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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEAC Meeting Minutes_April 2025Minutes of the Ecological Advocacy Committee (EAC) Meeting on April 7th, 2025 Committee Members’ Present: Andy Schnabel (Chair) Charlene Rountree (Vice-Chair) Andrew Tucker Brian Will Kevin Price Lori Checkley Clay Kusbach Ronda Spaulding John Hamilton Others Present: Garry Harrington — VPA, Rum Village Park Property Manager Barbara Dale – Project Manager, Office of Sustainability Mary Wojcik – VPA, Horticulturist Michael Schmidt – Attorney, City of South Bend I.  Call to Order – Meeting at Rum Village Nature Center at 8:33 am. II. Approval of Minutes Brian Will moved to approve the minutes of February 24th, 2025. Kevin Price seconded. The motion passed unanimously. III. Old Business Committee Reports Aquatic Resources Assessment Subcommittee Charlene Rountree, Clay Kusbach, and Lori Checkley reported on how amphibian field research data collection was commencing.  The overall plan is to have all data collected by the end of April and upload the data not only to the EAC G drive, but also to a citizen science app such as HerpMapper and provide a short summary to the VPA.  The committee plans to put together a standard operating methodology for future field research efforts.  Professor Jim McLister, herpetologist at IU South Bend, would be a good resource for this standardized methodology effort.  35th St. Wetlands Subcommittee Andrew Tucker and Brian Will reported on the April 5 litter pick-up, which was coordinated with the help of the sanitation department and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.  This past debris collection had roughly a 12-person turn-out.  Collection was mostly of small trash that could pose danger to wildlife.  There was continued evidence of the need for trash socks at the outflows, and the crew also noticed evidence of honeysuckle removal by the Forestry Department as well as some invasive trees marked for future removal. Garry H. noted that over the course of the past two years, there has been a lot of progress made despite the continued threats of chemical run-off and cat houses.  Barbara D. suggested that to continue forward movement on this project the Committee considered advocating for a healthier forested wetland on the grounds that forested wetlands are excellent carbon sinks. Park Specific Management Plan Subcommittee Andy Schnabel stated this subcommittee was inactive during this past month.  Education Subcommittee Brian Will is organizing mini-education sessions on urban wetland functions and benefits at park properties.  During April, Earth month, it has been quite busy with educational events and encouraging citizen involvement.  This subcommittee will be more free to organize educational avenues once summer occurs.  One idea is to educate on wetland habitats to the general public.  Wildlife Coexistence Plan Charlene Rountree brought up how Director Gathers has the directive to review and will follow-up on establishing a meeting with him and others on the committee to consider implementation of the recommended Canada Goose cohabitation measures.  Garry Harrington is now the point person for communicating about this topic with EAC.  He can arrange a meeting with Director Gathers, John Martinez, and any others needed to keep progress occurring here.  IV. New Business None to report. V. VPA and City Updates Barbara Dale updated the committee on the USDA Grant and ERC event.  She let us know the grant still exists, but is not sure for how long.  Barbara explained they will keep working on the presumption that it continues to be there for their office.  However, she informed the committee that the $500k EPA grant was terminated, so there are major changes from that.  She noted that the half-moon nursery is still being developed for tree planting.  Her office is focused on community engagement and the April 25th Navarre Middle School group tree planting event is an opportunity for education.  Mary Wojcik and Barbara Dale presented at the Growing Summit together, a Unity Gardens annual event.  VI. Miscellaneous Garry Harrington met with John Martinez and Macy Hanna (VPA Director of Recreational Experience) to develop more no-mow areas and pollinator and savanna habitat.  He is considering park ecological data being uploaded to iNaturalist.  VII. Privilege of the Floor None noted. Action Items April: Aquatics Resource Subcommittee performing amphibian field data collection.  Aquatics Resource Subcommittee to reach out to Prof. McLister at IUSB for sampling standard methodology collection.  35th St. Wetland Subcommittee to coordinate with Public Works on trash socks for outflows at 35th St. Wetland.  Garry Harrington scheduled a meeting after April 14th for Director Gathers and John Martinez to review the Wildlife Coexistence directive.  Next meeting will be Monday, May 12th, 2025; 8:30 am at Rum Village. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 am.