A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, June 2, 2007

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of June 2, 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 June 2, 2007. Directors Stephen Fuller-Rowell, Jean Redus, John Roberts, and Bob Burke were present. Also present were Richard Miller and Zeno Swijtink. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:15.
Minutes. The minutes of the May board meeting were approved.

Calendar for Upcoming Year. The directors considered the calendar for the upcoming year. Meetings of the board (open to all members) will continue to be held at 10AM on the first Saturday of each month. A picnic/pizza party may be held on the first Saturday of August, depending on the availability of a suitable location, which Jean, Stephen and Zeno will investigate. Locations and hosts for possible outings were considered, including the following (with person responsible for following up identified):

Graton wastewater facilities - Jean
Jerry Green - John
Burnside Road/Atascadero Headwaters - Jean
Pitkin Marsh - Jean
Llano Road water treatment plant - Bob
Russian River Raney collectors - Stephen
Doug Gore/Green Valley Creek - Bob
Darby Lane/Atascadero Creek - Zeno
Madeline Sone - Stephen
Ed Castellini - Zeno
Iron Horse Vineyards - Zeno
Joshua/Purrington Creek - Zeno

Communications with Residents of the Watershed. Jean said it had been suggested that the Council combine with the Graton Community Services District, and possibly other organizations, to produce a joint newsletter. After discussion, it was agreed that it would be preferable for the Council to have its own newsletter. Barbara Chasteen had offered to assist with the production of the newsletter, and Jean agreed to forward to Barbara copies of current submissions. Zeno raised the issue of how to increase the participation in the affairs of the Council by interested parties who are not directors, and perhaps not even dues-paying members of the Council. In discussion, it was noted that with the adoption of bylaws and the creation of a formal board of directors approximately 18 months ago, a small number of people have felt a higher level of responsibility for the affairs of the Council but, paradoxically, this may have contributed to a lower level of involvement by the remaining interested parties. The directors agreed to continue this important discussion, and to seek input from others.

Annual Election of Directors. Bob reported that six people had been proposed for nomination, namely, the five existing directors and Zeno, of which five (all but Dave Erickson) had agreed to accept the nominations. Dave, who has been very busy with his work on the Climate Protection Campaign, had not yet indicated whether he was willing to accept the nomination but, after the meeting, Dave said he reluctantly had to decline the proposed nomination. Bob agreed to draft a ballot, for review by the other directors, to be finalized and sent to members by June 15, for action by June 24.

Pitkin Marsh Property. Stephen reported on a meeting of the County Open Space District in which the board of the Agency approved a major contribution to the cost of acquiring a 27-acre parcel of property in the Pitkin Marsh, east of Highway 116 south of Forestville. Details on the acquisition can be found on the web site of the Sonoma Land Trust, at http://www.sonomalandtrust.org/File.aspx?id=33 The directors acknowledged the contributions of many people who have been involved in the effort to protect this uniquely valuable part of our watershed, but the board especially noted the contributions of Jo Bentz, and unanimously passed the following resolution:

            Whereas, the area commonly known as the Pitkin Marsh is an extremely valuable biotic resource, containing botanical species found nowhere else on the planet; and

            Whereas, a 27-acre parcel in the Pitkin Marsh was scheduled for intensive development and was about to be rezoned by the County to allow such development when the proposed development came to the attention of Jo Bentz; and

            Whereas, in the opinion of the Board, the proposed development would have been approved were it not for the diligent, thorough and articulate opposition of Jo Bentz; and

            Whereas, in large part because of the efforts of Jo Bentz, the proposed development has been withdrawn and the parcel is in the process of being acquired and protected in perpetuity by the Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space District and the Sonoma Land Trust.

