CHANNEL ISLANDS REGIONAL GIS COLLABORATIVE (CIRGIS) PLANNING MEETING
April 20, 2000
VENTURA COLLEGE, SCIENCE BUILDING
1. Introductions
2. Agency updates of MOA: Two agencies, USGS and NPS - CHIS, have signed the MOA. RAIN will also sign. Many other agency representatives have sent the Agreement to their managers for review. The list of agencies that have signed and those that are considering it will be posted on the web site. Most agencies are supportive, and just have implementation issues, but some Ventura County departments stated that they would not be in favor of signing in the near future.
3. CIRGIS Formation: It was decided by the Steering Committee (everyone present) that whomever has signed the agreement by June 1st will at that time be the members of CIRGIS, and will proceed from there. At that time the members will form an advisory group, or something, to proceed with planning, meeting scheduling, revising and adopting by-laws, and other collaborative matters. RAIN members suggested that we try to get some data up on the site quickly to get things started. Ben proposed that we work together to create a first layer of jurisdictions or watersheds. Since the group still does not technically exist, people that have been doing tasks should just keep doing them!
4. By-Laws: The proposed by-laws will be posted on the web site listserver, and folks can read them and make comments. Discussion of the by-laws and any comments on them posted on the web site will take place at the next meeting.
5. CIRGIS Website. Resty gave an update, and the web address of www.rain.org/cirgis. The web site is now being administered by RAIN. There is a list server here, and the proposed by-laws and these minutes will be posted. If there are comments on the web site please contact Resty.
6. Other Items: 1) Point made by several people that this collaborative is much more than just a place to share data. The collaborative will also provide opportunities for education, both of members and of citizens, for networking regarding GIS techniques and tools, for pursuing funding avenues, and more. In the long run belonging the collaborative should save an agency both money and time. Urged that this message be taken to managers. 2) Will there be electronic options for meetings and voting? Some discussion on this but no decisions. Seems like a good idea but there are some problems that people have experienced with other groups.
7. Future meeting: Next meeting will be Wednesday, May31st at 2:00 at Ventura College. This will be the first ‘official’ meeting of CIRGIS!