CEA 02-27-14 Meeting Agenda CEA
Frederick County
Conservation Easement Authority
C/O Frederick County Planning Department, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, VA 22601 (540-665-5651)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Conservation Easement Authority
FROM: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary
SUBJECT: February Meeting
DATE: February 20, 2014
______________________________________________________________________________
The Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority will be meeting on Thursday, February
27, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. in the Executive Session Room in the County Administration Building, 107
North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW MEETING TIME.
The Conservation Easement Authority will discuss the following agenda items:
AGENDA
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Adoption of Meeting Minutes: January 23, 2014
3. Update on Recorded Easement Activities
4. Update on Effort to Create Informational Conservation Easement Brochures and Videos
a. Review the draft Creative Brief
b. Review the Video overview
c. Discuss video format and topics
d. Identify easement holders to interview
5. Open Discussion
6. Other
Please contact the Planning Department (540-665-5651) if you are unable to attend this
meeting.
ERL/pd
Enclosures: draft January 23, 2014 meeting minutes
CEA Creative Brief for video
CEA Conservation Easement Video overview
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 195
January 23, 2014
MEETING MINUTES
OF THE
FREDERICK COUNTY CONSERVATION EASEMENT AUTHORITY
Held in the Executive Session Room of the Frederick County Administration Building at 107
North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia on January 23, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.
PRESENT: Diane Kearns, Chairman; Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Ron Clevenger, John Marker,
Charles Triplett, Planning Commission Liaison.
ABSENT: Robert Solenberger; Todd Lodge; Gene Fisher, Board of Supervisors Liaison.
STAFF PRESENT: Eric R. Lawrence, CEA Secretary; and Pam Deeter Secretary II
OTHER: John Bishop, Deputy Director of Transportation, and Lindsey Felton, GIS Analyst
PUBLIC MEETING
Welcome and Introduction
Annual Organizational Activities
a. Election of Officers
A nomination was made to keep the same officers as the past year. The officers being
Diane Kearns, Chairman; Todd Lodge, Vice Chairman; and Elaine Cain, Treasurer; Eric
Lawrence, Secretary. This motion was approved unanimously.
b. Adoption of Bylaws
Chairman Kearns asked members if they have any changes to the Bylaws. As no one had
any changes, Mr. Marker made a motion to adopt the Bylaws as presented. Ms. Cain
seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
c. Selection of Meeting Dates and Times
Chairman Kearns asked members if the time of the meeting works for everyone.
Chairman Kearns asked if the time could be moved to 8:30. Everyone was agreeable
with the time and date of meetings – 8:30 a.m. on the 4th Thursday of the month.
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 196
January 23, 2014
Adoption of Meeting Minutes
On a motion made by Ms. Cain, and seconded by Mr. Clevenger the
November 21, 2013, meeting minutes were approved as presented.
On a motion made by Mr. Clevenger; and seconded by Mr. Marker the December 20,
2013, meeting minutes were approved as presented.
Update on Recorded Easement Activities
Frederick County has had no new inquiries for easements.
Update on Effort to Create Information Conservation Easement Brochures and Videos
Mr. Lawrence stated that his department didn’t get the Frederick County students this
year for a project so he started looking for other individuals that would have skills and
would be able to contribute information in processing the brochures and videos. Mr.
Lawrence introduced John Bishop, Transportation Planner and Lindsey Felton, GIS
Analyst.
Mr. Bishop has a background of photography and Ms. Felton has technology experience.
Both individuals are willing to help create a video.
The County will purchase software to help produce this video.
a. Discussion video format and topic
Videos should be educational, informational and about 3 to 4 minutes long. The
consensus of the committee is to capture on video personal emotion of someone that
has gone through the easement process and what advantage it has to the individual.
The video needs to be up front about the cost. The video needs to sell the Shenandoah
Valley and we need lots of photos. The type of audience to target is middle aged to
older. The video should be up-beat, modern and identify the advantages for future
generations. The Committee could produce informational, agricultural, and outdoor
recreation videos.
b. Identify easement holders to interview
The committee came up with a list of prospects or individuals that have gone through
the easement process.
Mr. John Gavitt and Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Snapp has easements on their properties. Mr.
