Meeting Minutes

The City of Monroe Commission on Environment and Water Quality MINUTES January 17, 2019 7:00 pm, 1st Floor Conference Room

published: May 3rd, 2019

Call to Order: Chairman Egen called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm

Members Present: A roll call of members was taken and a quorum was present.

Isaac Owens

Richard Micka

Milward Beaudry

Brian Egen

Andrew Felder

Ed Kane

Barry LaRoy

Excused:          Dan Stefanski, Bonnie Finzel-Doster

Guests:            Melanie Foose, MDNR (OGL), Butch Uhl-Citizen, Megan Kane-Citizen, Mayor Robert Clark

Approval of Agenda with an Agenda Amendment – Add 3.1 Public Comments, Motion by Owens, Seconded by Kane, motion passed.

Public Comments – Mayor Robert Clark attended the meeting to discuss Citizen Planning Commission member changes from 9 to 7, 1 member from each precinct and 1 member (if interested) from another commission.  Anyone interested can contact the Mayor by Feb 1, 2019.  Discussed recognition dinner planned for boards & commissions coming up during Michigan Week in May 2019 to say thanks.

Approval of minutes from November 8, 2018 meeting – Motion by Felder, Seconded by Micka, motion passed.

2019 MDEQ Volunteer River, Stream, & Creek Cleanup Program Grant:  Discussed potential grant opportunity for COTE to submit a proposal to the Great Lakes Commission for a 2019 river cleanup event.  The proposed scope and area was discussed, partners, some elements of the cleanup timeframe as well.  Motion made to apply, pursue, and or submit a grant proposal for a 2019 cleanup event was made by Owens, Seconded by Kane, motion passed.

2018 PAC Support Grant: A revised FSR was received, executed, and approved to amend the grant budget allocations.  The quarterly report was submitted in January 2019 along with all invoices.  COTE likely will request a grant extension and small budget amendment.  Will obtain City Admin input for extension.  Discussed all grant tasks:

  • Portable Banners-discussed mock ups of 2 banners along with proposed ideas & suggested text for one of them. Banners will be used as a base for the media outreach series.  Past developed outreach materials were provided to members for reference.  Email ideas for the banners to Commissioner Egen by Feb 1, 2019 so as to finalize the banners before purchasing.
  • Media Outreach-Will use portable banners for media outreach base. Series ideas  outreach task discussed, will 2 full pages, 2 subject themes per page, promote cleanup event if obtain grant, and will also include other ideas: projects completed, activities, water trails, story map, legacy website, recreation, fishing, biking, MS4 stormwater, etc.  Will work on outreach after banners done.
  • Website-ongoing maintenance & updating.
  • Documentary Short Style PSA-Interviews & filming done, preliminary editing ongoing & will be complete on schedule. Showed pictures of interviees.

MDNR Items: State of the Great Lakes Report, Water Strategy Report discussed.  Some River Raisin pictures used.  New directors in the state (OGL, MDEQ, etc).  A new dept will likely be established – Great Lakes & Fresh Water.

Members Time:

Beaudry – None.

Kane-None.

Owens-None.

Micka-Diner at International Wildlife Refuge, April 6, 2019.  New director Susan White.

Felder-Proposed noxious weeds ordinance changes, will obtain City staff input before pursuing a recommendation to the City for suggested ordinance language changes.

Egen-Next PAC Grant-be thinking of ideas, suggest certification program (stickers), etc.

LaRoy – Water Trails recognized by the state, publicized in media outlets.

Citizen Comments: Megan Kane suggested using other forms of social media – Twitter, etc.

Adjournment: 8:41 pm a motion made by Owens, Seconded by Beaudry to officially end the meeting.

The City of Monroe Commission on Environment and Water Quality MINUTES November 8, 2018 7:00 pm, 3rd Floor Conference Room

published: May 3rd, 2019

Call to Order: Chairman Egen called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm

Members Present: A roll call of members was taken and a quorum was present.

Isaac Owens

Richard Micka

Milward Beaudry

Brian Egen

Andrew Felder

Ed Kane

Barry LaRoy

Absent:            Bonnie Finzel-Doster

Excused:          Dan Stefanski

Guests:            Melanie Foose, MDNR (OGL)

Butch Uhl-Citizen

Katie Goplerud-Smith, RR Watershed Coordinator

Approval of agenda for meeting – Motion by Felder, Seconded by Owens, motion passed.

Approval of minutes from October 11, 2018 meeting – Motion by Felder, Seconded by Beaudry, motion passed.

