Sweet Water Steering Council Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 9, 2011 Technology Innovation Center Wauwatosa, WI Attendees: Tom

m Grisa chaired the meeting on behalf of Nancy Frank who was excused. Preston Cole, Sharon Gayan, Susan Greenfield, Mike Hahn, Andy Holschbach, David Lee, Jeff Martinka, J. Scott Mathie, Peter McAvoy, Kevin Shafer (via phone), Dan Stoffel Guests: Chris Clayton, Ben Gramling, Ezra Meyer, Kate Morgan, Gail Epping Overholt. Support: Marilyn Goris. 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Review and approve 12/8/10 Steering Council meeting minutes (attached) The minutes for the December 8, 2010 meeting were approved unanimously. 3. Finance Committee report (David Lee) Report on 2010 Income and Expenses (attached)

Lee reviewed the financials for the period December 2009 through December 2010. A budget for 2011 was presented to the Council. Sweet Water needs to hire an accountant and file a federal Form 990 for the past fiscal year. Currently, most of the financial activity is related to the Joyce Foundation grant project. As additional projects are funded, the organization may need to change how the financials are handled. 4. Policies and Procedures issues (Tom Grisa for Nancy Frank) Acceptance of resignation of Steering Council member Reggie Newson

McAvoy moved to accept the resignation of Reggie Newson and for a resolution thanking him for his service on the Steering Council. Lee seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. `Discussion concerning formation of Planning Committee

Sweet Water needs to start a planning process for its future work. The Joyce Foundation three year grant ends April 2012. Martinka asked for volunteers to form a Planning Committee. This committee would work closely with the Development Committee.

Final agreement on preferred 2011 Steering Council meeting dates and times (Please bring your 2011 calendars to the meeting!)

The Steering Council meetings will be held the 4th Tues of the month 1:30-4:30/ (3rd Tuesday in December). Dates in 2011 are April 26th, June 28th, August 23rd, October 25th (this is the same as the DNR Board) and December 20th (the 3rd Tuesday of the month). For Council members who are unable to be at the meeting in person, there will be an opportunity to connect in by phone.

5.

Status Reports: Policy Committee (Peter McAvoy)

Some of the NGOs met with DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. The meeting was positive and stated that the Department would not be backtracking on environmental standards, rather they would be looking to streamline and improve overall operations. Stepp does not anticipate changes on the phosphorus rules. If there are major developments on the phosphorus rules, water quality trading or watershed based permitting, Sweet Water may want to host a forum on these policy issues. Members of the Sweet Water leadership will meet with the DNR Secretary. Let Martinka know if you want to participate in this meeting. On Friday, Grisa will be chairing a meeting on watershed-based permitting. Science Committee (Ezra Meyer for Val Klump)

The Science Committee met last week. A sub-group is focusing on human bacteria from stormwater outfalls in both the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic watersheds. Development Committee (Kevin Shafer)

Kevin reviewed the different federal agency grant requests for proposals out at this time. The county land conservation groups have expertise and shovel ready projects and Holschbach and Stofel offered to link Sweet Water up these potential partners. Holschbach also suggested we get more of the Menomonee River watershed counties to partner on a grant request and offered to set up a meeting. The Development Committee will meet by conference call on March 4th at 2:30pm. The Committee is looking at mostly federal grants and the Joyce, McKnight and Argosy Foundations. The Joyce Foundation grant NGO partners are meeting on March 30th with Molly Flanagan from the Foundation. Molly will also be meeting with a small group of Sweet Water leadership in the afternoon.

Communications Committee (Kate Morgan)

Kate Morgan, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, reported on the activities of the Communications Committee. The Committee is looking for two more professionals to serve on the Committee. The Menomonee Watershed work group meets monthly. The agenda alternates between education/outreach and watershed-based permitting every other month. Sweet Water released the findings from its stormwater survey at an event in January. The findings suggested that the general public did not understand the value of water to the economic vitality of the region or the value to themselves as property owners. Further, people felt that individual actions did not have an impact on water resources. Cole commented that this is Sweet Waters call to action. The Committee is seeking funds from Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and some of the Joyce Foundation grant funds to do a stormwater campaign for the municipalities. Grisa and Greenfield suggested assessing our educational efforts and getting professional advice on what is effective in stormwater education, with the understanding that raising awareness and changing behavior may take years. Cole offered to connect the Committee with the social behavioral psychologists used in the Citys recycling program. The next press release and media event will be on the watershed-based grant award to MMSD. Watershed Action Teams report (Co-chairs)

Ben Gramling, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, and Gail Epping Overholt, UW Extension, reported on the Watershed Action Team (WAT) work. The WATs are moving forward with the implementation plans. The meetings are being organized around specific projects identified in the plans. The WATs need to reach out and recruit new people to help with implementation. Also, summary sheets on the priority projects will be developed and made available on-line so people can clearly see where and how they can get involved. The implementation plans are also the basis for fundraising for projects. 6. Executive Director Report (Jeff Martinka)

See attached report. The Conference Planning Committee members include Marsha Burzynski , Susan Greenfield, Tom Grisa, Andy Holschbach, Karen Sands and Jeff Martinka. The Committee is seeking ideas for speakers. Martinka will be sending out an email requesting Steering Council member volunteers to serve on the mini-grant review and award committee. 7. Other matters

There were no other matters discussed. 8. The meeting was adjourned at 3:20pm