Full Council Meeting

Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Bldg 9-1PM

Thanks to Joan Kelley for facilitating our meeting! A quorum of voting members (15) was present at 9:20.

AGENDA APPROVAL-Members expressed concerns that a public caucus motion for July breakout sessions was not included in the May agenda. Any motion put forward by a caucus or workgroup to the Steering Committee should be considered by the full Council in the appropriate agenda. Members agreed by 14 ayes, 0 no for the public caucus motion to be considered in the 5/15 agenda as: public caucus motion to allow one hour at July RRWC meeting for caucuses to break out and discuss business. Amended agenda passed similarly.

MINUTES OF 3/13/04 APPROVAL-After clarifications by Dennis Murphy on the water balance language and David Berman on his announcement, the revised minutes were passed with 14 ayes, 0 no, 1 abstain

AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS-- Suzanne Marr (EPA) announced the availability of bookmarks, postcards, calendars and fact sheets on lobby table. Topics included: Wetland Program Development Grants, Partnering with Land Trusts, Wetlands Regulatory Authority, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Functions & Values of Wetlands, Sustainable Communities, Using the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Funding Wetland Projects, Wetlands & West Nile Virus.

Karen Rippey announced the availability of the WMP technical panel list.

WORKGROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS--Chuck Vaughn announced the DCRE workgroup meeting of May 6 to talk about RRIIS development and long term funding. Karen Rippey has developed a proposal from the 3-year operational plan provided by Karen Gaffney to fund the RRIIS operation and maintenance.

Dennis O¹Brien reaffirmed his willingness to act as the Water Conditions & Characteristics chair and hopes to convene workgroup meetings soon to review our 2004 goals and plan for future projects. All members are encouraged to send their ideas to the rrwc-wccworkgroup@yahoogroups.com or contact the coordinator at 707-526-7865 or steward@rrwc.net.

Bob Clemens reminded the Council that the Sonoma County Russian River Cleanup is September 25. Their group is looking for a new volunteer to work with the person who has been taking care of the signups for the event. Someone is needed to gather information and then update the spreadsheet.

Judy Christensen announced that after 12 years of negotiations with the Sonoma County Water Agency, the communities of Graton and Forestville have reasserted their control of their wastewater operations. Secondary treated wastewater will be used to irrigate redwoods as part of the Graton project. Members asked that a presentation on the project be calendared for September 2004 meeting.

Zeno Swijtink announced the CHAHs Public Outreach and Education workgroup has been meeting on the 3rd Tues of each month with the next meeting on 5/18 at the Windsor library from 5-7PM. The group has been discussing a project with Sotoyome RCD to develop creek guides to share watershed information with local landowners. Using the POA, the CHAH will be developing more projects and new participants and their ideas are welcome.

Zeno also announced the success of recent Blue Circle meeting on 4/30 where Senator Wes Chesbro, Robert Judd of the Community Foundation, and Jake McKenzie of Russian River Watershed Association discussed watershed funding challenges in the current budget crisis. The next Blue Circle will probably occur in the fall. These events are a good opportunity for folks to network with each other and agency staff.

ANNOUNCEMENTS--David Berman reminded folks about Watershed Day 2004 on May 22 from 10AM-4PM at Salmon Creek Middle School on Bohemian Hwy. Workshops include a panel discussion with Farm Bureau, Clover Stornetta, Goldridge RCD and Sonoma County Grapegrowers at 11:30. In the afternoon, workshops continue at 1:30 (DFG) and 3( Trout Unlimited). Free event has interesting activities for all ages.

Kay McCabe talked about the 7th Annual Celebration of the Russian River scheduled for September 11-19, 2004. Handouts are available in the lobby. This year Marin County will also be included in the activities. All interested parties are encouraged to submit their event by June 1 when the program will be finalized. Linda shared potential plans by the public caucus to co-host an event at Riverfront Park in September with Landpaths where the tributary waters could be gathered in a public ceremony. Friends of the Russian River will host a Marty Party for Marty Griffin on 9/12 at Hop Kiln. Additional outreach for the events will occur in Santa Rosa utility bills.

Peggy Maddock announced the public caucus agreed to have to co-representatives on the technical panel, Brock Dolman and Bob Rawson with Richard Miller as an alternate. That is not reflected in the current handout. Dennis Murphy questioned the number of at large members also not reflecting the RRWC decision to have no more than 8, while handout has 2-4 listed. Karen agreed to correct the handout, while reiterating that all are welcome to attend the panel meetings, though only one representative from each caucus will be recognized officially as there is a strong need for consistent participation. Motion with 14 ayes from David Berman to move the discussion to the Steering Committee to have a report scheduled for the July 2004 meeting.