2018 PAC Support Grant: The revised FSR is needed to complete the quarterly report from the MDNR.  Discussed the tasks:

  • Media Outreach-subcommittee formed & conference called on 10-19-18 to discuss completion of last 2 grant tasks (portable banners & media outreach). Series ideas o outreach task discussed based, will be based on field guide & other developed outreach with updated information on the Raisin AOC.  Other ideas include, projects completed, activities, water trails, story map, legacy website, recreation, fishing, biking, MS4 stormwater, etc.  Late January 2019 the series is expected to be available.  MDNR approval was granted to have the series start at the end of the grant period ( Feb 2019) and carry over for 1 month per the Monroe News schedule, as long as the cost is invoiced before the end of the grant period.
  • Website-ongoing maintenance & updating
  • Portable Banners-to be retractable & purchase up to 2. Subcommittee working to use outreach info to be developed and will incorporate into the banners.  Egen provided a mock up example to the COTE for discussion.
  • Documentary Short Style PSA-interviews went very well (Dan Stefanski, Dick Micka, Michelle Seltzer, Jon Allan & Marc Tuchman-scheduled for 11-29-18). Filming done, budget may allow for some winter footage, editing ongoing, & will be complete on schedule.  Federal, state, local & citizens interviews and input obtained with this PSA.

MDNR Items: SPAC meeting 11-28-18 ~ 11-29-18.  1 member from each PAC paid for, Micka & Egen to attend.  Multi-day meeting with EPA scheduled week of 11-12-18, will discuss monitoring, bird studies, etc.  Dr Grasman to be on sabbatical and will focus on research more.

Members Time:

Felder-None.

Owens-None.

Kane-PFAS question, discussion occurred, Melanie Foose (MDNR) indicated it will not be an AOC related issue.

Micka-Discussed SEMCOG Water Resource Plan-web link to be sent to COTE.  Suggested having SPAC mtg at City Hall with RR tour & potential other corporation tours-TBD for possible Fall 2019.

Beaudry – None.

LaRoy – Completed a Great Lakes Coastal Assembly – Coast Wetland Ecosystem Assessment online

Egen-Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Citizen Comments: Katie Goplerud-Smith mentioned: RR Watershed Council – Discover the Raisin (3rd-7th grade) project opportunity, $200 awarded to classrooms who win, weblink to be sent to COTE.  Completed project with an Eagle Scout putting mile markers (0.5 mile increments) along the Raisin to be used for locating people with rescues, maintenance, etc.  Farmer Led Conservation Group meeting to be held at the Old Mill in Dundee on 12-6-18, 9am to 1pm.

Adjournment: 8:04 pm a motion made by Felder, Seconded by Kane to officially end the meeting.

The City of Monroe Commission on Environment and Water Quality MINUTES October 11, 2018 7:00 pm, 3rd Floor Conference Room

published: January 3rd, 2019

Call to Order: Chairman Egen called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm

Members Present: A roll call of members was taken and a quorum was present.

Bonnie Finzel-Doster

Richard Micka

Dan Stefanski

Milward Beaudry

Brian Egen

Andrew Felder

Ed Kane

Barry LaRoy

Absent:            Isaac Owens

Guests:            Bill Doster-Citizen

Melanie Foose, MDNR (OGL)

Butch Uhl-Citizen

Approval of agenda for meeting with amending the meeting minutes date to be September 13, 2018 – Motion by Stefanski, Seconded by Beaudry, motion passed.

Approval of minutes from September 13, 2018 meeting – Motion by Finzel-Doster, Seconded by Stefanski, motion passed.

2018 Flowering Rush Spray-2018 spray work is part of USFWS 2-year grant with the Detroit River-Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area, permit amended to include river up to Cranbrook Blvd.  The 2018 spray was completed on October 3, 2018.  Waiting for a map of the spray areas from Aquaweed to give to our GIS consultant to map & provide a shapefile as part of the grant obligations.

2018 PAC Support Grant: The revised FSR is needed to complete the quarterly report from the MDNR.  Discussed the tasks:

  • Media Outreach-subcommittee to be formed along with City staff to put together a series of outreach documents on the Raisin AOC, projects completed, activities, etc. May want to offer outreach to be included in City Newsletter or Parks & Rec newsletter
  • Website-ongoing maintenance & updating
  • State Historic Marker-due to timing this task was eliminated and funding reallocated to outreach and documentary PSA. No funds were expended to date other that voluntary time by Chairman Egen
  • Portable Banners-to be retractable & purchase up to 2. City staff will be working along with subcommittee to develop the graphics/wording/purchase
  • Documentary Short Style PSA-interviews went very well (Dan Stefanski, Dick Micka, Michelle Seltzer, & Jon Allan), filming went well on river including kayaks, fisherman & using drones, one more filming of fall colors is planned, then editing, & will complete. Plan is to consider shopping the PSA to PBS and or use for extending it with a future AOC grant.  PSA may be up to 5 minutes+/-

MDNR Items: OGL audit-programmatic related held / ongoing.  Complete the survey if received, results to be shared.  November will be meeting with EPA for updates on Raisin AOC, will need to wait on Raisin AOC monitoring results to consider benthos BUI removal, Consumption BUI may be 2-4 years & deformities BUI ~4 years or so – need to wait on results, New GLRI US website, various habitat AOC projects discussed.  Discussed City of Monroe & Huron-to-Erie Corridor blue-green algae real-time equipment replacement with state grant administered via SEMCOG – showed live website to group for water operators.

