JROC Minutes
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Legend Brewery
Chris Hull, Presiding
Meeting Called to Order: 6:40PM
Conservation Easement Status:
Discussion of status update presented by John Zeugner (James River Park Foundation and Friends of James River Park) and David Hathcock (Council member Kathy Graziano’s assistant):
The challenge ahead is to convey and promote the understanding of a conservation easement on property that is an urban park. The legal documents are extremely complicated and are designed to keep the park looking as natural a possible. There are many people trying to make certain that this document is legally binding for as long as possible. There will be need for a yearly inspection to which a baseline document is being facilitated. The resolution looks very close to a presentable draft, whereby Virginia Department of Conservation and Resources, the Richmond Recreational and Parks Foundation and the Capital Region Land Conservancy are the easement holders. Looking at the next 2-3 months for completion and open forums. Things do look positive for the next 4-5 months. Department of Public Utilities along with Public Works will continue to maintain their operations within Park boundaries. A survey will be necessary, the cost of which could be 25,000 – 40,000.This process, if successful, will be a legacy for the City.
Northshore Takeout: Hand Rails necessary. A job for spring
Trail Work: Nathan Burrell reporting:
-Bill’s Hill on the Northshore Trail just west of the runoff dividing line for Mt. Calvary Cemetery has been rerouted, and it is a masterpiece!
-Lost Trail on Belle Isle completed
-Rebuild bridge on Buttermilk Heights just beyond reroute.
Trail Hikes: Schedules are keeping full, more hikes, but numbers are smaller
Pumphouse Ramp: A design has been drafted, but needs lots ‘o’ tweaking. Will start this project and continue with building upgrade. Also need to construct a dock near the metal bridge to run bateaux rides June – October. JRP seeking permission for evening cocktail excursions.
Parade of Lights: Need help Sat Dec 8 from 4-6. Volunteers to prepare and serve food.
Gift Baskets: Gift baskets to residents of Hillcrest Road across from main entrance to Park. (Thanks for allowing parking in front of houses during the year) Scheduled for Sat Dec 16 at 10AM. Talked about letters of thanks, calendars and gift certificates to 10 houses - $50/house. It was moved, seconded and carried to allocate $500 for project. Steve Ellison volunteered to take the lead.
Nathan invited to go to London for trail conference – to develop world fund.
Northbank Trail not part of trail elements protected by proposed easement
Illegal Clearing across from dog beach from waters edge to railroad. (Stuart Siegel + Science Museum of Virginia clearing: Discussion followed about how to register protest. It was decided to write a letter to Editor of Times-Dispatch from JROC) (Letter submitted 12.14.07 – see below)
Sign at Williams Dam: There is progress. It will – might – happen by 12.31.07 – JROC gift to the city
Chris Hull recognized JROC on its 10th Anniversary (see Richmond Times-Dispatch article below) looking at the Big List of Projects (gathered by Greg) accomplished and Rich Young’s wonderful 10th Anniversary Photo Album of Projects. Accolades to everyone who made all of this happen…like you, you and you. Chris stressed the idea of keeping going and bridging gaps with other groups such as perhaps creating dual memberships with other groups such as MORE or having meeting – discussion forum exchanges. Ralph, “ Look back on what you have done. You are and have been the premier group to make revival of the James River Park happen.”
· Membership:
Susanne Smith took membership dues – now is the time for renewal! A membership raffle will be held at the January meeting at Legend Brewery. She thanked Peak Experiences, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Riverside Outfitters and others for next month’s donations for the raffle.
Adjourn: 8:05PM
Addendum:
#1: Letter to Editor re: Siegel Clearing
Chris.Hull@ch2m.com
To: letters@timesdispatch.com
Date: Friday, December 14, 2007 1:02:19 PM
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Below is a submittal for a letter to the editor. This letter is from the President of the James River Outdoor Coalition (JROC) and reflects the views of the members. It may be signed as from Chris Hull, President JROC or just JROC, the latter is preferred, but either is fine.
Please do not hesitate to contact me to confirm any details you may need.
Regards-
Chris Hull President, JROC 2304 Littlefox Dr. Richmond VA 23233
The James River Outdoor Coalition (JROC) wishes to thank Rex Springston for highlighting yet another “tree clearing” in his November 29th Richmond Times-Dispatch article, Land Clearing Called Illegal. It is baffling that this thoughtless cutting of trees and foliage along the James River banks was carried out in the first place, because it doesn’t seemed to have improved the owner's river vista. It has, however, spoiled the view for boaters and James River Park users across the river. Instead of a treasured urban wilderness with intermittent indigenous trees, they see a swath coming up from the river of the concrete/stone canal wall and the railroad track as well as, of course, Mr. Siegel’s home. It is also mind-boggling that one of our city’s most generous and important patrons doesn’t get it with regard to destroying the river’s edge, that riparian buffer which is its natural floodwall, erosion protector and nutrient source for mammals. This stretch of the James River carries the official designation of being a State Scenic River, and it is this exact type of action which threatens those very qualities which earned it that coveted designation in the first place.
