Agenda - 01-21-20 12-7 - Information Item - December 18, 2019 Greene Tract Facilitated Meeting Notes

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7 Ms. Rich asked who did the Environmental Scan? Mr. Benedict and others replied that all of the staffs collaborated on the Environmental Scan. Ms. Chotas asked a clarifying question as to whether the Environmental Scan is different than the Environmental Study? Answering for the group, Ms. Johnson explained that yes, the scan is a higher-level "desktop" document, whereas the study is more informed and comprehensive. Ms. McGuire said one argument for establishing the framework for doing the MOU on the EIS first is that the EIS will provide detailed, technical information about the property. It would provide additional information about the site and would be helpful in creating a clear picture of the property for those who will evaluate it for development. The EIS can be a first act before doing the larger study and the EIS can inform the vision and values for developing the property. It can also inform whether the group is a good fit for managing that. There are some environmental conditions of the property are sensitive to the seasons and rainfall in particular. There is an interest in starting the EIS sooner rather than later so that it is conducted in the most thorough and accurate way. Mr. Myren shared his perspective that the group ended their last meeting with the idea of proceeding with the EIS in order to inform the evaluation of development proposals and to decide how the headwater preserves could be reconfigured. Then there would be an RFP for development, which would go through a regular process for evaluating proposals. That would get the local governments out of the role of developers as quickly as possible, and that seems to be where some of the rub is. Mr. Andrews asked how long the EIS would take? Ms. Johnson offered that the EIS would likely take a month or two months. If the MOU takes a year and the EIS takes 1-2 months, will we agree to pause at that point? Ms. Rich raised the point about the importance of aligning policy with outcomes—thinking backwards to move forward. Mr. Benedict offered that the answer may depend on what information comes out. If we have a definitive technical analysis from the Army Corps of Engineers, that could take 3-4 months. Ms. Hemminger added the group can keep meeting on what they know and keep the public informed along the way. It is more helpful if the public can "come along with us." Then we could come back together to put the lines for the headwaters. These other pieces could be worked on while the MOU is coming along and we're checking in. That way, we can move forward and bring the community with us. Greene Tract Facilitated Discussion Minutes, December 2019, Page 7