Coastal San Luis RCD Regular Board Meeting s1

Coastal San Luis RCD Board Meeting January 21, 2011 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, Dave Alford, Cheryl Lenhardt, Kathie Matsuyama, and Linda Chipping. B. Directors Absent: Jean-Pierre Wolff Staff and Associates Present: Staff Members Della Barrett, Julie Thomas, Nicole Smith, and Shawn Meara, and NRCS Representative Cheryl Zelus. Guests: None

II. Public Comment Period - Linda mentioned an NRCS employee's spouse's illness. Kathie talked about the State of California's web site regarding state watersheds. She will send the link to Della for distribution to members and staff.

III. Approval of Minutes – December 17, 2010: Cheryl had e-mailed Della a suggested amendment, which Della read to the Board. On a motion by Kathie, seconded by Cheryl, the amended December 21, 2010 minutes were approved unanimously.

IV. Financial Report A. Approval of January Disbursements – Shawn reviewed the disbursement list and answered Board Member questions. On a motion by Cheryl, seconded by Linda, the December Disbursement List was approved. The vote was unanimous. 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.

VI. Discussion and/or Board Action Items A. Discussion of Future Grant Opportunities and Board Member Updates - Julie reported progress on the Corbett and Tally Ho projects, where the Coastal Conservancy and the City of Arroyo Grande have confirmed they will be able to make their matching funds commitment. She also mentioned an upcoming flood corridor protection program that would be appropriate for Los Berros properties. Dave mentioned a contractor who has a special excavator with a mulching arm that could do creek cleaning work while the vehicle remains on the bank. Dave passed around the contractor's brochure which showed photos of work done for the US Forrest Service and other agencies. He thinks the contractor's work might be more cost effective than having workers in the creek beds. B. Discussion of the Agricultural Reuse Program for the Los Osos Wastewater System Linda reported on the proposal that Nicole, she, Dave, and Cheryl had put together and sent to SLO County Public Works. They received acknowledgement the proposal had been received, but there was not yet any comment from the County. She thinks the cost was considerably higher than the County was expecting. The CSL RCD defined the scope of work based on the experience of other communities, and then estimated costs based on that scope. C. Funding Possibilities for an Engineering/Irrigation Technician - Julie distributed an Excel sheet that she had prepared which laid out all the projects that could use an Agricultural Engineer/Irrigation Technician, as well as possible sources of funding for that person. There was substantial discussion, including the possibility of sharing the employee with the NRCS. Cheryl Z agreed to follow up with the NRCS and the Board instructed Julie to continue in the same direction, with the expectation that a Technician can be hired in the not too distant future. D. Future regular board meeting dates: February 18, 2011, and March 18, 2011 (both meetings will be at the Co-Op Extension at 12:30 PM.) Cheryl L will not be able to attend in February. . VII. Report Items A. Watershed Coordinator Report – Julie said she would e-mail her report later. In the meantime, she reported on the Permit Coordination Program. Although it has not yet been approved by all the agencies, she can use the agreements that are already in place. She explained how she and Nicole have divided responsibilities for current State Park projects, with Nicole being responsible for the Pismo Lake and Pismo Estuary projects, and Julie responsible for coordination with Althouse and Mead on the water quality studies. Regarding Zone 1 1/A, she reported last December the SLO Board of Supervisors had certified the Waterway Management Program and EIR. So there is approval for some sediment removal and levee raising, which will require permits that are not expected to be received for at least a year. Until that time, CSL RCD work will probably still be needed for vegetation management. Nicole had e-mailed her report. She mentioned State Parks is happy with work done in the Pismo Estuary, and thanked Cheryl L for the volunteer work she has done on the project. Regarding the Alternative Review Program, one engineer has already signed a contract to be an on-call, and another is about to sign. That way, there will be someone to refer clients to. Linda asked about the Ecology Action program and was updated by Julie. Because the program is for equestrian facilities, it was agreed that Shawn will go with on a field visit to a potential client for the demonstration project, so a knowledgeable horse person is part of the team. B. Natural Resources Conservation Service Report. – Cheryl Z. briefly reported on the EQIP program and mentioned that AWEP funding has been cut to one third of its original amount.

VIII. Meeting Updates A. CARCD, NACD, RC&D Council, and State Watershed Advisory Committee – Kathie reported the RC&D Council donated $200 to CSL RCD for the DG Porter bench. B. ALAB – No report. C. Edna Valley/Pismo Creek Watershed Group - No report. Board members asked that the Price Canyon issues should be a discussion item on the next meeting agenda. D. WRAC – Linda reported. The Paso Robles Groundwater Resource Capacity will go to the Board of Supervisors February 1st. The draft Master Water Plan will be presented to the WRAC on March 2nd. The Draft Ag Order was also discussed, and Linda explained portions of it. Cheryl asked about the CSL RCD sending a letter to the Water Board reminding them of the good projects that have been completed using Water Board grants, as a response to the Water Board's staff report distributed earlier. Julie will prepare a first draft and Board members will comment on it. On a different subject, Linda had asked for a report on Oceano water, sea water intrusion, and other problems in south county. E. Zone 9, LAFCO, and CSDA – Regarding Zone 9, Neil reported spending money pulling trees out of SLO Creeks. There was no significant flooding in SLO, although there was in Oceano. At LAFCO, the potential sale of Oceano water may come up.

IX. Other Business - Cheryl L reported on the Wineman Pond project: she had a field meeting with Land Conservancy, Fish and Game, and NRCS. An initial budget sent earlier to the Land Conservancy had caused consternation. Less costly strategies were discussed at the field meeting, and are still in the development stage. On behalf of the Board, Neil thanked Cheryl for her extra work as a volunteer on the project. Neil reported on the Glassy Winged Sharpshooter meeting sponsored by SLO County. He also reported on the conservation easement being worked on by the Rigetti family.

X. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Della Barrett, Board Secretary