The Sea Grant Project Begins...

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.

https://georgiaseagrant.uga.edu/article/9_25_13_st_marys/