Regular Meeting Board of Directors
June 4, 2025
4:00 p.m.
This will be an in-person meeting located at
2150 River Plaza Drive, first-floor conference room, Sacramento, CA 95833.
Meeting facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. If you require special assistance to participate in the meeting, notify the Conservancy’s office at (916) 649-3331 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
The NBHCP Implementation Annual Meeting has been postponed to the August 6, 2025 Board meeting.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors (Open)
1. Call to Order of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
The Board Chair will call the meeting to order if a quorum is present. Announcements by the Board Chair or Executive Director may be made at this time. Board members may make announcements at this time as well.
2. Public Comments
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
3. Approval of the minutes
All items listed under the Consent Calendar, including minutes, are considered and acted upon by one Motion. Any Board member may request an item be removed for separate consideration.
The Board Chair will request approval of the consent items and minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of April 2, 2025.
Download the Conservancy’s signed April 2, 2025 Board meeting minutes (PDF, 7 MB)
4. Septic system replacements
This item requests:
1.) Board approval to replace two septic systems, one at the Pedro house ($28,922.00), and one at Quonset hut ($28,722.00). Both are on the Conservancy’s BKS tract where the Conservancy’s corporate yard facilities are located. The requested total is $57,644.00.
2.) Also requested is a 10% contingency to allow for any unforeseen circumstances, bringing the total maximum possible to $63,408.40.
3.) Board approval of this item authorizes and directs either the Conservancy’s Executive Director, John Roberts, or Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for the septic system replacement is $69,000.00.
5. Beaver damage repairs
At the April 2, 2025 meeting, the Board approved entering into a Service Agreement with Triangle Land Restoration (Triangle) for repair of beaver damage on the Conservancy’s Frazer North and Lucich North tracts in the amount of $29,250.00 (Resolution No. RS 25.04.06). A change order was requested by Triangle which resulted in an additional $805.00 for additional fill material.
This item requests:
1.) Board ratification of the additional $805.00 to the previously Board-approved $29,250.00 expenditure, bringing the new total to $30,055.00 spent for Triangle to repair damages on the Conservancy’s Frazer North and Lucich North tracts, and
2.) Board approval to authorize and direct either the Executive Director, John Roberts, or the Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for habitat land management (including beaver damage repair) is $567,894.00.
6. Field Services Truck #3
Previously the Board approved the purchase of two trucks for the expanded Conservancy’s field services operations. The Conservancy continues to expand its field services staff and requests Board authorization to purchase a third field services vehicle.
This item requests:
1.) Board approval to execute and deliver all required documents necessary to purchase a new truck for a price not to exceed $50,000.00 with a 10% contingency ($55,000.00 total),
2.) authorization to increase the Conservancy’s insurance premium, to properly insure the vehicle,
3.) increase the 2025 budget for this expenditure, and
4.) authorize and direct either the Conservancy’s Executive Director, John Roberts, or Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
7. Proposed insurance renewals
Amy Callahan with LP Insurance will review with the Board the Conservancy’s insurance policies that are set for renewal on July 1, 2025.
The Conservancy presently holds the following policies: auto, crime, cyber liability, directors and officers (D&O), employee benefits liability, employee practices liability (EPL), flood, general liability, inland marine, pollution liability, property, workers’ compensation, and umbrella (also known as excess).
The cost of insurance for 2024 was $91,283.51.
The Board’s Finance Committee will review with the Board its recommendations for insurance renewals.
This item requests:
1.) Board approval to acquire recommended insurance coverage based on LP Insurance’s presentation, including two Builders risk policies for two new barns, and
2.) authorize and direct either the Conservancy’s Executive Director, John Roberts, or Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for insurance is $111,000.00.
8. Legal services agreement
The action requested here authorizes either the Conservancy’s Executive Director, John Roberts, or Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to execute and deliver an agreement which continues the services of Best, Best & Krieger as Conservancy legal counsel for two years and under the same terms and conditions as the existing agreement.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for legal services is $100,000.00.
If you would like a copy of the document included in this item, please contact the Conservancy office.
9. Audit services contract extension
This item requests:
1.) Board approval to execute and deliver a three-year contract extension with two one-year options to renew with Gilbert CPAs for the annual audit of the Conservancy’s financial statements, the cost proposed for each year is detailed below. The 2024 cost was $27,500.00.
2025 – $38,000.00
2026 – $39,900.00
2027 – $41,900.00
2028 – $43,900.00
2029 – $45,900.00
2.) Staff requests an annual 10% contingency, and
3.) authorizes and directs either the Conservancy’s Executive Director, John Roberts, or Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for the 2024 audit is $27,500.00.
10. NBHCP Finance Model and fee update contract extension
This item requests:
1.) Board approval to execute and deliver a three-year contract extension with two one-year options to renew with Economic and Planning Systems Inc. for the annual NBHCP Finance Model and mitigation fee update, the cost proposed for each year is detailed below. The 2025 cost was $22,500.00.
2026 – $27,500.00
2027 – $28,250.00
2028 – $29,000.00
2029 – $29,750.00
2030 – $30,500.00
2.) Staff requests an annual 10% contingency, and
3.) authorizes and directs either the Conservancy’s Executive Director, John Roberts, or Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for the NBHCP Finance Model and mitigation fee update is $28,000.00.
11. Managed marsh construction bid clarification and project updates
Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) obtained bids on behalf of the Conservancy for the Bennett North and Nestor tracts managed marsh construction projects and reviewed them with the Board at its last meeting.
The Board authorized awarding a contract to Apex Environmental & Engineering Inc. based on that presentation. An error on the bid pricing calculation exhibit presented to the Board was brought to Conservancy staff attention by WES after the meeting. As a result, an adjustment in the Board’s action (Resolution No. RS 25.04.08) is requested.
This item requests:
1.) Board ratification to adjust the contract price to $1,834,164.86 (up from the contract amount of $1,642,741.32) for this project,
2.) as approved previously, include a contingency of twenty percent (20%) of the contract amount for associated and unforeseen circumstances. The total amount with contingency is $2,200,997.83, up from the prior amount of $1,971,289.58. This would be an additional $229,708.25 to the total,
3.) authorizes and directs either the Executive Director, John Roberts, or the Chief Financial Officer, Kimberli Burns, to take all actions deemed necessary or appropriate to implement this action.
The 2025 Board-approved budget for the Bennett North and Nestor restoration & enhancement project is $3,031,800.00.
12. City of Sacramento Report
Report from the City of Sacramento regarding HCP-related activity and other topics.
13. County of Sutter Report
Report from the County of Sutter regarding HCP-related activity and other topics.
14. Financial Report
A financial statement will be provided for the period ended April 30, 2025 (unaudited). Additional financial information will be provided.
Download the Conservancy’s April 30, 2025 unaudited financial statements (PDF, 5 MB)
15. Water outlook for 2025
Brett Gray, General Manager of the Natomas Central Mutual Water Company will review the water outlook for the Natomas Basin for 2025.
16. Executive Director’s Report
Various matters for Board members’ general information will be presented by the Conservancy’s Executive Director.
If you would like a copy of the document included in this item, please contact the Conservancy office.
Executive Session (Closed)
17. Executive Session
Executive Session is scheduled for real estate matters pursuant to Government Code 54956.8.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors (Open)
18. Adjournment of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Official adjournment of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Upcoming Regular Meetings
- August 7, 2024 (Implementation Annual Meeting)
- October 2, 2024
- December 4, 2024