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I.   Call to Order: President Neil Havlik called the meeting to order at 12:40 pm. 

 A.  Directors Present: Neil Havlik, Cheryl Lenhardt, Kathie Matsuyama, Jean-Pierre Wolff, and Linda Chipping.
   Directors Absent:   
   Staff and Associates Present: Staff Members Shawn Meara, Della Barrett, Deborah Barker, and Julie  Thomas, and NRCS Representatives Margy Lindquist, Cheryl Zelus, and Mark Barnett.
 B.  Guests:  Dave Alford and Nanci Parker.   

II.  Public Comment - None

III.  Approval of Minutes for September 21, 2007, October 19, 2007, November 16, 2007, and December 28,        2007 – After pointing out a correction needed  for the December 28 meeting’s date, on a motion by Cheryl Lenhardt and seconded by Linda Chipping, the Board unanimously approved all four sets of minutes.  

IV.  Financial Report 
A. Warrant Orders to be approved for in January for December 2007/January 2008 expenses – Shawn reviewed the warrant list with the Board.  On a motion by Jean Pierre, seconded by Cheryl, the board unanimously approved the warrant orders for December 2007/January 2008.
B. Ratification of December 2007 Warrant Orders for November 2007/December 2007 expenses.- Shawn reviewed the warrant list with the Board.  On a motion by Linda, seconded by Cheryl, the board unanimously approved the warrant orders for November 2007/December 2008. They had not been approved in December because there was no December meeting.
C. Ratification of November 2007 Warrant Orders for October 2007/November 2007 expenses.- Shawn reviewed the warrant list with the Board.  On a motion by Cheryl, seconded by Linda, the board unanimously approved the warrant orders for October 2007/November 2008.  They had not been approved in November because there was no quorum.
D. 11/30/07 and 12/31/07 Financial Reports and Finance Manager Report - Shawn reviewed the two reports which summarized the November 2007 and the December 2007 financial statements and responded to questions from board and staff. 
E. Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended 6/30/07 - Shawn briefly pointed out that it was a clean report and no adjusting entries had been required.  After discussion, the Board requested to receive a “hard copy” in each of their packets for discussion at the February meeting.  In order to meet time requirements, Shawn has already sent the completed audit to the state and to the county.

VI.   Discussion and/or Board Action Items
A. Strategic Planning – Cheryl L reviewed progress made by RCD and NRCS staff in working toward systematizing control of their joint projects.  She recommended that the RCD Board not sign any landowner agreements until they were sure all items on the process check list had been checked off.  Cheryl Z showed a sample of what a landowner will receive, which details all requirements of the landowner as well as what he/she will receive.  Staff and Board contributed to discussion.  Deb distributed a sample project tracking sheet.  Going around the table, Board Members and staff gave their oral updates of their strategic planning tasks.
B.   Proposed Employee Benefit policies – Shawn described the proposed employee benefit policies which she, Julie, and the Board Personnel Committee had worked on.  She also distributed a draft of the newly revised Personnel Handbook.  Julie distributed a chart which showed how the proposed benefits compare with those offered by nearby RCDs.  The Board and staff discussed the proposed benefits at some length.  It was decided to continue the Board discussion during the closed session, agendized to follow the regular meeting.
 
 
 

C.   Update on Regional Water Quality Control Board Guadalupe Settlement Fund proposal – Kathie explained that 12/14 was the date the RWQCB wanted all proposals submitted to them.  The Dunes Collaborative, working with many organizations, submitted one project as a watershed-wide package, which provided an umbrella for about a dozen individual projects.  Julie submitted two projects on behalf of the CSLRCD. Kathie said she was very impressed by the suite of projects submitted.  On February 8, the RWQCB will decide how to allocate these funds.  Their staff report will be released prior to that.  On behalf of the RCD, Neil will submit a letter of support.
D. Hilton Hotel site in Grover Beach – possible mitigation  - Neil reported he recently sent an e-mail to the Coastal Conservancy asking to be put in touch with the appropriate staff people.  There will be a meeting 1/28 to discuss the management of the Pismo Lake Ecological Reserve, which includes some open space owned by the City of Grover Beach that surrounds the Hilton Hotel site.  He thinks that would be an ideal staging area for boardwalk or other educational enhancement.  
E.   Application for extending contract or new contract of $7,500 for Zone 9. – Julie reported all the Zone 9 grant funds have been used, and there is a need for some follow-up work.  Neil had attended the meeting where Julie had presented the Zone 9 web site to the Advisory Committee, and said the work and it’s reception were both excellent.  On motion by Cheryl, seconded by Linda, the Board unanimously authorized Neil to send a letter to the Zone 9 Advisory Committee requesting a new contract or an extension of the old one.  No dollar amount was set by the motion.
F. Memorandum of Agreement – Off Creek Water System Project – Camp SLO PC-07-02 – Deb referred Board members to the copies of the MOA that were included in the Board Packet.  The MOA is in a format that is required by the Office of General Services/Camp San Luis.  The Board discussed at length.  Jean Pierre  recommended altering wording in the indemnification section to change “sole negligence” to “direct negligence”. After discussion, it was agreed Deb will add exhibits including (1) a map specifically identifying photo points, a log and a schedule for photo documentation and (2) requirements of the specifics of the landowner’s invoices that will provide the level of detail that Deb will need for her reports.   With any minor changes that leave the intent of the document unaltered, Linda moved to authorize Neil to sign the MOA, Cheryl seconded, and members approved unanimously.  
G.   Future Board Meeting Dates – February 15, 2008, and March 21, 2008 (both at the Coop Extension at 12:30 pm) were acceptable to members.

