Regular Monthly Meeting - April 5, 2007

Members Present:

Lina Vlavianos, Chair
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair 
Carrie Capuco
Dave Hanson
Scott Hymes
Charlotte Lubbert
Joe Rubino
Jeff Schomig

Guests and Staff:

Ron Bowen, AACo. DPW
Grover Bussey
George Cardwell, AACo. P&Z
Danielle Edmonds, SHA-PPD
Ginger Ellis, AACo. DPW
Robin Ward Ireland
Brian Lange, SHA-PPD
David Mauriello
Brenda Reiber, AACo. County Executive’s Office
Pete Robinson
Joshua Stewart, The Capital
Nicole Washington, SHA-PPD
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW

Absent:

Michael Shultz
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex-officio)
Ron Dillon, County Council (Ex-officio)                                               

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission to order at 4:05 p.m.  A quorum was present. 

Chair Vlavianos invited the State Highway Administration (SHA) to talk to the Commission about the upgrade of Route 3 with emphasis on the Jabez Branch impact. 

Mr. Brian Lange, Ms. Nicole Washington and Ms. Danielle Edmonds of the Maryland State Highway Administration were introduced to Commission members and guests. Using a map, Mr. Lange described what is proposed for the northern portion of the study area and then focused on the Jabez area. He pointed out that any roadway runoff will be contained with a curb and gutter system and will be channeled toward and into Lake Median, which has also been contained and will prevent runoff into the Jabez. The project will be done in phases and, presently, is still very much in the planning stage. 

In response to numerous questions, the relocation of Charles Hall Road has been proposed for safer access. An existing crossing will be used to bridge Jabez Branch instead of new construction. The planning stage of the project should be completed by spring 2008. Additional funding will be needed for the design phase. The Commission will be able to make comments on the final environmental document and also at final design, if the funding is found for final design. SHA will notify Vlavianos when the final environmental document is available for comment. They are aware that other agencies share the same concerns as SRC and are trying to insure that all of the environmentally sensitive areas are protected when the project is completed. The specific plans relative to sedimentation and design will be done in the final design stage. SHA is bound to state and federal requirements, not county requirements, but will work with the county to meet county standards for the access road.  The Commission noted that the diversion of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces into Lake Median rather than Jabez Branch is positive news. The removal of trees, increase in impervious surface, and potential disturbance of steep slopes are still concerns. It was reiterated that the final engineering phase is a long way off.  Modifications will likely be based on actual field conditions. SHA will provide a large drawing of proposed improvements to the Rt.175/Rt.3 interchange and Charles Hall Road to SRC. 

Commission members thanked Mr. Lange, Ms. Washington and Ms. Edmonds for coming to the meeting and for the information provided.

The Minutes for the March 1, 2007, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval.  No changes were made.

MOTION:  A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 1, 2007, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION AS WRITTEN, WAS MADE AND SECONDED.  THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY A UNANAMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE

1. No correspondence was received or sent since the March meeting.
2. Shultz notified the Chair that he would not be at this meeting.
3. Vlavianos will be traveling from April 26 to May 16.  Hornor will chair the May meeting.
4. The Ethics Commission determined that SRC member Rubino cannot participate in any way in such deliberations on Navy Academy Dairy Farm related matters. Because concerns were raised about other information included in the Ethics Commission’s opinion, Vlavianos will contact the Ethics Commission.

MOTION: A motion that Vlavianos will write to the Ethics Commission thanking them for their opinion, notifying them that Schomig will be contacting the Ethics Commission regarding "county employee" language clarification, and clarifying that SRC is an advisory body with no authority to approve or dissaprove any proposals as possibly implied in the second paragraph of the rendered decision, was made and seconded. The motion was passed by unanamous vote.

