Asylum Lake Policy & Management Council Meeting

Thursday, 08 March 2007

7:30 p.m.

Parkview Hills Clubhouse

3707 Greenleaf Circle

 

The recorded comments below are expressions of council members

 and are not approved policy until voted on.  The statements

were not recorded verbatim and cannot be used as quotes.

 

AGENDA:

 

I.                  Call to Order

                  Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.



  II.              Roll Call

a.     Sign-In Roster

      Council Members Present: Paul MacNellis, Tyler Bassett, Mark Hoffman, Frank Wolf (alt.for Pat Klein), Michael Nassaney, Ann Paulson, Duane Hampton, Chuck Ide, Tim Holysz, Cam Vossen, Steve Kohler, Bill Steinmann
     
      Guests Present: Jennifer Weaver, Danielle Hunt, Mickey Cook (alt. for Ann Paulson),
      Cal Mastin (alt. for Mark Hoffman), Sam Cooper, Cari DeLong (Council Coordinator)

 

III.          Adoption of Agenda
      Paul MacNellis moved to add a presentation by Jennifer Weaver under new business and to address new business before old business.  Ann Paulson seconded. All in favor. None opposed. Paul MacNellis moved to adopt the revised 08 March 2007 meeting agenda.  Ann Paulson Seconded.  All in favor.  None opposed.

 

 

IV.            Approval of 12 October 2006 Meeting Minutes

Ann Paulson moved to approve the 12 October 2006 meeting minutes.  Bill Steinmann seconded.  All in favor. None opposed.

 

 

V.                New Business

 

a.     PeaceJam at Asylum Lake

      Jennifer Weaver and Danielle Hunt

Jennifer explained the service project she would like to organize at Asylum Lake as part of a PeaceJam event.  PeaceJam is a program that has been in Kalamazoo for 5 years and is a partner with WMU. It is a program for high school and college students that promotes service learning. Western is hosting the PeaceJam event on March 31st and April 1st, 2007.  The event includes service work and a conference with Nobel Peace Laureate, Rigberta Menchu Tum as the guest speaker. Since the conference has an environmental theme, she would like to include a conservation project at Asylum Lake on March 31st. There would be 275 participants from 2:00 to 4:00p.m.  Students would be split into smaller groups, each containing a project leader.  Projects suggested by Jennifer for Asylum Lake included trash pickup, invasive species removal and trail maintenance. Axtell Creek is also a possible project site that could be run in tandem with an Asylum Lake project.  If the weather does not permit, there are inside activities planned as a back-up. There would be cooperation between the Gibbs House and the PeaceJam organizers with the Gibbs House acting as an educational hub.  

                

This issue was discussed and there was general consensus that the publicity, community involvement, and service work would benefit the property. Details, such as transportation and organization would need to be worked out.


It was decided that Paul and Cari would assist Jennifer in filling out the project application to be submitted to the Research & Education Committee for review. 

 

 

b.     Prairie Burn for 2007

      Paul MacNellis

A prescribed burn for the prairie is scheduled for March 15th, 2007.  A map, indicating the areas that will be burned, was distributed.  The burn will target areas of the prairie that have not been burned in the past, as well as the fence line along Parkview and Drake Roads.  Appropriate parties have been notified and are prepared. The burn is scheduled for the 15th but may be postponed until appropriate weather conditions are met.  The Council will have 1 or 2 days notice. The prescribed burn will cost $250.  Mickey suggested that signs should be posted.  Paul agreed that signage should be provided.   

 

 

c.     Maintenance fund/report

      Tim Holysz

     

      Motion: Ann Paulson moved to approve $12,000 to cover maintenance costs at Asylum Lake for the next year. Duane Hampton seconded. All in favor. None opposed.  


Tim handed out a chart detailing quarterly maintenance costs at Asylum Lake.  $18,000 covered the maintenance expenses from July 2005 through February 2007. The fund is currently a negative balance of $200. Average monthly expenses totaled around $1000.  As the Council deals more with the management of the property these expenses will probably increase. Tim asked for the Council to approve asking the KCF for $12,000 to cover the next year’s maintenance costs.

 

This issue was discussed by the Council.  Ann Paulson moved to approve $12,000 to cover maintenance costs at Asylum Lake for the next year.  Duane Hampton seconded. All in favor.  None opposed.

 

It was also decided that more community involvement and service learning opportunities at Asylum Lake would be beneficial to the property as well as offset the money spent on maintenance. This topic will be pursued by Tim and Cari.  

 

 

 

d.    Kalamazoo Community Foundation annual report

      Cari DeLong

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation activity statement for the Asylum Lake Preservation Fund was distributed.  Cari explained the statement to the Council, including the amounts available for granting as well as the principal balance. 

 

A thank you letter draft was passed around to be reviewed by the Council. The Council agreed that a thank you letter should be sent to donors.  Cari requested that the Council have a designated address and suggested that an Environmental Institute address would be appropriate. It was agreed to have the Environmental Institute as the Council’s address.

 

Cari also suggested possibly developing a logo for the Council.  It was agreed that Cari should look into developing a few example logos to present to the Council. 

 

 

VI.            Old Business

 

a.     Asylum Lake Management Plan (Goals for the Preserve pages 1-12)

      Cari DeLong

The first 12 pages of the Asylum Lake Management Plan, including “Goals for the Preserve” and “Mesic Prairie” sections were handed out. Cari went through the format and content of the document with the Council.


Paul explained that this document is for purposes of the Council.  It was reviewed and approved by the Management Committee and will serve as guidelines for the Council in moving forward with management strategies of the property. It was drafted in reference to other management plans. Under the management framework document it states that these plans are to be reviewed every 5 years and are subject to change.

 

The management plan was discussed by the Council.  Steve raised concern that there may be too many details included in the plan. Tyler added that this document should be accepted as guidelines and a reference for proposals.  It was tentatively agreed that the management plan document is going in the right direction, and it was decided that the Council needs to continue moving forward with the review of these plans.

 

 

VII.        Project/Special Committee Reports

 

a.     Research/Education Committee

      Proposed Natural Features Inventory

      Chuck Ide

Chuck described a proposal that was submitted to the Research & Education Committee.

The proposal would be based on the Nature Center report completed in 1999. A checklist of species, focusing on plant and bird species, as well as a comparison to the KNC study would be the final product.

 

Chuck explained that this proposal was brought before the Council to discuss and to set up a baseline for what and how data should be gathered in future assessment projects. This study should be designed to include more high tech data gathering techniques as well as more quantitative parameters. The management plan should be used in conjunction with the design. Chuck suggested that the R&E Committee be expanded to include outside experts to discuss how to pursue an assessment of the property.

 

It was decided that a committee made up of Council members and outside ecologists would be assembled to look into the proposal and decide the best course of action for future assessments at Asylum Lake. Steve Kohler, Chuck Ide, and Tyler Bassett will be part of the committee.

 

 

b.     Operations Committee

            No committee members present.

 

 

VIII.    Public Comments

                        None.

 

 

IX.            Council/Staff Comments

Paul passed out a list of Council members who are up in June for re-appointments. He requested that their representative organizations contact Cari with information as to their re-appointment.  There are 7 seats up for re-election this year. The remaining seats have one more year left in their terms.

 

 

X.                Adjournment

                        Meeting was adjourned at 9:32p.m.