A/GVWC Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, August 29, 2009

AGV Watershed Council

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Minutes of August 29, 2009

A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on August 29, 2009, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol, at 1:10 PM. Directors Zeno Swijtink, Barbara Chasteen, Jon Sassin, John Roberts and Bob Burke were present. Also present were members Jean Redus and Stephen Fuller-Rowell and, for part of the meeting, Diana Hines and member Richard Miller.
Financial Report. John reported that the Council's bank account balance is $443.09. It was agreed that once the watershed map, discussed below, is finalized and printed, the Council will be able to offer a copy of the map as an expression of gratitude for donations.

School Map Project. Jean reported on her appearance before the County Wildlife Commission to request funding to print copies of the watershed map Jean has created for distribution to local schools. The directors gave Jean suggestions on minor changes to the draft map, which the board unanimously regarded as an attractive and useful work.

Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District. Diana Hines, fisheries biologist for the Gold Ridge RCD, reported that the Coastal Conservancy has unfrozen funds previously granted to the RCD for doing an assessment of the upper Green Valley Creek watershed, and that work has accordingly resumed on that project. A drafter has been retained, and a public meeting will be held, likely in October. Also, the RCD has received a grant of $1.5M to enhance the prospects for coho salmon in Salmon Creek.

Charging for Events. In recently hosting farm tours, the question had arisen whether the Council should solicit donations from, or charge a fee to, participants at such events, either for the benefit of the Council or for a private individual, such as the tour host. The board discussed these discussions in detail and concluded that the Council should decide on a case-by-case basis whether to solicit donations for its benefit and, if a private party wants to charge for its services, it should be free to do so, but the Council should not be raising funds for such a private party.

Water Coalition Letter Regarding RWQCBs. John reported on the letter drafted by the Sonoma County Water Coalition addressing the proposed "centralizing" of the oversight of water impacts regarding timber harvesting and forestry management activities by moving jurisdiction of the several Regional Water Quality Control Boards to the one State Water Resources Control Board. Stephen amplified John's comments. After discussion, the board decided to endorse the Water Coalition's letter, as it may be modified for style and readability.

Proposed Winery and Vineyard at Occidental Road and Highway 116. The board discussed the proposal by the owner of two parcels totaling 7.6 acres on the southeast corner of Occidental Road and Highway 116 to develop thereon a winery with a three acre vineyard. The proposal has generated opposition from nearby residents, as reported in an article in Sonoma West:
http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2009/08/31/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/doc4a959db80dc9f545203940.txt
The property lies within the Watershed, and the proposed use would require a zoning change and a specific plan amendment, so the proposal is of interest to the Council. The directors discussed the proposal, and the bases for the objections, at length. Some directors argued that the proposed use is inappropriate because the highway is congested, the highway is a designated scenic highway, and the change of zoning would be for a private benefit rather than a public benefit. Others argued that winery operations are better situated near busy intersections than on small, quiet rural lanes, and that most zoning changes are initiated for private gain, rather than for public benefit. The directors also discussed the likely effect of the proposed use on water supplies, although no conclusions could be reached because of incomplete knowledge of the gross demand and the recharge efforts of the project.
The board agreed that it did not have all of the facts or all of the arguments, pro or con, and that it would be desirable for the board to hear directly from the proponents and opponents. John agreed to contact a representative of both the proponents and the opponents to see if they would be interested in appearing at a board meeting, separately. It was noted that the matter is currently scheduled for a hearing before the Board of Supervisors on October 6, and the next board meeting is scheduled for October 10.

The meeting adjourned at 3:15

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Burke
Secretary

AGV Watershed Council	Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Minutes of August 29, 2009


A meeting of the board of directors of the Atascadero / Green Valley Watershed Council was held on August 29, 2009, at 345 Montgomery Drive in Sebastopol, at 1:10 PM. Directors Zeno Swijtink, Barbara Chasteen, Jon Sassin, John Roberts and Bob Burke were present. Also present were members Jean Redus and Stephen Fuller-Rowell and, for part of the meeting, Diana Hines and member Richard Miller. Financial Report. John reported that the Council's bank account balance is $443.09. It was agreed that once the watershed map, discussed below, is finalized and printed, the Council will be able to offer a copy of the map as an expression of gratitude for donations. School Map Project. Jean reported on her appearance before the County Wildlife Commission to request funding to print copies of the watershed map Jean has created for distribution to local schools. The directors gave Jean suggestions on minor changes to the draft map, which the board unanimously regarded as an attractive and useful work. Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District. Diana Hines, fisheries biologist for the Gold Ridge RCD, reported that the Coastal Conservancy has unfrozen funds previously granted to the RCD for doing an assessment of the upper Green Valley Creek watershed, and that work has accordingly resumed on that project. A drafter has been retained, and a public meeting will be held, likely in October. Also, the RCD has received a grant of $1.5M to enhance the prospects for coho salmon in Salmon Creek. Charging for Events. In recently hosting farm tours, the question had arisen whether the Council should solicit donations from, or charge a fee to, participants at such events, either for the benefit of the Council or for a private individual, such as the tour host. The board discussed these discussions in detail and concluded that the Council should decide on a case-by-case basis whether to solicit donations for its benefit and, if a private party wants to charge for its services, it should be free to do so, but the Council should not be raising funds for such a private party. Water Coalition Letter Regarding RWQCBs. John reported on the letter drafted by the Sonoma County Water Coalition addressing the proposed "centralizing" of the oversight of water impacts regarding timber harvesting and forestry management activities by moving jurisdiction of the several Regional Water Quality Control Boards to the one State Water Resources Control Board. Stephen amplified John's comments. After discussion, the board decided to endorse the Water Coalition's letter, as it may be modified for style and readability. Proposed Winery and Vineyard at Occidental Road and Highway 116. The board discussed the proposal by the owner of two parcels totaling 7.6 acres on the southeast corner of Occidental Road and Highway 116 to develop thereon a winery with a three acre vineyard. The proposal has generated opposition from nearby residents, as reported in an article in Sonoma West: http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2009/08/31/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/doc4a959db80dc9f545203940.txt The property lies within the Watershed, and the proposed use would require a zoning change and a specific plan amendment, so the proposal is of interest to the Council. The directors discussed the proposal, and the bases for the objections, at length. Some directors argued that the proposed use is inappropriate because the highway is congested, the highway is a designated scenic highway, and the change of zoning would be for a private benefit rather than a public benefit. Others argued that winery operations are better situated near busy intersections than on small, quiet rural lanes, and that most zoning changes are initiated for private gain, rather than for public benefit. The directors also discussed the likely effect of the proposed use on water supplies, although no conclusions could be reached because of incomplete knowledge of the gross demand and the recharge efforts of the project. The board agreed that it did not have all of the facts or all of the arguments, pro or con, and that it would be desirable for the board to hear directly from the proponents and opponents. John agreed to contact a representative of both the proponents and the opponents to see if they would be interested in appearing at a board meeting, separately. It was noted that the matter is currently scheduled for a hearing before the Board of Supervisors on October 6, and the next board meeting is scheduled for October 10. The meeting adjourned at 3:15 Respectfully submitted, Bob Burke Secretary