A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, October 6, 2007

AGV Watershed Council

Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of October 6, 2007

A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held at 375 Montgomery in Sebastopol on October 6, 2007. Directors Stephen Fuller-Rowell, Jean Redus, Zeno Swijtink, and Bob Burke were present. Richard Miller was also present for a portion of the meeting. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:10.
Minutes. The minutes of the September board meeting had been reviewed and approved by the directors by email, and were thereafter distributed to the Council's list serve.

Sonoma Valley Ground Water Management Plan. Stephen reported on the history of the activities of the Sonoma Valley Basin Advisory Plan, which has studied ground water resources in the Sonoma Valley. Details can be seen at http://www.scwa.ca.gov/projects/svgroundwater/documents/070921_GMP_Text_DRAFT092407 The Sonoma County Water Coalition is in the process of drafting a letter to the Sonoma County Water Agency endorsing the findings and recommendations of the Basin Advisory Plan. After discussion, the board authorized Stephen, as the Council's representative to the Water Coalition, to vote in favor of such a letter, subject to review of the final form thereof.

Communications with Residents of the Watershed. Barbara Chasteen, Jean and John continue to work on a draft newsletter, and they expect to have it finalized and ready for distribution before the end of October. The directors will hand-deliver as many copies as possible and mail copies to only a subset of property owners in order to be able to gauge effectiveness.

General Plan Update. Stephen reported on the activities of the Water Coalition in addressing the status of the updating of the Biotic Resources Element of the County's General Plan. The comment period closed on September 28; however, letters to the editors of newspapers and other grass-roots activities are still effective.

Proposed Federal Legislation on Wastewater Pipeline. Stephen explained the terms of a piece of proposed legislation pending in Congress known as the North Bay Water Reuse Program Act of 2007 (S.1472 (Feinstein, Boxer) and H.R.236 (Thompson, Woolsey)). The proposal would fund the construction of a pipeline to move treated wastewater from SCWA-supplied municipal contractors in Sonoma County (and the city of Napa) to wetlands near San Pablo Bay. The Water Coalition has identified several problems with the proposed legislation, and intends to send a letter to the proponents urging that the legislation not be passed in its current form. After discussion, the board authorized Stephen to vote on behalf of the Council in support of the letter when finalized by the Coalition. North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. As a point of information, it was noted that Nancy Kay Webb and David Noren have applied for positions on the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, which seats will be filled by the Governor. Stephen spoke favorably about the contributions Nancy and David have made in recent months on water related issues. Letters to the Governor supporting Nancy and David's candidacy were encouraged.

Occidental Community Service District. Stephen reported on the findings of Bill Wadsworth that the rate structure of the Occidental Community Service District, which supplies water to users located in and around the town of Occidental, appears to not be in compliance with certain "best management practices" recommended by a trade association. More specifically, The California Urban Water Conservation Council has established Best Management Practices regarding water management that have been recognized by 387 signatories across the state, including the Sonoma County Water Agency. One of such practices calls for districts to receive at least 70% of their revenue from volumetric charges and not more than 30% from service charges. Mr. Wadsworth has explained that the Occidental CSD receives only 30% of its revenue from volumetric charges and 70% from service charges. The Water Coalition is contemplating sending a letter of concern to the Occidental CSD. The board concluded it does not have enough information, and is not close enough to the situation in Occidental, to instruct Stephen to vote for or against such a letter, so the board requested that their delegate abstain when the issue comes before SCWC'.

Supervisor Candidate Forum. Stephen proposed that the Council sponsor a forum in the spring where the candidates for the Fifth District seat on the Board of Supervisors can address issues of concern to residents of our watershed. The board agreed that such a forum would be beneficial, and agreed that a midweek evening in April would be preferable. Possible locations were discussed. Joint sponsorship with one or more other organizations was also discussed. Stephen and Zeno will take the lead in planning for such an event.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Council Meeting Minutes
Minutes of October 6, 2007


A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held at 375 Montgomery in Sebastopol on October 6, 2007. Directors Stephen Fuller-Rowell, Jean Redus, Zeno Swijtink, and Bob Burke were present. Richard Miller was also present for a portion of the meeting. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:10. Minutes. The minutes of the September board meeting had been reviewed and approved by the directors by email, and were thereafter distributed to the Council's list serve. Sonoma Valley Ground Water Management Plan. Stephen reported on the history of the activities of the Sonoma Valley Basin Advisory Plan, which has studied ground water resources in the Sonoma Valley. Details can be seen at http://www.scwa.ca.gov/projects/svgroundwater/documents/070921_GMP_Text_DRAFT092407 The Sonoma County Water Coalition is in the process of drafting a letter to the Sonoma County Water Agency endorsing the findings and recommendations of the Basin Advisory Plan. After discussion, the board authorized Stephen, as the Council's representative to the Water Coalition, to vote in favor of such a letter, subject to review of the final form thereof. Communications with Residents of the Watershed. Barbara Chasteen, Jean and John continue to work on a draft newsletter, and they expect to have it finalized and ready for distribution before the end of October. The directors will hand-deliver as many copies as possible and mail copies to only a subset of property owners in order to be able to gauge effectiveness. General Plan Update. Stephen reported on the activities of the Water Coalition in addressing the status of the updating of the Biotic Resources Element of the County's General Plan. The comment period closed on September 28; however, letters to the editors of newspapers and other grass-roots activities are still effective. Proposed Federal Legislation on Wastewater Pipeline. Stephen explained the terms of a piece of proposed legislation pending in Congress known as the North Bay Water Reuse Program Act of 2007 (S.1472 (Feinstein, Boxer) and H.R.236 (Thompson, Woolsey)). The proposal would fund the construction of a pipeline to move treated wastewater from SCWA-supplied municipal contractors in Sonoma County (and the city of Napa) to wetlands near San Pablo Bay. The Water Coalition has identified several problems with the proposed legislation, and intends to send a letter to the proponents urging that the legislation not be passed in its current form. After discussion, the board authorized Stephen to vote on behalf of the Council in support of the letter when finalized by the Coalition. North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. As a point of information, it was noted that Nancy Kay Webb and David Noren have applied for positions on the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, which seats will be filled by the Governor. Stephen spoke favorably about the contributions Nancy and David have made in recent months on water related issues. Letters to the Governor supporting Nancy and David's candidacy were encouraged. Occidental Community Service District. Stephen reported on the findings of Bill Wadsworth that the rate structure of the Occidental Community Service District, which supplies water to users located in and around the town of Occidental, appears to not be in compliance with certain "best management practices" recommended by a trade association. More specifically, The California Urban Water Conservation Council has established Best Management Practices regarding water management that have been recognized by 387 signatories across the state, including the Sonoma County Water Agency. One of such practices calls for districts to receive at least 70% of their revenue from volumetric charges and not more than 30% from service charges. Mr. Wadsworth has explained that the Occidental CSD receives only 30% of its revenue from volumetric charges and 70% from service charges. The Water Coalition is contemplating sending a letter of concern to the Occidental CSD. The board concluded it does not have enough information, and is not close enough to the situation in Occidental, to instruct Stephen to vote for or against such a letter, so the board requested that their delegate abstain when the issue comes before SCWC'. Supervisor Candidate Forum. Stephen proposed that the Council sponsor a forum in the spring where the candidates for the Fifth District seat on the Board of Supervisors can address issues of concern to residents of our watershed. The board agreed that such a forum would be beneficial, and agreed that a midweek evening in April would be preferable. Possible locations were discussed. Joint sponsorship with one or more other organizations was also discussed. Stephen and Zeno will take the lead in planning for such an event. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary