Building trust one conversation at a time, S Wantland
•Download as PPT, PDF•
1 like•400 views
2014 PI Works! Building Trust One Conversation at a Time presented by Sheri Wantland, Clean Water Services
Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (20)
More from IAP2 Cascade Chapter
More from IAP2 Cascade Chapter (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
Building trust one conversation at a time, S Wantland
- 1. Building Trust One Conversation at a Time June 19, 2014 Sheri Wantland Public Involvement Coordinator Clean Water Services
- 2. Clean Water Services at a Glance Wastewater Collection and Treatment Surface Water Management Regional Water Supply Partnership
- 6. Fernhill Wetlands Improvement Project Goals Construct 90 acres of natural treatment systems Cost effective water quality improvements Innovation to bridge treatment plant to nature Advance wastewater treatment science Enhance habitat and wetland function More education and recreation Healing space and beauty
- 26. Voices of Fernhill: Nemeyer Family
Editor's Notes
- Clean Water Services is a public water resources management utility serving 540,000 in urban Washington County, Oregon near Portlandia. Our visionary Board of Directors puts a premium on collaboration, innovation and delivering cost effective services for public health and the environment. Core Businesses: Wastewater treatment Surface water management River flow management Regional water supply planning Resource Recovery Our new frontier is not only to clean the water, but to provide ecosystem services. Benefits that reach beyond simply meeting a permit requirement: Wildlife habitat Flood attenuation Nutrient and erosion control Open space Community connection
- What is Fernhill to Clean Water Services? 748 acres owned by Clean Water Services Wastewater treatment facility Stream operations center Materials handling yard Mitigation wetlands and enhancement Agriculture fields for potential water reuse History of farming and duck hunting 1940 wastewater treatment facility 1964 sewage lagoons 1992 Fernhill Wetlands Management Council Fernhill Wetlands Council Friends of Fernhill Wetlands 2006 Clean Water Services purchased 2008 Master Plan 2010 Natural Treatment System Basis of Design 2012 Picnic Shelter and Rest Room 2012 CWS construction of natural treatment wetlands, water features and bridges 2013 Reconfigure trails, parking, research and design of additional treatment wetlands
- What is Fernhill to the community? Popular getaway for people An Important Bird Area Trails, picnic shelter, rest room Outdoor science classroom Intersection of urban and rural landscapes Home to nesting bald eagles Historic homeland of the Atfalati Future site of Education Center Tualatin River floodway Eagle Scout projects: bridge and kiosk Community school murals Washington County Visitors Assn. kiosk Old sewage lagoons
- Already, there are two memorials here and we expect more.
- Our project has lofty goals. 2012 Native plant restoration Restroom and Picnic Shelter ~ 3 acre treatment wetland, water garden, paths / bridges 2013 Begin upper treatment wetlands Pond enhancements 2014-2019 Subsurface filter beds Water science center
- The fact is, we could have done the entire project with no other public involvement than the public notices required for the various permits. But, Clean Water Services has very strong commitment to public involvement. Until recently, we had two staff dedicated to public involvement. Like many organizations that are strongly committed to public involvement, we saw the light after a train wreck in the late 1980s. That was before my time, but I’m told they tried to bring recycled water and beneficial application of biosolids to the community before it was ready. After scathing political backlash, our Board said “never again” and directed staff to figure out how to do a better job of taking the pulse of the community. We hired a consulting firm to create a template for stakeholder engagement and hired a public involvement coordinator. For years, we hosted large, ongoing advisory committees for major projects and held many public meetings. We trained all staff how to feel prepared and comfortable dealing with the public and our engineers and technical staff became very adept at holding public meetings. We made excellent communication skills a valued qualifications for new hires for all positions. I’ve been coming to IAP2 conferences for years, and have organized many trainings and networking events in the Pacific Northwest where we swap stakeholder engagement tools and techniques. When I was tasked with planning public involvement and outreach for the Fernhill project, I listed all the stakeholders and drafted a communications plan. Then I went into the community and got to know them, and I haven’t looked at the plan since. Instead, I advised our staff and consultants to keep me posted on everything they do and made them aware of every concern and potential issue.