OFFICER REPORT--Rusty Klassen reported on the meetings he and Fred Euphrat have had with SCWA and are scheduled with Executive Officer of North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. We continue to explore using the RRIIS as a tool for agencies to share information as well as facilitate public discussion of potential projects and other issues. Having an effective community forum can improve public relations for all the agencies. Ensuring that adequate funding is available for the RRIIS and management plan is a portion of the agenda, while increasing the visibility of our hard won consensus and work that has come out of it is another discussion point in these talks. In addition to lobbying in Sacramento in April, there have been local lunches with congressional staff. On June 16, a meeting is scheduled with the Corps of Engineers in San Francisco to discuss the Council and progress towards a watershed management plan. Anyone interested should contact Rusty to coordinate their participation at the meeting.

Joan Kelley reported on an immediate need discussed in the Steering Committee (4/13) to encourage individuals and organizations within the RRWC to write their local, regional, state, and federal representatives to support funding for the RRWC. A template letter will be developed with contact information for key representatives. The idea is to increase linkages between Mendocino and Sonoma counties so that our watershed is a recognized funding priority when other matters are considered. By showcasing our progress with a democratic process, other potential funding sources may be identified. Members asked that one page of language be developed in workgroups and presented at the July meeting as part of the breakout sessions.

MOTIONS--Fred reviewed the water balance motion outlined in the meeting packet. David Lewis and Fred are donating their time to present the class, however approximately $40/person facility fee will be charged. The location is yet to be decided. If the first class is oversubscribed, other classes could be offered in different locations at later dates. Working title is Introduction to Hydrology -- a course for water balance. Information developed in the course will be public information and available for RRIIS.

Members expressed concerns about funding for the class and perceptions of RRWC ownership and asked for a disclaimer in the class materials to preclude the misapplication of knowledge gained in the class. Using the Activity, Project, and Program Profile framework (see POA pages 49-50) for events in our Plan of Action would prevent misunderstandings if people followed the format. Fred committed to fill out the profile form. Having students use the RRIIS for course materials would provide a wider audience for the information. Combining this event as a regularly occurring part of the Celebration of the Russian River was suggested.

Water Balance Motion passed with 18 ayes, 1 no, 1 abstain after a thorough, thoughtful discussion among members.

Public Caucus Motion to allow one hour at July RRWC meeting for caucuses to break out and discuss business was passed with 11 ayes, 3 no, 6 abstain after discussion. Members expressed the need to focus volunteer efforts on projects and funding while leaving divisive nature of caucus structure behind. Caucuses and workgroups have difficulty fulfilling their mandates when scheduling meetings and coordinating volunteers is so complex. Focusing on the Council attrition as a group rather than as a caucus is needed. Ensuring that RRWC motions consider all points of view is a continuing goal for the Council.

Celebration of the Russian River 2004 Motion for support was passed with 20 ayes, 0 no, 0 abstain .

RUSSIAN RIVER UNLIMITED PRESENTATION ON RIVER CLEANUPS-- Rebecca Kress shared many graphic photos of the debris left behind in legal and illegal camping along the river. Russian River Unlimited has been working with the DFG, CHP and Caltrans to sign the most abused stretches with ³no overnight parking² with some disgruntled fisherman and recreation enthusiasts being irritated at the change of access hours. The cleanups have been happening since 1991 with over 526 tons of trash, tires, abandoned vehicles and appliances removed. One homeless encampment that was cleaned up netted over 70 bicycles in various stages of repair.

A duck derby will be held on May 22 to help raise the funds needed to put on the cleanup. The organization is operating with enormous debt and no budget for the administrator who coordinates all the cleanup volunteers and local sponsors. A video was produced 10 years ago with an updated version in development that needs $5K to finish. Creating educational murals on bridge underpasses is another project in development. Getting help from a professional fundraiser through the North Coast Water Network is also being considered.

Uncontrolled camping at Squaw Rock during 2003 4th of July had over 600 people camping with no sanitation provided. Portable toilets will be installed from May through October along Hwy 101 especially at Squaw Rock to prevent human waste from fouling spawning beds. Burning radios, batteries, and aerosol cans in trash piles in another health and air quality concern associated with encampments. One encampment was devoted to a drug lab and car stripping operation. There are no accurate estimates of how much debris is prevented from polluting the river during storms as a result of the cleanups.

Russian River Unlimited needs funding to continue the cleanups. Bob Abbott, a RRWC member, has been invaluable in his support of the cleanups by providing labor and debris staging areas for the trash that is collected. SCWA has provided some funding in the past as the cleanups provide an educational function in addition to improving water quality. Showing people the connection between their behaviors and the health of the stream is an important benefit of the cleanup efforts.

Support for Russian River cleanups 2004 Motion passed (20 ayes, 0 no/abstain).

