Agenda Item 3. Minutes of the April 5, 2018 Board Meeting

Meeting minutes from the April 5, 2018 Board Meeting held at the Ferguson House in

Lincoln.

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MINUTES

Nebraska Environmental Trust 2nd Quarter Board Meeting

Thursday, April 5, 2018 1:30 p.m.

Ferguson House Lincoln, Nebraska

The Nebraska Environmental Trust Board met at the Ferguson House, Lincoln, Nebraska for the transaction of business. Advanced public notice was given by release to news media and official public notice in the "Lincoln Journal Star'' on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

The meeting was called to order at 1:34 p.m.

Roll call was conducted and a quorum was established.

Members present were: Mr. Ryan McIntosh, Syracuse; Mr. Paul Dunn, Omaha; Ms. Sherry Vinton, Whitman; Mr. Rod Christen, Steinauer; Mr. Quentin Bowen, Humboldt; Dr. Tom Williams, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health; Mr. Steve Wellman, Nebraska Department of Agriculture; Mr. Jim Macy, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality; and Mr. Jim Hellbusch, Columbus.

Members joining by phone: Mr. Robert Krohn, Omaha and Ms. Gerry Lauritzen, Omaha.

Members absent: Mr. John Orr, Blair; Mr. Jim Douglas, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Mr. Jeff Fassett, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

Staff present were: Mr. Mark Brahman, Executive Director; Ms. Marilyn Tabor, Grants Administrator; Ms. Allison LaDuke, Grants Assistant; Ms. Sheila Johnson, Public Information Officer and Ms. Pam Deines, Administrative Secretary.

Agenda Item #3: Minutes of the February 6, 2018 Board Meeting. Minutes of the February 6, 2018 board meeting were received. Ms. Vinton asked the wording on her vote designation be changed from abstaining to not voting, as to not be misunderstood she was participating by conference call and therefore was not able to vote on the agenda items.

Motion by Mr. Macy, seconded by Mr. Dunn to accept the minutes as received and making the change as per Ms. Vinton.

Voting Aye: Mr. Dunn; Ms. Vinton; Mr. Christen; Mr. Bowen; Mr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh, and Mr. Hellbusch.

Absent: Mr. Orr; Mr. Douglas and Mr. Fassett. Motion carried.

Not Voting: Mr. Krohn and Ms. Lauritzen

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Minutes -April 5, 2018 Nebraska Environmental Trust

Agenda Item #4: Financial Reports. Mr. Brahman presented the report. The Game and Parks Budget reports, grants disbursement report, the March Lottery proceeds information review, budget summary, and detail breakdown on new budget sheet format with a specific details and explanatory side notes. Finance Committee met on March 19th, minutes provided. Ms. Tabor expanded discussion on the disbursement reports. Lottery proceeds information sheet. Ferguson House Fund report and information review. Discussion.

Voting Aye to Approve Recommendations: Mr. Dunn; Ms. Vinton; Mr. Christen; Mr. Bowen; Dr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh and Mr. Hellbusch.

Absent: Mr. Orr; Mr. Fassett and Mr. Douglas. Motion carried.

Not voting: Mr. Krohn and Ms. Lauritzen

Agenda Item #5: Staff Report. a.) Legislative Update. Mr. Brahman provided the update information on the Legislative bill presented by Senator Harr for water conservation in Omaha with some of the community gardens and explained what happened on this controversial bill that could have effected the NET. A Legislative Resolution dealing with Red Cedar discussion, which led to the discussion about the upcoming meeting in Halsey about the Red Cedar on April 25th.

b.) Grant Administration Report. Ms. Tabor presented the report. Late reports: Ms. Tabor has been communicating with these grants and gave updates on them. Discussion

c.) Ferguson House Report. Mr. Brahman presented the report. The Ferguson House continues to have very busy schedule with a variety of events. We have Allison to thank in scheduling and maintaining a smooth schedule.

d.) Director's Report. Mr. Brahman presented his report. Information on the progress on the construction on the house and the additional repair that will be made and we have had to wait for change orders. Wi Fi is still being negotiate through the OICO office and we are just waiting for the final decision and then the work to be completed to get us set up. Some staff and board members made a trip out to the Rowe Sanctuary for an award for the Environmental Trust for the involvement in funding provided to the Rowe Sanctuary and we were thanked many times during the course of the day for being a part of the project. We had the tables set up in the capital to celebrate our 25th Anniversary and had a good response to the information provided and favorable feedback from people who work in the capitol on having the information available. We may even start a conservation week at the capitol. Grantee seminars starting with several Senators having signed up so far.

Public Hearing: Convened at 2:02 p.m. ended at 2:57 p.m.

Public Hearing: Convened at 2:02 p.m. On the proposed funding list 2018 Grant Cycle. Mr. Dunn acted as the hearing officer. There is one person signed in to speak at the public hearing. Ms. Tabor presented the staff report on the proposed funding recommendations for the 2018 Grant Cycle. Testimony from Mike Davis of StarTran, registered to speak at the public hearing.

