I.    Call to Order – President Neil Havlik called the meeting to order at 12:35 pm. 

A.   Directors Present:  Neil Havlik, Linda Chipping, Dave Alford, and Jean-Pierre Wolff 
B.   Directors Absent:  Cheryl Lenhardt and Kathie Matsuyama.
      Staff and Associates Present:  Staff Members Shawn Meara, Juilie Thomas and Nicole Smith, and NRCS           
      Staff Members Cheryl Zelus and Margy Lindquist. 
      Guests:  None

II.   Public Comment Period – There were no public comments.

III. Approval of Minutes – November 20, 2009 - On a motion by Jean-Pierre, seconded by Dave, the Board unanimously approved the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of November 20, 2009.

IV.  Financial Report 
A. Approval of January Warrant Orders, plus ratification of December Warrant Orders – Shawn briefly reviewed the Warrant Lists.  On a motion by Linda, seconded by Dave, the Board unanimously approved the Warrant Orders for January 2010, plus ratifying the December Warrant Orders. 
B. Financial Reports and Finance Manager Report – Shawn reviewed the financial reports which summarized the December 31, 2009 financial statements.  There were no questions from the board.  

V.   Discussion and/or Board Action Items
A.   Discussion of Future Grant Opportunities and Board Member Updates – Neil reported that he and Cheryl tried 
       to get together to discuss the Strategic Plan, but had been unable to do so.
B.   City of Morro Bay – Update on Proposed Streamflow Gauge Installation in Chorro Creek – Julie reported that 
       in December she, Mark, and Linda met Dylan Thomas of the Morro Bay City staff at Chorro Flats to view the    
       site.  The Morro Bay staff will begin talking with other agencies about their proposed project, and hope to 
       have a proposal to present to the RCD Board this spring.
C.   Update on SLO County’s Alternative Review Program for Agricultural Grading – Nicole reported that the 
      County Board of Supervisors expected to take action at their meeting January 26th.  Linda reported that in a
      conversation with Supervisor Patterson, he indicated he would welcome a letter from the CSLRCD detailing 
      any points the CSL RCD wanted to make. Jean Pierre reported on the Ag Liaison meeting with Agriculture
      Commissioner Lilly and staff member Mike Isensee.  He also mentioned that a newspaper reporter has 
      requested and been granted the chance to review the tapes of the Ag Liaision’s meetings regarding the 
      Grading Ordinance.  After some maneuvering, the position that the Ag Liaison adopted was to have the RCD 
      in charge of all agricultural grading.  He said the RCDs are quite willing to do the Alternative Reviews, but
      do not want to take total responsibility from the County for supervising all agricultural grading.  There was
      discussion of the misunderstandings regarding what the proposed ordinance would cover.  There was
      considerable discussion among Board members as to what would be ideal, both for agriculturalists and for the
      RCDs.  Julie talked about a current project that has been a problem.  Neil brought the discussion back to what 
      the CSLRCD wants to do now in preparation for the Supervisors Meeting on the 26th.  It was agreed that Julie,
      Nicole, and Neil will prepare a letter from the CSLRCD to the BOS stating the CSLRCD’s position. 
D.   Discussion of CSLRCD office location and potential move to new location – New office space has been 
      found.  Potential problems for the new office location were discussed.  In addition, there was a rumor of other
      possible office space in the current office building.  Linda and Julie will follow up.  Everyone is keeping in mind 
      the February 28 deadline for vacating the current location.  
E.   Permit Coordination Programs with California Dept of Fish and Game – At the state level, the NRCS found 
      problems with the language of parts of the agreement.  They may suggest some revisions.
F.   Discussion and Action on MBNEP Educational Mini Grant Application Proposal – The grant will be considered 
      by the MBNEP next month.
G. Designing GIS for CSLRCD – Board feedback on initial concepts – Nicole and Julie had previously distributed their proposal.  The purpose of the GIS System is to allow better tracking of projects and to make pulling together of information for reports easier.  Some data will be for in-house use only, and some will be public.  Data need to be constructed in a way that landowner confidentially is maintained.   Julie and Nicole had met with a Cal Poly representative to discuss getting help from students in setting up the CSLRCD’s GIS.  Board members asked questions and suggested additions.  Jean-Pierre asked about priorities:  this project versus improving the CSLRCD’s web site.  Julie agreed that improving the web site is actually a higher priority, but this project had come up because the opportunity arose for free GIS, free training on GIS, plus free labor through Cal Poly.  After considerable discussion, the Board gave direction to proceed, while being aware of privacy issues and of the possible limitations of student time.  In the meantime, updating the web site is crucial.  Julie will e-mail Board members other RCD’s web site addresses so members can see how others look.  The Board complimented Julie and Nicole for bringing the GIS matter forward.
H. Discussion and Action regarding hiring a second Watershed Coordinator - Julie presented financial information regarding the DOC grant and other funding.  Based on that and on previous discussions about the quality of Nicole’s work as a consultant, the Board authorized Personnel Committee Chair Cheryl Lenhardt and President Neil Havlik to meet with Nicole Smith to prepare an employment contract for part-time employment as a Watershed Coordinator, effective January 15, 2010.  Motion to that effect made by Linda, seconded by Jean-Pierre, approved unanimously.
I.    Future regular board meeting dates:  February 19, 2010 (at the SLO City/County Library) and March 19, 2010,
      (at the Coop Extension).  Both meetings will be at 12:30 PM.  Jean-Pierre will not be able to attend the 
      March 19 meeting.

