2002-01-31_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

BWSR Meeting Minutes December 19, 2001 Page Nine ** 01-89 ** 01-90 the rule as identified by the MAWD/AMC coalition and the environmental groups coalition; authorize staff to publish said rules according to the predetermined schedule; and seek legislation needed to enact non-controverisal parts of the rule if consensus can be achieved. Lacking consensus, seek cone-year extension of the exempt rule. Another meeting will be held tomorrow in St. Cloud with AMC, and all interest groups will meet in Shoreview on January 4. Ron encouraged board members on the wetlands committee to attend. This issue will be reviewed as BWSR looks at the budget reductions. This gives flexibility and Board oversight. This issue can be revisited again in January to see if there is a consensus, and through the hearing process an opportunity to review. Moved by Jerome Deal, seconded by Dwain Otte, to approve the Administrative Advisory Committee's recommendation. Motion passed on a voice vote. SWCD Law Change -Ron Harnack reported that the Administrative Advisory Committee felt no urgency in moving forward at this time on legislation relating to the petition for dissolution of an SWCD. Jim Birkholz is the agency liaison actively involved in working with SWCDs. BWSR will look at the clarification of the petition issue in 2003 as part of the modernization of the SWCD law. The MASWCD District Gapacity Committee will work collectively with BWSR to reach the people and allow time for other organizations to move forward on this in the legislative process. Moved by Dwain Otte, seconded by Victor Ormsby, to approve the recommendation of the Administrative Advisory Committee. Motion passed on a voice vote. Information and Discussion Budget -Ron Harnack reported that the budget will be tough this year, between 5-10% budget reduction, $3.7M reduction for BWSR for the biennium. Ron stated that budget information is considered confidential at this point. Ron presented general information. Staff has looked at competitive vs. non-competitive grants. Since most of the first year grants are already out, the full burden of the reduction will fall on the second years programs. This would have a significant impact on local governments capacity to implement mandated programs and maintain. strong cost-share programs. Ron reported that he is meeting with the Department of Finance on Friday to discuss the. budget cuts. Ron stated that it won't. be an easy process; we're putting .conservation on the ground in an effective and efficient manner. How do we give local government time to acclimate as we anticipate reductions in June; it will be challenging. Ron stated that all agencies are faced with some grants that have been frozen, because the local governmental unit didn't submit information on time. Ron will be looking to board members as a whole, and the Administrative Advisory Committee will be the sounding board as BWSR looks at reductions. Electronic Reporting -Tim Ogg, information technology specialist, presented the progress on the new electronic reporting system. Tim stated that this process cannot