Yolo County Resource Conservation District
221 West Court Street, Suite 1
Woodland, CA 95695
phone: (530-662-2037
fax: (530) 662-4876
Yolorcd@yolorcd.org
www.yolorcd.org
_____________________________________________________________________
BOARD OF DIRECTORS-REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
January 8, 2014
Date:
Location:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Time: 5:05 pm – 7:47 pm
Yolo County RCD Office, 221 W. Court St. Ste. 8, Woodland, CA
MINUTES
Directors Present: Giovanni Ferrendelli (Chair), Rachael Long (Vice Chair), Garth Williams, Michael
Leacox
Directors Absent: Suellen Witham
Associate Directors Present: Benjamin Leacox, Trent Stanger
Others Present: Phil Hogan (NRCS District Conservationist), Corey Shake (Partner Biologist, Point
Blue Conservation Science - Rangeland Watershed Initiative) Wendell Gilgert (Point Blue
Conservation Science), Jeanette Wrysinski (Yolo RCD Executive Director), Heather Nichols (Yolo
RCD Project Manager)
1. Call Meeting to Order and Introductions-Giovanni Ferrendelli, Chair The meeting was
called to order at 5:05pm by Chair Ferrendelli. Introductions were made informally before the
meeting was called to order.
2. Approval of Agenda and Minutes of December 11, 2013 meeting: ACTION: Approval of
Agenda for January 8, 2014 meeting, MOTION: Leacox, SECOND: Williams, AYES:
Unanimous (Ferrendelli, Long, Williams, Leacox). ACTION: Approval of Minutes of December
11, 2013 with removal of the first sentence of 6.b. MOTION: Long, SECOND: Leacox, AYES:
Unanimous (Ferrendelli, Long, Williams, Leacox)
3. Public comment: There were no comments from the public.
4. Special Reports and Presentations:
a. Rangeland Watershed Initiative – Wendell Gilgert gave a PowerPoint presentation on
Point Blue Conservation Science, the Rangeland Watershed Initiative and the purpose
of the Partner Biologist role in the Woodland Field Office. Gilgert went into detail on
their Upper Stony Creek project that has become a model for improving hydrology on
ranchlands (prescriptive grazing systems to mimic native grazing cycle).They also
completed research on watershed function and found that annual grassland allowed
2.5 inches of simulated rainfall infiltration while perennial grasses allowed for up to 24
inches of rainfall infiltration. Working with Ken Tate, UC Davis, and four local ranchers
to take benchmark data before and after practice changes. Bird focal species are used
to assess watershed health.
Comment- a big impact could be made by addressing the disincentive to add habitat
when landowners get taxed on enhancements (example of pond additions on property)
5. Approval and payment of claims: Board requests to know about special circumstances
ahead of time. ACTION: Approve payment of all claims; one claim for $10,854.40 mulch for
Interstate 5; MOTION: Williams; SECOND: Long; AYES: Unanimous (Ferrendelli, Williams,
Leacox, Long).
6. Regular Reports
The Mission of the Yolo County Resource Conservation District is to Protect, Improve, and
Sustain the Natural Resources of Yolo County.
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
221 West Court Street, Suite 1
Woodland, CA 95695
phone: (530-662-2037
fax: (530) 662-4876
Yolorcd@yolorcd.org
www.yolorcd.org
_____________________________________________________________________
a. NRCS Update – Phil Hogan, NRCS District Conservationist. Mr. Hogan
stated that he has been working closely with Corey on several farm visits. The Farm
Bill is getting closer. They are processing applications right now. Perennial grasses are
starting to green up, but it’s dry out there.
b. Executive Director’s Report and Upcoming Events – Jeanette Wrysinski, Project
Leadership Associate is billing the server hardware separately from personnel time.
The old server went offline on December 29th so full migration was done earlier than
originally planned. We have been operating since January 6th with the old server off.
We need a board member to attend the IPM Innovator award ceremony. Leacox and
Long will go. Brandon Baker was hired as a seasonal temporary employee. There has
been recent vandalism in the breezeway upstairs. OES was requesting input from the
RCD. There are some health care changes with Western Health Advantage. Wrysinski
has been looking through the RCD’s legal requirements. We are in good shape and
she is addressing some minor issues. She also reviewed the requirements to make a
staff member a Certified Crop Advisor. Pursue Soil Conservation Plans. Discussion of
a marketing strategy. Leacox will send an email to Wrysinski and Ferrendelli.
c. Board Member Reports and Comments
There was a short discussion of the Caltrans project. It was suggested that we not over
commit ourselves and be very careful that we make our visible projects a showcase.
Ferrendelli discussed Board etiquette during meetings.
d. Business acquisition – Jeanette Wrysinski.
Jeanette is working with Jessa Guisse of the Xerces society to write at a Pest
Management grant for pollinator plantings. She is also working with Audubon California
on looking at wildlife friendly standards of commodity associations. She also provided
an overview of the Clark Pacific contract process.
7. Continuing Topics:
a. *Strategic Planning Committee Report. Committee members have made edits to their
sections. Jeanette is pulling together the full document. The goal is to have the draft go
to the Board in the Packet for the February meeting.
b. *Discussion of RCD accounting Jeanette gave a PowerPoint presentation “Use of
GenLed and/or Excel for RCD Financial Management” Bottom line, per Auditor’s
Office: RCD is up-to-date on use of GenLed and does not need to make any changes
in procedures. Use of Program Codes would reduce budget flexibility, Use of Revenue
module provides minimal benefit. GenLed will be replaced in less than 2 years. Board
thanked Jeanette for her thorough reporting.
c. *Discuss Annual Dinner 2014 Ideas for the upcoming dinner: Include younger people
by lowering costs (not to exceed $20/person). Invite partners and landowners on
current project for no fee. ACTION: to schedule a paid entry event along the line of
Cache Creek Conservancy Autumn Fest format in late April MOTION: Long; SECOND
Leacox; AYES: Unanimous. Have Sheila get a date and location. Suggestions: Cache
Creek Nature Preserve, Oakdale Ranch, Glide Ranch. Suggest Friday evening.
8. New Business:
a. Board Input for Upcoming Topics
9. Confirm Next Meeting Date and Location: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 5:05 pm at
the Yolo County RCD Office
10. Adjourn: 7:47pm
The Mission of the Yolo County Resource Conservation District is to Protect, Improve, and
Sustain the Natural Resources of Yolo County.
Yolo County Resource Conservation District
221 West Court Street, Suite 1
Woodland, CA 95695
phone: (530-662-2037
fax: (530) 662-4876
Yolorcd@yolorcd.org
www.yolorcd.org
_____________________________________________________________________
Minutes respectfully submitted by: Heather Nichols, RCD Staff, and Jeanette Wrysinski,
Executive Director. Approved on __________, 2012 by the Yolo County Resource Conservation
District Board.
By:
______________________________________________
Jeanette Wrysinski, Executive Director
The Mission of the Yolo County Resource Conservation District is to Protect, Improve, and
Sustain the Natural Resources of Yolo County.