A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, June 7, 2008

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of June 7, 2008

A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on June 7, 2008, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Stephen Fuller-Rowell, Zeno Swijtink and Bob Burke and member Jo Bentz were present. Also present for part of the meeting were Heidi Herrmann of Community Alliance with Family Farmers and member Richard Miller. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:00.
Financial Report. John reported that the Council has $608.09 of unrestricted funds in its account, plus approximately $1400 restricted for use on specified projects.

Pending Action Items. Jean went down the list of pending items requiring further action by directors, which included the following: Zeno will follow up with the Russian River Watershed Council and its project to identify for priority action certain subwatersheds of the Russian River Watershed. John will contact Richard Flasher regarding the status of the creek on his property. Bob will draft an article for publication in a local newspaper regarding trash dumped illegally by the roads and in the creeks. John, Jean and Zeno will meet in the upcoming week to discuss a plan for regular submission of articles to local newspapers. Bob will collect into one document, and distribute to the directors, all of the statements of potential Council objectives written by the directors after the April 20 meeting.

"Salmon Coalition." Stephen reported that Mark Kelley and Carolyn Wasem, spokespersons for the "Salmon Coalition," met with the Technical Committee of the Sonoma County Water Coalition recently. The Technical Committee determined that the Salmon Coalition does not have clear procedures. For example, persons who attend a meeting are identified on the Salmon Coalition's website (<http://www.scwa.ca.gov/salmonid_coalition.php>http://www.scwa.ca.gov/salmonid_coalition.php ) as "participants," and there is no category of "observer." The Water Coalition has decided not to become a "participant" of the Salmon Coalition.

Potential for Day-Lighting Creeks in Sebastopol. Jean had appeared before the Sebastopol City Council where she spoke in support of the letter to the City Council from the Sonoma County Water Coalition that encourages the City Council to take no action in connection with the Northeast Area Specific Plan that would make it difficult in the future to day-light Calder and Zimpher Creeks. The board members expressed their support for the general concept of day-lighting creeks and Jean and Jo agreed to write a letter to the City Council on behalf of the Watershed Council, following up on Jean's comments, so that the concerns she expressed become part of the written record.

Relations with the Agriculture Community. Bob spoke in favor of improving relations between the Council and the members of the agriculture community within the watershed. In that regard, Heidi Herrmann, secretary of the local chapter of Community Alliance with Family Farmers, joined the discussion. Heidi has spoken with several farmers in the watershed, who said they are interested in developing closer relations with the Watershed Council. Heidi suggested that the Council could benefit the members of the agriculture community by organizing events and projects, issuing endorsements and advocacy. Bob explained that the local chapter of the Slow Food organization has placed on the agenda of the Sebastopol City Council a proposed resolution declaring August to be Gravenstein Apple Month. After discussion a motion endorsing that resolution was passed by the board, with two abstentions.

Gold Ridge RCD Watershed Assessment Project. Bob reported on the initial efforts of the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District to conduct an assessment of the Green Valley Creek Watershed, exclusive of the Atascadero drainage. The next meeting of the RCD on this project will be on July 9.

Proposed Project at 3860 Ross Road. Bob reported on a phone call he received from someone living near the site of a proposed building project at 3860 Ross Road, on a parcel that apparently is adjacent to the Atascadero, near Green Valley Road. The project contemplates the construction of a 41,000 square foot warehouse. Richard Miller suggested that with a building of such size, and associated parking and paving, some plan of infiltration of runoff would be desirable. Zeno agreed to look in to the matter and to contact the person who made the inquiry.

Election of Directors. Jean noted that the time for election of directors is approaching. Bob was asked to draft an appropriate communication to members so that the matter could be resolved in a timely fashion. Each of the current directors agreed to be nominated for the upcoming term.

State of Russian River Fisheries Conference. Zeno reported that the Russian River Watershed Council is organizing a conference to be held on September 13 on the subject of the state of the fisheries in the Russian River watershed. Zeno identified some speakers currently scheduled to appear, and encouraged the directors to consider additional potential speakers.

Vision for the Council. Jean will poll the directors by e-mail to try to set a date for a special meeting to discuss and refine goals and objectives for the Council.

