Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District

1203 Main Street, Suite B, Morro Bay, CA 93442 (805)772-4391 Fax 772-4398

Coastal San Luis RCD Board Meeting Minutes

August 28, 2015

SLO City/County Library

995 Palm Street, 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, Linda Chipping, Cheryl Lenhardt, and Kathie Matsuyama

B. Directors Absent: Dave Alford, Jean-Pierre Wolff, and Rob Rutherford

C. Staff and Associates Present: Staff Members Nicole Smith, G.W. Bates, Mark Skinner, Peter Rowland, Della Barrett, and Jackie Crabb, and NRCS Representative Margy Lindquist

D. Guests: None

II. Public Comment Period – Della raised the issue of the position of Associate Director, which the agency does not currently have. The Board asked that an item be put on the next agenda to discuss the position and possible recruitment strategies.

III. Approval of Minutes of July 31, 2015 - On a motion by Cheryl, seconded by Kathie, the Minutes of July 24, 2015 were approved. Ayes: Neil, Linda, and Cheryl. Nos: None. Abstentions: Kathie, as she had not been at the meeting.

IV. Financial Report

A.  Ratification of August 15 Payroll and Vendor Disbursements and approval of August 28 Vendor Disbursements - Cindy had e-mailed the Disbursement List earlier, and Jackie reviewed it with the Board. Jackie noted a correction: changing “Coastal Commission” to “Coastal Conservancy”. On a motion by Cheryl, seconded by Linda, Ratification of Section 1 of Disbursements (August 15 Payroll and Vendor Disbursements) and approval of Section 2 (August 28 Vendor Disbursements) were approved as amended. Ayes were Neil, Linda, Cheryl, and Kathie. Nos: None. Abstentions: None.

B.  Financial Reports and Finance Manager Report – Jackie reviewed the report Cindy had e-mailed earlier and answered Board member questions. In response to Cheryl’s question, Jackie reviewed the procedure regarding large credit card purchases. Cheryl reminded Board and Staff of previous discussions about a general policy of making sure contracts are signed so reimbursement is expected before performing work. Staff was asked to seek reimbursement for a particular expense item. On a different subject, Jackie mentioned she and staff are looking into a “time tracker” software to make it easier to keep track of employee task budgets. The Board encouraged her to proceed.

V. Report Items

A. Project Manager Report – Jackie reviewed the report she had e-mailed earlier, and answered Board Member questions. Neil gave some background on some of the projects.

B. Conservation Programs Manager Report– Nicole reviewed each item of the report she had e-mailed earlier, and answered Board Member questions.

C. Engineer Report – GW reviewed and elaborated on the report he had e-mailed earlier. He updated the Board on his projects, and answered Board Member questions about them. Discussing a possible new well in the Chorro Flats area, the board agreed any new wells should have meters on them, and if the well is shared, then meters should be arranged for each user. This is in expectation of new SMGA requirements.

D. Restoration Specialists Reports– Mark reviewed his report and answered board member questions. He had a large overhead photo of the dunes on which he showed his invasive plants eradication activities. In response to Neil’s question, he and Peter explained seed harvesting is thin this year because of the drought. Peter reviewed his report and highlighted the fact that the pests in the greenhouse are bad this year. Board members commented on pest control techniques. Moving forward, Peter will be doing a lot of State Parks’ GIS data base maintenance for the Dunes.

E. Natural Resources Conservation Service – Cheryl Zelus reported on EQIP projects in the CSL RCD area. She added she had worked on the permit for Cape Ivy eradication in the Chorro Flats area on behalf of the CSL RCD.

VI. Discussion and/or Board Action Items

A. Edna Valley: Freeport and Orcutt – Jackie and Nicole updated the Board. The Edna Valley Growers Mutual Water Company has been formed. Jean-Pierre, Jackie, and Nicole had met to discuss Prop 1 funding opportunities, which will be more clear after the first of the year. Regarding the proposed Orcutt pipeline, Neil reported there are issues still to be resolved within SLO City agencies.

B. Discussion of SLO County Board of Supervisors direction to consider consolidation of SLO County’s RCDs –

Jackie distributed a summary of the notes from the meeting between SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson, Mike Broadhurst, Devin Best, (USLT RCD President and Executive Director respectively), Linda Chipping and herself from the CSL RCD. Supervisor Gibson explained he thought consolidation of the county’s two RCDs would be a good idea. He asked them to speak individually with each of the other Supervisors. Supervisor Gibson said he thinks the RCDs should have a line item in the County Budget.

During the CSL RCD Board discussion, staff mentioned that at present SLO County grants are for specific goals the CSL RCD would accomplish; the CSL RCD’s income from SLO County grants is a small percentage of its total grant income; for many years no funding was provided by SLO County; and, even if RCDs have a line item in the county’s budget, there’s no guarantee future Boards of Supervisors would continue that funding.

Linda suggested the RCDs’ meetings with each of the Supervisors should highlight the accomplishments of each of the RCDs over the last 20 years, because Supervisors, like the public in general, are not thoroughly aware of what the CSL RCD has done. There was substantial board and staff discussion. Linda and Jackie will create a consolidation list to discuss with Devin. There was discussion of the physical boundary lines and other distinguishing characteristics between the two RCDs, including different types of agriculture practiced within each. RCDs are Special Districts created by the State of California, and as independent agencies, often work in cooperation with counties and/or cities. There was also discussion of the unreimbursed costs of staff time to work on possible consolidation. It was agreed that Jackie and Linda will continue with their efforts and meet with USLT RCD representatives. They expect to meet with each County Supervisor before the end of the year. Status reports and decisions will keep the Board informed.

C. Discussion of Future Grant Opportunities and Board Member Updates – Jackie reported on possibilities of funding through the Invasive Plant Council and the Wildlife Conservation Board of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

D. Continued Discussion of Strategic Planning – Jackie was advised to be sure any costs associated with discussions of merging the two RCDs should be charged to the SLO County grant, as the request had been made by a County Supervisor. Separately, Cheryl reported that because of her personal workload, she has handed over much of the Strategic Planning work to Jackie.

E. Future Regular Board Meeting Dates: September 25, 2015 and October 23, 2015, both at the at the UC Co-Op Extension. Both meetings will be at 12:30 pm.

VII. Meeting Updates

A. CARCD and NACD – No report.

B. ALAB, Edna Valley/Pismo Creek Watershed Group, and RWQCB – No report

C. WRAC – There had been no WRAC meeting in the past month, but Linda reported on an IRWM Regional Management Working Group meeting she and Nicole had attended. With Dave Alford, she had attended a Farm Bureau meeting on sustainable groundwater management. There are areas within several of the groundwater basins that will need SMGA plans, but are not be covered by plans prepared by agencies. She asked that discussion of representation of those areas be added to the WRAC agenda.

D. Zone 9, LAFCO, and CSDA – No report.

VIII. Other Business – Jackie reported CSL RCD Board Member Dave Alford had been interviewed on NPR. She will e-mail a link to the interview.

IX . Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Della Barrett, Board Secretary