Coastal San Luis RCD Board Meeting
March 18, 2011
UC Cooperative Extension
2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo, CA
I. Call to Order – President Neil Havlik called the meeting to order at 12:40 PM.
A. Directors Present: Neil Havlik, Dave Alford, Cheryl Lenhardt, Kathie Matsuyama, Jean-Pierre Wolff, and
Linda Chipping.
B. Directors Absent: None
Staff and Associates Present: Staff Members Della Barrett, Julie Thomas, Nicole Smith, and Shawn Meara.
Guests: Robert DeGraff, recent retiree and potential volunteer grant writer and/or researcher.
II. Public Comment Period Jean-Pierre reported he had received a call regarding the potential City Farm, and had advised the caller to be sure the contract with any leasor agreement with the City of SLO include a restriction so that no Class One pesticides could be used.
III. Approval of Minutes – February 18, 2011: on a motion by Jean-Pierre, seconded by Dave, the February 18, 2011 minutes were approved unanimously.
IV. Financial Report
A. Approval of March Disbursements – Shawn reviewed the disbursement list and answered Board Member questions. On a motion by Linda, seconded by Jean-Pierre, the March Disbursement List was approved by a unanimous vote.
B. Financial Reports and Finance Manager Report – Shawn reviewed the hard copies of the financial reports
which she had also e-mailed earlier. The Board briefly discussed the reports, and Shawn responded to
questions.
VI. Discussion and/or Board Action Items
A. Discussion of Future Grant Opportunities and Board Member Updates -
Jean-Pierre reported he has two separate meetings scheduled at Cal Poly for possible "seed money" for a
Mobile Irrigation Lab. It may also be possible to apply to Regional Water Board, after the draft Ag Waiver
program has been approved. Julie discussed the Bureau of Reclamation's "Water Smart Program", in which
the RCD would need to partner with a water purveyor. After discussion, the Board urged her to look into
applying with the City of Morro Bay this year.
B. Consideration of approval of Board Resolution 11-01: Application for Grant Funds from the Flood Corridor
Program - Julie had submitted a grant application for a flood plain restoration project on property on Los
Berros creek. A Resolution by the Board was part of the requirements for submitting the grant application.
Linda mentioned the CSL RCD has seen this as a key flood control property for years. Linda moved, Cheryl
seconded, and the Board unanimously approved signing Board Resolution 11-01. The Board complimented
Julie on having prepared a good application in what was a complicated process.
C. Discussion of the Agricultural Reuse Program for the Los Osos Wastewater System - Linda reported on the
meeting she, Dave, and Nicole had with SLO County Public Works. A SLO County Purchase Order was
approved by the Board of Supervisors the same week. Nicole will meet with Public Works next week to go
over scheduling and other details, including what work the Wallace Group will be doing. Jean-Pierre
mentioned that at the Regional Board during public comment, there were questions about whether
agriculturalists were getting water that the Los Osos people are paying for. Dave pointed out that Public
Works says at every meeting that there were mandated conditions for approval of the sewer plan by the
Coastal Commission: portions have to go to the Broderson site for recharge, the community for public areas,
and then 10% is the objective for agriculture. Within those three categories, there is some flexibility. For
example, if it's a wet year and agriculture can't take its full 10%, then more can be allocated to either
Broderson or public areas.
D. Funding Possibilities for an Engineering/Irrigation Technician - Cheryl distributed copies of a spreadsheet
she had prepared which showed funding estimates, billing rates, contract rates, salaries, and other data.
She had already interviewed candidates, who had also been interviewed by Mark. The successful candidate
will need to carry his/her own Errors and Omissions insurance. It is estimated the individual would work 300
hours per year for the NRCS. There was substantial discussion, including workers compensation rates and
computer and space availability in the CSL RCD office. Kathie moved and Dave seconded a motion to
authorize the CSL RCD Personnel Committee to complete the hiring of a candidate as a part time employee.
The motion passed unanimously. It was also the sense of the Board that there would be no problem with
Cheryl occasionally hiring the Engineer for work in her own company, to be paid directly to the employee by
her company. Linda mentioned that the CSL RCD's Personnel Policy Manual had recently been reviewed by
County Counsel, who had no problems with it.
E. Price Canyon CSL RCD Board Committee Report - Jean-Pierre reported the City of Pismo is going ahead
with annexation plans and is looking for sources of water. Neil will ask LAFCO to meet with the CSL RCD
Committee. Another source of water being considered is the XLP Oil Company, which just re-triggered their
application for a reverse osmosis treatment for water used in the extraction of oil.
F. Consideration of approval of contract with Ecology Action for the Livestock and Land program - Julie reported
Cheryl had spoken with Ecology Action and their was mutual agreement on several changes to the proposed
contract. Julie reviewed the contract for the Board. After discussion, Cheryl moved and Kathie seconded
a motion authorizing Neil to sign the contract. The motion passed unanimously.
