The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-01-09 GSA Minutes UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“Agency”) Board of Directors (“Board”) will hold on January 2025 Board meeting at: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Thursday January 9, 2025 County of Mendocino Board of Supervisors Chambers 501 Low Gap Road Room 1010, Ukiah, CA 95482 The meeting will be held in hybrid setting where those who wish to attend virtually may do so at the following Zoom link below. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81297050348?pwd=UHdna0tGOSsybXVpajdsTHlwTjBwQT09 Meeting ID: 812 9705 0348 Passcode: 323267 YouTube Live Stream link: https://youtube.com/live/JNze8BnB93M?feature=share Topic: Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency January 2025 Board Meeting The public may participate digitally in meetings by sending comments to staff@ukiahvalleygroundwater.org or by clicking the link above to join the Zoom meeting, in lieu of personal attendance. All email comment must be received by 5:00 P.M. the day prior business day (Wednesday January 8, 2025) to the meeting in order to be published online prior to the meeting. Action Items that may require a Board vote are indicated with an * on the Agenda. UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 Agenda Attendees: Board Members: Doug Crane*, Theresa McNerlin*, Adam Gaska*, Madeline Cline*, Chris Watt* Staff: Harry Starkey (WY)*, Blake Adams (City of Ukiah)*, Indigo Bannister (WY)*, Jonathan Weldon (KMTG), Lauren Jones (KMTG), Laura Foglia (LWA), Sean White (City of Ukiah), Audra Bardsley (LWA), Members of the Public/ Partner Agencies: Laura Garza Diaz (UCCE), Beth Salomone (RRFC), Amber Fisette (County of Mendocino), Dominic Blum-Gutierrez (DWR), Jaime Neary (Russian Riverkeeper), Jessica Reid, Josie Slovut, Laurel Marcus, Monica Huettl (MendoFever) * in person 1. 10:02 Call to Order and Roll Call Present: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez 2. *Approval of Agenda Recommended Action: Board approve Agenda for January 9, 2025, Regular Board Meeting. Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez 3. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda This time is reserved for the public to address the Board about matters not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Board. Persons wishing to speak on the specific agenda items should do so at the time specified for those items. None. 4. Discussion and Possible Action Items a. *Board Chair Elections Board to elect Board Chair and Vice-Chair per the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency Joint Powers Agreement for two-year term. Recommended Action: Elect Board Chair and Vice-Chair. Director Crane nominated Madeline Cline as Chair and himself as vice chair. (Panel 1) UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 Director Watt nominated Adam Gaska as Chair and Doug Crane as vice chair. (Panel 2) Vote occurred for panel one. Ayes: Directors Cline, McNerlin, Crane Nay: Directors Gaska, Watt Absent: Nevarez b. *Groundwater Sustainability Fee Direct Billing Threshold Board will consider a resolution to set a threshold for minimum total bills to be issued through the direct billing of the groundwater sustainability fee. Recommended Action: Board adopt Resolution 2025-01 to set a threshold for minimum total bills to be issued through the direct billing of the groundwater sustainability fee. Motion: McNerlin Second: Crane Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez c. *California Department of Fish and Wildlife Upper Russian River Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem and Interconnected Surface Water Study Grant Agreement Board will consider a resolution to enter into a grant agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the Upper Russian River Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem and Interconnected Surface Water Study. Recommended Action: Board adopt Resolution 2025-02 to enter into a grant agreement with CDFW for the Upper Russian River Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem and Interconnected Surface Water Study. Motion: McNerlin Second: Crane Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez d. *FY 2024-2025 Budget Adjustment GSA Staff will present proposed FY24-25 Budget Adjustment to incorporate grant funding and align budget with prior Board direction. UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 Recommended Action: Board adopt Resolution 2025-03 to accept the proposed FY 2024- 25 Budget Adjustment. Board discussion occurred on how potential transition to City of Ukiah would affect budget adjustments. Motion: Crane Second: McNerlin Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez e. *City of Ukiah Administration Services Contract Board will review the proposed City of Ukiah Administration Services Contract. Recommended Action: Board approve City of Ukiah Administration Services Contract. Board discussion occurred around management of City of Ukiah. Discussion occurred around a “Conflict of Interest” reference that did not make it into the final draft contract. Motion for Chair to work with staff to add Conflict of Interest and approve City of Ukiah Administration