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Welcome and Introduction
The November 1, 1999 meeting of the Milwaukee River Basin Land
& Water Partners was held at the Havenwoods Environmental Education
center in Milwaukee. Frank Trcka, Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, serving as host, opened the meeting at 9:00 a.m.
Gretchen Messer was introduced as the new UW-Extension Basin
Educator. Gretchen is replacing Carolyn Johnson. Guests were
introduced.
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Discussion of Ground Rules for the Partners
Taking a Position on Issues
Sharon Gayan discussed the guidance for the Partners taking
positions of issues. She referenced page 12 of the General
Management Unity Partnership Manual stating:
"The Natural Resources Board is authorized
by law to set statewide natural resource policy for the department.
GMU partnerships do not set policy. For the most part,
GMU partnerships should focus on the application of that policy
and related issues within the GMU's boundaries. At times
the GMU partnerships may be asked to provide comments during
the development of specific statewide natural resource policies.
The GMU partnership may also raise the need for a new statewide
policy of recommend a review of certain existing policies."
Sharon requested that this wording be added to the guidance.
Individual members or a coalition of members may take a position
independent of the Partners if that position opposes a policy
set by the Natural Resources Board.
Several additions were made to the guidelines for the Partners
taking positions. The revised guidelines will be distributed
at the next meeting.
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Progress of the Remedial Action Plan
Progress on the recommendations of the Remedial Action Plan
will be discussed in the December meeting.
The partners may wish to expand their group by adding a member
from the RAP advisory committee.
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Developing a Strategy for Meeting with
Municipalities regarding natural and Environmentally Significant
Lands
The Partners will approach municipalities in the Milwaukee River
basin to achieve two goals: to make municipalities aware of
environmentally significant lands and to encourage their participation
in signing the Partnership Agreement.
Mayor Donald Voith offered the City of Glendale to serve as
the first community in which to visit and make a presentation.
A brief presentation will be tailored to each individual community's
concerns in order to encourage local government officials to
pass resolutions in support of the Partnership Agreement. Target
audiences may vary by local unit of government.
A packet of information that will be presented to the City
of Glendale will be made available for review at the December
meeting.
A listing of all local units of government and a proposed schedule
will be distributed at the next meeting.
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Discussion on Signing the Partnership
Agreement
Frank Trcka distributed a letter that will be sent to all municipalities
located in the Milwaukee River Basin. The letter introduces
the Partners and encourages each municipality to sign the Partnership
Agreement.
Discussion took place on how to sign partner correspondence
and whether to indicate that some partners may decide to abstain.
Some partners are concerned that signing their names to certain
correspondence will cause a conflict of interest between their
respective agencies and their role in the Partners. Discussion
will be held in the future on this issue.
Kevin Dittmar expressed concern that landowners will not be
fairly compensated for land acquisitions. He suggested
there be wording in the Partnership Agreement and Partner's
goals to describe how environmental preservation will occur
according to local zoning laws.
A decision was made to conclude discussion until comments are
made and circulated on the rewording of the Partnership Agreement.
Comments should be made on the agreement by November 10, 1999.
A deadline was set for the Partners to sign the Partnership
Agreement on February 1, 2000. A goal was set for all
municipalities to sign the Partnership Agreement by December
2001.
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Review of Milwaukee River Basin Land
and Water Partners Proposed Logo
Angie Tornes presented three options for the Partner's logo.
The partners voted to choose one logo and made suggestions to
include a representation of industry in the image and to make
the river look more natural.
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Discussion of Proposed Development
in Village of Grafton
Sharon Gayan and Andy Holschbach provided information about
the proposed Colder's project located in the Village of Grafton
at the intersection of Highway 60 and Interstate 43. Colder's
is requesting a special exception permit that would allow them
to grade and fill a portion of the Ulao Creek shoreland zone.
A letter will be sent to the Village of Grafton Administrator
Darrel Hofland, the Board of Adjustment, and the Planning Commission
to encourage their consideration of issues the Partners believe
are environmentally significant. No position will be taken
in the letter. The letter will be made available for comments
via email. Mike Bruch of the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources will deliver the letter at the meeting on November
4, 1999 where it will be read into the records and distributed
to those present.
Additional information will be provided to the Partners before
the December meeting so that they may decide whether to take
a position on this issue.
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Review of Lake Michigan Project Proposals
Sharon Gayan distributed copies of proposed projects that will
be submitted to the Lake Michigan Area Management Plan process.
Partners may add proposals, which must be submitted by the January
meeting. The following considerations should be made when
submitting a proposal:
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Projects that involve many partners are favorable.
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The project budget should not be underestimated, as there
is no limit on individual projects funding.
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Project proposals should have an integrated focus, with
land and water based elements.
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Project proposals should be linked to Lake Michigan and
the Great Lakes
A newsletter is attached for further information.
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Update on the Status of the Milwaukee
River North Branch Feasibility Study
Frank Trcka reported on the progress of the North Branch Feasibility
Study. The scope of the project has increased to accommodate
five tributary streams and associated buffers. Comments
from the public may also result in modified study boundaries.
Public meetings have already taken place.
There is some concern by residents that the current North Branch
project is similar to, or associated with the Lake Waubeka project
that was first proposed in the early 1930's. That project
proposal involved constructing a dam that would have flooded
an area whose boundaries are similar to the currently proposed
North Branch project. It is important
to note that the North Branch Project is in no way associated
with the Lake Waubeka project.
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Final Comments
Kevin Dittmar voiced his concern for the need for high density
zoning in urban areas to alleviate the need for sprawl.
He suggested that environmental groups support policy that would
allow dense development in urban areas, which would accommodate
populations closer to jobs and public utilities.
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Upcoming Meeting
December 7, 1999
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Riveredge Nature Center, Inc.
4458 W. Hawthorne Drive
Newburg, WI
(262) 375-2715
