MINUTES
Temecula-Elsinore-Anza-Murrieta Resource Conservation District
Regular Board Meeting
Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 4:00 PM
Truax Building
41923 Second Street, Fourth Floor
Temecula, CA 92590
I. PRELIMINARY FUNCTIONS
Call to Order, 4:00 p.m., meeting recorded by Rose Corona
Flag Salute
Roll Call/Establish a Quorum
Directors Present: Rose Corona (President), Stacy Kuhns (Treasurer), Randy Feeney, Jack Fleming
Directors Absent: Dave Kuhlman (Vice President),
Associate Directors Present: Rick Neugebauer, Newt Parkes
Associate Directors Absent: None
Office Manager: Barbara Dalton – Present
District Counsel: Ward Simmons, Best, Best & Krieger – Absent
Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCS): Robert Hewitt – Absent
Guest Speakers: None
Public Guests: None
Approval of Agenda
President Corona called for a motion to approve the agenda.
Director Kuhns moved and Director Feeney seconded. Motion passed unanimously 4-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
II. CONSENT CALENDAR, CORRESPONDENCE & GENERAL INFORMATION
President Corona called for a motion to approve the consent items, consent calendar, financials, and correspondence.
Director Kuhns moved and Director Feeney seconded. Motion passed unanimously 4-0
III. ACTION ITEMS/ DISCUSSION CALENDAR
Item 1: Swearing in of new Director Allen “Jack” Fleming.
President Corona had Jack Fleming raise his right hand as she stated the Oath of Office. Mr. Fleming accepted the Oath of Office by stating “yes”.
Item 2: Discussion and potential approval to appoint new Associate Director(s) Newton Parkes and Judy Gugliemana.
President Corona made a motion to appoint Newton “Newt” Parkes as an Associate Director. Director Feeney seconded made the motion. Judy Gugliemana was not present. Motion passed unanimously 3-0
IV. OLD BUSINESS
Item 1: Discussion of new and renewed CDs for two years at 2.55%.
President Corona stated we moved forward with the new CD of $90,000 on a two-year term and renewed the $63,000 for a two-year term. Both CD’s are at a 2.55 annual percentage rate. No motion necessary.
Item 2: Discussion and update on 2018 Annual Report for CDFW.
President Corona stated CDFW requested that we supply our annual bio monitoring and activities report by December 31, 2018. President Corona noted there can only be work done between the end of August through December due to bird nesting. To do anything during nesting season we would need to hire a biologist to be on site to ensure that no nests were disturbed or destroyed. No motion necessary.
Item 3: Discussion and update on Bio monitoring at Greer Ranch and Benton Channel.
President Corona stated TEAM RCD has around six more projects to begin/continue with SAWA this year. This project(s) also includes the conservation easements for Benton Channel and Greer Ranch. President Corona stated that in areas where no work is being done a flat fee to CDFW is all that is required. However, if work is being done more fees are required to be paid. The price of the fees is based on work that is actually being done. No motion necessary.
Item 4: Discussion and update on Aguanga waterfall and stream issues.
Director Kuhns reports an issue in the Aguanga waterfall is the homeless encampment in that area. The area is near Hwy-371 and 79 located in Riverside County, with known drug activity and is considered an unsafe area to visit. Fish and Wildlife had stated to President Corona that no RCD should visit land that we did not own. Director Kuhns stated she might be able to get a Google map image to assist the Board in seeing what is going on in that area. No motion necessary.
Item 5: Discussion and update on Bear Creek outstanding invoices.
President Corona stated there is a four-year outstanding invoice with Bear Creek Association. Bear Creek Association has refused to pay for the vegetation cleanup TEAM RCD provided through SAWA. Currently Bear Creek Association has not responded to our communications. No motion necessary.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Item 1: Discussion and potential approval of new resolution(s) for Board Director requirements.
President Corona stated due to Directors lack of attendance it became necessary to have our legal counsel draft a resolution addressing Board Director attendance requirements. The resolution addresses attendance, required training, and submission of state mandated forms.
President Corona made a motion to adopt this resolution. Director Fleming seconded. Motion passed unanimously 4-0
Item 2: Discussion and potential approval for long-term goals to be provided to CDFW for Streambed Alteration Agreement to include addition of fifth category (monitoring and administration) in project description of Streambed Alteration Agreement.
Associate Director Neugebauer provided maps of the local watersheds and explained where the water comes from and how the water gets to the watersheds. He also stated currently we have four project descriptions in our current long-term Streambed Agreement, however, with the level of monitoring being done we need to add a fifth category for monitoring and administration. Associate Director Neugebauer and Associate Director Parkes agreed to work on more definitive recommendations and numbers to implement into this agreement within the next 60 days. President Corona stated she would report back at the next regular meeting if Fish and Wildlife needs this information sooner. No motion necessary.
Item 3: Discussion and potential approval to increase hourly rate for TEAM RCD Office Manager.
President Corona made a motion to increase the hourly wage for the Office Manager to $16.00. Director Kuhns seconded. Motion passed unanimously 4-0.
VI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Item 1: President Corona stated our future agenda would discuss potential approval to nominate a board member to work with the Benton Channel Project Design in coordination with Fish and Wildlife for Pulte Homes endowment.
Item 2: Discussion and potential tour of TEAM RCD conversation easements.
It was discussed that perhaps Associate Director Neugebauer could take new Directors to visit conservation easements. No motion necessary.
VII. ORAL/WRITTEN REPORTS
DIRECTOR REPORTS
President Corona stated Bob Hewitt of NRCS is working on 14 farmer equipment programs. In which a farmer could swap out an old diesel vehicle for more finely tuned one as long as the old equipment is crushed. Bob Hewitt will report more at the next regular meeting as he was absent this meeting.
President Corona stated the California Association Resource Conversation District (CARCD) had contacted her regarding a feature article about TEAM RCD’s crop swap and agriculture efficiency irrigation projects. Director Fleming will be following up with customers of the crop swap and agriculture efficiency irrigation projects for feedback on the projects.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR REPORTS
None
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, President Corona asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Director Kuhns made the motion. Director Feeney seconded. Motion passed unanimously 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 4:58 pm
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Secretary/Treasurer