Members Time:

Kane-None.

Micka-Discussed over Plum Creek Bay meeting, Port Inner Modal cargo line, I-75 corridor wetland mitigation, Port wetland work, Access to Recreation-Heritage Trail rehab work, Mill Race Park suggestion potential theme park use, and SE MI Resilience – ArcorMittal-Erb Foundation/Wilson Foundation funded projects

Felder – Discussed commission cards & commission appreciation dinners were asked of Mayor & Council, reminder to vote in November election, will review/bring a list of ordinances to review for COTE to consider recommending amendments to City Administration/Council.

Finzel-Doster-None.

Stefanski – Will be at November COTE meeting and then will be in Florida & will call in for COTE mtg/available via email & phone.

Beaudry – None.

LaRoy – discussed scuba diving of the River Raisin request, Erb Foundation RFP.

Egen-went & assisted with the Sterling State Park cleanup with RR Institute, AOC audit-all COTE members are part of the PAC-nested by the ordinance, issued COTE business cards, showed pictures of 23 egrets on FP4 near his backyard.

Citizen Comments: None.

Adjournment: 8:01 pm a motion made by Stefanski, Seconded by Felder to officially end the meeting.

The City of Monroe Commission on Environment and Water Quality MINUTES September 13, 2018 7:00 pm, 3rd Floor Conference Room

published: January 3rd, 2019

Call to Order: Commissioner Stefanski called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm

Members Present: A roll call of members was taken and a quorum was present.

Bonnie Finzel-Doster

Richard Micka

Dan Stefanski

Milward Beaudry

Andrew Felder

Ed Kane

Barry LaRoy

Absent:            Isaac Owens

Excused:          Brian Egen

Guests:            Bill Doster

Melanie Foose, MDNR (OGL)

Mike Alexander, MDEQ

Katie Goplerud-Smith, RR Watershed Coordinator

Approval of agenda for meeting – Motion by Finzel-Doster, Seconded by Beaudry, motion passed.

Approval of minutes from July 18, 2018 meeting – Motion by Finzel-Doster, Seconded by Felder, motion passed.

2018 River Cleanup Event (Michigan Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program Grant):

Discussed final report, event details, ProMedica stepping up to fund the remaining T-shirt purchase due to running out of shirts and we reviewed the pictures.  109 total volunteers helped with event along with several groups coordinating & participating.

River Raisin Sediment Remediation Post-Monitoring Update:  Mike Alexander, MDEQ, presented the Year 1 Anchor QEA presentation that was provided in January 2018, results of the Year 1 post construction report.  Items covered included: Baseline Sampling (2016), 2017 Port Construction potential interference with results, Year 1 sampling (May-Oct 2017), Bathymetric Survey results, Surface Sediment Sampling results, Semi-Permeable Membrane Device (SPMD) results, and Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) results.  The 1997 “hotspot” is close to the NAPL location.  Year 2 sampling is being done in which a similar report will be forthcoming.  The overall testing results appear verify thus far that the CAP installed is working and no leaching of PCB is occurring.  The PCB levels found appears to be from other sources and will likely occur for a few years, eventually reducing allowing the environment (fish, birds, animals) to recover, aiding in the goal of removing the 4 remaining BUIs ultimately to delist the AOC.

2018 PAC Support Grant: Briefly discussed all tasks and schedule.  Due to the grant completion date and inability to complete the State Historic Marker process / purchase before the end of the grant period a motion by Micka, seconded by Finzel-Doster was made to reallocate funds budgeted for the State Historic Marker ($4,800) to be reallocated to the other grant tasks, motion passed.  A revised budget for the tasks will be submitted to the AOC Coordinator for review & approval before moving forward.

2018 Flowering Rush Spray-2018 spray work is part of USFWS 2-year grant with the Detroit River-Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area, permit amended to include river up to Cranbrook Blvd.  The 2018 spray will be on September 24, 2018, with backup dates on September 25th & 26th.

MDNR Items: Glad to have Mike Alexander provide the Year 1 report.  Filming/interviews as part of the 2018 PAC grant with Jon Allan & Michele Selter will be on 9-18-18.

Members Time:

Beaudry – None.

Kane-None.

Felder – IHM Sisters helped with river cleanup, promoting the RR Institute beach cleanup at Sterling State Park scheduled on 9-15-18.

Finzel-Doster-Thanked Mike Alexander for presentation.

