September Meeting Minutes

9/7/22

• Minutes approved
• Treasurer’s Report approved 
  • As of last counting 8/31- $65,422 in bank w/biggest reserved amount for Huguenot Flatwater (HFW) funds (unfinished landscaping etc.): $20k. 
• JRPS Report from Giles
  • ‘Wishlist’ projects 
    • Proposed Crooked Branch bridge. Funding only covers this bridge connection – from street into Crooked Branch park. 
    • James River Branch trail 
  • No timeline for completion for Texas Beach bridge and tower
    • JROC to write letter to council 
    • ARPA funding scope: able to cover all of the new tower? $2 million to demolish and rebuild towers and the bridge- estimate from Nathan B. in 2018. Stairs are a problem, but the bridge condition is what caused the shutdown. Need to look into other precedents similar to this (over railroad, etc.) – temporary crossings
  • Safety conversations from last month follow-up (Chesterfield, Henrico, state, city, nonprofits, etc.) in progress. Giles will share results.
    • 3 different working groups
      • 1- signs and physical infrastructure. Working w/ DWR on ramp signs, etc. 
      • 2- communication and education. 
      • 3- fundraising. Other JRPS staff members will facilitate these. Christina B. helping gather folks. This would be stuff rolled out statewide, but for now focused on the James River. 
    • Watkins and Robious Landing now have signage about Bosher’s Dam. 
    • Important convo about verbiage. “Low head dams” vs just “dams.” Some mistakenly hear ‘low’ and think low risk.
• Promo material
  • Banners-  King of the James (KotJ): 1 evergreen and 1 for this year. 
• HFW access ramp flaw- 1’+ gap between lowest part of ramp and water’s surface when river level at 5 ft. Average year round flow may be 5’, but avg summer is 4’. Contacting Timmons for solutions.
  • Floodplain maps being redrawn currently. Need to know these when planning future projects. 
• KotJ
  • Whitten Bros sponsoring; Immersion Research donated $600 worth of material to giveaway for prizes. Shauna found some other cool swag to give away for this year’s prizes.
  • Discussion board for matching up racers to teams
  • Matt R. has a meeting with Grow RVA – sharing space again w/ Sunday farmer’s market, figuring out logistics for race start. 
• Music at Maymont 
  • Haymaker gives JROC $1000-1500 to work the beer tents depending on size of show, and we keep all tips.
  • Show this Friday- Old Crow Medicine Show- need volunteers
  • Raised over $8000 so far; still 3 shows left
• Projects
  • Last proj (August)- Erosion control Sawmill bridge. Old timbers replaced. Allowing water to drain under the bridge instead of piling up. 
  • Sept 17 at 9am: Manchester climbing wall. 3” or so rock at base to control erosion 
• Friends, Falls, Scenic Report
  • Easement questions. Looking at old deeds (1600s for some of them) to figure out who owns what islands. Friends of the Park surveying a land donation of 3-4 acres near the upstream side of Nickel Bridge.
• James River Park System 50th anniversary events – week of 9/11-17
  • Basic City Brewing Thurs. 9/15 at 7pm. Q&A w/Ralph White, Parker Agelasto.
  • Belle Isle day of free events and activities w/local companies and nonprofits on Sat. 9/17
  • ~100 acres added south of Choo Choo rapid- given to the park. Helps reduce impervious surface percentage.