Storm Water Public Education Task Force Meeting Summary, May 9, 2007 Organizations present at the meeting were: Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mansfield, Plano, and Tarrant County. Agenda items discussed: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. EPA webcast Social marketing Storm water logo Staff updates Pet waste bookmarks Pet waste banner Action items: 1. All members: bring ideas on a new storm water logo and slogan to replace the “Our Water Take it Personally” logo. 2. Arlington staff to bring a picture and the types of questions used for the public education “game wheel” at the next meeting, or email COG staff a picture with the types of questions used. 3. Fort Worth staff to bring the biodegradable “poop walk bags” to the next meeting for a show­and­ tell. 4. COG staff to provide a link to access the EPA webcast presentation. 5. COG staff to show a picture of the Upper Trinity watershed logo at the next meeting. 6. COG staff to determine who was signed up to be involved in the logo design committee. 7. COG staff was asked to determine feasibility of conducting more meetings focusing on social marketing. 8. COG staff to present SmartScape ad banner results at the next meeting. 9. COG staff to check on date of next meeting to see if it falls at the same time as the Resource Conservation Committee (RCC) meeting. 1. Roundtable­ the following updates were provided during the roundtable: Arlington:
· Bought a “game wheel” to incorporate education at a display booth. People often take the free items from the booth and walk away, thus losing the educational aspect. Instead, when someone approaches the booth, he/she would spin the “game wheel”. A question/answer session would occur followed by an explanation, and he/she would then get a prize (i.e. pencil for an incorrect answer, or plant seeds for a correct answer). Fort Worth:
· Hired a new employee, who will likely attend the Storm Water Public Education Task Force meetings.
· Placed an order through TxDOT for biodegradable “poop walk bags.” Grand Prairie:
· Printed a slogan on a beach­type shovel to encourage the public to pick up after their pet(s).
· Storm drain marker event to occur Saturday, May 12, to mark drains around schools. Irving:
· A pet waste ad banner is currently running on WFAA.com using last year’s text.
· Announced that there will be a free all day SmartScape bus tour through Dallas on Saturday, June 2. Mansfield:
·
·
·
The SmartScape class offered was successful.
Might offer a winterizing class in the fall.
Shared a recent illicit discharge incident that occurred involving a paint crew washing their equipment directly into the storm drain. Tarrant County:
· Wondered if there were any updates regarding the release of the new Phase II permit. 2. Other staff updates:
·
·
·
·
Those who ordered pet waste bookmarks were able to pick them up after the meeting. Those who wanted to place an order were able to do so.
There was not enough interest to run a banner ad on WFAA.com during National Pet Week. Members were told that there is an option of running the ad at a later date, perhaps later this month or during “the dog days of summer.”
Enviroscape loaner model is available to use. Thanks to the Upper Trinity Watershed Partners (UTWP). Contact Matina Garrett at 817­695­9148.
New COG staff working in the storm water program were introduced. 3. Storm water logo:
·
COG staff and task force members decided at an earlier meeting that the storm water logo lacked a people factor. The next meeting would allow more time to discuss a new logo and slogan. The Upper Trinity watershed logo was well liked among the members. o Irving thought that the new Dallas storm water logo might be too busy and small, but that the idea of a person walking a dog in front of a house was a good idea. Also, the current slogan (Our Water Take it Personally) should be changed because it is too commonly used (i.e. Our Earth Take it Personally). o Mansfield thought that we should develop a broad logo, and from here develop several logos to facilitate a more specific reaction (i.e. pet waste, lawn fertilization, etc.) o Fort Worth thought that we should first develop the message, then the slogan, and finally the artwork. Recalled that at an earlier meeting a gentleman, possibly from TxDOT extension services, had a good idea for a new slogan. 4. EPA Webcast:
·
COG staff and task force members thought that the EPA Webcast, “Social Marketing: A Tool for More Effective Stormwater Education and Outreach Programs,” that preceded the task force meeting, was a great learning experience and could be of valuable use in educating the public on various storm water issues in North Central Texas. o The discussion on social marketing was led be Nancy Lee of Social Marketing Services, Inc. Nikos Singelas of EPA’s NPDES Stormwater Program offered input, and Jack Wilbur of Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food presented some “examples and lessons learned from watershed outreach campaigns…” o The webcast will be archived and eventually made available to view on EPA’s website.