City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Municipal Alliance for Adaptive Management, 1 Jun 2022

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From YouTube: 6.1.2022 Municipal Alliance for Adaptive Management

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6.1.2022 Municipal Alliance for Adaptive Management

A

uh This is just a sort of emergency or quick meeting of the executive board and the focus is.

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Going to be to discuss the um the some revisions to the um congressional congressionally directed.

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Spending application that we did, I think it was about a year ago. um I guess first, I'm going to do.

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Approval of the executive committee and eating minutes from may 12 22 last month. I don't know.

B

It wasn't rochester.

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All of those in favor.

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All right great, then we're going to move on to item number three, which is the discussion.

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Before we get going, I do want to open and say um this is a huge thanks to rochester and their team.

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um Jim steinkrause from wrath young and pignatelli um we, this is something that rochester and those.

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Folks took the lead on a year ago bringing a ton of information together for the first application.

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They sat on it for about a year, nothing and then also had to turn around and have a ton.

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Of information again, so um these folks have really taken the lead and gathered a lot of information.

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um Reached out to a lot of people filled out a lot of forms and turned over to jim and give us more.

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Details, thank you gretchen. So the key purpose today is to have an executive board vote to.

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Authorize rochester as its fiscal agent to apply on behalf of ma'am with noah for the appropriation.

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Of the money that's been approved, so just a little background. In june of last year, ma'am rochester.

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Acting on behalf of ma'am filed a request for congressionally uh directed spending with.

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Senator shaneen's office, we initially asked for two million dollars over a four-year period for.

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You know additional monitoring and other efforts, they came back and said: listen. We really need a.

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Project, that's a physical, tangible project, so uh that was in may. In june. We amended it to really.

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Focus on oyster bed, restoration efforts and eelgrass restoration efforts with some inclusion.

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Of monitoring so um that went forward and was approved, we were notified back in march this year.

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That the appropriation was made in the amount of one million dollars not with a time frame.

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Although I you know, and speaking of the federal government, I think they're pushing for us to move.

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Quickly on this, as opposed to in the same period of time, but as a little background.

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Recently, last actually, last week we were contacted by uh sort of our representative.

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From noaa basically saying we need you to submit all these grant forms. This was on.

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Wednesday by tuesday, which is yesterday um not being very realistic, we need to uh work.

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Closely and we're very fortunate to have a lot of engaged project partners at unh.

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Major conservancy clf that we're reaching out to to try to assist us with putting together.

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um The grant package really a revised grant package, is more directed and focused on.

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Making sure we can get the money appropriated this year so um with that you know working with.

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Our partners and the staff that we were able to put together sort of a revised narrative.

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Through the whole thing, but essentially it lays out the background.

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The project purpose is field grass, restoration, oyster restoration, monitoring of the eelgrass.

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And seaweed beds, as well as studying the impacts on water quality and nitrogen.

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um Lays out some of the community benefits, uh the objectives would be to you know and again.

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This is subject to some restaurants- maybe some modification, but essentially looking to restore.

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And this is something we talked about previously with some product partners, including dr burdick,.

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um Restoring about 1.5 acres of gill grass in the grape estuary, you know reseeding anywhere from.

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One to two acres of oysters and then doing some monitoring to evaluate the impacts of that work.

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Laid out some key personnel partners from unh and uh nature conservancy and project timeline, we're.

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Hoping for an award sometime this summer, um then the permanent application and project planning is.

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Going to likely take six to eight months and then with the hope that we can start implementing the.

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Eelgrass and oyster work next spring and summer, so with monitoring during that period and then.

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Thereafter, so they're certainly looking for us to spend the money as quickly as possible, although.

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We certainly have to work on our timing. Originally, we participate over four year periods, so.

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The million dollars- you know, probably go pretty quickly for those two efforts.

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And then we need to include some data sharing. Basically, we need to obviously.

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Make that information available to the federal government as we can call it so.

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um But that, essentially, what we're asking for is permission from the city of rochester to.

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Proceed with finalizing the grant application working and we received some information. This.

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Morning from dr grizzle, thank you very much for putting that together having a chance to review it.

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Yet, but um putting together the grant application the necessary forms, I have to do a need by.

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Checklist and then we'll have to fulfill with all the permitting. So um it's a huge effort, very short.

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Time frame, so we can't appreciate and say how much we appreciate the assistance and but essentially.

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The vault would have basically authorized rochester acting as a physical agent to apply.

D

For that with noah, so I'll make that multiple, if you definitely that burger, that was just right.

A

All right so moved is there a second second all right? Second, can we have a little discussion.

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So I I just wanted for everyone to hear: are there funds being expected from um ma'am for any of this.

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uh No, our understanding is it's uh a million dollar award without any uh anticipated.

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Contribution from the member communities, that's matching grants so piggyback on that.

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Have you confirmed that, more than once, we've gotten uh had this discussion with them more than.

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Once we keep getting okay, all of a sudden, there's a there's a match 20-25. So we had two different.

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Projects that came back that required a match and we had four hours to make that commitment.

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So just I think we should look the program firm, but hopefully it's not it's just gonna work, a.

