This was the Agenda for the St. Marys Technical/Familiarity
Visit Regarding Sea Grant on November 14, 2013:
1. 10:00 – 10:10 am - Welcome by Mayor-elect Morrissey
2. 10:10 am - Commence Visit with Project overview from Sea Grant principals:
Dr. Jessica Whitehead (Coastal
Communities Hazards Specialist, NC Sea Grant)
David Bryant (Assistant Director, GA
Sea Grant)
Dr. Chuck Hopkinson (Director, GA Sea
Grant)
Kelly Spratt (Local Government
Outreach Coordinator, GA Sea Grant)
Jill Gambill (Public Relations
Coordinator, GA Sea Grant).
Dr. Jack Thigpen (Extension Director,
NC Sea Grant)
Dr. Jason Evans (Environmental Sustainability
Analyst, Carl Vinson Institute of Government)
a. Chuck Hopkinson
i. Brief summary of Community Climate Adaptation Initiative program, and recap of how this project took shape
b. Have everybody go around and say what most concerns them about flooding/coastal hazards risks to St. Marys
c. Kelly Spratt
i. Discussion of flood insurance, Biggert-Waters Act, & CRS (Community Rating System)
d. Jess Whitehead and Jason Evans
i. Overview of project facilitation/technical strategy & timeline
e. Open discussion
i. Questions & issues of concern
ii. Maps and pictures
iii. Local policy linkages
iv. Outreach discussions
v. Contacts for infrastructure/GIS data
f. Discussion on physical needs for the Grant (space, IT, furnishings, etc.)
g. Tour of St. Marys
h. 7:00 pm - Reception hosted by the St. Marys EarthKeepers
Our thanks to City Council, City Manager, Steve
Crowell, Planning Director, Roger Weaver, and the St. Marys EarthKeepers' board for
helping to make the launch of the Sea Grant project a resounding success. The meeting was highly-informative with (despite the
short notice) 45 in attendance (city officials and members of the public).
It was followed by a full day of discussions and golf cart/van tours of St.
Marys. The evening reception was thoroughly enjoyable, with 80+ civic
leaders/general public able to speak with the GA and NC personnel.
Throughout the entire time, the Sea Grant teams continually
expressed their "amazement" over the "unprecedented" level
of professionalism, involvement and hospitality of our community. We are
setting a very high standard for all other Sea Grant partners - plus leading
the way in ground-breaking research while gaining a national/international
reputation for proactive planning and progressive policy.
