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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. 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