1. Call to
Order.
10:00 a.m.
2. Roll.
Directors Amoroso, Comstock and Siedman present;
directors Godino and Smith absent.
3. Community
Expression.
None.
4. Request for BCPUD to Approve a Landowner
Agreement Required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service for a Grant Under the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program to Implement Conservation Practices on the BCPUD Lands Leased by Gospel
Flats Farms. (M. Murch).
Mickey
explained that he would like permission from the BCPUD to implement soil
conservation practices on the land he is leasing from the district. Specifically, he needs this permission to
obtain a grant from the USDA to fund the placement of compost and straw to
amend the soil and control erosion, as well as the planting of hedgerow to
serve as a windbreak. He noted that
these activities are consistent with the recommendations of the Sewer Pond
Lands Committee. In response to
questions from director Amoroso, he clarified that the hedgerow will be native
plants as designated by the Sewer Pond Lands Committee. Director Siedman inquired whether the
permission of the BCPUD is necessary for the grant approval because it is the
landowner; Mickey said that is correct.
Staff clarified that the specific permitted activities (composting and
planting of hedgerow) are the only activities being approved under the landowner
agreement and only for the term of the lease.
Director
Siedman noted that director Godino joined the meeting via telephone at
approximately 10:05 a.m.
Janine
Aroyan said she hopes the BCPUD will pay for erosion control measures on the
leased parcels. Mickey said he has the
resources to do this and would like to make his best efforts before asking the
BCPUD for funding. In response to
questions from director Amoroso as to why she has concerns about erosion,
Janine explained that during a site visit of the Sewer Pond Lands Committee to
Parcel C, Jeff Creque had advised certain erosion control measures for the
southern border. Staff reported that the
site was evaluated today during the rain storm and should be addressed fairly
easily; the same concerns arose previously on Parcel B in a prior year and the
erosion control measures taken there have been modified and are now
effective. Mickey said he would go to
the site following the meeting to address any issues.
Director
Amoroso asked Mickey if the background grant documents other than the landowner
agreement are available for the Board’s review and he asked why the Board was
not approached about the need for this approval earlier. He expressed concern that the Board is being
asked to make a fast decision that it might regret and that additional time
should have been allowed for public input on this request. Mickey
explained that he was told only within the last few days by the USDA that a
landowner agreement would be required for the grant funding. He said he submitted paperwork many weeks
ago to the USDA, but was not asked until a few days ago to also provide a
signed landowner agreement; he immediately notified staff of the USDA’s request,
which is why a special meeting was called.
Director Amoroso reiterated his concern that the public might perceive
that the BCPUD is rushing this through.
In response to a question from director Siedman, Mickey said the grant
is for up to $20,000; he will be reimbursed for the soil conservation practices
that he proves (via receipts and photographs) that he implements on the lands
he farms. Mickey clarified that the
funding will provide money for soil conservation practices on all of the lands
he farms, not only the BCPUD parcels.
Director Comstock asked whether Mickey will lose the grant if the BCPUD does not provide the landowner
agreement; Mickey said yes, he would not receive the grant to implement the
soil conservation practices on BCPUD lands if he cannot provide the agreement. He explained that the funds are coming from
the organic farming provisions of the newly passed federal Farm Bill.
Director Amoroso inquired whether the funding application
documents are available for the Board’s review.
Mickey explained that the documents are all on-line; he said he would be
happy to provide copies. Director
Comstock said that the Board is satisfied with the truthfulness of Mickey’s
explanation of the grant documentation; however, he noted that director Amoroso
is concerned there could be something worrisome in the grant documents apart
from what Mickey has described. In light
of the grant time constraints, he suggested the Board delegate to staff the
task of reviewing the grant documents to confirm that Mickey’s representations
are consistent with the grant documents.
He noted that the Board can condition its approval of the landowner
agreement on this step. Director Godino expressed strong support for a
funding program that reimburses farmers for sustainable farming practices and
said this is exactly the type of activity the Board should approve. Janine Aroyan also said she supports the
grant and the specific conservation practices it will fund on the BCPUD
lands; she said she would like the Board
to approve the agreement today as it can always retract its permission if
something of concern occurs. After a
brief discussion, the Board requested that Mickey provide copies of all
available grant documentation as quickly as possible so that the BCPUD can
confirm that there is nothing in that documentation that is inconsistent with
the lease agreement or Mickey’s representations about the grant program.
V. Amoroso/L. Comstock four in favor, director Smith absent to approve the landowner agreement on
the condition that staff confirms that the grant documentation, when available,
is consistent with Mickey’s representations and is consistent with the approved
activities on BCPUD lands.
5.
Adjournment.
10:27 a.m.
3. Community
Expression.
Director Siedman said that after the meeting was adjourned
there was a request to re-open the meeting for a discussion under Community
Expression. Director Comstock requested
clarification on the BCPUD process with regard to nominal expenses to address
things such as erosion control on BCPUD property. Staff said that if there are consequences to
BCPUD lands as a result of a lessee’s farming activities, those consequences
should be the responsibility of the lessee.
Mickey Murch agreed, and said he
already would have implemented erosion control measures such as seeding, but
when the Sewer Pond Lands Committee process started last Fall, he decided as it
seemed the committee may have specific instructions as to what type of seeding
should be done. He emphasized that he takes
full responsibility for remediating any area of concern, but does not want to
do so and then be criticized for his efforts; he wants to ensure that his plans
are acceptable and said he welcomes a meeting on site to discuss the placement
of wattles, compost, straw, seeding or whatever means is deemed best to control
eroision. After a brief discussion, it
was agreed that Jeff Creque, Janine Aroyan and Mickey Murch would coordinate on
erosion control efforts. Director
Siedman noted that the committee process otherwise may take too long as it is
important to address any erosion concerns as quickly as possible.
5.
Adjournment.