Meeting was called to order by Steve Gilbert, Minnesota Co-Chair. Attendees introduced themselves -- about 30 people were in attendance, some of them for the first time. Minutes of the December 3, 1998 Board of Directors meeting were approved. The agenda was distributed with the addition of a resolution from the Harbor Technical committee.

Greg Johnson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, presented a Draft Monitoring Plan for the St. Louis River Area of Concern. This is a work in progress and is required as part of the on-going Remedial Action Program (RAP). It will be used in tracking effectiveness of the remediation and confirm restoration of impaired uses. He chose nine impaired uses from the 14 listed by the RAP. He intends to compile information from the initial reviewers in April-May, will request input from a broader audience in May-June, and revise the plan to include and integrate monitoring activities in July-August. The third draft will be available in August and the plan will be finalized in September. It was suggested that the Riverwatch program be included in the plan. Greg will not be in charge of the monitoring.

Discussion followed the presentation. CAC should be involved in monitoring the monitors. Original RAP needs a plan to be de-listed as an Area of Concern (AOC). Habitat Loss survey is not included in this plan. The Habitat Committee is not active as of now. CAC will welcome information from all knowledgeable sources as remediation is implemented.

Co-chairs and Executive Director met to identify and prioritize recommendations. There is a need for oversight and guidance of RAP recommendations. The Implementation Committee asked for volunteers to help with this effort.

Ted Smith met with the Executive Committee to discuss implementation and the following points were enumerated:
Each implementer should prepare a written report;
Implementers will speak at a public session;
A general membership meeting will be held where implementation reports will be given and discussed;
Need to go public so people know about implementation activities;
will probably need more than one meeting.

The Implementation Committee will devise strategy and encourage implementation. General membership meeting will be held in late June with some reports presented at that time. Need to advertise that meeting to attract a larger audience. Implementation Committee will be: Steve Gilbert, Keith Hanson, Jack Ezell, Paul Sandstrom, Howard McCormick, Kay McKenzie, Jan Grover. Is a June meeting do-able? Are too many people on vacation? Committee will decide meeting time and place. This meeting will adjourn early so that committee can meet.

Karen Plass, Executive Director, distributed a financial report and explained the figures and answered questions. This included: FY97 Summary, FY98 Budget, FY98 Summary for quarterly meeting as required by by-laws.

CAC is required to fulfill grant obligations and those grant monies support remediation of the watershed and the mission statement of education. Contractors will be hired for the history project, watershed guardian project, tree planting along Miller Creek, and development of a web site. If anyone is aware of grant sources, let Karen know.

Karen distributed current membership list, meeting schedules and committee assignments. Volunteers are needed for the history project and for developing a web site. GIS map is being developed by EPA (John Brazner).

Bill Maier, H-Tech Committee, presented the Metropolitan Interstate Commission resolution regarding dredge and transportation plans for the harbor. Proposal is to relocate upper harbor docks downstream to reduce dredging requirements. In Wisconsin, real estate along the harbor is being used up by other activities than waterborne commerce. Duluth has a comprehensive port plan, but Superior does not. Can CAC spur the development of a plan? Some property will be available when grain elevators are demolished. Need to have Corps of Engineers as part of H-Tech group. Sediment committee should be asked to comment on the resolution. Habitat is also an issue, as well as land use and dredge plans. Debate about who pays? Need to demonstrate consensus. Sediment Committee meets April 16, and we will ask them to make a recommendation back to this group. Karen will talk to Judy Crane to get the resolution on their committee agenda.

Watershed Conference Planning Update:
Phil Monson and Kamal Alsharif will be Co-Chairs. The Watershed Conference (no date as yet) will be called "Head of the Lakes River Rally" and will inform public of our activities and provide technical information. Friday evening will be the public component with kids involved; Saturday will have concurrent sessions of technical information. There will be entertainment and education about RAP and AOC. Three subcommittees have been formed: 1) Program; 2) Logistics; 3) Community Involvement, Visibility, Advertising. The Committee will meet next Thursday, April 23 at EPA Laboratory 3:30 - 5:30 pm.

Harvey Hoven, Chair, Audit Committee, gave a report. He complimented Karen Plass on the budget projections and reports. The CAC is well-managed and is audited by an internal committee.

City of Duluth might be interested in talking about the stormwater utility at a future CAC meeting. Riverwatch River Congress will be held May 26 at Fond du Lac Tribal College in Cloquet. Lynelle Hanson and Sue O'Halloran are making arrangements.

The CAC Board of Directors will meet next on Wednesday, May 27 at Barker's Island 7:00-9:00pm.

Nan Stokes, Secretary