PLANNING, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Monday, April 2, 2007

Administrative Center – Room 3220

4:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  George Hammes, J. Terry Hanson, Tom Rauk, Don Meyer, Don Bina (arr @3:42), and David Hansen (FSA rep./arr @3:03)

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Brian Kapanke and Bob Keil     

MEMBERS ABSENT:  None

STAFF & GUESTS:  Gregg Stangl, Cheryl McBride, Mary Meehan Strub, Bill Jung, Mike Weibel, Charlie Handy, Karl Green, Mary Jo Webster, Jadell Fasnacht, Bob Chalsma, Steve O’Malley, and Cheryl Stephen

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Committee Chair George Hammes called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION by Hanson/Rauk to approve minutes of February 26, 2007.  Motion carried unanimously; Kapanke and Keil excused; Bina absent.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Jadell Fasnacht, W7761 Devon Place, Holmen, commented on the Town of Holland amendment in relation to the County Development Plan and requested the committee keep in mind the previous comments as made by the Town of Holland residents.

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZING FUNDS FOR REGISTER OF DEEDS IMAGE STORING UPGRADE

Cheryl McBride, Register of Deeds, reviewed the need for image storage system upgrade, noting the system had started to crash in early March and a lot of information would have been lost if had not proceeded with the upgrade.  Originally the estimate was $15,000, but the software company could not find the original paperwork and resubmitted a quote of $8,000.  Funds are available in the Special Land Records Assessment Fund to cover the costs.  MOTION by Hanson/Meyer to approve the resolution which covers the imaging storage upgrade in the Register of Deeds Office at a cost of $8,144 payable to Fidlar Software from the Special Land Records Assessment Fund.  Motion carried unanimously; Kapanke and Keil excused; Bina absent.

POLICY DISCUSSION ON AMENDING CURRENT COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH TOWN AMENDMENTS

Charlie Handy reviewed and shared possible options on how to handle.  Supervisor Hanson said he wanted separate resolutions on each of the three.  Supervisor Rauk concurred; he also raised concern of only doing these amendments on a yearly basis; maybe be more flexible or find a better way without too much additional work for staff.  Noted that staff can define the differences between current County plan and the town amended plan, but cannot give an opinion to the committee.  Noted typically, most restrictive has most authority.  Supervisor Rauk noted two issues:  1) are the plans in conflict with published County, State or Federal laws, and 2) does the Town state future objectives that clearly exceed what the County has determined; these discrepancies should be shared with the committee.  Supervisor Hanson said “consistency” is the driving force behind all future amendments.  General agreement to bring back 3 separate resolutions for the town amendments, those being Holland, Onalaska and Hamilton, and Charlie will bring back projections as prepared by the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. 

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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LAND PRESERVATION PILOT PROGRAM

This was recently presented to the full County Board.  Chairman Hammes questioned why start another program.  Steve O’Malley noted one-time only funding; most costs will be covered by grants, donations, reserve, or excess sales tax.  Supervisor Rauk shared his concerns while at the same time likes the idea of “purchase of development rights.”  Charlie noted it as a voluntary program; 1) individual municipalities must first pass a resolution authorizing landowner participation, 2) each landowner application must also be approved by the municipality to be considered by the County, and 3) protection of farmland must be consistent with adopted comprehensive land use plans in order to avoid preserving land better suited for commercial, industrial or high-density residential development.  Supervisor Meyer said the “key” is education.  Charlie noted once the resolution is approved, then need to draft a related ordinance and prepare scoring criteria and review applications.  MOTION by Rauk/Meyer to approve the resolution which approves the Land Preservation Pilot Project for 2008, including temporary goal of protecting 500 acres using voluntary conservation easements within the farmland preservation priority areas and to include needed funding in the 2008 budget.  Motion carried on 3 to 1 vote; Hammes-no; Kapanke and Keil excused; Bina absent.

JOINT DATCP/DNR NONPOINT SOURCE GRANT APPLICATION FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2008

Gregg Stangl reviewed.  This particular grant application is due April 16, 2007 for the 2008 calendar year.  This annual grant serves as the Land Conservation Dept. primary source of State revenues.  The grant provides funds for staffing, cost-share assistance for implementing Land and Water Resource Management Plans and priority watershed projects, and development of urban nonpoint source and storm water management construction projects.  All counties are awarded $85,000, and in addition, the funding formula is based on prior year salaries and fringes; based on this, the funding request for 2008 will be $287,586 though actual amount received is predicted to be about half that amount.  The second part of the grant application is for cost-share assistance funds to the landowners who install conservation practices that meet the requirements under NR151 and ATCP50; the department will request $100,000 for 2008.  MOTION by Hanson/Meyer to approve the grant application as stated above.  Motion carried unanimously; Kapanke and Keil excused.

STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND JOINT PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORT

Gregg Stangl noted La Crosse County and 8 other local municipalities have been designated as operators of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems by the EPA; as a condition of this designation, they must develop and implement a stormwater public education and outreach program; by cooperatively developing and implementing a single public information and outreach program, it will provide for a unified effort that will be more cost efficient and put all municipalities in better position for acquiring state and federal grants to assist with the implementation of a stormwater program.  Karl Green of UW Extension Office will be part of the education process.

Mary Jo Webster gave a PowerPoint presentation on this topic and noted this is strictly for the urbanized areas of the County.  Highlights of her presentation:

·        EPA established a stormwater management program, under the authority of the DNR, intended to improve the nation’s waterways be reducing the quantity of pollutants that stormwater picks up and carries into storm sewer systems during storm events.

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·        La Crosse County was designated as “urbanized area” and owner/operator of an MS4, and was issued a WI Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit in November, 2006 which allows the County to discharge to waters within the State.

·        MS4:  municipal separate storm sewer system:  a system of conveyances including roads with drainage systems, ditches, constructed channel or storm drains which are owned and operated by the County and specifically designed or used for collecting or conveying storm water.

·        EPA’s defines 6 elements/measures that will result in significant reductions of pollutants discharged into receiving water bodies:  1) public education and outreach, 2) public involve-

ment/participation, 3) illicit discharge detection and elimination, 4) construction site pollutant control, 5) post-construction site stormwater management, and 6) municipal pollution prevention.  All 6 must have measurable goals.

·        Following deadlines:

ü      May 15, 2008: plan for public education and outreach program, including public involvement and participation program, erosion control ordinance for construction sites, and stormwater management ordinance.

ü      November 15, 2008:  implement the plan (as noted above) and annual/status report, pollution prevention program, stormwater quality management, map of discharge system, and illicit discharge detection and elimination.

ü      Reapplication due by March 31, 2009.

·        Additional information can be found on the following websites:

  dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/nps/stormwater/muni.htm

  dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/nps/stormwater/permits/ms4/noi/LaCrosseCounty.pdf

Mary Jo noted this was reviewed with the County Facilities and Highway Departments.  Supervisor Bina raised concern of another unfunded mandated program.  Noted that if not in compliance, EPA and DNR can bring lawsuits against the County and other municipalities.  Discussion on possibility of needing additional staff.

RESOLUTION RE AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT STORM WATER GRANT APPLICATION, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT AND JOINT PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORT

MOTION by Hanson/Meyer to approve the resolution which authorizes La Crosse County to participate in the development of a joint stormwater grant application, intergovernmental agreement and joint public education and outreach effort.  Karl Green noted total grant amount is $60,900 of which the County contribution will be $24,000 that will be included in future budgets; the County will administer the grant.  Again, Supervisor Bina noted unfunded mandated program.  Charlie noted the County has always been proactive in water quality.  Motion carried unanimously; Kapanke and Keil excused.

WISCONSIN ASSOCIATED COUNTY EXTENSION COMMITTEES ANNUAL CONFERENCE – REPORTS FROM ATTENDEES

Supervisors Bina and Hanson rode with Mary Meehan-Strub to the WACEC Annual Conference in Madison on March 27.  Supervisor Bina noted it as a day to meet the legislators which took place in the afternoon.  There were training sessions in the morning; he attended one on “needs and issues re agriculture and horticulture” and another one on “engaging communities in complex issues”; and at the end of the day visited the WCA headquarters.  Supervisor Hanson noted a training session on 4-H;

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he also met with legislators and was impressed by a speech made by Mark O’Connell, WCA Executive Director. 

UW EXTENSION WRITTEN REPORTS

Chairman Hammes noted received and placed on file.

APPROVE HOLDING OVER FOR ADDITIONAL MONTH CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 761, ELEANOR HERRICK, TOWN OF HOLLAND

Mike Weibel noted this came before the committee at the January 29 public hearing at which time it was referred for 30 days.  On February 15, received notification from Town of Holland that asked for 60 day delay which brings it before today’s meeting.  On March 21, Ms. Herrick called and noted that she could not attend today’s meeting and asked for referral.  MOTION by Hanson/Bina to refer to the April 30^th committee meeting.  Motion carried unanimously; Kapanke and Keil excused.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

None requested.

RECESS (4:37 p.m.)

MOTION by Hanson/Rauk to recess until the 6:00 p.m. public hearings.  Motion carried unanimously; Kapanke and Keil excused.

Disclaimer:  The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.

Cheryl Stephen, Recorder