Boardman River Dams Implementation Team. DRAFT Meeting Minutes

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1 Location: Traverse City Governmental Center, Commission Chambers 400 Boardman Avenue Traverse City, MI Boardman River Dams Implementation Team Grand Traverse County Traverse City Light and Power Department Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grand Traverse Conservation District (Ex officio) Rotary Camps and Services (Ex officio) Grand Traverse County Road Commission (Ex officio) City of Traverse City Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians US Fish and Wildlife Service Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Conservation Resource Alliance (Ex officio) Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay (Ex officio) Charter Township of Garfield (Ex officio) DRAFT Meeting Minutes Date: July 19, 2012 Facilitator: Ben Bifoss, City of Traverse City Notes: Nate Winkler, Conservation Resource Alliance IT Members Present: Andy Knott (Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay) Mary Gillis (Grand Traverse County Road Commission) Jim Schramm (Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition) Nate Winkler, Amy Beyer (Conservation Resource Alliance) Ben Bifoss (City of Traverse City) Jim Cooper (Traverse City Light and Power Department) Steve Largent (Grand Traverse Conservation District) Heather Hettinger (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)Dave Benda (Grand Traverse County) Jim Pawloski (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) Rick Westerhof (US Fish and Wildlife Service) IT Members Absent: Becky Ewing (Rotary Camps and Services) Frank Dituri (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) Brian VanDenBrand (Charter Township of Garfield)

2 1:30 Introductions Introductions were made by those in attendance. 1:35-1:35 Public comment None 1:35-1:40 Additions/deletions to the agenda (*denotes added items) MOU status between County, City, and Tribe (IT) Bonding issue regarding County soil erosion permit (Ben Bifoss) Cass Road bridge letter (Andy Knott) Review and potential approval of the June 21, 2012 meeting minutes: discussion/decision item (Dituri) Approved with no discussion. Review action items from June IT meeting: report (Winkler) Nate Winkler indicated that all action items had been attended to. * MOU status between County, City, and Tribe (IT) DJ Shook reported that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) describing the partnership between the three governments on the dam removal project has been signed off on by the Tribe and the City, the County to follow soon. 1:40-1:50 Army Corps/URS Update: report Troy Naperala provided the following updates on the Federal effort; Sediment and soil sampling will occur at both Boardman and Sabin Ponds to evaluate the extent of sediment contamination by arsenic URS has passed on the 95% Detailed Project Report ( DPR ) to the Army Corps for their analysis and comment Regarding Union Street dam, it has been determined that primarily to flood plain impacts, it is not feasible to move the lamprey barrier downstream of the Kids Creek confluence Regarding the Cass Road crossing replacement, it appears that the original proposed structure, an 80 span culvert, will be more expensive than constructing a bridge. A bridge is now the preferred alternative 1:50-2:05 AMEC update: report-sandra Sroonian provided a brief update regarding AMEC s efforts in implementing the local project (Brown Bridge and Sabin dams); The following obligations have been met with regard to permitting the Brown Bridge project; 2

3 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the Environmental Assessment (EA) have been signed off on by the regional deputy director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Joint Permit Application (JPA) still in process at State (MDEQ) and Federal (US EPA) level. Wayne Ingraham (AMEC) working with MDEQ on modeling issues, alternative de-watering structure given preliminary approval by MDEQ Contracts still need to be finalized between AMEC and the Grand Traverse Band, AMEC and Molon, and AMEC and the City of Traverse City-a special meeting was discussed and scheduled for Thursday, July 26 to approve contracts and work plan Action Item: Winkler to public notice special IT meeting. *County Soil Erosion Permit and Surety Bonding With regard to the County soil erosion permit for the Brown Bridge project, the IT discussed and agreed to take over responsibility for ensuring restoration of the floodplain and river banks in the event Molon defaults in their contract to do so. This action effectively removes the liability from the City s purview. 2:05-2:10 Fundraising activity report and fundraising updates: report and discussion/decision (CRA) Amy Beyer provided an update on fundraising by referencing the table included in the meeting packet. Particularly, the Frey grant was discussed as far as what components of the project it would pay for. Action Item: Approval of updated funding plan during special session IT meeting. 2:10-2:15 CRA 2 nd Quarter Invoice: discussion/decision (approval) (CRA)- Approved with no discussion. Review of draft second quarter project managers report elicited no discussion as well (will be draft until financial portion can be wrapped up). 2:15-2:25 Communications update: report (CRA) Beyer reviewed Communications work for the month including the following; On-going media relations Updates to website Press release from US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the FONSI and EA prepared and ready for distribution Talking points currently being drafted regarding the Brown Bridge project Letter to riverfront landowners downstream of Brown Bridge also being drafted to notify them of what to expect during the project 3

4 Draft emergency response plan being generated for Brown Bridge project Discussion of anticipated August 15 th US Fish and Wildlife Service site tour of the project by agency directorate Discussion regarding preconstruction event and an event in recognition of the reopening of the river 2:25-2:30 Prosperity Plan/Stewardship update: report (Knott) Andy Knott provided that there would be no meeting this month but there would instead be a comprehensive meeting on August 2 nd. Knott also reviewed letter (dated July 19 th ) that was distributed to the IT and the US Army Corp of Engineers from the Michigan Land Use Institute, the Watershed Center- Grand Traverse Bay, and the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council. The letter served as a record of comment regarding the bridge replacement at Cass Road. 2:30-2:35 Bottomlands update: report (Largent) Steve Largent reported the following; Language for informational signs continues to be developed between District and Heather Hettinger (MDNR) Time lapse photographs of Brown Bridge pond drawdown being stitched together by District staffer Chris Garrock District working on getting compartmental approval for removal of dead and down cedar off of State land for use in habitat enhancement at Brown Bridge in restored channel Brown Bridge bottomland restoration matrix near completion 2:35-2:50 Sea Lamprey and Fish Passage Working Team update: report (Westerhof) Rick Westerhof reported on the proceedings that the next meeting/teleconference of the working team would be August 6 th to discuss rationale briefing paper drafted and distributed by US Fish and Wildlife Service Sea Lamprey Control. Jim Schramm noted that his organization was unhappy with the lack of information and data presented in the briefing paper. This paper was intended to justify Sea Lamprey Control s recommendation that Sabin dam shouldn t be removed prior to two full lamprey spawning seasons subsequent to repairs being made at Union Street dam. 2:50-3:00 Meeting closing: No public comment offered, meeting subsequently adjourned. (meeting adjourned at approximately 3:05 p.m.) 4

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