Meeting was called to order by Executive Director, Karen Plass. Members present introduced themselves.

Jeri Schwerin reported on the highlights of 1998-99 Watershed Guardian Activities. This program is funded by Cargill, Inc., by way of the Conservation Fund. Jeri showed the monitoring apparatus and explained how the monitoring is done. John Sundstrom, Service Learning Coordinator for the Duluth School District, is acting as go-between with teachers in the schools. There will be an in-service for teachers in the fall, and they can get CEU credits for their monitoring activities. Data should be on CAC Web site and available by fall. Storm drain stenciling will be done in the summer with summer school students and Boys and Girls Clubs. Occasionally there are problems with vandalism of the monitoring equipment. The monitoring data need to be shared.

Deb Kellner and Tony Kroska reported on the Historic Land Use Reconstruction Project, funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Deb Kellner is reviewing harbor history from 1870-1970. Each property is surveyed and cross-referenced to provide a baseline for future reference. Tony Kroska is mapping 700 sites along the river to incorporate history and geo-reference. He demonstrated how information can be accessed using computer technologies. This information will be useful when sites along the river are developed in the future.

Minutes of the January 27, 1999 Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony were approved.

Karen reported on CAC’s Planning Retreat held April 27 and 28, 1999. Participants reviewed and prioritized: 1) River Goals; 2) Organizational Goals; 3) Program Goals.

These goal statements were distributed.

Discussion was held about re-wording and expanding the Mission Statement.

Moved, Seconded and Passed to accept the following statement:

The St. Louis River Citizens Action Committee is a membership-based nonprofit organization working together to restore, protect, and enhance the St. Louis River.

This mission statement can be expanded to include:

Coordinate community efforts;

Increase public awareness;

Focus on the St. Louis River Area of Concern;

Help to implement the St. Louis River System Remedial Action Plan.

Moved, Seconded and Passed to amend the goal statement in the Stage I document to say: ...water quality that meets or is cleaner than the ambient water quality standards of both states for the classification of the water body.

Stewardship: Jack Ezell reporting.

Riverside cleanup May 1st included the Lake Superior and Mississippi Excursion Train pulling a flatbed car with debris from the river edge to the dump site. Debris included 24 tires.

Mouths of Miller Creek and Coffee Creek near WLSSD were cleaned, also. There is a delta of sediment; 60 tires were recycled from that area.

Canoe trip on St. Louis River from Chambers Grove down river is being planned for July or August. Bill Majewski is arranging for canoes and guide. Date to be announced.

Could have a workshop on septic system maintenance.

Sediment: Mark Hagley reporting.

Interlake site has more contaminated sediment than previously thought, but sediment will probably be moved. The matter is hotly contested between MPCA and responsible parties.

USX sediment issues meeting June 2nd.

Judy Crane is continuing the examination of contaminated materials in Slip C and Minnesota Slip.

Habitat: Paul Sandstrom and Pat Collins reporting.

EPA monies coming; draft RFP to go out for contractor; have web site information.

Nonpoint: Paul Sandstrom reporting.

Set up data base to track implementation that has occurred.

Financial Report: Quarterly financial report was distributed. MPCA will support the CAC with $10K to be spent by end of June. It is necessary for the CAC to submit an annual report to the state Attorney General. This is required for charitable organizations and must contain administrative, financial and fund-raising information. Discussion followed. Proposed Resolution: That the CAC Board of Directors empower the Executive Committee, at its June 1999 meeting, to approve the contents of the Charitable Organization Annual Report for 1998, which is due to the Minnesota Attorney General’s office by 6/30/99. Note: The draft report will be reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee Chair (Harvey Hoven) prior to the June Executive Committee meeting. Copies of the report will be available to anyone upon request.

Moved, Seconded and Passed to adopt this resolution as amended and noted.

New and Pending Grants: $63K from EPA; $10K from MPCA. MN DNR: matching money for Habitat Plan and for Nonpoint Education. River Network and MPCA for TMDL. Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Fund -- show changes in harbor.

St. Louis River Board Citizens Action Committee not active at present. Should we court them to join our group? Karen has a mailing list. No action taken.

Wisconsin Wetlands Association workshop October 2nd. CAC will be a sponsor; need ad hoc planning committee. No action taken.

Trail from Irving School to Grassy Point along Keene Creek could be a future clean-up project; could plant trees for shade.

June 5 - Superior Municipal Forest hearing.

Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Nan Stokes, Secretary