JROC Minutes:

JROC Meeting

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Brian Mutchler, Presiding

Meeting Called to Order: 6:10PM

• Attendance: Greg Velzy, Rich Young & Sandy, Brian Mutchler, Tricia Pearsall, Ralph White, Nathan Burrell, Margaret Maslik, Chris Hull, Jen Slabaugh, Weston Spivey, Rhiana and Chuck Garner , Jeffrey Ensley.

• Approval of January 7, 2009 Meeting Minutes: Minutes approved with corrections re: BRMS donation reporting.

• Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer is on break: ($18,430 in bank, $4,652 committed leaving $13,778 for projects)

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• Membership: 29 Active members + Monty $20 = 30 Active members

• Recent/Current Projects & Issues:

James River Park Flier– Español. We have a designer laying out the brochure. It will then go back to Tanya and Cecily for any revisions, then ready for printer. Distribution will proceed as noted before with volunteers from Richmond’s Hispanic Liaison Office.

Conservation Easement: The Richmond City Planning Commission has endorsed unanimously the proposed conservation easement for the James River Park. The ordinance was introduced by Council President Kathy Graziano. It will now go to the Council’s Land Use , Housing and Transportation Committee on February 17^th at 3pm, then if recommended by the Committee, will be on Council’s agenda February 23^rd.

(Update: Richmond T-D February 24, 2009: the council:

Approved a conservation easement on 280 acres of the James River Park System. The easement, which attracted support from dozens of residents at last night's meeting, is structured to ensure that the parkland, including Belle Isle and Great Shiplock Park, will never be sold or developed, even by the city, with ballfields, concessions, playgrounds or cell-phone towers. "In our knowledge, this is the first urban conservation in the state of Virginia and maybe in the country," council President Kathy C. Graziano said.

The easement is co-held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy, the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.)

Trails: Nathan Burrell, Trails Manager for the City Of Richmond

· thanked everyone for participation on January 24^th. It all went very well.

· completed bunker in Forest Hills Park along Riverside Drive

· began work in Powhite Park moving onto park property from private land

· has purchased rock tools

· wants more talk/conversation from JROC, FOJRP and MORE

re: upgrade the Missing Link Trail

re: park patrol coordination

re: discussion about regulating and helping with parking at Pony Pasture

re: membership coordination between three groups

Pumphouse Update: Ready to layout deck. Schedule February Project for Saturday, February 21 at 9:00am..The three groups above + ASR. Bring cordless drills to screw boards. Cannot have too many people!

Now have permission to do small weddings now that ramp is completed . Chris’s outfit has expressed interest in installing electricity. Also need to paint over the cross beams. up above.

FOJRP: Greg Velzy:

· Currently FOJRP is raising funds for the Friends of James River Park Protection and Preservation Trust to preserve urban wilderness; expand current boundaries; protect parklands; enhance educational opportunities; and respond to catastrophic events.

· Holding dinner with J.R.Pope to show interest about the Park

· Investigating the possibility of a FOJRP License Plate with funds coming back to the James River Park.

• New Business:

Brian Mutchler – Planning brainstorming session for JROC - February, 18^th 6:00pm at Sally’s house.

Gear Swap Plan: April 18^th in conjunction with the Fish Festival. We need poster and publicity NOW! + securing commercial vendors, etc. Brian is going to a meeting tomorrow and will be the contact for JROC and the earth Day Committee.

RVA News and the Hills & Heights Blog: http://hillsandheights.org/ Jeffrey Ensley who writes the Hills and Heights Blog ask about posting the JROC minutes on the Blog. There was discussion particularly regarding the Treasurers report: Decided to go with it, but report as an abbreviated synopsis.

Announcements: : Trip Jennings on NatGeo TV: running the Lower Congo and speaking on a year of adventures: Papua New Guinea, China and the Congo: March 6^th 7:30PM at the Henrico County Administration Board Room 4301 Parham Road.

Also from Tricia Pearsall: Shoot the James: a photographic salute to the James River by 18 Richmond photographers opens First Friday 6-10pm at art6 Gallery, 6 East Broad St.

Banff Film Festival, Sat. March 14^th at James River High School: Should JROC have a booth? Yes Need more brochures. Greg will call Wade Kinker.

Andrew Stevens: Manager of the BRMS Lexington Commons store died January 30, 2009 from cancer. Friends and family are looking at possibly doing a James River Park project to remember and honor him The project would involve BRMS employees as well as others. Brian will contact Kirk Peterson to talk about possibilities.

Elections in March for Officers and Board:

Adjourn: 7:10pm