Coastal San Luis RCD Regular Board Meeting

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 July 24, 2015 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, Linda Chipping, Cheryl Lenhardt, and Dave Alford B. Directors Absent: Kathie Matsuyama, Jean-Pierre Wolff, and Rob Rutherford C. Staff and Associates Present: Staff Members Nicole Smith, G.W. Bates, Mark Skinner, Della Barrett, Cindy Gonzalez, and Jackie Crabb, and NRCS Representative Margy Lindquist D. Guests: None

II. Public Comment Period – No public comment.

III. Approval of Minutes of June 26, 2015 - On a motion by Cheryl, seconded by Dave, the Minutes of June 26, 2015 were approved. Ayes: Neil, Linda, Cheryl, and Dave. Nos: None. Abstentions: None.

IV. Financial Report A. Ratification of July 15 Payroll and Vendor Disbursements and approval of July 24 Vendor Disbursements - Cindy had e-mailed the Disbursement List earlier, and she reviewed it with the Board. On a motion by Cheryl, seconded by Linda, Ratification of Section 1 of Disbursements (July 15 Payroll and Vendor Disbursements) and approval of Section 2 (July 24 Vendor Disbursements) were approved. Ayes were Neil, Linda, Cheryl, and Dave. Nos: None. Abstentions: None. B. Financial Reports and Finance Manager Report – Cindy reviewed the report she had e-mailed earlier and answered Board member questions. The board made recommendations to staff as to how to proceed to collect payment on a particular grant. Cheryl brought up previous discussions about a policy of the CSL RCD billing in advance of performing work rather than after.

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 one of the projects. On a different subject, Jackie mentioned the need for a funding source for maintenance costs on the recently acquired Los Osos Wetland. She also encouraged board members to tour the property. The board also discussed problems and possible solutions with trespassing and homeless people camping on the Chorro Flats property. B. Conservation Programs Manager Report– Nicole reviewed each item of the report she had e-mailed earlier, and answered Board Member questions. With the board, she discussed the need for maintenance and clearing of creek beds throughout the county before the El Nino heavy rains that are expected this year. There was substantial discussion among staff and board about the expected heavy rains on highly erodible soils and creek beds, which is a problem all over the county. On a different subject, she talked about future grants which might be appropriate, and the board contributed to the discussion about possible future work. 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. D. Restoration Specialists Reports– Mark reviewed his report and answered board member questions. Regarding Cape Ivy eradication work on Chorro Flats, Nicole contributed information about slow progress from the permitting agency and Margy explained about similar problems affecting the NRCS’ permit applications. E. Natural Resources Conservation Service – Margy reported on the EQIP program. On a different subject, she reported on her attendance at a NRCS conference, where the emphasis and grant funding in the coming year will be on soil health.

VI. Discussion and/or Board Action Items Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District

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

A. Discussion and Approval of 2015-2016 Budget – Cindy reviewed the changes to the draft budget she had e- mailed earlier. There were changes to allocations, but no changes to the total numbers. Because there were no changes and it had been approved at the June meeting, the board did not need to approve the budget again. B. Edna Valley: Freeport and Orcutt - Neil briefly reported on the e-mail he had received from Jean-Pierre asking that the CSL RCD move forward as quickly as possible on the Freeport project, since the CEQA work has already been completed. Discussion between Neil and Cheryl clarified that Freeport work would not proceed until funding had been obtained. Regarding the Orcutt project, there is uncertainty as to which department within the City of San Luis Obispo will be in charge. 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 – Neil reported he and Cheryl had met and worked on an outline to be presented at the next board meeting. Cheryl reported on work she has done to make sure the CSL RCD’s Mission Statement and strategic plan align well with objectives of funders. E. Future Regular Board Meeting Dates: August 28, 2015 at the SLO City/County Library, and September 25, 2015 at the 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 – Linda reported on the presentation that had been given at the June WRAC meeting by the consultants that had put together recycled water options for the city of Pismo Beach. Of the options, the city chose injection wells for putting the water back into the ground near the coast to combat sea-water intrusion and inland to recharge groundwater. On a different subject, in May the WRAC had submitted a 10 page report to the Board of Supervisors regarding the proposed development at the Laeticia Winery. The developers asked for delay of the Planning Commission hearing in order to have time to respond. On a different subject, she reported on the IRWM’s rejection for funding of the Pismo pipeline because of wording in Prop 85’s wording requiring a groundwater basin management plan before funding approval. Although that wording was assumed to be a minor glitch that could be modified with a trailer bill, it turned out to be a bigger problem than originally thought. D. Zone 9, LAFCO, and CSDA – No report.

VIII. Other Business – None

IX. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Della Barrett, Board Secretary