Stefanski – donated placards to put on drainage structures to City.

Micka-Went over details from Port of Monroe / COTE collaboration meeting – Micka proposal was as a citizen only.  Discussed Plum Creek Bay Wildlife Area designation. Mentioned signs from RR Watershed Council, mentioned several events for the weekend.

LaRoy – flowering rush spray scheduled for 9-24-18.

Citizen Comments:

Katie Goplerud-Smith – mentioned a citizen near Maybee / Grape requested assistance for cleaning our the mill race (Shirley Mowery).  Asked for project background, access, if a permit is required, who to contact.  Information provided from COTE and MDNR.  Mentioned 20 River Raisin signs were provided by the RR Watershed Council, Dave Hoffman installed them.

Adjournment: 8:50 pm a motion made by Felder, Seconded by Kane to officially end the meeting.

The City of Monroe Commission on Environment and Water Quality MINUTES July 18, 2018 7:00 pm, 2nd Floor Conference Room

published: September 14th, 2018

Call to Order: Chairman Egen called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm

Members Present: A roll call of members was taken and a quorum was present.

Isaac Owens

Bonnie Finzel-Doster

Richard Micka

Dan Stefanski

Milward Beaudry

Brian Egen

Andrew Felder

Ed Kane

Barry LaRoy

Absent/Excused:          None

Guests:                        Bill Doster

Approval of agenda for meeting – Motion by MIcka, Seconded by Stefanski, motion passed.

Approval of minutes from June 13, 2018 meeting – Motion by Stefanski, Seconded by Beaudry, motion passed.

PAC Grant 2017: Briefly went over the final report package submitted to the MDEQ on 7-2-2018, grant is completed.

2018 PAC Support Grant: Agreement accepted by Monroe City Council on 7-2-2018.  Briefly went over the scheduled tasks and what has been started: Media Outreach – to be a series of AOC and river topics; Website-ongoing maintenance of RR Legacy website; State Historic Marker – Egen researching materials, may need Micka’s assistance and materials, City assistance required as well; Portable Banners-Branding and message to be included on banners; Documentary Short Style PSA-PO issued to consultant, crew coming to 2018 River Cleanup, Micka & Stefanski to be interviewed along with filming fly fisherman, etc.

2018 Flowering Rush Spray-2018 spray work is part of USFWS 2-year grant with the Detroit River-Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area, permit amended to include river up to Cranbrook Blvd.  Current rush looks not healthy, due to past spray efforts to eradicate rush.

2018 River Cleanup Event (Michigan Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program Grant): Discussed all elements of river cleanup including rain/lightning, ziplock pags, megaphone use (if needed), reschedule date of 7-28-18.  COTE members volunteered to “captain” each access site, film (MPACT), film crew for 2018 grant documentary, and coordinate logistics for event.  Grant required include picture documentation.  Encourage volunteers to bring their own boats with flat bottoms, discussed 6 access points and 5 sections to be cleaned of debris (Veteran’s Park, Roessler Field, IHM, Riverfront Parking Lot, Soldier’s & Sailors, & Hellenberg).  Date of event to be 7-21-18, 9am-noon with food/drinks, prizes, T-Shirts, etc after the event.

MDNR Items: None

Members Time:

Beaudry – Facebook August 3, 2018 – Island on the River at Monroe Museum, In Pittsburg, PA kayak rental on river.

Kane-We will need a blowhorn/megaphone for cleanup event.

Felder – Council promoting volunteerism by having an annual dinner – member appreciation, discussed Proud Lake Recreation trip with family.

Owens-None

Finzel-Doster-Apologize for missing some meetings due to grandchildren graduations.

Stefanski – happy to be on COTE.

Micka-Attended EPA AOC SPAC meetings, EPA bucketlist for Raisin AOC to delist; discussed SPAC roles & responsibilities and handbook rules & bylaws; Motion by Stefanski for Micka to vote “Yes” on the SPAC handbook rules and regulations and to advise SPAC of the City of Monroe COTE related City ordinance (https://www.ecode360.com/12405435); discussed SEMCOG Terrain360 project; Lotus Tour on 7-28-18, discussed his position on pushing the Port of Monroe, DTE, MDOT, USFWS, etc on wetland mitigation & converting / filling various properties near and in the Port of Monroe area.

LaRoy – Dave Dempsey (well known author) requested pictures from RR Legacy website; Reminder of COTE re-appointments to go to Clerk’s office; submit comments to Barry on the Downtown Master Plan; Ypsilanti Councilperson has requested input from Mayor Clark on a project in their city – may come to a future COTE mtg.

Egen – Discussed ID cards / generic business cards – Mayor Clark is in support of the generic business card idea for COTE, not personal business cards.

Adjournment: 8:13 pm a motion made by Stefanksi, Seconded by Felder to officially end the meeting.