GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

May 10, 2002, CDOT Hanging Lakes Tunnel Complex - Glenwood Canyon

 

Meeting Attendees

 

David Bennetts
Vern Brock
Jamie Cribbs
Vince Demaio
Rick Dorris
Jim Fitzgerald
Jeremy Franz
Mike Galuzzi
Stuart Gardner
Eric Hahn
Susan Hayes
David Hollingsworth
John Hunt

Robert Krehbiel
Mark Matulik
Dana Miller
Mike Meininger
Betsy Paussa
Trent Prall
Kallie Sampish
Bill Schenderlein
Brian Schram
Georgia Simpson
Doug Stewart
Cindy Thrush
 
 

 

The following is a summary of the interactions, comments and future items discussed. While this summary is not intended to represent a complete or comprehensive account of the meeting, it is intended to reflect the salient points raised or issues for further consideration. Should the attendees believe that anything may be misrepresented or misleading, please bring this to the attention of John Hunt, CASFM Secretary.

 

1.      Membership Update

 

No membership update was given. It was determined later, however, that we have 408 members as of May 10.

 

2.      Secretary Update

 

Nothing to report.

 

3.      Treasurer Update

 

We need to get our IRS form 990 submitted during the next month. New names were approved for check writing authority. They were Stuart Gardner, David Hollingsworth, Cindy Thrush, John Hunt. David Hollingsworth handed out a budget report. The savings account balance stands at $38 and the checking account balance is $25,172.

 

4.      Regional Representatives Updates

 

Metro Region representative Doug Stewart reported the Metro Region is planning another social at Baby Doe’s soon. He also reported that there are no scheduled dates as of yet for the workshop on digital FIRM maps (DFIRM). The course being proposed by John Liou is 3 days long and would be done without computers.

 

Northwest Region representative Rick Dorris said that the one-day erosion control workshop had great attendance. There were 61 people present including inspectors, contractors consultants, etc. Trent Prall suggested that we consider having the same workshop at the conference this year.

 

5.      ASFPM – No Adverse Impact Resolution

 

ASFPM recently adopted a resolution regarding their “No Adverse Impact” initiative and are soliciting support from state chapters. ASFPM would like to see the resolution become a framework for floodplain management in communities. This management approach would require anyone proposing a new development within the floodplain to show no adverse impact from the development. One way to characterize the philosophy is that the entire floodplain would be treated like the regulatory floodway is today. FEMA appears to be supportive of the resolution, and ASFPM is lobbying congress to make it law.

 

ASFPM is encouraging the state chapters to adopt similar resolutions. Mark Matulik offered to work with a group of CASFM members to examine the ASFPM resolution and present a draft resolution for CASFM to consider at the next meeting.

 

Some of the positive and negative aspects of the resolution were discussed. Floodplain management compliant with the resolution would lead to fewer new structures being placed in flood hazard areas and would prevent future activities that would increase the risk to structures already in the floodplain. It would obviously lead to greatly increased restrictions on the use of land within floodplains, which some view as excessively burdensome.

 

More information on the resolution can be found at the ASFPM website.

 

6.      Committee Updates

 

A. Certified Floodplain Manager Committee

 

Kallie Sampish reported that the CFM exam will be proctored during the annual conference in Steamboat Springs. A refresher course will be offered on Tuesday afternoon, the day before the conference begins. Kallie emphasized that interested individuals need to register with ASFPM to take the exam. The day and time of the exam during the conference has not been decided. Mark Matulik will solicit feedback on this topic from those who expressed interest in the exam. Once he gets some responses, he and the conference organizers will determine where to place the exam in the conference schedule. ASFPM needs to know the date before they will approve us to proctor the exam.

 

Those present discussed whether people taking the exam should be required to register for the conference. It was moved, seconded and approved that conference registration will not be required to take the exam, although registration will be strongly encouraged.

 

B. Outreach Committee

 

No report.

 

C. Scholarship Committee

 

Three members have volunteered for the committee. These are Jamie Cribbs, Jeremy Franz, and John Hunt. As of May 10 the committee had not begun any activity. The committee was encouraged to start meeting as soon as possible and move toward having a framework established by the next general meeting (in July). Those present were of the general opinion that the scholarship should be geared toward the graduate level, and possibly targeting non-traditional students. Eligible study disciplines would include engineering, but also several non-engineering majors such as watershed science, geomorphology, hydrology, or emergency management.

 

D. Floodplain Committee

 

No report.

 

E. Stormwater Committee

 

No report.

 

 

7.      Workshop and Seminar Scheduling

 

CWCB still wants to offer Floodplain 101 workshops, but as yet they have not had a chance to put them together. They will, however, be offering Flood Hazard 201 workshops in Pueblo, Montrose, Glenwood Springs and Greeley in late August of this year. The CASFM regional representatives are working with Mark Matulik to organize the workshops. CWCB will pick up the cost of the workshops. CASFM will collect workshop registrations and receive $25 per attendee to cover registration and materials costs.

 

These workshops will be important because of an October 2000 bill that revises the Stafford Act, which sets procedures for disaster declarations. Post-disaster mitigation activities are funded via presidential disaster declarations. Under the new legislation, an All Hazards Mitigation Plan must be in place and adopted before a community can receive any of this disaster grant money. The deadline for communities to submit their mitigation plans is Nov.1 2003.

 

The Flood Hazard 201 workshop will provide guidance on preparing mitigation plans. Participants in the workshops will be eligible for CEU’s.

 

 

8.      2002 Conference Planning

 

The Thursday morning breakfast meeting at the conference has been called the Stormwater/Flood committee breakfast meeting at recent past conferences. At this year’s conference it will be called the general membership meeting. Stuart requested a microphone and PA in the room for this meeting. The room usually doesn’t have one.

 

Mike Meininger helped with arranging Keynote Speaker Andrew Reese. The plenary session after lunch on the first day will be “Setting up a Stormwater Utility.” Panel members have not yet been set.

 

As of May 10, one project award nomination had been submitted, but more were expected. As of May 10, the workshops schedule had not been finalized.

 

Robert Krehbiel expressed concern about the large technical sessions. The idea of having three concurrent technical sessions on Thursday was discussed and encouraged.

 

Registration fees for the conference were discussed. Food costs have increased. It was agreed to increase the registration fees to $220.

 

9.      Newsletter

 

Cindy Thrush reported that the next newsletter should be out in July and asked for contributions.

 

10.    Discussion of Bylaws

 

Stuart handed out a copy of the current bylaws and pointed out some areas that he thinks should be revised. He plans to draft some revisions for our discussion and possible action at the next meeting.

 

11.    Other Items not on the Agenda

 

Mark Matulik explained that President Bush has proposed a budget of over $300 million for FEMA mapping for FY 2003. This is ten times greater than past years’ budgets. CWCB wants to develop a prioritization plan for floodplain mapping efforts in Colorado communities. The deadline for this plan is September 15, 2002. Brian Hyde of CWCB will be contacting communities with more information on the development of the plan.

 

NEXT MEETING:

 

July 11th in Longmont, at Izaak Walton park.

 

ACTION ITEMS:

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