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Lot quicker than some of the ones that I'm talking about through the same program or same huge bucket.

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So maybe that some of the highest level ones that were most supported went right through without an.

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Action these other ones are either got different from different sources. It's all kind of confusing.

E

But okay, I think it depends on the committee too that brought it forward where we haven't received.

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Any indication that, with this committee, there is a required match, we can receive it on documentation.

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And it's otherwise, but we can confirm- and these are the interior and environment.

E

For the ones that came through with a match later, okay, this is a commerce thing yeah. I have it here.

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B

In terms of mechanics, this would look like where rochester would submit the application.

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Grants.Gov under rochester's uei number um does not have one and it takes time registering.

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And we'll be facilitating the funds anyway, um in terms of mechanics on the funding. We would then.

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Bring forward a supplemental appropriation to city council to accept the funds. My understanding is.

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The conversations of the project team is that we would work with the project team on disbursements.

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Directly, rather than past practice, which I think was through prep for some of these activities,.

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Where we were coordinating with the project team units directly and some of the subcontractors.

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And dennis and you weren't sure about the timeline, um we asked the program manager if.

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You could have until this friday, oh okay, what she's looking for is for us to submit to her.

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Detailed budget narrative project narrative data sharing plan resumes for the project team.

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Negotiated indirect cost agreement couple other forms and then, as soon as the rfa is.

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Posted grants.gov and she gets located and then we'll submit it changes that being posted today.

E

The um the scope of work would be later provided and reviewed by a man as a whole.

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Or how would that work right, so we have sort of the basic scope of work that.

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You have here and once we have- and I did receive some documents this morning from.

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Dr brizzle, that should lay out some additional information that I'll forward to aggression and.

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That will make sure that that's distributed to everyone.

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And is it worth um uh trevor or kala to talk about whether this changes any of the? I don't think it.

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Really does impact any of the work they were doing. huh Probably in addition to it's just addition, too,.

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A

How this might need some additional information.

E

You should be able to unmute yourself, um I'm going to give trevor, since I think that this is.

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Mostly about eelgrass restoration, which is what trevor is in charge of I'm going to give him.

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First shot to respond, and then, if not, I can jump in there. He is um yeah. I might not be clear on.

E

If you, if that's what you're, referring to they're the current restoration that we're doing now,.

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Because I don't know if there is any connection with what's going on with the man.

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um Is that is that what you're referring to when you say additionally, I figured.

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Well, wally have everyone here. If there's anything, you wanted to add to what jim had.

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um Shared with us about the project and how it might be a benefit or.

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I'm not sure, I'm not sure that we heard uh maybe because trevor and I were having trouble getting.

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In I'm not sure that we heard what jim said about the project, I think trevor did oh okay, yeah. I.

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Was I was here for it? um I haven't seen the final proposal yet um from especially what's coming from.

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From ray, although I was on the project meeting that met was that yesterday, um I think I think.

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This this looks good. I think it's a good direction for it um excited for the opportunity and.

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Yeah, that's pretty much. It.

A

Okay, thanks kevin sorry to put you on the spot. There.

E

So I'm still uh I'm still not. I totally don't understand the process here. So does the scope of.

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Work at some point get distributed and approved by the man group, or is this, uh do you think the.

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Scope of work is already set, it's just going to go ahead and all that work's been done.

C

um Well, given sort of the short notice, we try to put together a relatively broad scope of work.

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That I'll get- I got some more information this morning that I haven't had a chance to review and.

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Incorporate, but we could certainly uh circulate that before submission to um the main group for.

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Any comments, if that's uh that, would you know, I think that you're with the specifics we'll need.

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To get sent around to everyone, the specifics- and we can look at that, but the general in general.

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Where originally, two million dollars has been largely focused on um some monitoring.

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And stuff, the direction that we've been given is to take into more implementation work with.

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Monitoring associated with it, and this this is a it's eelgrass, restoration and.

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I'm not a scientist. I can't speak to the specifics, but there's a little bit of innovation with the.

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Way that they're kind of incorporating the two at the same time, which was you know, making the water.

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Parameters even more beneficial for both, um so there was some innovation with this project.

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And so the specifics of the scope of work are kind of to be determined, but that would be.

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The general direction so if to pick up on that, so really what I heard is six to eight months.

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Worth of planning, and that's where we're going to get a lot more of the detail in terms of the.

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What this project's actually going to look like and there'll, be I'm sure, opportunities to have.

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Conversations and have someone present on those elements as they evolve over time.

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What I'm hearing is that this is a first broad, what I call the broad brush of the scope of.

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Work enough to get the application filed and submitted with an evolution of the details.

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Of that to come in the six to eight months worth of project planning is that do I have that right.

C

Yes, yeah, so I I do anticipate um some additional documents. I've received this.

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Morning that we can hopefully further refine the scope that we can submit and send around.

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The comment before we submit to it- and there is also a mechanism that if, if necessary, we can go.

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Back and file an amended application, but no, if necessary. So there are some major concerns, but.

C

That is correct. There's there is a long lag time for planning and permitting in order to.

