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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

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

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, October 16, 2012 at the offices of the CRMC, Stedman Government Center, 4808 Tower Hill Rd, Wakefield, RI.

MEMBERS PRESENT
Anne Livingston, Chair
Paul Lemont, Vice Chair
Dave Abedon
Russ Chateauneuf

STAFF PRESENT
Grover Fugate, Executive Director
Jeff Willis, Deputy Director
Janet Freedman, Coastal Geologist
Brian Goldman, Legal Counsel

Call to Order. Ms. Livingston called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Ms. Livingston called for a motion to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2012 subcommittee meeting.

Mr. Lemont seconded by Ms. Livingston moved to approve the meeting minutes of September 18, 2012. All voted in favor of the motion with Mr. Chateauneuf abstaining.

Item 4.A. – Redbook Section 145 Climate Change and Sea Level Rise. J. Freedman explained that such of the section has been rewritten to incorporate as applicable the latest scientific evidence relative to sea level rise and climate change. J. Freedman explained that rates of change for sea level rise are now felt by the scientific community to be more aggressive than they were when these regulations were first written in 1996 however since the Council’s rates were aggressive at that time, the rates currently embodied are recommended to be kept as is as they reflect current science community estimates. Mr. Chateauneuf asked why a discussion on tectonic plates was included when that generally is a West Coast issue. J. Freedman explained that it was included as part of the global discussion on sea level rise and that it helps to understand how sea level rise is an issue. Mr. Chateauneuf asked if staff could clarify that that issue is a west coast phenomenon and is not occurring here. J. Freedman said yes. Mr. Chateauneuf asked if land is subsiding here and if so could staff clarify that issue in the proposed regulations. J. Freedman said yes. B. Goldman suggested that Finding 20 be revised to have the statement be more of an objective observation from environmental groups. Mr. Lemont asked if there are any scenarios available for the affected properties along the coast. G. Fugate explained that yes, with the current and upcoming LiDAR data these scenarios will be part of and included in the upcoming Beach/Erosion SAMP tasks.

Staff will incorporate the directed changes and bring back to the subcommittee for consideration.

Item 5.A. FY2014 Budget. Ms. Livingston opened the discussion by asking what could be done to protect the agency from the seven percent reduction directed by the Budget Office. G. Fugate suggested that given the extraordinary volume of work expected from the Council, namely the Deepwater Wind application for Block Island, the Rhode Island Sound Block Lease sales for offshore development of a utility-scale wind farm, and the development of a new SAMP for erosion issues along the state’s shoreline – and given the significant time that the council and staff will need to apportion to these efforts – that anything less than a current services budget request would negatively affect the operations of the agency. G. Fugate noted that the agency is expecting one staff to retire in the next two quarters of the fiscal year and that that retirement will help the agency meet a portion of the seven percent reduction through turnover savings. The downside to this retirement is that the staff expected to retire is an upper level engineer with significant years of experience where his involvement in the aforementioned projects would have been a benefit, further adding to the negative affect argument of a reduced budget for the agency. Mr. Lemont noted that a budget committee should be formed to assist in the development of the annual budget and that the committee should meet in July and August. Ms. Livingston agreed and directed that such effort be part of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee agenda, using the administration’s July release of the annual state budget development instructions as a basis. Mr. Lemont also suggested that talking points be developed for council members to use when discussing budget issues of the Council with their respective state representatives.

Item 7.A. – Staff Reports – “Beach/Erosion” SAMP. G. Fugate stated that the Coastal Institute has dedicated $60,000 ($20,000 per year) to the SAMP effort. The purchase of a Side Scan Sonar unit is almost complete. Staff submitted and won a proposal with the University of RI to look at sea level rise impacts through a dedicated NOAA grant program. Another NOAA grant program that the development of the SAMP could benefit from is about to be released and the staff will be submitting a proposal for that as soon as it does.

ADJOURNMENT. Mr. Lemont, seconded by Mr. Abedon, moved to adjourn the subcommittee meeting. All voted in favor of the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 11:06 a.m.

Respectfully submitted by
Jeffrey M Willis, Deputy Director

CALENDAR INDEX

Stedman Government Center
Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-1900
Voice 401-783-3370 • Fax 401-783-2069 • E-Mail cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov

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