            Now, therefore, the board of directors of the Atascadero Creek Green Valley Creek Watershed Council does hereby thank and honor Jo Bentz for her inspired and energetic vigilance and initiative in protecting for all members of the public, and for the ecosystem, this critical part of the Pitkin Marsh.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of June 2, 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 June 2, 2007. Directors Stephen Fuller-Rowell, Jean Redus, John Roberts, and Bob Burke were present. Also present were Richard Miller and Zeno Swijtink. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:15. Minutes. The minutes of the May board meeting were approved. Calendar for Upcoming Year. The directors considered the calendar for the upcoming year. Meetings of the board (open to all members) will continue to be held at 10AM on the first Saturday of each month. A picnic/pizza party may be held on the first Saturday of August, depending on the availability of a suitable location, which Jean, Stephen and Zeno will investigate. Locations and hosts for possible outings were considered, including the following (with person responsible for following up identified): Graton wastewater facilities - Jean Jerry Green - John Burnside Road/Atascadero Headwaters - Jean Pitkin Marsh - Jean Llano Road water treatment plant - Bob Russian River Raney collectors - Stephen Doug Gore/Green Valley Creek - Bob Darby Lane/Atascadero Creek - Zeno Madeline Sone - Stephen Ed Castellini - Zeno Iron Horse Vineyards - Zeno Joshua/Purrington Creek - Zeno Communications with Residents of the Watershed. Jean said it had been suggested that the Council combine with the Graton Community Services District, and possibly other organizations, to produce a joint newsletter. After discussion, it was agreed that it would be preferable for the Council to have its own newsletter. Barbara Chasteen had offered to assist with the production of the newsletter, and Jean agreed to forward to Barbara copies of current submissions. Zeno raised the issue of how to increase the participation in the affairs of the Council by interested parties who are not directors, and perhaps not even dues-paying members of the Council. In discussion, it was noted that with the adoption of bylaws and the creation of a formal board of directors approximately 18 months ago, a small number of people have felt a higher level of responsibility for the affairs of the Council but, paradoxically, this may have contributed to a lower level of involvement by the remaining interested parties. The directors agreed to continue this important discussion, and to seek input from others. Annual Election of Directors. Bob reported that six people had been proposed for nomination, namely, the five existing directors and Zeno, of which five (all but Dave Erickson) had agreed to accept the nominations. Dave, who has been very busy with his work on the Climate Protection Campaign, had not yet indicated whether he was willing to accept the nomination but, after the meeting, Dave said he reluctantly had to decline the proposed nomination. Bob agreed to draft a ballot, for review by the other directors, to be finalized and sent to members by June 15, for action by June 24. Pitkin Marsh Property. Stephen reported on a meeting of the County Open Space District in which the board of the Agency approved a major contribution to the cost of acquiring a 27-acre parcel of property in the Pitkin Marsh, east of Highway 116 south of Forestville. Details on the acquisition can be found on the web site of the Sonoma Land Trust, at http://www.sonomalandtrust.org/File.aspx?id=33 The directors acknowledged the contributions of many people who have been involved in the effort to protect this uniquely valuable part of our watershed, but the board especially noted the contributions of Jo Bentz, and unanimously passed the following resolution: Whereas, the area commonly known as the Pitkin Marsh is an extremely valuable biotic resource, containing botanical species found nowhere else on the planet; and Whereas, a 27-acre parcel in the Pitkin Marsh was scheduled for intensive development and was about to be rezoned by the County to allow such development when the proposed development came to the attention of Jo Bentz; and Whereas, in the opinion of the Board, the proposed development would have been approved were it not for the diligent, thorough and articulate opposition of Jo Bentz; and Whereas, in large part because of the efforts of Jo Bentz, the proposed development has been withdrawn and the parcel is in the process of being acquired and protected in perpetuity by the Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space District and the Sonoma Land Trust. Now, therefore, the board of directors of the Atascadero Creek Green Valley Creek Watershed Council does hereby thank and honor Jo Bentz for her inspired and energetic vigilance and initiative in protecting for all members of the public, and for the ecosystem, this critical part of the Pitkin Marsh. The meeting adjourned at 12:15 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary