A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, April 7, 2007

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of April 7, 2007

A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero Creek Green Valley Creek Watershed Council was held at 375 Montgomery in Sebastopol on April 7, 2007. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Dave Erickson, and Bob Burke were present. Also present for a portion of the meeting was Richard Miller. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:20.
Minutes. The minutes of the March board meeting were approved.

Urban Water Management Plan. Stephen Fuller-Rowell was out of town and therefore unable to attend the board meeting, but he had earlier advised the other directors that a petition had been filed by the Sonoma County Water Coalition in Superior Court challenging the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan.   A copy of the petition can be viewed at the Water Coalition’s web site, at   http://www.scwatercoalition.org/.


Communications with Residents of the Watershed. Jean, John and David met recently as a committee of the board to address the matter of communications with persons interested in the watershed. Jean read a draft of a proposed mailing to residents of the watershed, of whom there are approximately 5000. The cost of such a mailing would be significant. John will be contacting Bob Rawson to determine if the proposed mailing would qualify for a grant of the type Bob had recently described in a message to the Council list serve.

The committee will meet again and at the next board meeting will offer two or three different proposals for the planned communication. Bob suggested the committee consider making multiple mailings, each to a subset of the residents, so that the effectiveness of the communication could be improved with practice, before the entire cost had been incurred.

Road Assessment by RCD. The board discussed, with approval, the project being undertaken by the Gold Ridge RCD to assess roads in the RCD’s territory, which includes most of our watershed. Details on the project can be found at the RCD’s new website, http://www.goldridgercd.org

Richard Miller had some comments on the methodology normally used by the contractor engaged by the RCD. After discussion, Dave agreed to confer with Richard after the meeting, and to convey to the RCD the essence of Richard’s comments.

Annual Election of Directors. Bob agreed to re-circulate to the directors his message of March proposing a communication to members regarding procedures for nominating and electing directors for the upcoming fiscal year. The directors agreed to finalize and send such communication this coming week.

Liaison with Other Organizations. The board decided to supplement the existing liaison assignments by asking John to join Stephen as liaison to the Water Coalition, and by asking Richard Miller to join Zeno as liaison to the Sebastopol Water Information Group.

Larkin Woods Septic Permit Matter. John reported that the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will be looking into the septic permit issued by the County, and recently upheld by an administrative law judge, for a parcel in the Larkin Woods Subdivision. There will be a meeting before the Board on April 26.

Graton Community Service District. The Graton CSD is applying for an EPA CARE grant, and Jean recommended that the Council write in support for such application. The board approved Jean’s writing and sending such a letter.

Farm Protection Bill. Assemblymember Jared Huffman (6th AD) has introduced in the California Legislature AB 541, The Food and Farm Protection Act. The bill would establish California's only state laws related to genetic engineering in agriculture and protect California farmers, consumers, and the food supply. The board decided to endorse the proposal by the Sonoma County Water Coalition to write a letter in support of such bill.

The meeting adjourned at 12:00

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of April 7, 2007


A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero Creek Green Valley Creek Watershed Council was held at 375 Montgomery in Sebastopol on April 7, 2007. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Dave Erickson, and Bob Burke were present. Also present for a portion of the meeting was Richard Miller. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:20. Minutes. The minutes of the March board meeting were approved. Urban Water Management Plan. Stephen Fuller-Rowell was out of town and therefore unable to attend the board meeting, but he had earlier advised the other directors that a petition had been filed by the Sonoma County Water Coalition in Superior Court challenging the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan. A copy of the petition can be viewed at the Water Coalition’s web site, at http://www.scwatercoalition.org/. Communications with Residents of the Watershed. Jean, John and David met recently as a committee of the board to address the matter of communications with persons interested in the watershed. Jean read a draft of a proposed mailing to residents of the watershed, of whom there are approximately 5000. The cost of such a mailing would be significant. John will be contacting Bob Rawson to determine if the proposed mailing would qualify for a grant of the type Bob had recently described in a message to the Council list serve. The committee will meet again and at the next board meeting will offer two or three different proposals for the planned communication. Bob suggested the committee consider making multiple mailings, each to a subset of the residents, so that the effectiveness of the communication could be improved with practice, before the entire cost had been incurred. Road Assessment by RCD. The board discussed, with approval, the project being undertaken by the Gold Ridge RCD to assess roads in the RCD’s territory, which includes most of our watershed. Details on the project can be found at the RCD’s new website, http://www.goldridgercd.org Richard Miller had some comments on the methodology normally used by the contractor engaged by the RCD. After discussion, Dave agreed to confer with Richard after the meeting, and to convey to the RCD the essence of Richard’s comments. Annual Election of Directors. Bob agreed to re-circulate to the directors his message of March proposing a communication to members regarding procedures for nominating and electing directors for the upcoming fiscal year. The directors agreed to finalize and send such communication this coming week. Liaison with Other Organizations. The board decided to supplement the existing liaison assignments by asking John to join Stephen as liaison to the Water Coalition, and by asking Richard Miller to join Zeno as liaison to the Sebastopol Water Information Group. Larkin Woods Septic Permit Matter. John reported that the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will be looking into the septic permit issued by the County, and recently upheld by an administrative law judge, for a parcel in the Larkin Woods Subdivision. There will be a meeting before the Board on April 26. Graton Community Service District. The Graton CSD is applying for an EPA CARE grant, and Jean recommended that the Council write in support for such application. The board approved Jean’s writing and sending such a letter. Farm Protection Bill. Assemblymember Jared Huffman (6th AD) has introduced in the California Legislature AB 541, The Food and Farm Protection Act. The bill would establish California's only state laws related to genetic engineering in agriculture and protect California farmers, consumers, and the food supply. The board decided to endorse the proposal by the Sonoma County Water Coalition to write a letter in support of such bill. The meeting adjourned at 12:00 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary