fishorhunt
New Member
I rec'd this from the DNR late last week, not sure if anyone has posted similar info or not but its worth reading and providing input. See below.
Iowa Natural Resources Sustainable funding ICN Public Information and Input Meeting
Who: The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
What: A meeting, presented by the Sustainable Funding Committee, to
inform the public of their work and receive public questions/input.
When: Thursday, 11/09/06 7pm-9pm
Where: 9 locations across Iowa. Locations are tentatively scheduled
in: Sioux City, Burlington, Ft Dodge, Iowa City, Mason City, Council
Bluffs, Bettendorf, Waterloo, and Des Moines.
Why: To inform the public of the sustainable funding legislation and
status of the committee's progress.
To receive public input about the process of sustainable
funding.
Background:
Sustainable Funding for Iowa's Natural Resources
Iowa's current funding for supporting, improving, and protecting its
natural resources is slightly over 1% of the total budget for the State
of Iowa. This means approximately one penny of every dollar is
directed
toward supporting natural resources and soil and water agricultural
issues. 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.
Therefore, Iowa's legislators passed House File 2797
(http://www.iowadnr.com/sustainablefunding/files/sf2797.pdf), which
mandates the Iowa Department of Natural Resources chair a committee to
explore and present a report by 01/10/07 on sustainable funding
options.
These options are to assist Iowa's current funding in providing
support for natural resources and natural resource related public
activities.
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 their legislative charge. They
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, we encourage
you 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. The ability to
provide comments online about the progress and decisions the committee
has made to date will be available by 10/20/06 and open through
11/09/06. The 10/11/06 meeting summary may be of particular interest
to
provide you the most recent discussions and decisions the committee has
made. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for 11/01/06.
The committee is, also, interested in knowing your 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?
Yes ___
No ___
Possibly - need to research more information ___
We encourage you to provide your comments and interest online,
10/20/06-11/09/06, or you may submit your comments and interest in
writing to: Iowa DNR - Sustainable Funding, Attention: Kim Rasler, 502
East 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034. Public comments will be
taken through Thursday, November 9, 2006. Written comments will be
included with postmarks up to 11/09/06.
As a continued effort to inform the public, a public ICN (Iowa
Communications Network) meeting will be held at locations across Iowa
on
11/09/06, 7pm-9pm. An ICN meeting will allow interaction between the
public and the committee via video conferencing. Location sites of the
11/09/06 meeting will be publicized on the DNR Sustainable Funding
website and sent to publications for posting. You are invited and
encouraged to attend this event.
All comments received will be presented to the Sustainable Funding
Committee for review and consideration.
Iowa Natural Resources Sustainable funding ICN Public Information and Input Meeting
Who: The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
What: A meeting, presented by the Sustainable Funding Committee, to
inform the public of their work and receive public questions/input.
When: Thursday, 11/09/06 7pm-9pm
Where: 9 locations across Iowa. Locations are tentatively scheduled
in: Sioux City, Burlington, Ft Dodge, Iowa City, Mason City, Council
Bluffs, Bettendorf, Waterloo, and Des Moines.
Why: To inform the public of the sustainable funding legislation and
status of the committee's progress.
To receive public input about the process of sustainable
funding.
Background:
Sustainable Funding for Iowa's Natural Resources
Iowa's current funding for supporting, improving, and protecting its
natural resources is slightly over 1% of the total budget for the State
of Iowa. This means approximately one penny of every dollar is
directed
toward supporting natural resources and soil and water agricultural
issues. 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.
Therefore, Iowa's legislators passed House File 2797
(http://www.iowadnr.com/sustainablefunding/files/sf2797.pdf), which
mandates the Iowa Department of Natural Resources chair a committee to
explore and present a report by 01/10/07 on sustainable funding
options.
These options are to assist Iowa's current funding in providing
support for natural resources and natural resource related public
activities.
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 their legislative charge. They
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, we encourage
you 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. The ability to
provide comments online about the progress and decisions the committee
has made to date will be available by 10/20/06 and open through
11/09/06. The 10/11/06 meeting summary may be of particular interest
to
provide you the most recent discussions and decisions the committee has
made. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for 11/01/06.
The committee is, also, interested in knowing your 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?
Yes ___
No ___
Possibly - need to research more information ___
We encourage you to provide your comments and interest online,
10/20/06-11/09/06, or you may submit your comments and interest in
writing to: Iowa DNR - Sustainable Funding, Attention: Kim Rasler, 502
East 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034. Public comments will be
taken through Thursday, November 9, 2006. Written comments will be
included with postmarks up to 11/09/06.
As a continued effort to inform the public, a public ICN (Iowa
Communications Network) meeting will be held at locations across Iowa
on
11/09/06, 7pm-9pm. An ICN meeting will allow interaction between the
public and the committee via video conferencing. Location sites of the
11/09/06 meeting will be publicized on the DNR Sustainable Funding
website and sent to publications for posting. You are invited and
encouraged to attend this event.
All comments received will be presented to the Sustainable Funding
Committee for review and consideration.