Ron Clouse is seeking information on an easement and maybe we could use him in an
informational video. Other people the committee might talk to or visit their properties
are Mr. Marker, Mr. Cordell Watt, and Mr. Bud Goode.
Draft
Conservation Easement Authority Page 197
January 23, 2014
The next meeting Mr. Lawrence will have outlined a script for the video. Mr. Clouse and
Mr. Watt will be invited to attend the CEA meeting possibly for their input.
Other
The Planning Department has purchased the PEC book and it will be available for
members to borrow.
Next meeting will be on February 27, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Diane Kearns, Chairman
________________________
Eric Lawrence, CEA Secretary
Conservation Easement Informative Videos
Objectives:
• Heighten awareness of the issue with target audiences
• Acquire conservation easements
• Position Potomac Conservancy and CEA as leaders on the issue
• Have video(s) broadcasted on PC, CEA, and stakeholder websites
Primary targets (audience):
• General potential landowners
• Farmers
• Hunters
• Partner organizations that do not know much about the topic
What do they think/feel now?
• Limited to no awareness of the topic currently
• Misconceptions regarding property rights
What do we want them to think/feel?
• Land conservation is critical to the health of the environment and our livelihood (clean
water and air, wildlife habitat, etc)
• Conservation Easements provide personal and financial benefits to the landowner and the
public
• Conservation Easements are a voluntary process with the landowners intentions in mind
What is the single most compelling thought?
• Conservation easements are a great way to protect family lands, agriculture, forest, water,
and open space that is currently disappearing or degrading at an alarming rate due to
development.
Why should targets believe this?
• Current statistics on population growth, development, urban sprawl
• Current statistics on water quality and source(s) of pollution
• Current conservation easement statistics, including acreage and benefits
Tone?
• Compelling (1st video)
• Wake Up! (2nd video)
• Informative (remaining videos)
CEA Conservation Easement Video
1. Teaser (1 minute):
Narrated by: Collection of sound bites
- Landscape shots (agriculture, orchards, farmer market, forest)
- Waterway -
- Someone drinking water or enjoying the outdoors (fishing, boating, swimming)
- Cuts from a landowner testimonial
- Video release time frame
- Contact Info
2. Landowner Testimonials (5 minute max):
Narrated by: Landowners
- Relationship to their land (inherited, purchased: for solitude, to farm, hunt, preserve, etc.)
- Years of ownership
-Favorite thing about the land
-Why did they put it under conservation easement (to protect: family history, farmland/food, forests, water
quality, nature; to stop urban sprawl or encroachment from outside the city; etc.)
- What has changed since putting it under conservation easement (the likely/hopeful answer is NOTHING, other
than annual monitoring)
- What do they not like about the enrollment process or overall program
3. Benefits of Conservation Easements (Conservation Values) (2-3 minutes):
-Narrated by: Potomac Conservancy or other professional
-Water quality (rural vs developed)
-Scenic Value
- Keep rural/agricultural character of the county/region
-Wildlife habitat
-Types of easements; Conservation values
4. Conservation Easements – Inquiry (2-3 minutes):
-Narrated by: Prospective landowner, PC or CEA
-Common questions regarding easements (we will answers these throughout the video process)
-Landowner meeting, Property Visit
-Eligible lands
-Available funding
-“Value” of easement/land (appraised $$ value and Conservation Values)
5. Conservation Easements – Process (2-3 minutes):
- Narrated by: realtor, accountant, lawyer
-Legal aspect: Title search, appraisal, survey, subordination
-Baseline documentation (photos, maps, landowner statements, etc.)
-Easement writing
-Closing
-Timeline for process
6. Conservation Easements – After the Property is officially protected (2-3 minutes):
Narrated by: Potomac Conservancy
-Stewardship – ensures the upholding of terms of the easement in perpetuity for current and all landowners
- Annual Monitoring: walk property, compare deed to current conditions, observe health of natural resources,
complete monitoring report, send follow-up letter
-Organization is a resource for easement and other environmental inquires
-Purchasing an easement: go over easement with organization, annual monitoring visits
7. Conservation Easements – Violations
Narrated by: Potomac Conservancy and/or Lawyer
- Landowner responsibilities
-Easement “Prohibitions”
-Violation process
-Amendments (changes) may not be made except to enhance conservation easement values or fix mistakes in
the easement