HARBOR AREA REGIONAL BOARD OF RESOURCES, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2004; 8:00 A.M.
LITTLE TRAVERSE TOWNSHIP HALL

Welcome / Attendance:

Present: Bill Mulder, Joey Arbaugh, Bill Dohm, Tom Gallagher, Dale Labrie, Denise Simon, Bill Wiechmann, Al Dika, George Kilborn, Greg Voelker, Wil Cwikel, John Foster, Henry Singer, Ray Kiogima, Maureen Nicholson, Lynn Glahn, Kathy Lott, Dave Larson, Max Putters, Sandy Baker, Kay Baker, Jean Beckley, Mary D Bowman, Kathie Breighner, Kathy Erber, Michael Esposito, Mary Ellen Hughes, Jim Bartlett, Tom Shier, Roselyn Letzmann, Danna Widmar

Absent: Diana Call, Dale Scott, Martha Dyksterhouse, Nan Hogan, Fred Walstrom, Tom Bailey, Dick Schiller, Charles O’Neal, Ross Blumke, Dan Branson, Dave Buzelli, Michael McElroy, Jennifer Zulski, Beverly Osetek, Mary Whitmore, Jim Ramer

Guests: none

The meeting was called to order by Michael Esposito at 8:05 at the Little Traverse Township Hall. Members had been emailed the agenda, minutes from 1/21/04, March 2004 financial report, Bike Committee report of 4/18/04, Website Committee report of 4/18/04, memo on Board Action of 4/18/04, Revised Mission Statement, 2004 Strategic Plan, and the Emmet County Resolution Regarding Extension of the M-119 Non-Motorized Trail with letter of accompaniment to MDOT.

Minutes

Bartlett moved; Dyka seconded approval of the minutes from the January 21, 2004 Board of Directors meeting. Motion Carried.

Financial Report

The financial report was given by Kathy Erber. Assets as of March 31, 2004 are $80,289. Contributions were up, and all items were on budget. Disbursement detail was added to the financial report. Letzmann moved; Beckley seconded approval of the financials. Motion Carried.

Executive Director’s Report

Widmar started the Executive Director’s report by mentioning several dates of upcoming events:
• Wednesday, May 12 and June 9, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, website hands-on training at Middle School computer room. These sessions will then be held the second Wednesday of the month as long as there is continued interest in them.
• Wednesday, 8/4, Annual meeting – time and location to be announced
• Wednesday, 9/1, 8:00 AM – Board Meeting, location to be announced
• Wednesday, 9/8, 5:30 PM – Officials Gathering at the Tribal Administration Building
• Wednesday, 12/1, 8:00 AM – Board Meeting, location to be announced

Widmar announced that Harley Luplow is interested in working with HARBOR, Inc. to do economic analyses of the costs of development on infrastructure, and that Kathy Breighner is doing some work on an annual report.

Website Committee

In addition to the written committee report, Widmar indicated that a meeting was held with county GIS and Assessment personnel to talk about sharing data. There is a potential to share data, with property line data being of special interest.

Bike Committee

Widmar stated that in addition to the information in the written committee report, some members of the committee have met with property owners to discuss the option of having the path offset from the road a little. Results have been encouraging.

Widmar announced that on May 19 she will speak to the Kiwanis about the Bike Trail Effort.

Revenue Sharing Grant Application

Widmar reported that she is applying for a grant for a planning and a consensus building process that would support Strategic Plan Initiative 1, Action 3 and Initiative 2. She explained that numerous local and county entities have master plans and recreation plans. Her goal is to evaluate, compile, and look at the larger community and implementation. Some examples of this are alternate sources of funding for the pool, and a Bike Path Master Plan. This could aid in future developments setting aside land for a bike path.

The cost of the project is estimated to be $37,500 with $30,000 being requested from the Revenue Sharing Board and the remaining $7,500 in the form of services from HARBOR, Inc. and undesignated funds. Widmar noted that the deadline for the application submittal is Friday 4/30. The next opportunity to apply will be in the fall.

Fundraising Report

Gallagher reported that he will be reconvening the fundraising committee, noting that the strategic plan is a foundation from which to fundraise. He stated that personal notes and signatures on the letters that went out the last time were very helpful.

A concern was raised by several people regarding possible impropriety of people in a public position soliciting for funds for the organization. Gallagher encouraged those who felt they could personalize a request for donations to do so, and to think about who they would send such a request. Letters will be going out at the end of summer.

Previous Business

The county resolution on the bike path was included in information packets for information only. No action.


New Business

Open Board Member Position

Kathy Erber proposed that Rob Mossberg be appointed to fill the vacancy left by Jack Zlotow. The term is through August, 2004. Dyka moved; Hughes supported the appointment of Mossberg. Motion carried.

Mission Statement Revision

Esposito compared the proposed statement with the old, noting that the word “create” was removed and points were reordered to be clearer. Beckley moved and Letzmann supported that the proposed statement be adopted. A discussion ensued, in which some board members voiced an opinion that the organization should be facilitating, not promoting. Others stated that we should be promoting the vision, not advocating specific decisions. Shier asked if Ramer had reviewed the proposed change, and Esposito responded that Ramer been emailed the statement and not commented. The motion carried with 29 ayes and 1 nay.

2004 Strategic Plan

Esposito commented on the work that had gone into the plan, and opened the floor for questions and discussion. A question about the assistance listed in Initiative 1 Action 2 was answered with the example of how the Bike Path committee members are discussing options with landowners, and Dohm commented that the township appreciates the assistance. Glahn moved; Dyka seconded approval of the 2004 Strategic Plan as written. Motion passed.

Appointment of Recreation and Open Space Committee

Gallagher explained that the committee wants to compile a list of anything associated with recreation, such as public areas, private areas that the public uses, snowmobile trails, etc whether existing or planned. Gallagher added that it would be nice to compile a list of free things to do. He asked for a volunteer to chair the committee.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15AM.




______________________________ ____________________________
Denise Simon, Secretary Dated