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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders

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, September 20, 2005 at 5 p.m. at the office of Piccerelli Gilstein & Co., 144 Westminster St., Providence, RI.

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT
Michael Tikoian, Chairman
Paul Lemont, Vice Chair
Dave Abedon
Russ Chateneauf, DEM representative

STAFF PRESENT
Grover Fugate, CRMC Executive Director
Jeff Willis, Deputy Director
Laura Ricketson, Public Education & Information Coordinator
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 August 17, 2005.

Mr. Lemont, seconded by Mr. Abedon, moved to approved the August 17, 2005 meeting minutes.   All voted in favor of the motion.

Item 4.A.  Management Procedures Section 5.3 – Add new subsection 9, Consent Calendar.  The chair asked for a motion to move this item to the next available meeting.

Mr. Lemont, seconded by Mr. Abedon, moved to reschedule the above agenda item to the next available meeting of the subcommittee.   All voted in favor of the motion.

Item 5.A. Marine Resources Development Plan.   G. Fugate presented the subcommittee with an update of the work to-date of staff in its efforts to develop a Marine Resources Development Plan.  Given that the original impetus of the MRDP requirement came from the Senate, Ken Payne was asked to present to the subcommittee the intent, focus and development of the MRDP, and its future intended implementation.  K. Payne explained how the Chairman requested that the MRDP requirements provide for a framework for the use of SAMPs as its implementation arm, and that the MRDP be action oriented and forward thinking, and not be just another typical planning document.  K. Payne continued and explained how the MRDP would put the Council in a strong leadership role for natural resources planning and management.  He explained the interview process that occurred over the course of the last few months – ie: one-on-one interviews with agency heads as identified and required in the MRDP legislation and summarized the points and perspectives of those interviewed and how those interviews’ issues were integrated into the working draft of the MRDP.   K. Payne further explained that the working draft of the MRDP, based on the statute, gives the Council a good grounding for leadership; positions it well in collaborative efforts with other state agencies and state entities; and also positions it well with the structure of the Coordination Team.  The summary of the MRDP was handed out – which will be posted on the Council’s website and released for public consumption with the working draft.  K. Payne explained the goals of the MRDP as being unified, amplified, harnessed and advanced, and that the process will produce strategies for council management of important and emerging issues.  A value of the MRDP is to produce transparency and reduce hidden agendas, and to have the Council take action to work with other partners to strengthen the environment, the economy and strengthen its own capabilities.

P. Rubinoff explained that many of the strategies and actions contained in the MRDP can be borne out through SAMP actions.  K. Payne and P. Rubinoff asked to recognize Don Robadue, Virginia Lee and the staff of the CRC, as well as the Economic Policy Council and its staff and the Senate policy staff for their hard work in developing the MRDP to-date.  K. Payne made a further comment on how the EPC wants to use the MetroBay SAMP to ignite economic policies of the upper bay.

K. Payne then asked the subcommittee to receive the draft MRDP; organize a broadly-based workshop to unveil the plan; incorporate ideas generated from the workshop; and, open a public comment period for ultimate adoption of the MRDP by the Council.

The subcommittee asked questions of staff and those present on the MRDP.  The chairman asked about the timeline for adoption.  Ideally, adoption of the MRDP should occur prior to the holidays, but given the volume and complexity of issues raised during the workshop and public comment period, this may need to be flexible.  The chair also asked how to secure buy-in from other agaencies.  The interviews held and the incorporation of the issues raised by those interviews into the draft MRDP should produce a level of buy-in that is satisfactory to those agencies.  However, continued discussions with these agencies throughout the process (ie: the workshop and comment period) and more so during implementation (ie: assist others with their programs’ and processes) and will ensure a good working cooperative environment.  Also, because the MRDP will become an element of the state guide plan, buy-in can be seen to be best secured through this process.

Mr. Lemont stated how he feels the Council should be engaged in the bigger picture of coastal resources management (ie: more policy-setting and less individual permitting issues).  He asked if the MRDP would allow for the Council to assume this role.  K. Payne responded that that position is exactly one of the major objectives of the MRDP – to have the Council mature and undergo a dramatic transformation where the Council will be tasked to look at bigger emerging issues.  The Senate sees how significant and pressing coastal pressures are today and that they will only become larger and more pressing.  The MRDP allows the Council to grow and change to adjust to and address these pressures in a leadership capacity.

Mr. Lemont questioned the composition of the Council and staff.  Are both adequate given the direction that the MRDP seeks to take?  K. Payne explained that big issues will take large amounts of time of both the Council and staff and that by extension, the agencies resources will be taxed.

Mr. Abedon made a statement on the value of the workshop and both he and Mr. Tikoian asked questions regarding the workshop and how it should be organized and to what end.  Discussion ensued on such to ensure that the workshop accurately secures the perspectives of the affected parties in attendance; gets high level content from the attendees; makes a well though-out presentation; fully explains that a revised MRDP will be released that addresses comments made at the workshop and from the public comment period; and that a public comment period will occur prior to any adoption of the MRDP by the Council.

Mr. Lemont seconded by Mr. Abedon moved to receive the MRDP dated September 20, 2005 along with the summary of same and put in motion a workshop on the MRDP as discussed.  All voted in favor of the motion.

Item 7.A  Staff Reports

Metro Bay SAMP – As a follow-up to last meeting’s report, G. Fugate reported that the buffer policy continues to be developed and staff is meeting with its working group to finalize various sections of the policy.  It is the intention of G. Fugate to begin meeting with various user groups to explain the policy and receive comments on improving it.

Given the time need to meet with these various groups, G. Fugate said he hopes to bring the finished policy to P&P in late December, but possibly might have to do so in the New Year.

Since flood plain management is a major issue in the MetroBay region, G. Fugate is pursuing a meeting with the state floodplain manager.

ADJOURN.  Mr. Abedon seconded by Mr. Lemont moved to adjourn at 6:00 p.m.  All voted in favor of the motion.

Respectfully submitted October 17, 2005 by

Jeff Willis

Deputy Director

CALENDAR INDEX

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