2021_3_31_NewHanover_Minutes
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New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting held in Wilmington, NC.
FY Meeting Number #11 Date: March 31, 2021
Supervisors Present: Others Present:
Bill Hart, Chairman Dru Harrison, NHSWCD Director
Sue Hayes, Vice-Chairman Amy Renfranz, NHSWCD Program Coordinator
Frank Meares Haley Moccia, NHSWCD Conservation Technician
Matt Collogan Lilly Triolo, NHSWCD Intern
Evan Folds Sheryl Kelly
Kristina Fischer
Was this meeting held during a meal: No
Director Dru Harrison called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in the Harrell Conference Center at the New
Hanover County Government Center.
OPENING STATEMENT
A. Harrison described the form and function of the meeting which incorporated making comments and
suggestions on the current 2018-2022 Strategic Plan for the District. Board members and staff revolved
around the room and made comments on posters regarding the three major areas of the plan:
Stormwater Management, Education and Outreach, and Land Conservation & Resource Management.
• Motion: Without objection, the meeting agenda was approved.
LAND CONSERVATION & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION
A. Harrison led a discussion on suggestions and comments regarding the strategic objective: “Increase
urban agriculture and aquaculture.”
1. Meares made a comment regarding aquaculture. Folds recommended reaching out to
aquaculture producers to glean more about their needs, concerns, and interests – establish the
number of the producers and find ways to support them. Hayes stated that she would like
aquaculture to be removed from the strategic plan.
a. It was decided to add aquaculture producers to the database of producers in the county.
2. Collogan stated that a clarification of the goal – “Increase number of farms and gardens” could
be “Increase number of EQIP and CSP grants.”
a. It was recommended to work with Feast Down East and the Food Council to establish a
database of producers, and to utilize that database to communicate NRCS & NHSWCD
programs.
B. It was discussed that baseline numbers need to be determined to track progress and successes for
many of the objectives and target goals.
1. Folds recommended identifying projects and goals for which NHSWCD takes ownership and
determining the role of the district in implementation. Hart recommended making clarification in
the strategic plan that includes when to increase capacity by adding staff (in forestry, for
example).
2. Harrison stated that she would review the strategic plan and look for areas the require
clarification. She will report this document to the board.
3. It was decided by consensus to address target outcomes from the strategic plan at each board
meeting.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH DISCUSSION
A. A comment was made on one of the posters regarding a Best Management Practice (BMP) Tour.
Meares suggested that BMP tours in the past had been successful avenues to in depth discussion with
elected officials. Hart stated that a past Watershed Roundtable enabled discussion between the city
and county regarding matching funds for programming.
B. Meares suggested that elected officials participate in public education events and outreach.
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C. A comment was made on one of the posters regarding establishing standard operating procedures for
outdoor education learning centers. Harrison clarified that some procedures are currently in place.
D. Creating a video playlist and virtual content was discussed. Video subjects could include CCAP
programs, BMP tours, and outdoor learning centers.
1. Hiring a media development intern was discussed which would address capacity issues.
Partnerships could include the UNCW Film Department.
2. Another possibility suggested was working with the county’s marketing department to create
more polished, professional material.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION
A. A comment was made regarding a need for clarification in the distinction between water quality and
water quantity issues and the district’s role.
B. There was discussion regarding focusing on policy change objectives as a district goal in order to
improve water quality.
CLOSING COMMENTS
A. Harrison summarized the outcomes of the meeting.
B. It was discussed that at the next meeting the board review the strategic plan through the lens of the
mission statement.
ADJOURNMENT
• Motion: Without objection, the meeting was adjourned.
➢ Adjourned at 11:59 a.m.
The next regular board meeting is set for April 21, 2021 at 8 a.m. on Zoom.
Recorded By: Amy Renfranz
Approved By: ____________________________________________________________
William J. Hart (Apr 21, 2021 17:31 EDT)
William J. Hart
2021_3_31_NewHanover_Minutes
Final Audit Report 2021-04-21
Created:2021-04-21
By:Amy Renfranz (arenfranz@nhcgov.com)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAe3RsplHwzxbjT1OcD1ULYhpJoON9Yvkv
"2021_3_31_NewHanover_Minutes" History
Document created by Amy Renfranz (arenfranz@nhcgov.com)
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