Forwarded by Jane Clark--please note changes and additions, and please
attend.


MEETINGS SCHEDULED AROUND IOWA TO DISCUSS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES

The public is invited to learn more about and comment on the possibility of
sustainable funding for natural resources at a concurrent state-wide meeting
to be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9.

**Public interest has resulted in meetings being added in four additional
Iowa cities - Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Creston and Centerville.

**In addition, the northwest Iowa meeting has been moved from Spencer to
Spirit Lake and the Des Moines area meeting will now be held at Valley High
School in West Des Moines.

The meeting sites are listed below.

The meeting will be presented by the Sustainable Funding Committee which was
created during the last Legislative session to study and, ultimately, make a
recommendation to the General Assembly for creating a sustainable funding
source for natural resources. The committee will be updating the public on
its progress as well as receiving public input on the process.

Iowa's current funding for supporting, improving, and protecting its natural
resources is slightly more than 1 percent of the total budget for the State
of Iowa.  The legislature contends this is not sufficient to maintain Iowa's
natural resources nor provide the citizens of Iowa with quality service, and
the amount is not guaranteed every year.  Iowa has been one of the lowest
funded states in the nation for natural resource funding.

This sustainable funding effort is to identify and pursue financial
mechanisms that will help provide money specifically for programs that will
support and enhance the quality of our natural resources.  Many states in
the Midwest have sustainable funding mechanisms in place and have seen great
improvement in their natural resources and the public's access and use of
them.

The committee is comprised of members from diverse Iowa organizations who
are conscious of Iowa's natural resource needs and bring diverse knowledge
and a broad perspective to the process.  To date, after reviewing materials,
hearing presentations, and deliberating, the committee is nearing the
completion of its legislative charge.   The members have defined and
categorized natural resources, for this task, into three groups: 1) fish,
wildlife, natural areas, 2) soil and water, and 3) parks and trails.  They
have also identified a $150 million need to help support the inadequate
current funding these natural resources are allotted.  Possible sustainable
funding sources have been identified and are being researched as to their
viability.

Because public input is an important part of this process, interested
citizens are encouraged to review the progress the committee has made
through the meeting summaries posted on the Sustainable Funding website at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/sustainablefunding/index.html. Included on the
website are minutes from the Oct. 11 committee meeting which provide the
most recent discussions and decisions the committee has made.

In addition to attending the Nov. 9 meeting to submit their comments, the
public is encouraged to provide comments and interest online, through
Friday, Nov. 17, or by submitting comments and interest in writing to: Iowa
DNR - Sustainable Funding, Attention: Kim Rasler, 502 East 9th Street, Des
Moines, IA  50319-0034. A comment form can be found on the website or by
contacting the Iowa DNR. Written comments will be included with postmarks up
to Nov. 17.

The committee is also interested in hearing from citizens on their desire to
support and promote sustainable funding for Iowa's natural resources. This
can be indicated, on the public comments webpage or in writing, by answering
the question: "Is sustainable funding for natural resources a concept you
would volunteer to support and/or promote?"

All comments received will be presented to the Sustainable Funding Committee
for review and consideration.

IA Natural Resources Sustainable Funding ICN Session Date: Thursday, Nov. 9,
2006:
6:30 pm Doors open
7:00 pm Session begins
7:00 pm-7:30pm Committee Presentation
7:30 pm-9:00pm Public Comments

BETTENDORF-AEA
Mississippi Bend AEA9
729 21st Street
Bettendorf, IA  52722

BURLINGTON-HS
Burlington High School
421 Terrace Drive
Burlington, IA  52601

CEDAR RAPIDS
Prairie High School
401 76th Avenue Southwest
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

CENTERVILLE
Centerville High School
600 CHS Drive
Centerville, IA 52544

COUNCIL BLUFFS-CC3
Iowa Western Community College-3
2700 College Road
Council Bluffs, IA  51502

CRESTON
Green Valley Area Education Agency
1405 N. Lincoln
Creston, IA 50801

DES MOINES AREA
Valley High School
3650 Woodland Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50266

DUBUQUE
Dubuque Senior High School
1800 Clarke Drive
Dubuque, IA 52001

FORT DODGE-ST EDMOND-HS
St. Edmond High School
501 North 22nd Street
Fort Dodge, IA  50501

IOWA CITY (NG)
Iowa City National Guard Armory
925 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA  52240

MASON CITY (NG)
Mason City - National Guard Armory
1160 19th Street SW
Mason City, IA  50401
641-423-9311

SIOUX CITY-AEA
Northwest AEA12
1520 Morningside Avenue
Sioux City, IA  51106
ICN ROOM: Room 206

SPIRIT LAKE
Spirit Lake High School
2701 Hill Ave.
Spirit Lake, IA 51360

WATERLOO-CC2 (CART) Hawkeye Community College
1501 East Orange Road
Waterloo, IA  50704
ICN ROOM: Tama Hall, Room 109

For more information, contact Doug Harr at (515) 281-4815.

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