committee reviewed the proposed 2024 meeting calendar, with attention given to avoiding scheduling conflicts with recognized holidays. No significant objections were raised during the discussion, and the committee moved through the item in a straightforward manner.

The meeting dates for 2024 were approved by the committee.