It is also particularly egregious that an institution as highly regarded as the Science Museum of Virginia was complicit in this act. JROC would like to suggest that Mr. Siegel fund and sponsor a campaign or long-term exhibition mounted by the Science Museum of Virginia designed to educate ALL Virginians about the importance of keeping the riparian buffer not only because of the overwhelming value to the sustainability of the James River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, but for the beauty and esthetics that the buffer provides for all Richmond users.
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#2: Richmond Times-Dispatch: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
JROC volunteers put muscle into outdoors
Wednesday, Nov 28, 2007 - 12:06 AM Updated: 09:47 AM
By ANDY THOMPSON
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Have you hugged a James River Outdoor Coalition member today?
If you haven't, and you've ever used the James River Park System, you should. Their handiwork is everywhere - Belle Isle, Pony Pasture, downtown. Ramps, steps, trails, put-ins, take-outs. They've done it all. Walk a quarter mile in any part of the JRPS and chances are your experience will have been enhanced by the volunteer efforts of the group.
Better yet, save that big bear hug for Monday. That's when the JROC turns 10, quite an accomplishment for a group with no real long-term plan.
"We focus more on the short-term things," said President Chris Hull. "We're not really about policy. Our strength is project-based."
Put another way, JROC members are doers, not talkers.
Just ask Ralph White, the manager of the JRPS since 1980. A doer himself, he's partial to the philosophy JROC has employed the past decade.
"If you go to a JROC meeting, it's a bunch of guys sitting around saying, 'Hey, when's the next project? When are we going to do this?' Guys that really like to boat or to climb or to ride bikes," he said. "JROC is 'Let's make it happen. Let's make sure that everything is done right for the kind of uses we support.'"
White rattled off a list of projects the group has completed the past 10 years - the steps for boaters at Pony Pasture Park, the Tredegar Street steps underneath Lee Bridge, funding for and labor behind trails such as the Northbank, and, maybe most notably, the boaters takeout at 14th street near Mayo Island.
The last one stands out in the minds of Hull and former president Greg Velzy as a source of particular pride.
The city has touted its urban whitewater for decades. But for years, there was no public place to take out. Boaters had to trespass on private property and were always getting booted from one place to another.
"To finally get the land and build a public takeout for the most popular stretch, that was pretty notable," said Velzy, a Richmond native who now lives in Chesterfield County. "Here's a bunch of goober boaters and here we pull off this really nice public takeout that anyone can use in perpetuity."
JROC's membership has climbed from 20-30 in the early years to about 70 now. Members pay a $20 fee and meet the first Wednesday of every month to discuss upcoming fundraising events and projects.
"I'd like to say that our membership dues fund lavish dinners at Bookbinders, but they don't," Hull joked. "100 percent of it goes into the park system."
Velzy said their goal is to complete one project a month during the year, though that's sometimes a struggle in the summer when members would rather be out in the park enjoying the fruits of their labor.
What the group lacks in funds it makes up for in energy and manpower, something that's true of a number of local outdoor advocacy groups. JROC has partnered with Friends of the James River Park, Richmond MORE (mountain biking), the James River Association and others on dozens of projects.
If you're wondering what the difference is between Friends of the JRP and JROC, let Ralph White explain.
"The Friends of Park is cerebral and JROC is the muscle. Friends gives guidance on policy, seeks grants, provides the money for education. They're the guiding hand. They've provided money for a lot of projects done by JROC."
JROC has worked with Richmond MORE on many trail-building efforts, like the Northbank Trail, and has supported the James River Association on stream cleanup days.
"Some worry these two groups are competing, but they really aren't," said Velzy, speaking specifically of the Friends of the JRP. "We help each other in so many different ways."
For years, these groups, and especially JROC, have filled the considerable gaps in resources and manpower the city has left in the park. White has a limited budget and resources to maintain this 550-acre green jewel that runs through the heart of Richmond. Without the JROC volunteers, that jewel simply wouldn't shine like it does.
"For the longest time, we were fighting the uphill battle that the river was the orphan child not getting looked at and now, especially with the new director of parks and rec [J.R. Pope], there's a renewed focus on the river," Velzy said. "Volunteers are putting the river on the map."
So on Monday, seek out a JROC member or two, slap a big hug on them, and let them know their efforts haven't gone unnoticed.
Contact Andy Thompson at (804) 649-6579 or
outdoors@timesdispatch.com.