This is a gentle reminder about the sustainable funding meetings scheduled
for tonight. Please try to attend a meeting in your area if at all
possible.
Neila Seaman, MPA
Director
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
[log in to unmask]
515-277-8868
From: "Mick Klemesrud" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Mick Klemesrud" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Meetings Scheduled Around Iowa to Discuss Sustainable Fundingfor
Natural Resources
Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2006 08:17:03 -0600
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Conservation and Recreation Division
For Immediate Release
Nov. 3, 2006
MEETINGS SCHEDULED AROUND IOWA TO DISCUSS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES
DES MOINES - 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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