Minutes 02-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

� sufficient to protect the existing uses of the lake. Some directors of the UNRBA have indicated that lobbying DWQ and the EMA to revise the nutrient management rules should occur as part of this re-examination period. As a result, the UNRBA is considering developing a new 501(c)4 organization in order to legally lobby DWQ and EMC. A working group composed of attorneys and UNRBA directors has concluded that this may be necessary in the near future to permit the association to continue its current activities as well as begin to undertake additional activities, including possibly lobbying. Additional activities which the UNRBA is likely to undertake in the near future include directing the development and oversight of a water quality monitoring project in the entire Falls Lake watershed, and possibly even conducting water quality monitoring of Falls Lake itself. In addition, the UNRBA is likely to also consider contracting with a national consulting firm to complete independent modeling of Falls Lake in order to gauge the effectiveness of Stage I of the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy prior to the initiation of Stage II of the Strategy, or even go so far as to engage a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a Use Attainability Assessment (UAA) of Falls Lake in an attempt to modify the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy. Conducting the UAA would be an expensive undertaking. However, given the estimated cost of complying with the Falls Lake Nutrient Management Strategy as currently written, especially for urban areas in the Falls Lake watershed, expending funds to explore alternatives to the current nutrient management strategy may appear to be a reasonable expense. However, the cost/benefit ratio of such activities for more rural jurisdictions such as Orange County may be very different. FINANCIAL IMPACTS: There are no financial impacts at present, although additional financial impacts are likely in coming years as a result of additional activities likely to be undertaken by the UNRBA. Currently, Orange County's dues to the UNRBA are approximately $13,000. This amount could double next year as a result of some of the additional activities discussed above. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Manager recommends that the Board: 1) Approve the proposed changes to the UNRBA bylaws as outlined; 2) Remain generally supportive of the establishment of a separate 501(c)4 organization subject to the final determination of structure and purpose; 3) Remain supportive of further testing of water quality within the lake to verify contaminant levels and establish measurable quality improvement standards; and 4) Acknowledge and support the need to increase dues as outlined so that the organizational goals can be pursued effectively. Commissioner Hemminger said that the UNRBA meets tomorrow and the Town of Hillsborough has already approved these new by-laws. She asked for support of the recommendations. Commissioner Jacobs said that in meetings that he has attended, there is a strong difference of opinion between the City of Raleigh and the City of Durham about taking responsibility for water quality in a watershed. He asked how this group would deal with lobbying when it may not be united. Commissioner Hemminger said that there are competing interests in Raleigh, but they are willing to work together. Commissioner Jacobs said that he is actually worried about Durham, which has balked at every turn in having to pay to help protect someone else's water supply, when Orange County has consistently down-zoned huge portions of land to protect Durham's water supply with no thank you or reciprocity. He is making sure that Durham does not try to undermine the