Regular Monthly Meeting December 4, 2008

Members Present:

Lina Vlavianos, Chair 
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair 
Charlotte Lubbert
Joe Rubino
Michael Shultz
Debra Smith
Bob Whitcomb
Scott Hymes, MD DNR (Ex officio)
Veronica Jagoe for AACo.Councilman Benoit (Ex officio)                                                                               

Guests and Staff:

Kurt Riegel, Severn River Association
Keith Underwood, Underwood & Associates
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW/WESR

Absent:

Dave Hanson
Jeff Schomig
Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex officio)
Sam Shropshire, City Council (Ex officio)  

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission (SRC) to order at 4:12 p.m. in the Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD.  A quorum was declared present. 

GUEST SPEAKER

Vlavianos introduced Keith Underwood of Underwood & Associates. During his visual presentation, Mr. Underwood briefed SRC on the construction of a regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) system and its implementation at the Preserve at Severn Run, formerly Holladay Park, at the headwaters of the Severn River. The infiltration system installed at the Preserve will prevent stormwater from polluting the nearby Jabez Branch, a rare trout stream, and the Severn River. Mr. Underwood, designer of the system, explained that uncontrolled stormwater depletes the oxygen and drains the life out of our rivers and streams and creates dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay. The developer agreed to use this RSC method prior to beginning construction.  In comparison, the RSC system was about half the cost of the conventional approach. Other benefits include: less maintenance required; traditional stormwater management ponds tend to be eyesores; properties adjacent to SWM ponds are difficult to market; RSC’s provide open space access for residents; “Green” branding; and reforestation credits. It was noted this project represents a long-needed level of cooperation between the developer, the county, environmentalists, and community organizations.

Mr. Underwood explained that SHA seems interested in repairing the eroded areas on the Left and Right Forks of the Jabez impacted by Routes 3 and 175 runoff. He described his proposal and noted he is seeking support, in concept, from SRC for these restoration projects.  Mr. Underwood will be developing some concept plans for submittal to SHA. Following some discussion, SRC agreed to support the restoration projects utilizing the regenerative stormwater conveyance system. On behalf of SRC, Vlavianos will write a letter to SHA and copy Mr. Ron Bowen, AACo. DPW.

MOTION:  A MOTION, THAT VLAVIANOS WILL WRITE SHA ENCOURAGING THE TWO RESTORATION PROJECTS, WAS MADE BY LUBBERT AND SECONDED BY WITHCOMB. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

Chair Vlavianos thanked Mr. Underwood for his presentation/information.

MINUTES

The Minutes for the November 6, 2008, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval.  There were no additions.

MOTION:  A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 6, 2008, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION, WAS MADE BY SHULTZ AND SECONDED BY LUBBERT.  THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE

1. The 2009 SRC meetings schedule was distributed with the November Minutes. Vlavianos noted that because of holidays January and July meetings are on the second Thursday of the month.
2. Schomig notified the Chair he would not be present at this meeting.
3. The County Executive’s office was informed that Hornor, Schomig and Shultz expressed an interest to be reappointed to SRC.  Their terms expire January 31, 2009.
4. On behalf of SRC, Vlavianos sent a letter to Mayor Moyer and staff thanking them for briefing SRC on the City’s environmental initiatives.
5. SRC received a letter from DNR Secretary John Griffin in response to SRC’s September 8, 2008 letter regarding the 2010 Trust Fund.

OLD BUSINESS

Special Committees Reports

Critical Area Legislation (CA)

Via email Schomig reported the Critical Area subcommittee is continuing to meet and is  reviewing possible legislative language to the CA law.  A meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2008 with all of the subcommittees to share their reports.

Education/Communication

This item will be removed from the agenda.

Jabez Branch

Environmental Overlay Zone:  Veronica Jagoe reported that a list of affected property owners has been compiled and noted Councilman Benoit would hold a meeting with them in the near future.  SRC has received no feedback from the Office of Planning & Zoning since the October meeting.

Naval Academy Dairy Farm 

Vlavianos reported she has no new information because she inadvertently missed the meeting.

Hornor reported she has received a copy of the draft GDP but the plan has not yet been fully reviewed. It is being distributed to County department heads and staff for technical review. The area of most concern is fiscal impacts on growth. Hornor is focusing on environmental stewardship and preservation of high priority lands. SRC members expressed concern about loss of forest cover. After a lengthy discussion, the following motion was passed. Public meetings are now planned for January. 

MOTION:  A MOTION, THAT STRONG WORDING BE INCLUDED IN THE GDP ON CONSERVATION OF FOREST AND LANGUAGE SPECIFYING NO NET LOSS OF FOREST COVER IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, WAS MADE BY HORNOR AND SECONDED BY RUBINO. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.

On behalf of SRC, Whitcomb reported he presented testimony at a public hearing on November 17, 2008 in support of Bill 84-08 on septics upgrades.   Funding is one of the biggest concerns. At the hearing he established a dialog with Kerry Topovski, Environmental Health Officer, on the subject. Whitcomb will continue representing SRC at the upcoming County Council hearings on the topic requiring septic system upgrades. 

Whitcomb has received no feedback on his application to install an upgraded system.

In SRC’s thank you letter to Mayor Moyer, Vlavianos noted that the Commission could be actively involved in many of the City’s environmental activities. SRC will depend heavily on the Annapolis SRC members to guide SRC on city priorities/issues that could interface with county government activities. An annual/biennial update on the city’s environmental initiatives would be beneficial. Smith will contact the Mayor’s office requesting feedback whether a SRC annual/biennial Annapolis Focus meeting is of interest for the future.

Lubbert reported the SRC website had 2,798 hits during October and 958 hits during November.  Again, pollution, minutes and history were the most popular topics. 

As a follow-up to Bob Miller’s presentation in 2007 to SRC about the new stabilization requirements for sediment control, Vlavianos will contact the Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District to request a one-year update on the new stabilization requirements and to find out if the requirements are working.

Vlavianos will write MDE requesting an update on the progress made on the regional Coastal Plain aquifer recharge study. SRC had requested that the Jabez Branch be a part of that study.

NEW BUSINESS

Vlavianos, Lubbert, and Hymes testified against dredging of Fox Creek in front of the Board of Public Works. The vote on the application will take place at a December 15, 2008 meeting.

PUBLIC INPUT

There was no public input.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. The next monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2009, 4:00 p.m., in the Severn Room (4th floor), 2664 Riva Road.