G. Agreement with City of San Luis Obispo for Advisory Services for the Froom Ranch Supplemental
Environmental Project (SEP) - Neil explained the small job to decommission a rural road. The CSL RCD
would be the third party to oversee and confirm that the work is done properly. It involves site visits and
writing a report. Linda moved, Cheryl seconded, and the Board unanimously approved authorizing Neil
to sign the Agreement.
H. NRCS Restoration funds for Chorro Flats WRP easements and projects - Linda reported the kiosk and
signs at Chorro Flats WRP have been damaged, and asked for authorization to repair them. It was the
sense of the Board that she should proceed.
I. Future regular board meeting dates: April 15, 2011, and May 20, 2011 (both meetings will be at
the Co-Op Extension at 12:30 PM.) Neither Neil nor Linda could make an April 15 meeting, and neither
Kathie nor Jean-Pierre will be available May 20. It was decided Della should send an e-mail around to
see who is available April 22nd and May 27th, and re-schedule as necessary.
VII. Report Items
A. Watershed Coordinator Report – Julie distributed and reviewed the report she had also e-mailed earlier to
staff and Board members. Nicole did the same. In answer to Jean-Pierre's question, Nicole said they
have received only one phone call seeking information about the Alternative Review program. Jean-Pierre
suggested she contact Farm Bureau and other organizations and request that they put a link on their web
sites. On a different subject, Nicole mentioned she and Julie will be presenters at the Salmonoid Event.
Regular Meeting Recessed- at 2:30 pm
At this point in the meeting, Neil explained that the regular board meeting needed to be recessed
so a Special Meeting could be convened, as it had been advertised to commence at 2:30. The special
meeting was necessary because an action item had been inadvertently left off the regular meeting agenda,
the omission was not discovered until about 26 hours before the regular meeting was to begin. That being the
case, County Counsel advised that the only way to still act on the item would be to call a Special Meeting for
that one item, and post the meeting notices as they are usually posted. Minutes of the Special Meeting are
separate from the minutes of this regular meeting.
Regular Meeting Reconvened - at 2:40 pm
B. Natural Resources Conservation Service Report. – No NRCS representative was present. Kathie announced
there may be no funding from NRCS for RC&D Councils next year. As a 501(c)(3), they will continue to exist,
but without funding their roles will be curtailed.
VIII. Meeting Updates
A. CARCD, NACD, RC&D Council, and State Watershed Advisory Committee – Kathie reported she will re-
submit a grant application to the RC&D for financial help for the CSL RCD's web site.
B. ALAB – Jean-Pierre reported the previous month's meeting had seen the introduction of the new Ag
Commissioner. Warren Hoag of Planning had talked about the state likely deleting state funding for the
Williamson Act. SLO County is looking at ways to keep the program going. There was also a discussion of
how ALAB can work with county staff at the development phase of programs, rather than just commenting
on the programs after they are fully prepared. On a different subject, he reported Supervisor Patterson and
Farm Bureau/WRAC Representative had discussed the letter from WRAC to the State Water Board
regarding the Ag Waiver.
Edna Valley/Pismo Creek Watershed Group - Jean-Pierre reported. There had been no meeting. The
California Salmon Federation meeting to be held in San Luis Obispo will tour Jean-Pierre's property to see the
results of restoration work done there two years ago, and Jean-Pierre will give a presentation on SIP.
RWQCB - Jean-Pierre reported. The first day of hearings had included Los Osos and a report of the sewage
discharge overflows in SLO County. The second day of hearings was regarding the Ag Waiver, which had
been characterized as the biggest regulatory order in the history of the Regional Water Board. Jean-Pierre
recused himself, but was able to remain in the room. There was an overflow audience, including 70 public
speakers. Because there was not a quorum, no action was taken.
C. WRAC – Linda reported. The Resource Management System had been reviewed. She had raised the issue
of the comparability of costs of water to municipal users. The Planning Department and she have now had
several talks about that, and the presentation may be revised. The Master Water Plan workshop to review the
final draft will be presented to the WRAC on Monday.
D. Zone 9, LAFCO, and CSDA –Neil reported that Zone 9 dealt with procedural items. Nicole had made a
a presentation regarding the CSL RCD's work. Regarding LAFCO, there had been no meeting, and he did
not attend the CSDA.
IX. Other Business
Cheryl updated the Board on the Wineman project, which is moving forward with the Land Conservancy. She also reported she had a call regarding some willows that an agency is removing, and where within the
watershed they might be replanted. Nicole said she would follow up. Neil reported briefly on the City of SLO's
master plan for a possible community farm near the Dalidio property.
X. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Della Barrett, Board Secretary