November 21, 2014 (BALTIMORE, MD) --- The Stormwater Advisory Committee (SWAC) formed by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) has held its kick-off meeting, where members elected a chair and vice chair to lead the committee.

The advisory committee Nov. 17 elected Terry Cummings, of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, as its Chair and Eric Schwaab, of the National Aquarium, as vice chair.

In September, DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., announced the formation of SWAC to advise the department on stormwater projects, programs, and issues and to help educate stakeholder groups on related issues.
“I am confident that the Stormwater Advisory Committee members have selected leaders who will help the committee work to create an examination process that is fiscally transparent, has the support of the wider community, and benefits a range of groups throughout the City,” said DPW Director Chow.
The advisory committee’s first action will be to review the City’s MS4 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and to share the plan with their constituent groups when it is released for public comment. The committee will also address rules and regulations, proposed State legislation, education around stormwater, workforce development, budget decisions, and adaptive management.

The advisory committee is made up of 15 members representing a diversity of sectors, including environmental non-profits, businesses and industries, anchor institutions and citizens.

The members are: 

• Jennifer Aiosa, Friends of Patterson Park / Blue Water Baltimore
• Kimberly Brandt, 1000 Friends of Maryland
• Bif Browning, Southwest Partnership
• Debbie Cameron, Baltimore Tree Trust
• Terry Cummings, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
• Brian Hammock, CSX / South Baltimore Business Alliance
• Diane Ingram, Concerned Citizens for a Better Brooklyn
• Matthew Kimball, Building Owners and Managers Association of Baltimore
• Ashley Pennington, Johns Hopkins University Office of Sustainability
• Joan Plisko, Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment
• Alan Pressman, BGE
• Daryl Sabourin, ASR Inc., Domino Sugar/Baltimore Port Alliance
• Eric Schwaab, National Aquarium
• Noah Smock, Baltimore Community ToolBank
• Bonnie Sorak, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake

Staffers from DPW and other City agencies, such as the departments of Transportation, Recreation and Parks and the Public Schools, will serve as ex-officio members to support the committee.
The Stormwater Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and will be advertised in advance. Beginning in 2015, the meetings will be held on a quarterly basis.

Information regarding the Stormwater Advisory Committee can be found atwww.cleanwaterbaltimore.org. For more information, contact Mark Cameron, Watershed Liaison, at mark.cameron@baltimorecity.gov or 410-396-0732.