The meeting adjourned at 12:05

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of June 7, 2008


A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on June 7, 2008, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol. Directors Jean Redus, John Roberts, Stephen Fuller-Rowell, Zeno Swijtink and Bob Burke and member Jo Bentz were present. Also present for part of the meeting were Heidi Herrmann of Community Alliance with Family Farmers and member Richard Miller. Jean called the meeting to order at 10:00. Financial Report. John reported that the Council has $608.09 of unrestricted funds in its account, plus approximately $1400 restricted for use on specified projects. Pending Action Items. Jean went down the list of pending items requiring further action by directors, which included the following: Zeno will follow up with the Russian River Watershed Council and its project to identify for priority action certain subwatersheds of the Russian River Watershed. John will contact Richard Flasher regarding the status of the creek on his property. Bob will draft an article for publication in a local newspaper regarding trash dumped illegally by the roads and in the creeks. John, Jean and Zeno will meet in the upcoming week to discuss a plan for regular submission of articles to local newspapers. Bob will collect into one document, and distribute to the directors, all of the statements of potential Council objectives written by the directors after the April 20 meeting. "Salmon Coalition." Stephen reported that Mark Kelley and Carolyn Wasem, spokespersons for the "Salmon Coalition," met with the Technical Committee of the Sonoma County Water Coalition recently. The Technical Committee determined that the Salmon Coalition does not have clear procedures. For example, persons who attend a meeting are identified on the Salmon Coalition's website (<http://www.scwa.ca.gov/salmonid_coalition.php>http://www.scwa.ca.gov/salmonid_coalition.php ) as "participants," and there is no category of "observer." The Water Coalition has decided not to become a "participant" of the Salmon Coalition. Potential for Day-Lighting Creeks in Sebastopol. Jean had appeared before the Sebastopol City Council where she spoke in support of the letter to the City Council from the Sonoma County Water Coalition that encourages the City Council to take no action in connection with the Northeast Area Specific Plan that would make it difficult in the future to day-light Calder and Zimpher Creeks. The board members expressed their support for the general concept of day-lighting creeks and Jean and Jo agreed to write a letter to the City Council on behalf of the Watershed Council, following up on Jean's comments, so that the concerns she expressed become part of the written record. Relations with the Agriculture Community. Bob spoke in favor of improving relations between the Council and the members of the agriculture community within the watershed. In that regard, Heidi Herrmann, secretary of the local chapter of Community Alliance with Family Farmers, joined the discussion. Heidi has spoken with several farmers in the watershed, who said they are interested in developing closer relations with the Watershed Council. Heidi suggested that the Council could benefit the members of the agriculture community by organizing events and projects, issuing endorsements and advocacy. Bob explained that the local chapter of the Slow Food organization has placed on the agenda of the Sebastopol City Council a proposed resolution declaring August to be Gravenstein Apple Month. After discussion a motion endorsing that resolution was passed by the board, with two abstentions. Gold Ridge RCD Watershed Assessment Project. Bob reported on the initial efforts of the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District to conduct an assessment of the Green Valley Creek Watershed, exclusive of the Atascadero drainage. The next meeting of the RCD on this project will be on July 9. Proposed Project at 3860 Ross Road. Bob reported on a phone call he received from someone living near the site of a proposed building project at 3860 Ross Road, on a parcel that apparently is adjacent to the Atascadero, near Green Valley Road. The project contemplates the construction of a 41,000 square foot warehouse. Richard Miller suggested that with a building of such size, and associated parking and paving, some plan of infiltration of runoff would be desirable. Zeno agreed to look in to the matter and to contact the person who made the inquiry. Election of Directors. Jean noted that the time for election of directors is approaching. Bob was asked to draft an appropriate communication to members so that the matter could be resolved in a timely fashion. Each of the current directors agreed to be nominated for the upcoming term. State of Russian River Fisheries Conference. Zeno reported that the Russian River Watershed Council is organizing a conference to be held on September 13 on the subject of the state of the fisheries in the Russian River watershed. Zeno identified some speakers currently scheduled to appear, and encouraged the directors to consider additional potential speakers. Vision for the Council. Jean will poll the directors by e-mail to try to set a date for a special meeting to discuss and refine goals and objectives for the Council. The meeting adjourned at 12:05 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary