[Durham INC] Tomorrow night: Durham's South Ellerbe Wetland Concept Plan Meeting

[Melissa Rooney]

Please see below. The first of two public meetings on the Duke Diet and Fitness Center site is Thursday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. — Durham City Hall, Second Floor Committee Room, 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham

A few things I'd like INC neighborhoods to consider now and in the near future:

1) I am still trying to ascertain if the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD, i.e. Danielle Adams and Mike Dupree, who spoke at INC a couple months ago) has been contacted and/or is participating in Durham's South Ellerbe Wetland Concept Plan and the upcoming public meetings. It is very troubling if this is not the case, and we should say so at the public meetings about this project.

A project like this is exactly what is meant to benefit from the expertise of the SWCD. I hope we are seeking their help, as I am sure they'd be more than happy to provide it (that is precisely why they exist). Though the SWCD is very likely the very lowest thing on Durham's budget, we do give them funds and we should use them whenever possible. I can't say this enough.

2) Apparently, when SWCD drew up their plans for the Duke Diet and Fitness Site years ago, they actually were talking to Duke about donating the site. It would be a crime for the city not to seek this avenue with regard to building wetlands there (and an education center, which the SWCD planned for). I have absolutely no doubt that SWCD would be more effective than Stormwater Services in negotiations with Duke in this regard, particularly since the former has a history of such discussions already.

3) Just today I found some notes I took at that INC meeting a couple months ago, attended by Danielle Adams and Mike Dupree (from SWCD) . As you will recall, it was a back and forth discussion with attending INC members-- very educational. Anyway, here are a few notes that I think the INC should continue to consider, perhaps as future resolutions to the city council.

a) Apparently, Sediment and Erosion Control used to be part of the district (SWCD). Now it is under the county. Sed and erosion control plans must still be shown to the district to be marked 'adequate' or 'inadequate'. However, my understanding is that the SWCD is never informed by the county what results from their ruling -- whether changes are made to the plans, they are scrapped, or whatever. So the SWCD would have no idea whether this practice is even worth their while. SWCD should be informed and involved in making these projects achieve 'adequate' status.

[Everything that the SWCD does is public -- you can see the inadequate rulings (referred to above) in minutes. Sed and Erosion Control, on the other hand, is not necessarily public (at least not in practice); they certainly appear to the lay-citizen to be far less transparent and accountable to the public.]

b) Regardless of the apparent politics involved in Durham's Sed and Erosion Control, they don't have staff members assigned to inspections, so these are complaint driven and, thus, virtually nonexistent. This is another area where the expertise and staff of SWCD should be helping us. They may eventually need more $ from us to provide these services (b/c they will need more staff), but they could really help in handling these-- they may even be able to help find funding to fix the problems they find. Besides, I have heard repeatedly that Stormwater Services already has enough on its plate and reportedly too little staff to handle it -- thus, they should welcome the assistance from SWCD.

Not only would the above arrangement help us with regard to stormwater issues and the Jordan and Falls Lake Rules, enforcing these violations would mean raising the revenue that Durham is due as a result of stormwater/sed and erosion control violations -- I wouldn't be surprised if there is a violation in every mall, office complex, large neighborhood, etc.. 

At least some of the $ raised from violations could be funneled back into SWCD if they prove (as I know they will) to be successful in this regard.

d) I have had many dealings with Stormwater Services as well as SWCD employees, including Paul Wiebke and Eddie Culbertson. It is very clear that the SWCD emphasizes customer service and is as helpful to the citizen as they possibly can be. 

Stormwater Services, on the other hand, seem to take the 'sorry but we can't help you' attitude from the get-go. I know many hardworking SS employees who are faced with many challenges and frustrations, so I can understand where this attitude comes from. Nonetheless, I think it is something that we need to turn around.

Thanks for considering these concerns/suggestions.

Melissa (Rooney)



----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Blalock, Amy" <Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov>
To: "Blalock, Amy" <Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov> 
Sent: Wednesday, 13 June 2012 12:39 PM
Subject: Durham's South Ellerbe Wetland Concept Plan Meetings Set
 

  
CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701
 
 
News Release  
News Media Contact:
Amy Blalock
Sr. Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 11253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov 
Like: http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC 
Follow: http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC     
 
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2012
  
 
Public Input Sought on Durham’s South Ellerbe Wetland Concept Plan
Public Meetings Set to Discuss Proposed Stormwater Wetland at Former Duke Diet and Fitness Center
 
DURHAM, N.C. — Durham residents interested in the proposed South Ellerbe Creek wetland concept plan at the former Duke Diet and Fitness Center should plan to attend one of several public information meetings to provide feedback.
 
The public is encouraged to attend any of the following public meetings to ask questions and learn more about the proposed concept plan. A presentation will be given at the beginning of each meeting:
·         Tuesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. — InterNeighborhood Council Meeting, City of Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, Golden Belt Building 2, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 807 E. Main St., Durham
·         Thursday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. — Durham City Hall, Second Floor Committee Room, 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham
·         Tuesday, August 7 at 7 p.m. — North Regional Library Meeting Room, 221 Milton Rd., Durham
 
The City’s South Ellerbe Wetland Concept Plan proposes changing the former Duke Diet and Fitness Center site into a constructed wetland, which is located along the creek tributary and greenway trail. The concept plan proposes redirecting the tributary of South Ellerbe Creek into a newly constructed wetland. The proposed wetland would include a shallow marsh, deep marsh, and deep pool areas with a variety of native vegetation. 
 
The proposed construction would filter pollution out of the stormwater runoff that accumulates from the 485-acre area of downtown Durham. The proposed plan will improve the vegetation and habitat conditions in the creek as well as add amenities such as seating areas for recreational and educational purposes. 
 
Residents who are unable to attend the public information meetings are encouraged to view the concept plan on the project website at http://www.DurhamNC.gov/Stormwater. Residents may submit comments to Sandra Wilbur at Sandra.Wilbur at DurhamNC.gov or Lance Fontaine at Lance.Fontaine at DurhamNC.gov.  
  
About the Public Works Department Stormwater Services Division
The Stormwater Services Division with the City’s Public Works Department is guided by the City’s strategic plan goals of stewardship of the City’s physical assets and promoting thriving, livable neighborhoods. It has the major responsibility for enforcing all existing stormwater ordinances and regulations. Activities include storm drainage design and plans review; inspecting and maintaining City-owned drainage systems; education and outreach; and stream monitoring, restoration, and watershed master planning. To learn more, visit http://www.DurhamNC.gov/Stormwater or “like” on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DurhamNCStormwater. 
 
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