1. The sewer system map for the Severn River Watershed will be filed with Commission records and is available upon request. 
2. A notice has been received from MDE about the Severn River basin fecal coliform TMDL interagency review. Vlavianos will contact MDE to schedule a briefing for the May 3 meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

Jabez – Environmental Overlay Zone  (EOZ)            

Vlavianos reported that the EOZ Committee met last on March 19. At that time it was determined that both P&Z and the County Law Office needs to be involved. Vlavianos and Ginger Ellis, AACo. DPW, met with Lois Villemaire, AACo. P&Z, on April 3 to brief her about what has taken place so far, to discuss how the overlay zone will fit into the General Development Plan and the need for P&Z’s direct involvement as the EOZ is being drafted.  Legislative language will be sought from the Law Office.  Issues that need to be addressed are: impervious surfaces; sediment control; steep slope disturbances; riparian and upland buffers; forest, woodland and habitat protection; septic system requirements; stormwater management design; and pollutant loading. Ms. Ellis pointed out that the previous county executive, who charged SRC to go forward with the overlay zone, also directed the Land Use & Environment Office to provide the resources necessary to the Commission to carry out their directive.

Hanson thanked the SRC members who provided input. He feels that since the ability of the Commission to focus on the entire watershed is an impossible task for nine people, it will be necessary to establish relationships with other organizations active on the river. It was noted that discussions will need to continue as still unresolved and further input is needed to broaden SRC’s focus on watershed-wide issues. Vlavianos previously introduced ten topics incorporated in the EOZ discussions that could be used as a guide for SRC. It was suggested that any topics for review should have significant impact on the river or the watershed, what would be the effectiveness of the SRC in addressing each topic, and what specific actions are available to the SRC to be effective. It was emphasized that SRC would be addressing these problems in an advisory capacity. Vlavianos will send an email to members outlining all topics.

The Special Committee will continue meeting to refine its thinking and report with further discussions in May.  Mr. Bowen advised the SRC to decide what its focus is. A lot of information is available to help the SRC make decisions but first it needs to define clearly what its needs are and where it wants to go. The County can then provide a wealth of information to facilitate this. The Severn River Watershed Management Tool (WMT) might assist in directing the SRC’s focus on problem areas. A demonstration of the WMT capacity is scheduled for the June 7 meeting.

Hanson reported that the Annapolis Community Forum was postponed due to bad weather, and he was not able to attend on the rescheduled date. Because of lack of response from the County to his inquiries, he is still trying to gather information about the hospital expansion and Cowhide Branch. He will report at the next meeting.

Hanson is organizing a booth for the Maritime Heritage Festival.  Lubbert and Hornor will assist.  Hand-outs are welcome. An inquiry will be made to see if reproducing SRC’s "Living with the Severn River" brochure for distribution at the festival is possible.

“Annapolis Goes Green, A Special Report,” an article featured in the April 2007 issue of What’s Up? Annapolis was called to SRC’s attention.

This item was addressed at the beginning of the meeting during the State Highway Administration presentation.

Lubbert reported that during March the SRC website had 1,939 hits. The history page was the most popular. Photos of the recent clean-up of the Jabez, Warfield Branch were passed around for members to see.

Schomig has contacted the County Law Office and will report at a future meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Monticello II

Hymes reported that Monticello II is an extension of the Bestgate Road development on Saltworks Creek where 55 acres were cleared and the sediment control failed during a rainstorm. Nine homes all on steep slopes and a bridge across Saltworks Creek (one of the few spawning areas for yellow perch) are planned. The project is presently in draft review.  Following a brief discussion, Hymes will gather information from P&Z on what will be permitted on this sensitive area site of Saltworks Creek and report back to SRC.

Mr. Al Johnston expressed concerns about stormwater and feels that public sewer on the south shore of the Severn River is the only solution to the stormwater problem long-term. 

The Transition Team Report was posted on the County webpage this morning. As chair of the General Development Plan Committee, Mr. Johnston feels that there is a lot that needs to be done that is not in the report.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. The next regular monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2007, 4:00 p.m., in the Chesapeake Room, 2664 Riva Road.