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Do this work, so I think there's certainly time for uh refining the scope. If that's a concern.

C

And before the work ever starts likely next sometime this year next year, this time next year,.

D

If I bet also in the project purpose, it says the funding will create additional.

D

Jobs so whether it's future or more tests or you know for a prep or can I I have a problem.

D

That so I mean we have to go by the purpose of the grant, and then there should be additional eel.

D

Graft and oyster bed out in the bay correct trevor spoke about they're doing some eelgrass right now.

D

This hair is poor and the final purpose will be for future eelgrass, that's correct. Thank you.

C

It's not connected, I mean it's not connected to ongoing works.

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All right, anyone else want to add anything.

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And I'll look for, um we have a pending motion, so we just need a vote.

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All those in favor excellent, all right! Thank you, jim in rochester.

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Thank you yeah, I mean really do I know, but yeah we're all doing it. It's crazy right now.

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um Stakeholder comment: anyone else anything else.

G

All right, well, I I would uh hi all. um I would just say that um this isn't a comment from the.

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Stakeholder committee, um but just from uh the sort of group the team that's been contemplating how to.

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Respond to this incredible opportunity that rochester has.

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Put in motion here to really amp up the restoration activities.

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In the estuary and to build upon work, that's been underway on the oyster front,.

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Between professor grizzle and the nature conservancy for many years.

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And um the what we're working on in terms of eelgrass and trying to couple those those efforts.

G

So this is really an enormous opportunity to um to advance those those initiatives and try to.

G

um Understand better how to use these activities to reduce nitrogen loads in the estuary, so.

G

um I think it's a it's a. It is a really uh an incredible opportunity and and we're.

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Grateful and um to the city of rochester for spearheading this. um So again, that's not a comment.

G

uh On behalf of the stakeholder committee, only as a member of the team that's been contemplating how.

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To shape a project um to put forward in a very, very short time frame, so I just, I think, there's.

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A lot on both sides that we're wrestling with with how to make make best use of this.

G

And do something really significant in the estuary? Thank you and if I might add yes, I also like to.

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Thank the project teams as well for being able to jump into this so quickly and meet on such short.

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Notice and um be so um collaborative with us and getting this put together, so we can move forward.

E

That's right, I just wanted to say on behalf of prep that we're very grateful for all the work.

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You're doing and confident that these resources will be spent in some way to benefit the estuary.

E

Really really grateful for all the work you've done to initiate this. Thank you.

A

Great well hold hands and sing any other public comments. Well yeah. This is a fantastic and.

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Any other business different mind, you name it. Oh thank you dennis yeah. Thank you actually,.

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Yeah- and I didn't mean to say that a lot going on in my head, but um that's right june, 8th next week.

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um Melissa, abigail kala and I are going to do the trial run or first run of what we had talked.

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About with these um community conversations and we've secured a space at diverge, which is right.

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On the coachica river, overlooking the waterfall and uh we'll have some appetizers for folks to.

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Come from 5 30 to 7, and um I think it's going to be a really good opportunity, like it says, they're.

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Going to be the first one and then the hope will be able to take this to other communities.

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And you know kind of get a template for other communities to be able to share what what you're.

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Doing and just I just in the future by the end of summer or fall I'd like I need to effort and.

D

Find about the axel johnson state, which is on the bay and have something there. So we can see.

D

Out through the bag, nothing gets diverged. I need to call spray, they used to be in charge of that.

D

And see if we can't get there for a couple hours by all means great go for it. Yes, that would be.

A

Great well, I want to have some place inside a case of rain. It was windy yep, so that that.

D

Would be my intent to invite uh newington people to see what we are doing and um the stakeholders.

D

That's my intent, we'll see what happens cool so we'll, try and connect it on a date. Yeah yeah.

D

Well, let me first get somebody from the actual johnson state they used to rent it out, though,.

A

Melissa not to put you on the spot, but did you have any interest in taking folks out on the bay.

A

This summer, oh I I absolutely do and um thank you for bringing that up gretchen. I think I.

G

Circulated that in an email, I'm not sure if it went out to the whole group. But I would.

G

Be very pleased to take any um members of ma'am those uh gathered here or um the broader ma'am.

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uh Community or colleagues of yours in your respective cities and municipalities, because I.

G

Really don't think, there's any there's any better way to appreciate the value of what you're doing.

G

Than having an experience on the water- and I think it- it makes a lot of these.

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You know these concepts that seem sort of regulatory and wonky and political and.

G

Controversial or whatever it makes them very real, and you know why we're doing this work and.

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And why it matters, so um you know I have about the capacity comfortable capacities about four.

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Passengers- so um you know please consider uh coming out and bringing your colleagues and others.

G

Other members of city and municipal staff, as well or or you know, planning boards, uh your city and.

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Town, counselors and so on, and should we reach out to you just individually? Yes, I think that would be.

G

Great and then we can coordinate dates and times and tides and and all the rest of it. Okay, great.

A

Okay, any other business motion to adjourn.

A

Second, all right, all those in favor hi. Thank you, young lady. I don't know your name.

D

You started yesterday, I started here yesterday. My name is.

E

Good luck, hopefully,.