Local Government Advisory Committee
The Local Government Advisory Committee advises the Executive Council on how to engage local governments by sharing the views and insights of local elected officials and enhancing the flow of information among local governments.
Upcoming Meetings
Local Government Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting (December 2024) - Virtual
Friday, December 6, 2024 from 9:00am - 12:00pmScope and Purpose
The Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) was created by the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council through the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement. The purpose of the LGAC is to advise the Executive Council on how to effectively implement projects and engage the support of local governments to achieve the goals of the Agreement.
LGAC's mission is to share the views and insights of local elected officials with state and federal decision-makers and to enhance the flow of information among local governments about the health and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Subscribe to the Watershed Currents Newsletter: Resources for Local Governments
This bi-monthly newsletter features curated inspirational and informative resources and content for local governments within the Chesapeake Bay watershed region.
Projects and Resources
LGAC Annual Recommendations to the Chesapeake Executive Council
Each year, the Local Government Advisory Committee Chair presents the Committee’s recommendations and advice to the Chesapeake Executive Council at its annual meeting. LGAC's annual recommendations from the last five years can be found below.
- 2023 LGAC Recommendations to the Executive Council [PDF, 261.6 KB]
- 2022 LGAC Recommendations to the Executive Council [PDF, 686.2 KB]
- 2021 LGAC Recommendations to the Executive Council [PDF, 239.5 KB]
- 2020 LGAC Recommendations to the Executive Council [PDF, 613.3 KB]
- 2019 LGAC Recommendations to the Executive Council [PDF, 625.2 KB]
LGAC Local Government Forums
The Local Government Forum is a yearly problem-solving meeting hosted by LGAC in collaboration with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Through facilitated group discussion, participants identify issues that hinder or help advance the local implementation of watershed protection and restoration initiatives. Findings and recommendations, developed during the forum, are documented and next steps are identified.
- 2024 Local Government Forum Report: Looking Beyond 2025 [PDF, 370.6 KB]
- 2024 Forum Report Appendices [PDF, 712.5 KB]
- 2023 Local Government Forum Report: Building Capacity Through Collaboration [PDF, 433.5 KB]
- 2023 Local Government Forum Appendices [PDF, 970.5 KB]
- 2022 Local Government Forum Report: Integrating Resilience into Local Planning [PDF, 431.3 KB]
- 2022 Local Government Forum Appendices [PDF, 860.3 KB]
- 2022 Local Government Forum Fact Sheet [PDF, 584.4 KB]
- 2021 Local Government Forum Report: Developing Collaborative Watershed Partnerships [PDF, 228.7 KB]
- 2021 Local Government Forum Appendices [PDF, 5.4 MB]
- 2021 Local Government Forum Fact Sheet [PDF, 243.9 KB]
- 2020 Local Government Forum Report: Building Local Community Resilience Against Climate-Related Flooding [PDF, 481.3 KB]
- 2020 Local Government Forum Appendices [PDF, 14.1 MB]
- 2019 Local Government Forum Report: Stormwater & Green Infrastructure Workforce Development [PDF, 940.4 KB]
- 2019 Local Government Forum Appendices [PDF, 4.6 MB]
Protect Local Waterways Website
Protect Local Waterways is an online resource hub created to support decision-making by local officials. Local leaders make decisions that set the course for their community and local government actions determine the health and vitality of their jurisdiction, as well as that of local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Local officials can achieve mutually beneficial outcomes by prioritizing local economic development, infrastructure resiliency, public health and education, while also protecting your environment.
The Protect Local Waterways website's extensive learning library, titled "A Local Government Guide to the Chesapeake Bay," contains 11 highly visual and succinct educational modules with companion fact sheets, infographics and short videos.
Watershed Currents Newsletter: Resources for Local Governments
Watershed Currents is a bi-monthly curated newsletter that highlights local case studies and provides inspirational and informative resources for local governments and interested parties within the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. Each newsletter will be themed-focused and organized by local priorities impacting local government communities today. Please see below for past editions of the newsletter.
- September 2024: Tackling Toxic & Emerging Contaminants
- July 2024: Navigating Extreme Heat
- May 2024: How Are Local Governments Using New Federal Funding?
