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www.centralcoastrcandd.org COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES February 20, 2008, Rural Developement Center "Working to Develop Human Resources and Promote Long-Term Sustainability of the Diverse Natural Resources of the Central Coast." Click here to download a pdf file of the minutes using Adobe Acrobat Reader |
| 1. Call to Order: |
| The meeting was called to order by Council President Chuck Pritchard at 1:10 PM. Introductions were made. The following sponsors were present: Adriana Morales, Cachuma RCD; Kathie Matsuyama, Coastal San Luis RCD; Chuck Pritchard, Upper Salinas/Las Tablas RCD; Mary Ann Vasconcellos, CAFF; Darlene Dunham, Monterey County; Paul Hain, San Benito RCD, Craig Ficenec, ALBA. Others present: Jeff Rodriguez, RC&D Project Coordinator; Kellie Guerra, San Benito RCD, DJ Funk and Shayna Gonzales, US/LT RCD; Gary Peterson, ALBA, Jim Reynolds, San Mateo RCD. |
| 2. Additions to the Agenda: |
| Requests for assistance; change of council meeting location. |
| 3. Treasurer's Report: |
| Treasurer Matsuyama submitted the following report: the Business account has a balance of $3,817.44; Special Projects account has a balance of $12,079.22. Bills for $450 for the NARC&DC dues, $5190 to Garrison Consulting, RBEG Grant, $690 to Shawn Meara, Council bookkeeping, $4,823.75 to CCAN for the SLO County grant. Total bills of $11,153.75 were presented for payment. Kathie indicated there are several sponsors that have not paid their dues. Vasconcellos moved to approve treasurer’s report and pay bills, seconded by Morales, motion passed unanimously. The Council bookkeeper has advised us to consolidate our two bank accounts into one and use the bookkeeping software to keep track of accounts. The Council’s 2007 taxes have been submitted and we have received our permanent 501c3 tax exempt status from the IRS. |
| 4. Approval of Minutes: |
| Hain moved to approve the minutes of November 14, 2007. Seconded by Vasconcellos. Motion passed unanimously. |
| 5. Correspondence: |
| Pritchard read a letter from the National Association of RC&D Councils encouraging support from local council members for the national RC&D budget. Rodriguez read a letter from Gidi Pullen, former Council Treasurer, thanking the Council for her recent awards as outstanding council member for the California and Pac Rim Associations of RC&D Councils. |
| Old Business |
| 6. The proposed 2008 CC RC&D budget was reviewed by the council. Matsuyama moved to approve the 2008 budget. Seconded by Morales. Motion passed unanimously. |
| 7. Rodriguez reviewed the committed expenditures from the Information Education Grant, $1000 for the RCD of Monterey County, $2500 for the Dunes Center project, and $1500 for the Liberty High School project. None of that money has been spent. Matsuyama indicated the Dunes Center is ready for payment. The others are not ready for payment. |
| 8. Matsuyama reviewed the Council bookkeeping service history with the RAPS organization. There is no current bookkeeping service agreement with RAPS. The Council decided to hire Shawn Meara to serve as the Council Bookkeeper. Shawn currently is the Coastal San Luis RCD bookkeeper and is doing a great job for the RCD. |
| New Business |
| 9. Chuck Pritchard and DJ Funk gave an update on the Liberty High School outdoor education program. This project called GreenWorks by the high school is a partnership with the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD, City of Paso Robles, Liberty H.S. and CCRC&D. $1500 from RC&D has been allocated. The partners are working together to submit a grant request to the Stewardship Council to fund a larger portion of the project. Much of the materials and labor will be donated. The project purpose is to create an outdoor interactive recreation and learning center along Liberty Creek in Paso Robles. |
| 10. Gary Petersen the Communications and Development Director from ALBA welcomed the council and gave some background on the organization and the two properties, including the Triple M Ranch in the Elkhorn Slough. Gary described ALBA’s marketing efforts including the business “ALBA Organics” and the “Growers Collaborative”, a licensed produce distributor. |
| 11. Craig Ficenec from ALBA discussed the proposed wind energy project idea. CSUMB has done an initial cost analysis on some smaller power options. They have a CIMIS station nearby but wind data is only available at 6 feet. The smaller units only provide a small portion of the needed power. They have in hand a feasibility analysis for a 50 KW machine that shows a better return over a shorter period of time. Wind data is still limited. A difference of only 2 mph on planned vs. actual wind speed increases the payback time by 7 years. With ALBA facing the entire risk, they are not as inclined to move quickly at this time. |
| 12. Jim Reynolds, director with the San Mateo RCD, gave the Council an update on their conservation project activities. Jim handed out a project status report and discussed the highlights. The RCD has a very impressive program. |
| 13. Vasconcellos updated the Council on the Produce and Meat Marketing Coop Grant received from USDA Rural Development. Significant progress has been made and the project is back on tract. The Home Grown Meat Alliance is working on a partnership with the new Paso Robles meat processing plant to use the trailer to deliver meat. The produce group is moving towards a producer cooperative. Check out the Central Coast Grown website at www.centralcoastgrown.org. |
| 14. Rodriguez presented the updated Annual Plan of Work with the project status indicated for the second quarter. The Council discussed the status of each project listed on the work plan. A copy of this plan is available upon request. |
| Agenda Items for May 21st Meeting at the Rabobank in King City: |
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| Announcements |
| Chuck announced the next meeting of the Central Coast Association of RCD’s will take place April 24 at the Santa Margarita Ranch. |
| The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. |
| November 2007 |
| September 2007 |
of the diverse natural resources of the Central Coast. |
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