- BTW, our train wreck was at this site, and as you know, communities have very long memories. As legions of technical experts deal with the design, permitting, and construction of this project, my job is to keep communication flowing between all of them and the people who care about this place. And that’s a lot of individuals and groups. Our community partners include: City of Forest Grove staff, mayor, councilors Fernhill Wetlands Council/Friends of Fernhill Citizen Participation Org 15 Pacific University Public and private K - 12 Audubon Society Chamber, Rotary, Kiwanis Birders, photographers, cyclists Metro, Intertwine, State Parks, NPS Local businesses Over the years I’ve come to know the community as we did various projects: facility expansion, RV dump station, master plan update. The Fernhill Wetlands Council was our most sensitive point of contact. We are a formal member of the Council. One of the members is also a city councilor and served on our advisory commission for many years. We attend their monthly meetings and stay in close contact with the key individuals. Our staff and consultants have developed strong relationships with them. This project has generated so much excitement that their long dormant Friends of Fernhill Wetlands group has been revitalized and now holds meetings and work parties.
- Let’s step back and look at what we had planned. Before construction of Water Garden and reconfigured shoreline on Fernhill Lake.
- The woman cutting the ribbon is our uber stakeholder, Victoria Lowe. She’s a City Councilor, a longtime member of the Fernhill Wetlands Council, a member of the regional water commission, a former member of our Advisory Commission—very, very invested in her community and our project. July 31, 2012 dedication of picnic shelter and rest room funded by City of FG, Fernhill Wetlands Council, CWS and OR Dept of Parks and Rec Tom Gamble, Tom Beck, Eric Brattain, Councilor Victoria Lowe, Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, Mayor Pete Truax, Michele Scalise (Oregon Dept. Park & Rec), Councilor Camille Miller
- Some photos of the early stages of our project. 8-14-12 Preconstruction meeting with Kurisu International and Clean Water Services (Hoichi Kurisu facing camera).
- August 17, 2012 Kurisu crew placing boulders for water feature 1,000 tons of boulders from Tigard quarry
- August 31, 2012 Contorted pines that HK had grown for more than 30 years at his farm, hand-picked and placed in the water garden.
- September 26, 2012 Bridges installed Two spans of Douglas Fir, 8 feet by 40 feet Constructed by Western Wood Structures in Tualatin Handrails designed by Kurisu were added later
- Birds and Beer on Oct. 6, 2012 Intertwine Alliance, Portland Audubon, McMenamin’s Grand Lodge and Fernhill Wetlands Council launched the “first annual” festival with birding tours by John Rakestraw and Mike Houck and Fernhill Pale Ale.
- Among the many visitors and students who come to Fernhill were these 2nd graders from Forest Grove Community School on Oct. 12, 2012.
- Heavy rains in November filled the ponds, but you can begin to see how lovely the area will be. 11-20-12
- Flow in the waterfall.
- After construction of Water Garden and reconfigured shoreline on Fernhill Lake.
- 1-10-13 Bridge handrail detail. Two beautiful bridges have drawn much attention.
- We have had great media coverage with no effort. Jan. 17, 2013 Grant McOmie came to Fernhill Wetlands to shoot a segment for Grant’s Getaways on KGW TV Ch 8.
- One of scores of design charettes. Here, we have 3 engineering firms and two landscape architecture firms discussing how to meet the regulatory requirements for water quality while also meeting the needs and aspirations of people.
- June of 2013 and it’s beginning to look like wetlands.
- Aerial in June of 2013. So far we’ve built 3 acres of treatment wetlands. We have 87 acres to go. The area is already looking great, but we’ve moved a lot of dirt and created a lot of disruption. Preparing for the next phase of construction, we trucked in 130,000 cubic yards of soil one truckload at a time; on the busiest day 382 truckloads arrived, for a total of 9,805 truckloads. Despite having a world renown landscape architect and the top consulting teams, problems arise but the strong relationships we’ve built will help us make the best decisions. Examples of conflicts we’ve resolved and how we resolved them: Our #1 stakeholder first opposed the project on grounds it would fail. Local arborist blogged flaming criticisms of the tree plantings in the water garden. Locally recognized eagle expert feared construction would send the eagles elsewhere, or that influx of visitors would make the nest fail.
- Photos by Gary Witt taken September 2012 at Fernhill Wetlands.
- Photos by Gary Witt taken September 2012 at Fernhill Wetlands.
- Our consultant teams are working hard to design a world-class showcase that also meets the needs of the many individuals who love Fernhill.