- March 2024: Green Infrastructure Maintenance
- January 2024: Prioritizing Green Growth
- November 2023: Latest Chesapeake Bay Program Happenings
- September 2023: Launching ProtectLocalWaterways.org
- July 2023: Roads & Stormwater Runoff
- May 2023: Technical Assistance
- March 2023: Solar
- January 2023: Environmental Health
- November 2022: Behavior Change
- September 2022: Hazard Mitigation
- July 2022: Stream Restoration/Health
Wandering Waterways Tour Series
Hosted by LGAC and tailored specially for elected officials at the local level, the Wandering Waterways tours provide hands-on opportunities for local leaders to learn about regional conservation efforts, and empower them to take on environmental challenges within their own communities. Since its pilot in 2019, the Wandering Waterways series has gathered elected officials in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and New York to learn about topics including green infrastructure, innovative agricultural practices, clean water initiatives, and solutions to localized flooding. Tours have previously been funded by the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Campbell Foundation.
Members
Daniel Chao (Chair), Local Government Advisory Committee
Laura Cattell Noll (Coordinator), Local Government Advisory Committee Coordinator, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
841 Flory Mill Rd
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601
Email: lnoll@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: (443) 949-0575
Kayli Ottomanelli (Staffer), Local Government Projects Associate, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
729 8th Street SE Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20003
Email: kottomanelli@allianceforthebay.org
Phone: 571-357-8124
James Barnhart, Berkeley County (WV)
400 West Stephen Street, Suite 201
Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401
Email: jbarnhart@berkeleywv.org
Phone: (304) 264-1923
Markus Batchelor, District of Columbia
441 4th Street NW Suite 530S
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
Email: markus.batchelor@dc.gov
Phone: (202) 741-0879
Richard Baugh, Formerly City of Harrisonburg (VA)
Coucilman, City of Harrisonburg
342 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
Email: rbaugh@hooverpenrod.com
Phone: (540) 433-2444
Frank Dawson, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (MD)
2425 Reedie Drive
Wheaton, Maryland 20902
Email: Frank.Dawson@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phone: 240-777-7732
Amy Dubois, Formerly BOS Mathews County (VA)
Cindy Dyballa, City of Takoma Park (MD)
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
Email: cindyd@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 240-320-6494
Sheila Finlayson, City of Annapolis (MD)
Jasmine Gore, City of Hopewell (VA)
300 North Main Street
Hopewell, Virginia 23860
Email: goreje@alumni.vcu.edu
Phone: (804) 931-9476
Penny Gross, Fairfax County (VA)
Josh Hastings, Wicomico County (MD)
407 Monticello Avenue
Salisbury, Maryland 21801
Email: Jhastings@wicomicocounty.org
Phone: (410) 974-2611
Michael Helfrich, City of York (PA)
101 South George Street
York, Pennsylvania 17401
Email: MHelfrich@yorkcity.org
Phone: (717) 849-2221
Leo Lutz, Borough of Columbia (PA)
308 Locust Street
Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512
Email: llutz@columbiapa.net
Phone: (717) 684-2467
Andria McClellan, City of Norfolk (VA)
810 Union Street, Suite 1006
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Email: andria.mcclellan@norfolk.gov
Phone: (757) 664-4268
Brianne Nadeau, District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 102, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20004
Email: bnadeau@dccouncil.us
Phone: (202) 724-8181
Sheila Noll, York County (VA)
133 Tradewinds Drive
Yorktown, Virginia 23692
Email: noll@yorkcounty.gov
Phone: (757) 877-7790
Don Phillips, Town of Laurel (DE)
Kelly Porter, City of Seat Pleasant (MD)
6301 Addison Rd.
Seat Pleasant, Maryland 20743
Email: keportinc@yahoo.com
Phone: (301) 655-1725
Marty Qually, Adams County (PA)
117 Baltimore Street
Room 201
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325
Email: mqually@adamscountypa.gov
Phone: (717) 337-9820
Lisa Schaefer, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
2789 Old Post Road
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-3669
Email: lschaefer@pacounties.org
Phone: (717) 526-1010
John V. Thomas, Hampden Township (PA)
407 Pawnee Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17050
Email: jjthomas407@comcast.net
Phone: (717) 761-1576