Final Agenda
Modification of agenda – 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions. Chuck Vaughn requests to make Russian River Interactive Information System (RRIIS) report Discussion an Action item, to be part of Prop. 50 grant submittal. Colleen Fernald to prepare meeting minutes.
Approve Agenda of January 22, 2005 ACTION ITEM
Agenda approval – 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions; as amended by Chuck Vaughn.
Approve Minutes of November 13, 2004 ACTION ITEM
Minutes approval – 13 ayes, 1 nays, 0 abstentions. Including corrections to word spelling.
Agency Announcements DISCUSSION
Derek Acomb, California Department Fish and Game (DFG). Coho brood stock spawning since mid January in hatcheries. Survey of very small sighting of redds spawning areas in Dutch Bill Creek. Green Valley Creek first redds last week. Restoration Grants Program - Final recommendations for all 2004 PSN proposals have been submitted to the Director, and final decision is expected soon.
Karen Rippey, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Asked of design status to remodel fish hall at Lake Sonoma Visitors Center. Derek not aware. Zeno Swijtink was not informed about meeting. RCD needs to notify. Dennis Murphy – Very little attendance at Scoping Meeting. Sent out 250 postcards. Sotonoyme RCD handles mailing list. Friends of Lake Sonoma were not notified. Past RRWC council meeting at site, devoted with providing initial improvement ideas to project consultants, yet follow up not evident. Could have been some confusion with loss of RRWC coordinator for 6 months.
Workgroup and Public Announcements DISCUSSION
Bob Clemens – Russian River Community Cleanups needs 4 weeks of lead time of Sonoma County with good relations focus on lower Cloverdale to Jenner section of river. Seen no postings of dates of Rebecca’s Russian River Unlimited section north of Cloverdale.
Zeno Swijtink – Sonoma County Watershed Day at Salmon Creek. Encourage Council to participate, date to be determined, either May 14 or 21st. CHAH Work Group (Strategy Area III, Connections between Human Activity and Habitat) to start up again in February. Traditionally 3rd Monday. Some people want to move it to Thursday. Proposing within workgroup how to do meeting. Often brilliant speakers, though low participation, and brochures not done.
Jody Hymes – Concern low attendance at CHAH; maybe easier to reach venue next time.
Zeno – Wants to change to bi-monthly CHAH meetings, to have public presentations in Ukiah/ Santa Rosa. Bimonthly council meetings could be plenary, plus working groups.
Scott Barrow – Council meeting location for May 21st to be decided. Sonoma County provides catering. Meeting not on May 14th. Stepping down as Steering Committee member and RRWC Secretary.
David Berman - While back $40K from water agency (SCWA) for water project with Southern Sonoma County RCD (Resources Conservation District). Working to finalize proposal for creek signs, going to Board of Supervisors. Want sign location proposals for watershed divide. Contact Chris Taylor at RCD. Might turn into Adopt-a-Watershed. Part of grant is Russian River hazardous signs. Map project will be done by Watershed Day
New Coordinator Introduction Draft Duty Statement (Scott) DISCUSSION
Scott Barrow - Rusty Klassen, Jody Hymes, Bob Anderson, Jerome Dix, all participated in hiring committee. New RRWC Coordinator Michelle LeBeau from Montana, has experience in community outreach, and is recently engaged. This is a transition period to draft duty statement, provide chance to talk and ask questions. Council has 365 days, minus 22 to get to next level. We have proposal in to get additional coordinator funds. A hope is that the council can step up to take minutes.
Community Foundation Report (Joan Kelley) DISCUSSION
Joan Kelley – As RRWC Treasurer, and with other officers Rusty Klassen and Chuck Conner, along with Jody and Michelle, met with two board members for the Community Foundation of Sonoma County (CF), and CF officer Robert Judd. Met at CF, very honest, they had a list of questions. Why we wanted to be a project, rather than be a non-profit. Four caucuses and nature of council, didn’t lend it self to pursing non-profit. They wanted to know what kind of projects. Gave examples kind of things that go through CF.
Replacements for Officer Positions – Secretary and Treasurer ACTION
Scott Barrow – Explained need for 2 replacement officers for himself and Joan.
Joan Kelley – Going to be involved for 2 months, until next council meeting. Today discussing Treasurer position, presenting fiscal reports as part of job.
Officer election – 19 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions.
Jody Hymes to Treasurer. Zeno Swijtink to Secretary.
Colleen Fernald to “Secretary in training” as support, and possible fill in when Zeno is gone starting in August.
Proposition 50 Proposal (Dennis O’Brien) ACTION ITEM
Dennis O’Brien – Driving force behind this is consideration in what role this RRWC plays within scheme of Prop 50, Chapter 8. Talking intent, integrated strategies, funding is engine driving all this. Two funding cycles of $160 million and $220 million was 2 years, now being stretched out. Lisa Renton from Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) is here.
Chuck Vaughn agrees to follow up with Karen Gaffney, Dennis O’Brien, and Karen Rippey to see what the options are for the RRWC putting together a proposal for the Prop 50 funding with Michelle’s help. This includes exploring options of submitting the entire Adaptive Watershed Management Plan Scope of Work or in part as an independent entity or with a collaborative sponsor such as the SCWA.
Project preferences were originally to reduce pollution, everything exact quote from state guidelines. Another priority is state priorities to reduce conflict, address environmental justice, et cetera. More issues that are addressed give better chance for funding. Identified in Memorandum of Mutual Understanding (MOMU) section 4.2 are contributing entities such as business and environmental groups. Basins important as that’s where aquifers are.
Proposition 50 approval - 19 ayes, 1 nays, 0 abstentions
a) Sign MOU.
b) Submit the Scope of work as a draft plan.
c) Try to be participant in oversight committee.
d) Allow Steering Committee to act in emergencies as needed.
e) An action committee was formed.
RRIIS Report (Chuck Vaughn) DISCUSSION ACTION ITEM
Chuck Vaughn – Wants to submit for Prop 50 funding through North Coast IRWMP.net website, ongoing Russian River Interactive Information System (RRIIS) site management project, for ongoing site management. Contract team put together contract scope of work. Chuck will do 8-10 hours effort to get scope revised and uploaded. Will cut down proposed contract to 3 years, $100K per year. Don’t know what entity. Don’t want anyone else involved with writing proposal.
RRIIS Prop 50 approval - 19 ayes, 0 nays, 0 abstentions
a) RRIIS maintenance for 3 years.
Chuck Vaughn – RRIIS contract is over, planning a public showing, a RRIIS event.
Zeno Swijtink – On a Saturday, 10-2 p.m. later in April, at Sonoma State University's Cooperage building. Ideas are to rent bigger room with 4 monitors, need high speed bandwidth, explore each aspect of RRIIS. Other room presentation would be catered affair by SCWA. Rue is helping to get speakers. Karen Rippey – April 23 or April 30.
Next Steps & March Agenda items DISCUSSION
Potential Agenda Items for March council meeting: Prop 50, RRIIS update, Community Foundation of Sonoma County, Coordinator finalized duties, New Officer’s goals.
Rue Furch – If desirable, have Planning Departments, Mendocino and Sonoma counties, come talk to us about new changes with county General Plan update, with setbacks to waterways, water qualities, etc.
Joan Kelley – Mendocino County Supervisor Richard Shoemaker replaced on RRWC by Supervisor David Colfax. Will see Colfax first week of February.
Rue – If you know good candidates from Planning Department...
Scott Barrow – March meeting Prop 50. Brian Hines – KRIS, IFR.
Bob Clemens – No County reps in a year have been invited to Council meeting, how about March, or May meeting?
Adjourned.
Preliminary meeting notes drafted by Scott Barrow, Colleen Fernald, Eric Sunswheat.
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