SMALL CITIES/RURAL COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE
MEETING SUMMARY
NOVEMBER 1, 2012
PRESENT: Scott Brandmeier, Chair Geoff Benway
Stan Brown
Bob Lowry Jason Peek
Bo Mills, Board Liaison Ann Daniels, Staff Liaison
ABSENT: Don Bruey
Scott Brandmeier, Chair, convened the regular monthly conference call at 10:05 a.m. Jason Peek was welcomed as the new member of the committee and he shared his background information.
The meeting summary from the October 4 conference call was approved as printed.
Bo Mills, Board Liaison, reported that the Board would be meeting this weekend to discuss Governance for the Board. A committee has been appointed to review and discuss how the public works institutes and Donald C. Stone Center can coordinate their offerings to ensure the best use of time and training.
A review of the Editorial Calendar for the next several months was given as follows:
· An author is needed for the article due November 15 on the SC/RC Project of the Year Award – Scott will write article
· David Pinsonneault is confirmed for the December 15th deadline
· No response has been received from Rachel Beck for the January 15th deadline
· Fred Schattner has confirmed for the February 15th deadline
· Jason Peek has confirmed for the March 15th deadline
· No response has been received from Larry Hummel for the April 15th deadline as yet
Other potential topics but with undecided deadlines are: Stormwater Regulations, Advocacy Tool Kit for Small Cities/Rural Communities, and the Model Outreach Program
Additional authors and topics will be needed for the remainder of the year. Ann Daniels will post a request for same on the SC/RC infoNOW community.
The three guaranteed education sessions have been confirmed as follows:
· Bob Lowry – “A Small City’s Story on Asset Management”
· Stan Brown - “New Tools for your Advocacy Kit”
· Scott Brandmeier and Jeff Mazanec – “ Lighting the Way with Retro-Reflective Signs”
A discussion was held to review topics for the three remaining On Line Town Hall calls. Ann Daniels reported that Don Bruey had presented an outstanding program on October 19 titled “Hiring the Right People.” Approximately 20 connections were participating and the MP3file is available to download from the SC/RC web pages.
Geoff Benway shared information that a program from a local agency had been given detailing their experience in being audited by EPA. By General Consent, Geoff will contact the individual from his area so see if he would be willing to provide one of the topics and a conference call will be convened to discuss the issue.
Scott Brandmeier will continue to monitor the EPA Stormwater Regulations to prepare a session of the regulations when and if they are finally adopted.
Committee members were asked to review the list of Hot Topics and be prepared to offer additional suggestions for the December 6 conference call.
Stan Brown reported that he has contacted the members who volunteered to serve on the Tool Kit for Advocacy for Small Cities/Rural Communities and is scheduling a conference call for November 13th at 11:00 Eastern time. Confirmation has been received from Andy Haney, Jason Peek, and Bob Lowry and Stan will re-contact David Pinsonneault and Larry Hummel to confirm.
Ann Daniels reported that she has made contact with the members who had expressed interest in serving on the Model Outreach Program subcommittee and will convening a conference call with them to set their plans in motion. Geoff Benway volunteered to serve on this subcommittee.
Following a discussion of the preferred dates for the Committee’s Spring face-to-face meeting, By General Consent the group selected March 7th for arrival, meeting all day March 8th, and return home on the night of March 8th or March 9th is transportation requires such. Ann Daniels will confirm hotel space and report details at the December conference call.
Members were reminded to review the Business Plan online to see if there are additional topics that should be addressed prior to the March meeting.
The next regularly scheduled conference call will be held on Thursday, December 7th at 8:00 Pacific/9:00 Mountain/10:00 Central/11:00 Eastern time.
The conference call was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.