Asylum
Lake Policy and Management Council
Meeting Minutes
Fetzer Center
Western Michigan University
December 9th, 2004
" 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 7:00 PM.
II. Roll Call
a. Sign-In Roster
Council Members Present: Paul MacNellis, Tyler Bassett, Mary Hosley, Ann Paulson, Robert Nagler, Michael Nassaney, Charles Ide, Steve Kohler, Ken Devries, Duane Hampton, Mark Hoffman, Frank Wolf.
Committee Members Present: Chad Avery
Guests: Kay Chase, Cari DeLong
III. Adoption of Agenda
Agenda was approved.
IV. Approval of 11/11/04 Meeting Minutes
The motion to approve the 11/11/04 Meeting Minutes was moved and seconded.
Discussion - It was suggested that Section 4.01of the 11/11/04 Meeting Minutes should read " will meet when there are proposed changes to the physical properties "
11/11/04 Meeting Minutes were approved with these changes.
V.
Old Business
a. By-Laws
Article X (Amendments)
- " Section 10.01 a. states "Changes in the size of the Council shall occur only after a favorable vote by ¾ of the current members." There was question as to whether "3/4 of the current members" is referring to the majority of the membership or a majority of a quorum.
- It was decided that no changes need to be made to clarify Section 10.01 since Section 3.15 of the By-Laws establishes a quorum as "A quorum for the Council or any of its committees shall be a majority of the Council membership or committee membership."
- It was proposed that the by-laws should include the definition of a vote count needed to pass a motion. The vote count needed to pass a motion was defined as, "The majority of the quorum"
- There was question as to whether there is a quorum if only WMU representatives are present but no community members. Since there are 8 WMU members they would have a quorum without community members present.
- It was suggested that the Council could define a quorum to include half community members and half WMU members. It was decided this was too complicated.
- The prices of posting a meeting notice in the Kalamazoo Gazette were listed.
- It was agreed that the Calendar section of the Gazette, which is free, would be acceptable notice.
- There was agreement that a posting on the website and also a notice in the Calendar section of the Kalamazoo Gazette would be sufficient public notice of the meetings.
- There was question as to whether or not the language in Section 3.11 should include "any other reasonable mode likely to reach the general public" in order to cover future changes in communication. It was decided this was not necessary. The language will remain as is.
Article XI (Parliamentary Authority)
- No comments
VI. New Business
a. 2005 Meeting Schedule
Wednesday, January 12th, 2005 was tentatively selected as the next meeting date.
VII. Project / Special Committee Reports
- Chad Avery of the Review Panel for the Research and Education Committee reported on the planned burn for prairie restoration at the Asylum Lake Preserve:
- The procedures used by the Nature Conservancy before a burn, were duplicated for Asylum Lake.
- The Council was encouraged to look over a CD handed out containing Fire Management Justification, Fire Regime Proposal, Monitoring of Asylum Lake, and Site Fire Management Goals documents.
- Much of the Management Justification is a proposal that the Council could amend.
- There is intention to burn in the spring of 2005.
- There have been fire breaks prepared throughout the summer. In the old field cross country ski trails have been mowed.
- The Council was asked to consider how to resolve conflicts between the procedures of the Operations Committee and research performed at Asylum Lake.
- It was stressed the Council should know of the research taking place at the property.
Discussion:
- There was suggestion that the Council should invite researchers to talk at the Council meetings.
- It was suggested the Council should consider the philosophy of what should be done with the property.
- It was agreed a subcommittee of ecologists should be formed to make recommendations to the Council. This subject will be discussed further.
- There was a question as to whether there will be adequate public notice of the burn.
- Chad reported that the city will be notified and explained that that public notice did not happen in 2003 since the burn could only be allowed under specific weather conditions.
- Paul explained that he had looked over the documents and could attest to the detail and formality involved in the preparation of a burn.
- There was a suggestion that the burn could be videotaped and put on the webpage.
- There was general agreement that the burn should be a positive public event with media coverage.
VIII.
Public Comments
None.
IX. Council / Staff Comments
- Frank Wolf representing the Environmental Concerns Committee of Kalamazoo raised some concerns:
- WMU trustees were thanked for providing security to the property.
- Concern was raised that circumstances may be different in future - security of the property is dependent on the value the public places on the property.
- Suggestions were listed on how to make the property more attractive to the general public:
- Concerned with storm water runoff in lake.
- Prairie maintained and burned - turn it into a positive educational event.
- Restoration of oak savannah.
- Evaluate the trails example nature trails.
- Add signs - Entry signs and label signs.
- Add a map.
- Add a public entrance.
- Visitor center.
- Grants for educational purposes to use for these changes.
- Design for signs.
- Gibb's House - make into a museum. - Include Asylum Lake in the history.
- Hire a small staff to take care of the property.
- Form a vision of what property should look like.
Discussion:
- There was comment that the Gibbs House is currently being used by the Environmental Studies Department. Students are living in the house, performing research related to sustainability and are required to do community outreach.
- It was mentioned that there are sites parallel to Asylum Lake that can be used as examples. The Council should consider visiting some of these sites.
- It was agreed that there was much potential in the property and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation should meet with the Council to discuss monies.
- It was suggested that Gibbs House could serve as a memorial to first black settlers.
- It was stressed that newspaper publicity is important to get word of Asylum Lake to the public. A regular section in the newspaper highlighting events would be helpful.
- There was suggestion of creating a logo for the Preserve to post on signs.
- It was cautioned that environmental interpretation is an entire field of study on how to get people to the property. Faculty members, community members and students could all be involved in the process.
- It was mentioned that dogs without leashes has become a nuisance on the property and the problem of how to enforce this issue should be addressed.
- There was question as to how the committees are involved in the process and relate to the Council. This question will be discussed at the next meeting.
- The nomination of committee members was discussed. There are still two positions to be filled - one in the Research and Education Committee and another in the Operations Committee. It was proposed to select a chair as the first step and then nominate committee members.
- There was a suggestion that the current committee members could be allowed to choose the remaining vacancy. This subject will be discussed at the next meeting.
- It was decided that nominations for the Chair and the Vice Chair will be sent by email to the acting secretary. Nominations will be forwarded to the Council Members before next meeting. The Chair and Vice Chair will be nominated at that time.
- Thanks to Frank Wolf for his services as a representative for the Environmental Concerns Committee of Kalamazoo.
- The final draft of the By-Laws will be distributed before the next meeting.
- By-Laws will be voted on at the next meeting.
X. Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 8:36 PM.