Wetlands Review Board (Sunset Date 5/31/2023)

MINUTES WETLANDS REVIEW BOARD WESPAK-SE WETLAND METHODOLOGY WORKSHOP April 7, 2016, 5:15 pm Marine View Building Large Conference Room Meeting Summary Roll Call Board Members Present: Amy Sumner, Brenda Wright, Lisa Hoferkamp, Irene Gallion, Nina Horne, Andrew Campbell Board Members Absent: Ben Haight, Percy Frisby; Hal Geiger A quorum was present. Staff Members Present: Teri Camery, Senior Planner Public Present: Debbie Hart, Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership Coordinator, serving as facilitator; Dr. Paul Adamus, Adamus Resource Assessment Meeting called to order at 5:20 pm II. Agenda approved III. Public Participation on Non-Agenda Items. None IV. Board Comments. None V. Agenda Items 1) Continuation of WESPAK-SE wetland methodology review on formulas and models Ms. Camery reviewed the packet materials, including: draft facilitation notes from the March 12 workshop from facilitator Debbie Hart; Author’s perceptions of function local relevance and confidence associated with each CBJ Model, from Dr. Paul Adamus; Principles Used to Score Indictors and Structure the Models, from Dr. Paul Adamus; and a long chart of WESPAK – SE indicators. Ms. Camery restated the purpose of the wetland methodology workshops as stated in the wetland contract and grant requirements, to focus the Board’s attention on education on the wetland methodology. She noted that since the March 24 meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum, the Board had three meetings to review the wetland methodology instead of four. She said that other Board comments would be noted and addressed at future meetings after the grant and contract ended. She noted that the grant and contract expire on June 1, so this is the last time for the Board to ask Dr. Admaus questions on the methodology. WRB Minutes – Special Meeting April 7, 2016 Page 1 of 3 Ms. Camery said that wetland categorization would come later, as stated in new goals and objectives section of the new Juneau Wetlands Management Plan. She said that the first priority would be to get the new plan approved as an information resource, as emphasized by the WRB. She also noted that after completion of the contract and grant, the department may need to re- allocate her time to other pressing needs that have been delayed during the wetlands work, such as revision of the streamside setback. Ms. Hart provided an update on the Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership (SEAKFTPs) technical review of the WESPAK-SE methodology and the different review teams that have been assembled. She expected SEAKFTP to issue a final review on the methodology at the end of June, which CBJ could then use for their future evaluation of categorization methods. Dr. Adamus provided a powerpoint presentation to explain the function and value calculations in the method for: public use and recognition (which is value only, not function); native plant habitat; pollinator habitat; songbird, raptor, and mammal habitat; and amphibian habitat. Dr. Adamus emphasized that the WESPAK-SE methodology provides consistent science that can be provided without on-site measurements; not perfect science. He described how the methodology draws on approximately 40 different scientific disciplines in its assumptions. Board members asked several questions regarding how invasive species are addressed in the methodology, and ended with a discussion regarding functions versus values in the method. Ms. Camery urged board members to continue asking Dr. Adamus about functions versus values issues as many times as necessary, since this seems to be the major point of contention and confusion in the method. Mr. Campbell requested a final board meeting after the wetland methodology workshops have been completed, to allow the Board to brainstorm ideas for wetland categorization and other key topics while the information is still fresh. Ms. Camery said she would schedule a meeting for this purpose. CBJ Wetland Review Board WESPAK-SE Overview Meeting with Dr. Adamus – April 7, 2016 Facilitation Notes  Introductions/background o Teri reviewed the contract language and reviewed the scope of work for the educational meetings with Dr. Adamus; specifically these are to:  Provide general education to the board and others  Review details of the methodology  Respond to questions as needed o Teri also spoke to the role of the board in recommending any revisions to the methodology and wetland categorization WRB Minutes – Special Meeting April 7, 2016 Page 2 of 3   Internal CBJ department discussions are occurring  Priority is to approve Juneau Wetland Management Plan  Include categorization at future date, uncertain timing due to other CBJ priorities, need to lay out a plan to accommodate this o Debbie with SEAKFHP shared an update on the progress of the partnership’s technical review  Three review teams planned; two convened (Biological Functions Review Team and Summarization Team; Physical Functions Review Team in development)  Biological Functions Review Team meetings with Paul are occurring during his visits to Juneau  One-day formal review planned for late May; Debbie will continue to keep the Wetland Review Board updated on progress  Review of WESPAK-SE Methodology o Paul completed review of methodology for the remaining functions and values (amphibian habitat, Pollinator habitat, Waterbird Feeding Habitat, Waterbird Nesting Habitat, Native Plant Habitat, Songbird/Raptor/Mammal Habitat, Public Use and Subsistence)  Group Input o Suggestion from Wetland Board members to schedule at least one more follow-up Wetland Review Board meeting to discuss categorization once last educational meeting was completed with Paul o If available, invite Allison Gillum from SEALTrust to provide an update of their summarization process VI. Next meeting Thursday April 21, 5:15 pm City Hall room 224. Final wetland methodology workshop and regular meeting VII. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m. WRB Minutes – Special Meeting April 7, 2016 Page 3 of 3