MINUTES

The Florida Bar
Environmental and Land Use Law Section
Executive Council Meeting
Thursday, January 16, 2003
Miami Grand Hyatt
Prepared by Robert D. Fingar


 

 
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 2:43 p.m. on January 16, 2003, by Maribel Nicholson-Choice.

II. Consideration of Minutes

The November 7, 2002, Minutes were motioned for approval Terry Zinn, seconded by Paul Chipok, and approved by the Council without objection.

III. Old Business

A Request for Comment - Proposed Amendments to Rule 4-8.4(i), sexual conduct with clients.

The Council has requested comment by Section members and has not received any. The Council will advise Bar that we will not be submitting comments.

IV. New Business

2003-04 Section Budget

Jackie highlighted various provisions of the Budget. Terry Zinn moved that we increase the law school liaison expense to $8000 to account for Florida’s eight law schools. Bob Fingar seconded. Terry also moved that we amend the budget to increase the retreat budget from $2,000 to $3,000. John Fumero seconded. On motion by Terry Zinn, seconded by John Fumero, the amended budget was passed without objection.

V. Committee Reports

A. Access to Justice - Maribel Nicholson-Choice discussed completion of an area of interest survey to link lawyers wanting to perform pro bono services with legal service providers.

B. Affiliate Membership - Terry Zinn discussed cancellation of the January 17 Environmental Consultants’ Workshop. The Council discussed the possibility of a workshop with mock malpractice and disciplinary hearings which would meet P.E. continuing education requirements.

C. CLE - Robert Riggio reported that the November 8 seminar was well-received and had 83 attendees. We will consider re-using materials submitted for the Environmental Consultants workshop. The Public Interest Seminar is on track, as is the May 30 Water Law Seminar. Paul Chipok and Kirk Burns circulated a draft agenda for the Annual Update. We will use the roundtable format again with a separate room for up to five speakers. We will no longer have a gold sponsor for the Update. Other possible upcoming seminars include an Agricultural Law Seminar possibly at the Florida Farm Bureau in Gainesville in 2004, which Terry Zinn and Mike Olexa have been discussing; a RCRA/CERCLA seminar in January 2004, but not in conjunction with the Bar’s Mid-Year Meeting (Jim Porter); and a Code Enforcement Seminar in April or May 2004. Maribel suggested considering a seminar dealing with the effect of restructuring of the Cabinet on environmental decisions.

D. CLE Treatise - George Gramling described ongoing discussions between Council members, editors and REGfiles to streamline procedures for soliciting and producing updates. REGfiles is expected to produce a flow chart in the next couple of weeks.

E. Florida Bar Journal Column - Robert Manning advised that the Section’s slot has been filled until October 1 submittal date. Discussion ensued about need to follow editorial guidelines for Maloney article.

F. Internet - Joe Richards advised that he has been working with Treatise Committee on possible peer review plan for evaluating updated chapters.

G. Law Schools - No report.

H. Membership - The Council discussed the need to look at the land use area and the role of the Local Government Section in this area. Discussion about student members ensued with respect to a possible mentoring program and using past chairs in a liaison role.

I. Public Interest Representation -Martha Collins distributed pamphlet for Public Interest Conference and advised that the speaker slots had been filled. Emphasis is being placed on upgrading written materials. The Committee expects to select an “Environmentalist of the Year.”

J. Section Reporter - Enola Brown advised that the gallery draft of the next Reporter was received and the Reporter would be mailed by the end of January.

VI. Liaison Reports

A. ABA Regional Conference - No Report.

B. CLE Committee - No report.

C. Council of Sections - Maribel will attend January 19, 2003 Meeting.

VII. Informational

Next Meeting - The Council identified the weekends of April 26 and May 17, 2003 as options for the Long-Range Planning Retreat in Key West.

On Motion by George Gramling, seconded by Robert Manning and approved without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 3:47 p.m.