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Minutes - April 5, 2018 Nebraska Environmental Trust

Mr. Christen noted he would be voting no on 18-109 (The Nebraska Land Trust application). Mr. Christen had several concerns including that individual tracts were not identified, only a group of tracts. Chairperson Hellbusch opened up the discussion that followed. Concerns were voiced by Mr. Christen, Ms. Vinton, Mr. Bowen and Mr. Hellbusch on application 18-109. Discussion to follow at the August meeting.

The hearing was closed at 2:57 p.m.

Agenda Item #6: Award of 2018 General and Recognition Grants.

The ballots were distributed to the board members.

Motion to table 18-109 to allow staff to research past practices and time for board members to deliberate over the procedure and policy to be deferred until August 7th, 2018, and if the application is not approved, the funds will be carried over to the next grant cycle.

Motion by Mr. Macy seconded by Mr. Dunn.

Voting Aye: Dr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh; Mr. Dunn and Mr. Hellbusch.

Voting No: Ms. Vinton; Mr. Christen and Mr. Bowen. Motion carried.

Absent: Mr. Douglas; Mr. Fassett and Mr. Orr.

Not Voting: Ms. Laurizten and Mr. Krohn

•• Short Break - 5 minutes - 3:05 p.m. resume at 3:10 ••

Agenda Item #7: Grant Committee Report and Recommendations.

Chairperson Mr. Christen gave the grant committee report. Mr. Dunn started discussion on modifications to potential grant applications. Mr. Dunn made a motion to drop feature bonus points from the scoring review. Mr. Bowen made a motion to reduce the project description limit from 300 words to 200 words. Mr. Dunn made a motion to change the narrative length limit from 5 pages maximum to 1200 words maximum. Mr. Dunn made a motion to eliminate the recognition grant category. Mr. Brahman led a general discussion continued about each motion.

Motions were a recommendation by the Grants Committee

Voting Aye: Ms. Vinton; Mr. Christen; Mr. Bowen; Dr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh; Mr. Dunn and Mr. Hellbusch.

Not Voting: Ms. Lauritzen and Mr. Krohn

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Minutes-April 5, 2018 Nebraska Environmental Trust

Absent: Mr. Douglas; Mr. Fassett and Mr. Orr. Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Dunn to accept only the electronic applications beginning this year seconded by Mr. Bowen.

Voting Aye: Ms. Vinton; Mr. Christen; Mr. Bowen; Dr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh; Mr. Dunn and Mr. Hellbusch.

Not Voting: Ms. Lauritzen and Mr. Krohn

Absent: Mr. Douglas; Mr. Fassett and Mr. Orr. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #8 Grant Modifications.

Ms. Tabor led the discussion on the grant modifications. Ms. Tabor read each modification

Motion by Mr. Dunn to accept the grant modifications and seconded by Ms. Vinton.

Voting Aye: Mr. Christen; Mr. Bowen; Dr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh; Mr. Dunn; Ms. Vinton and Mr. Hellbusch.

Not Voting: Ms. Lauritzen and Mr. Krohn

Absent: Mr. Douglas; Mr. Fassett and Mr. Orr. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #9 Accept 2019 Calendar

Mr. Brahman discussed the calendar and the change that was not corrected as discussed at the February board meeting. The change would be changed to Tuesday February 5, 2019 not Thursday February 7, 2019.

Motion by Mr. Dunn to accept the 2019 Calendar with the amended date in February and seconded by Mr. Macy.

Voting Aye: Mr. Bowen; Dr. Williams; Mr. Wellman; Mr. Macy; Mr. McIntosh; Mr. Dunn; Ms. Vinton; Mr. Christen and Mr. Hellbusch.

Not Voting: Ms. Lauritzen and Mr. Krohn

Absent: Mr. Douglas; Mr. Fassett and Mr. Orr. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #10 Public Comment and Good of the Order. Ms. Vinton brought up having "Go To Meeting" available for sub committees and possibly board meetings. Mr. Macy noted he has had some problems in their attempt to use the State's system, so he will have his staff give the Trust their feedback. Mr. Macy stated the OCIO has procedures in place now and they need to be involved. Mr. Hellbusch thanked the extra effort of grants committee at his request for an additional meeting. Mr. Christen talked about land The Nature Conservancy

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Minutes -April 5, 2018 Nebraska Environmental Trust

was transferring and the article in the Omaha World Herald. He noted he saw a different story. For land purchase grants and perpetual easements, Mr. Christen wants more information and feels more responsible than other grants. Ms. Vinton asked to invite a speaker with different views on conservation easements. The chair said to invite a speaker. Mr. Macy passed out a pie chart showing distribution of the VW settlement funds.

Agenda Item #11: Date and Location of Next Meeting. The next meeting will be held on Monday/Tuesday, August 6-7, 2018 in Columbus. Staying at the Ramada Inn. Site Tours including, Higgins Memorial Project, Plant Tour and NET Projects. Sunday evening meal together if we can, Monday morning site tours, Monday afternoon informal meeting and Dinner together that evening and the formal meeting on Tuesday morning.

Agenda Item #12: Adjourn. Mr. Hellbusch adjourned the meeting at 3:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

qyuJL ;t {)~~

Mark A. Brahman Executive Director

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