Services Contract through adoption of Resolution 25-04. . Motion: Watt Second: Crane Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez f. *Hansford Economic Consulting Fee Setting Services Contract Board will review the proposed Hansford Economic Consulting Fee Setting Services Contract. Recommended Action: Board approve Hansford Economic Consulting Fee Setting Services Contract. Motion: Crane Second: McNerlin Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 g. Monitoring and Water Year 2024 Annual Report GSA staff and LWA will update the Board on the results from water quality monitoring in Fall 2024 and next steps for the Water Year 2024 Annual Report. Audra Bardsely with LWA presented on preparations for the 2024 Annual Report. Overall Basin appears to be in good condition. LWA is preparing draft annual report which is anticipated to be ready by February 24 ahead of March 5 TAC Meeting. Director Crane and McNerlin commented that we need to continue to be aware that state regulation established need for GSA and that we are in overall good condition and that need to continue to advocate for re-prioritization. GSA staff commented that the Small GSA Coalition is advocating for that and that staff will continue to advocate for that. Laurel Marcus asked for clarification on how agricultural groundwater use is estimated. Laura Foglia commented that updates to this are upcoming and just will not be ready yet for the Water Year 2024 Annual Report. h. Upcoming Potential Joint Powers Agreement Amendments GSA staff and Counsel will update the Board on the need for upcoming potential Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) Amendments to update the JPA with the potential removal of Upper Russian River Water Agency as a member agency and inclusion of the Ukiah Valley Water Authority as a member agency. Counsel will also present on the potential to revise the JPA to expand the Boards authority to appoint any member agency as Treasurer and Controller. Jonathan Weldon (KMTG) provided an update on the potential needs for JPA amendments. Sean White added that timing of this is unknown. Director McNerlin and Director Watt commented that would request that potential UVWA member not be a member agency that has an additional seat on the Board (either City of Ukiah or otherwise). Beth Salomone mentioned that when GSA was established RRFC was a member of URRWA and had its own independent seat. 5. *Consent Items Recommended Action: Board adoption of the consent items in one motion. a. Approval of Minutes from October 10, 2024, Board Meeting b. Approval of Financial Report of FY 2024/2025 through November 30, 2024 Approve consent calendar with minor edits to final minutes. Motion: Watt UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 Second: Gaska Ayes: Directors Cline, Gaska, McNerlin, Watt, Crane Absent: Nevarez 6. Staff and GSA Partner Updates a. Updates from General Manager Board will receive updates from General Manger on GSA matters. Harry Starkey commented that will be launching the RFP for the ISW study and that this will be the WY staffs last meeting leading the GSA meetings. Indigo Bannister reminded Board of new FPPC filing requirements. b. Updates from GSA Legal Counsel Board will receive updates from GSA Legal Counsel on legislation and other matters. Jonathan Weldon provided general update and thanked WY for collaborative working relationship. c. Updates from DWR and SWRCB Representative Board will receive updates from local DWR and/or SWRCB representative. Dominic Blum-Gutierrez provided some brief updates: 10 years of SGMA, Technical Assistance Program for Underrepresented communities, ISW-GDE guidance papers 2 and 3 released, basin characterization exchange program coming soon, annual updates to cropping data, update to subsidence data is released. Director Gaska asked for clarification for how updates to the DWR crop mapping should be updated as land is fallowed. d. Updates from GSA Partners on Local Projects Board will receive status updates of Project and Management Actions (“PMAs”) that GSA Partners are currently implementing. Laura Garza Diaz, UCCE, presented a brief update on “Inventory on Agricultural Consumptive Use for the Ukiah Valley Basin GSA”. Seeking funding for portions or all of the proposal. Hoping GSA could be financial contributor. Seeking $140,000 for 3 years or $100,000 for 2 years for equipment. Staff time is covered by UCCE. 7. Future Agenda Items 8. Adjournment at 11:41 UKIAH VALLEY BASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY 340 Lake Mendocino Dr.  Ukiah  California 95482  (707)463-4363  fax (707)463-5474 The Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and upon request, will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities by making meeting material available in appropriate alternative formats (pursuant to Government Code Section 54953.2). Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting should contact the Mendocino County Executive Office by calling (707) 463-4441 at least five days prior to the meeting. Please reference the Mendocino County website to obtain additional information for the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency: https://ukiahvalleygroundwater.org/