Planning and Procedures Subcommittee

In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council's Planning and Procedures subcommittee, a meeting of the subcommittee was held on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. at Piccerelli Gilstein & Company, 144 Westminster Street, Providence, RI.

MEMBERS PRESENT
Michael M. Tikoian, CRMC Chairman
Jan Reitsma
Dave Abedon
Paul Lemont

STAFF PRESENT
Jeff Willis, Deputy Director
Brian Goldman, Legal Counsel

Call to Order. Mr. Tikoian called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.

Mr. Tikoian opened the meeting with a brief statement of the subcommittee's function and purpose. The Planning and Procedures subcommittee meeting is an open public meeting; it is not a public hearing. Therefore, discussion is available to the Council members themselves, and to all else at the allowance of the Chairman. Mr. Tikoian further explained that the subcommittee is the program and policy development arm of the Council, and that any programmatic decisions made by this group must ultimately be approved by the full Council in accordance with all proper procedures.

Mr. Tikoian asked for a motion to approve the subcommittee's meeting minutes of May 20, 2003.

Mr. Reitsma, seconded by Mr. Abedon, moved to approved the May 20, 2003 meeting minutes. All voted in favor of the motion.

Item 3.A. Regulation of Islands in the Salt Ponds. J. Willis explained that staff has brought this issue up for discussion/direction due to repeated inquiries to explore development on the islands and isolated land masses of the Salt Ponds of South County. J. Willis synthesized the staff memorandum that was presented as part of the agenda package. J. Willis explained how a federal grant has been made available to the nation's coastal programs to address the development of a program/plan that seeks to preserve coastal and estuarine lands (CELCP) and that URI's Coastal Resources Center has been contracted to undertake this task on the Council's behalf. Close coordination with DEM's Open Space program will need to occur. Mr. Reitsma offered that CRC explore the issue and possibilities of transfers of development rights, as well as getting local land trusts involved in the process and possible purchase of developable lands. Mr. Tikoian explained that the CELCP process should fully explore these issues.

J. Willis explained that staff will provide periodic updates on this task as it progresses.

Item 5.A. Petition for Regulation Change: Newport Harbor: Type 1 to Type 2. J. Willis explained how the Council was petitioned for this rule change.

The subcommittee directed staff to begin the rule making process.

Item 5.B. Continuances. J. Willis asked the subcommittee if the Continuances section of the Management Procedures should be revised to address a minimum re-schedule period for when applications are continued to a future semi-monthly meeting, usually due to the need for additional information.

The subcommittee felt that no changes were needed to the section.

Item 5. C. Enforcement, Permit Applications, and Compliance Coordination. This item was requested by Mr. Reitsma. Mr. Reitsma would like to ensure that the Council not issue permits when outstanding enforcement issues exist and would like to see regulations developed that address this. Mr. Reitsma explained DEM permit program regulations on the same. Mr. Goldman explained the Council's enforcement capabilities vis-?-vis Rhode Island General Laws.

The subcommittee discussed the issue and directed Legal Counsel to develop regulations for both the Management procedures and the RICRMP that address how the Council will handle this issue.

ADJOURN. Mr. Lemont, seconded by Mr. Reitsma, moved to adjourn. All voted in favor of the motion, and the subcommittee adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted August 15, 2003 by

Jeffrey M. Willis
Deputy Director

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