VI.  Report Items
A.   Watershed Coordinator Report – Julie had e-mailed her report to Board Members and Staff.  In addition, she 
      talked about the DOC Final Report for 2004-2007.  In it, the CSLRCD’s matching funding amounts were the 
      highest of all the RCDs, and the quality of its work compared very favorably.  Julie also reported on the 
      CARCD meeting she attended.   
B.   Natural Resources Conservation Service Report. – Margy gave her report.  This year, they are distributing 
      most of their EQIP funds to range land projects, because crops can qualify for AWEP. She estimates their 
      work load has quadrupled.  She also mentioned June training available for NRCS and RCD employees.
C.   RCD Engineer Report – Mark was not present.  Julie distributed his QUAPP for the Oso Flaco project.  Cheryl    
       reported briefly on Mark’s current projects. The Board briefly discussed the status of Mark’s contract.

VII. Meeting Updates
A.   CARCD, NACD, RC&D, DOC Advisory Committee – As Kathie Matsuyama was not present, there was no   
       report.        
B.   Ag Task Force and Ag Liaison – Jean-Pierre reported there had been no Ag Task Force meeting.  At Ag 
      Liaison, members were disappointed because County Planning had ignored or removed some of their  
      recommendations on the COSE draft.  He had already discussed Ag Liaison’s comments on the Ag Grading  
      Ordinance.   
C.   Edna Valley/Pismo Creek Watershed Group – Jean-Pierre reported there had been no meetings scheduled. 
      He added that an episode about the work of the California Conservation Corps at Wolff Vineyard can be seen 
      on the web site Workingforgreen.com.  An episode about his vineyard will be aired later.
D.   WRAC – Linda reported.  The morning session had been a workshop conducted by Carollo Engineers on the 
      draft Master Water Plan.  All information used by Carollo has been generated by agencies – Carollo has not 
      done any studies to come up with new numbers on their own.  They prepared charts showing current water 
      use and projected demand.  The afternoon WRAC meeting included a presentation by NRCS and US/LT 
      RCD on the AWEP program and the mobile water lab.  The presentation was by the US/LT RCD, but most of 
      the questions were answered by Cheryl and Mark, who did an excellent job.  On a different subject, new
      appointments were recommended for the Supervisor’s approval.  The update to the County’s Land Use and
      Circulation Element will begin soon, and the WRAC will form a subcommittee to study it. 
E.   Zone 9, LAFCO, and CSDA – Neil reported on log jams that were blocking creek flow that had been taken 
      care of.  LAFCO is using its new policy to require that an equal amount of land be dedicated for a 
      conservation easement when agricultural land is lost due to annexation.  
 
 
 

IX.  Other Business –Neil reported on a letter from LAFCO regarding a vacancy and asking for nominations to fill the position.  Julie gave an update on the Trail Feasibility Study and Natural Resources Inventory being done on Pismo Lake by RRM Designs.  Similar work is being done by the CSLRCD, and both organizations are sharing data.

X.   Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
 

Della Barrett, Board Secretary
NOTE: Corrections to these minutes appear in the next month’s minutes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Minutes from previous meetings- 2006/2007/2008/2009/2010