Meeting Minutes April 23, 2004 Meeting Over 60 members attended our Spring Meeting at The Gin Lane Restaurant in Water Mill on Friday evening, April 23rd. Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Jr. was the featured speaker. Mr. Thiele addressed several areas of environmental action and concern during his talk. Community Preservation Fund This Fund was established in 1998 to preserve open space. The Fund is financed by a 2% real estate transaction fee that since April 1999, has generated more than $175 million for the five East End towns. Several thousand acres on the south fork, including Amsterdam Beach, have been saved from development by the Community Preservation Fund. Peconic Bay & South Shore Estuary Programs These initiatives focus on improving water quality through development and enhancement of sewage treatment plants, water run-off management programs and other water quality initiatives. The budgets supporting these programs have been approximately $30 million. Army Corps of Engineers Mr. Thiele assured us that he and Congressman Bishop will represent the interests of our chapter to the Army Corps of Engineers as the Army Corps continues to evaluate revetment plans for the Montauk Lighthouse. Mr. Thiele went on to say that “Surfrider will be at the table” when the Lighthouse issues are addressed. It was clear that Assemblyman Thiele and SURFRIDER share the same view regarding beach hardening & concern regarding the Army Corps’ Fire Island to Montauk Reformulation Study. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2005. Assemblyman Thiele clearly supports open access for surfing at Camp Hero and other state parks. He offered to work with our chapter to gain full-time and permanent access to Camp Hero after the temporary plan currently in place expires. He indicated that he will “ensure that Surfrider has access to Park Department leadership.” Tim Behringer provided a quick up-date of topics he is following. The Dunehampton incorporation initiative seems to be derailed, if not dead. There is a new initiative in Sagaponack to form a village. This initiative will block the resurrection of the Dunehampton plan since it bisects the area, north to south. Town of Southampton stickers are available for $10 for the privilege of driving on the beach. As in the past, beach driving is permitted after 6:00 PM. However, this year, driving will be permitted in the designated picnic area, at all times. Eugene Alper introduced Classmates United to Restore the Environment (CURE). This group of high-energy students from West Hampton Beach High School has planned a Battle of the Bands for May 7, to benefit Surfrider. The students received a rousing cheer when they announced their plans. Eugene addressed several other issues. The gate restricting vehicle access has been replaced at Turtle Cove. Surfing permits for Camp Hero are now available at Montauk Downs at a cost of $25.00 per vehicle The west Long Island group is meeting on April 30, to initiate its new chapter. Our chapter voted overwhelmingly to donate $1,000 to the new chapter to help get it off the ground. Our chapter also voted to retain our name as the Long Island Chapter. The new Ditch Plains Surf Etiquette sign has been completed. The sign will be given to the lifeguards to post. Beach clean-up Plans Roger Feit & Tor Bono have offered the use of their equipment & have offered to assemble a crew of volunteers to clean-up the parking lot at Ditch Plains. Bob Casper will organize a series of beach clean-ups in Montauk during May. Bruce Lieberman will lead a similar effort in Water Mill. Mark Johnson has offered to organize a beach clean-up in Hampton Bays. Eugene announced that Bob Casper intends to step down as Vice Chair & that Jac Citera will step down as Treasurer. Lutha Leahy-Miller was elected Vice Chair & Vinny McGann was elected Treasurer. Eugene led a brief discussion of the implications of beach fill (sand re-nourishment) projects, urging the chapter to support small scale, inshore projects such is the recently completed Shinnecock Inlet dredging, which included the spoils being successfully placed on the down drift side. However, he encouraged the chapter to oppose large scale projects such as the Army Corps’ Fire Island to Montauk Reformulation initiative. Such large scale projects pose great risks to wildlife & have not been shown to have long lasting beneficial effects due to down drift erosion. Further, such large scale projects represent huge expenditures of taxpayers’ dollars. Finally, Eugene recognized several chapter members for their recent work. John Kowalenko represented Surfrider at an environmental roundtable discussion sponsored by Senator Kenneth Lavalle. And, Jay Levine met with Congressman Bishop’s staff in Washington, DC to discuss Surfrider’s concerns with several Army Corps of Engineers studies. A date and location for our next meeting will be set shortly. Check www.surfriderli.org for details.