RUSSIAN RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION-- Jake McKenzie acting as the vice chairman for the RRWA gave an overview of his qualifications as a former EPA employee for 30 years and currently as a Rohnert Park City Councilman and how the RRWA was formed in July 2003 from 10 local jurisdictions and special districts that have some regulatory obligation when distributing water or performing wastewater treatment. Sebastopol & Cotati are only observers currently while Petaluma is a member of the NBWA.

The RRWA is modeled after the North Bay Watershed Association (NBWA) where local municipalities have shared their treatment techniques and consolidated approaches to regulatory initiatives with some cost savings. An organization must be a regulated provider of water services according to the Clean Water Act or Safe Drinking Water Act (federal) and Porter-Cologne Act (state) and subject to regulations regarding endangered species. The association was formed to enable watershed and basin planning with a structure that acknowledges local bureaucracies and develops economies of scale so that scarce resources among jurisdictions are used as synergistically as possible.

A handout provided details such as the normal monthly meeting at Windsor City Hall on the 4th Thursday of each month at 9AM. Information is available through the City of Ukiah. RRWA goals for regional cooperation, improved watershed health, full membership of jurisdictions within the Russian River watershed, and completion of an Integrated Basin Plan will help make RRWA more competitive for Prop 50 funds. Dave Richardson is the acting President as a paid consultant for the RRWA. His position is funded through dues from each entity member. Paul Kelley representing the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors is the chair of the RRWA. Each representative is appointed by their jurisdiction and represents the community rather than individual interests. All technical committee meetings and general meetings of the RRWA are open to the public and noticed sessions.

Current efforts are focused on developing Standard Urban Storm Water Management Plans that are required by Clean Water Act during Phase II implementation of the stormwater management program. The other major effort is to develop an integrated regional water management plan as required by the Machado bill. There is no stated intention to subvert the intentions of the CA Toxics Rule or other discharge compliance requirements. Rather the association helps to level the regulatory playing field. For example, Rohnert Park now has individual residential meters with plans for proportional rates to be enacted in Summer 2004 that reflect winter usages of each homeowner.

Integrated Regional Plans are being developed throughout the state to manage water resources, promote environmental & fisheries protection, promote watershed protection & planning, assure beneficial water reuse and ensure clean water supplies. The North Coast Plan will include the Russian River as well as the northern counties of Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, Siskiyou and Lake. The proposed geographic areas split Sonoma County into the Bay Area Counties and Mendocino into the North Coast.

Currently, RRWA is gathering resolutions of support and updating the inventory of water-related projects in need of operational or capital funding. Prop 50 allows bonds to fund the intentions of the measure such as water resource management that ensure supply integrity, removes invasive species from riparian zone, reduces non point source pollution, etc. Creating an integrated regional plan makes the Russian River projects more competitive for funding. Having regular participation by the RRWC at RRWA meetings can be helpful in avoiding duplication of efforts. RRWC cannot be a full participant due to the definition of RRWA members as water supply purveyors.

East Bay Municipal Utilities District is bidding for Prop 50 dollars. Using the efforts of the ABAG counties as an example, the RRWA will seek cooperation among the agencies and entities for the North Coast in developing a regional plan. The RRWC Plan of Action was presented to the RRWA in October 2003. There is some potential to use the scope of work approved by RRWC in January 2004 for elements of the regional plan development while adding other objectives that are not included in RRWC work plans. Ensuring that the regional plan is developed with the involvement of as many stakeholders in the watershed as possible will make it more valuable. Well owners are not represented in many water supply discussions.

SCWA convened the RRWA, however, the paid consultant under the direction of the RRWA manages current agenda. Lobbying efforts in Sacramento and Washington DC present our geographic needs to state and federal funding sources. Projects now identified include extending recycled wastewater pipelines to Cotati and Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa groundwater improvements, etc. There is no agenda to export water beyond traditional watershed boundaries. Integrated planning implies communities act together for their separate, but common interests. Following existing basin plans from the agencies and using the RRWC Plan of Action will help conserve efforts. The draft RRWA plan will be available for review. Currently there is only a model for how the plan will be drafted. Jake will email documents to the RRWC coordinator.

RRWC is interested in partnering with RRWA to avoid duplication in plan development as long as our organizational integrity is maintained. Rather than acting as a competing interest, the RRWA can leverage RRWC work or perform portions of the scope of work that will serve both organizations.

NEXT STEPS-- The Council should review the project activity plan and evaluation tools in the Plan of Action at the July 10 meeting.

Veronica Jacobi introduced herself as a new RRWC representative and stated that a recent position paper by the Sonoma County Water Coalition would be shared with the Public Outreach and Education work group in hopes that the RRWC can sign on endorsing the concepts outlined. (Handout was provided.)