VI.  Report Items  
A.   Edna Valley/Pismo Creek Watershed Group – Jean-Pierre reported several of the group’s projects are on hold because of multi-year delays by Fish and Game in issuing permits.  Board members and staff discussed the many projects that are in the same circumstances.  Neil reported that he had signed a letter to Fish and Game on behalf of the CSLRCD expressing concern.  On another subject, Jean-Pierre reported that the XLPE oil exploration company has applied to the RWQCB for permission to withdraw 1,000,000 gallons of ground water per day, as a by-product of oil extraction.  They intend to pass it through a reverse osmosis system for purification, then possibly let it flow into Pismo Creek.  Another proposed use is as irrigate a nearby vineyard.  Both options present problems.
B.   Watershed Coordinator Report – Deb distributed and discussed her report.  She presented information on the Ecology Action grant project.  It was agreed to agendize a discussion of the proposed project, as there is  request for the CSLRCD to be among the RCDs invited to partner with them.  After discussion, the board authorized Neil to sign a non-binding letter indicating interest in partnering.    
C.   South County Watershed Coordinator Report - Julie distributed and discussed her report. Her focus for the last couple of months has been multiple grant applications.  
D.   Natural Resources Conservation Service – Margy and the Board discussed updating the existing agreement between the NRCS and the CSLRCD for engineering technical assistance, which is 80% of a full time position (Mark Barnett’s current position).  Margy distributed a draft agreement detailing a three year commitment.  As time was of the essence, the board authorized Neil to work with the NRCS to finalize the agreement, which will be agendized and ratified at the next board meeting.  Neil will poll the Board if some substantive change is required.
E. Project Clearwater Report – Cheryl Z distributed her report and discussed it.
 
 
 
 
 

VII. Meeting Updates
A.   Zone 9 Flood Control, LAFCO, CSDA -  Neil reported on the LAFCO meeting, where the Los Robles del Mar annexation request was denied because of inadequate water.
B.   Water Resources Advisory Committee – Linda reported on the 1/9 meeting.  The WRAC had reviewed the county’s Resource Management System Report.  In the past, the report’s water section was based on information from water purveyors, but it will now be based on data collected water-shed wide.  A presentation regarding regulation of on-site waste-water systems had also been made. 
C. Ag Task Force - Jean-Pierre reported on the county staff’s presentation regarding the proposed storm water ordinance.   
D.   Ag Liaison – Jean-Pierre reported on the presentation about the Ag Tourism ordinance.
E.   CARCD, NACD, RC&D – Kathie reported briefly. At the CARCD, the keynote speaker had been a renowned expert on forest fires, and he is currently a visiting scholar at Cal Poly. On another subject, she reported the Coastal Conservancy met and agreed to purchase ½ mile of white sand beach at the southern end of the Nipomo/Guadaloupe Dunes .

VIII. Other Business – Jean-Pierre requested an updated Board roster which indicates contact information and the preferred method of communication for each member.  Neil distributed a draft of a resolution honoring long time board member Ella Honeycutt, which is scheduled to be presented to her at the February 26 SLO Board of Supervisors meeting.  On another subject, he distributed a letter from Nanci Parker in which she request appointment to the CSLRCD Board.  There being no objections, he will send a letter to the Board of Supervisors asking them to appoint her.  The same is true of Dave Alford, who indicated he will send a similar letter.

IX.  Adjournment: At 3:35, the meeting was adjourned to closed session to discuss certain personnel items.

X.   Report on Closed Session:  After discussion, the Board made certain determinations relative to remuneration, accrual of personal leave, and performance review schedules for the District’s employees, to be ratified by the Board at its next meeting.
 

Respectfully submitted,
 

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

Minutes from previous meetings- 2006/2007