Board of Directors Agenda
Sacramento, CA 95626
Annual Meeting of the Corporation and Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
March 4, 2015
4:00 p.m
Upcoming Regular Meetings
- April 1, 2015
- May 6, 2015
- June 3, 2015
A. Call to Order of the Annual Meeting of the Corporation
ADMIN: 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.
B. Approval of the minutes
The Board Chair will request approval of the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Corporation on March 5, 2014
C. Election of Officers
Election of officers of the corporation.
The elected Board Chair will discuss with Board members their thoughts regarding the election of officers and committee assignments for the year. The election of officers will be held. Committee assignments may be made.
Download the Committee Officers Roster (PDF, 58KB)
D. Establish time, date and location of regular Board Meeting
The time, date and location of regular meetings of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors will be the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the offices of the Conservancy, 2150 River Plaza Dr., Suite 460, Sacramento, California.
E. Public Comments
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
F. Adjournment
Official adjournment of the meeting.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
G. Call to Order of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
ADMIN: 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.
H. Public Comments
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Conservancy’s Board of Directors. At the request of the Board Chair, public comment will be heard from Daniel Enright, Zayo Corporation.
I. Approval of the minutes
The Board Chair will request approval of the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of February 4, 2015.
J. Authorization to amend signature cards and related financial institution authorizations
Documents necessary for the Conservancy to conduct business with its financial institutions need to be updated from time-to-time, especially when officers are elected.
As has been done in prior years, this action authorizes the Conservancy’s Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary to sign bank signature cards and related authorizing documents for the Conservancy’s Wells Fargo Bank, Wells Fargo Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors, City of Sacramento Treasurer’s Office, U.S. Bank, American Century Investments, and T. Rowe Price accounts. (Some accounts are effectively closed, but there is often post-close activity that may require officer signature authority.)
Download the NBC Resolution Officers Signature Card (PDF, 50KB)
K. Authorizing payment to the Natomas Central Mutual Water Company for installation of flow meters on selected Conservancy groundwater wells
The Conservancy Board previously requested staff keep options open for possible participation in the ground water exchange program scheduled for summer 2015. In order to preserve this option, flow meters must be installed on participating Conservancy groundwater wells. The meters must be installed pursuant to water agency specifications and preferably should be done prior to April 20, 2015. The Board is asked to authorize the Executive Director to execute and deliver an agreement with the Natomas Central Mutual Water Company in the amount of $22,286.35 to install flow meters on seven (7) Conservancy groundwater wells so that the wells will be eligible for participation in future groundwater exchange programs and also for better financial controls with the Conservancy.
L. Agricultural leases
The Conservancy has farming leases with its farm tenants. In recent years, farm income has been the largest source of revenue for the Conservancy. Even in years when HCP fees are paid, farm income is the second largest source of revenue from the Conservancy.
With the help of legal counsel, the leases have recently been standardized, and with minor exception, the leases all conform. This round of farm leases is proposed for acceptance by the Board as to basic terms, conditions and form, and in most cases, for a three-year term.
There are two types of leases, rice and non-rice:
Rice leases. The rice lease proposed calls for a basic cash rent of $190.00 per acre with a bonus rent payment based on meeting or exceeding certain price and yield thresholds. For example, the average amount paid per acre by Conservancy rice farming tenants in 2014 was $320.91 and in 2013 was $286.07, and in 2012, it was $284.57. The base rent and the bonus rent amounts are identical to those in the Conservancy’s 2014 leases.
Non-rice leases. As to the non-rice leases, the terms and conditions are typically the same as the rice leases, except the payments are generally $100.00 per acre cash rent for alfalfa and $50.00 per acre for all other non-rice crops.
Certain exceptions are made to farming contracts. For example, inducements are often made to farmers for planting Swainson’s Hawk-friendly crops on soils that typically would not support them. Another example is offering only one-year leases for rice fields targeted for being next in line for conversation to managed marsh (one-year layout is required).
No changes are planned in farm tenants engaged for this round of leases. There are presently six (6) farm tenants in number, not including an occasional livestock tenant.
This item requests that the Board authorize the Executive Director to negotiate the final terms on farm leases for 2015, 2016 and 2017, then execute and deliver on farming contracts for the Conservancy farm tenants in a manner that is substantially consistent with the standardized leases presented with this issue and in the agenda.
Download the NBC Draft non-rice lease (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Download the NBC Draft rice lease (PDF, 1.4 MB)
M. Renew the land management agreement with land management contractor
The Conservancy has a land management agreement with Sopwith Farms. Land management includes activities like clearing water control structures for beaver damage, invasive and non-native weed control, managing water control structures to maintain water levels at rates ordered by the Conservancy, fence repair, removal of dead animals and certain property security measures among others.
The total costs for land management the past three years appears as follows:
2012 – $280,393.00
2013 ““ $326,960.00
2014 – $255,333.00
The amount in the 2015 budget for this line item is $400,000.00.
This item requests that the Board of Directors authorize its Executive Director to execute and deliver an agreement for 2015 and 2016 or otherwise an extension of the existing agreement for a two-year period to include 2015 and 2016 with Sopwith Farms for selected land management work with the monthly compensation at a rate of $5,000.00 per month and “additional services” billed on a time and materials basis. “Additional services” are those services requested by Conservancy staff, usually for one-time projects. In no case can the monthly amount exceed $25,000.00 without the written approval of the Conservancy.
Download the NBC Land Management Services Agreement (PDF, 710 KB)
Download the Land Management Costs (PDF, 450 KB)
N. City of Sacramento
Report from the City of Sacramento regarding HCP-related activity and other topics. Scot Mende with the City will present to the Board the City’s report for 2014, outlook for 2015 and certain procedures employed by the City to guide its NBHCP activities, including its grading protocols.
Download City 2014 Annual Report-Letter (PDF, 1.6 MB)
O. Financial statement review
A financial statement update will be provided for the period ended January 2015 (unaudited). Additional financial information will be provided. Staff will also update the Board on the progress of the audit of the Conservancy’s December 31, 2014 financial statement.
Download the January 31 2015 Unaudited Financial Statements (PDF, 3 MB)
P. Update:Board request for a illustration showing Natomas Basin acreage allocations
At its February 4, 2015 Board meeting, the Board discussed an exhibit it requested which articulated how the Conservancy’s surplus acres are accounted for. During this discussion, the Board requested additional information as to how the mitigation acres and supplemental acres are mapped.
This item responds to the Board’s requests and shows how mitigation acres are accounted for generally, and how they are mapped.
Download the Land Allocation Map (PDF, 360 KB)
Q. Conservancy biological monitoring report
The Conservancy’s annual biological monitoring report will be presented by the Conservancy’s biological monitoring contractor, ICF International. Doug Leslie will deliver the 2014 report and entertain questions Board members may have. Full hard copy reports will be available to the Board at the next regular meeting of the Board.
R. NBHCP’s ” Area B” familiarization
At its last meeting, the Board requested additional information on that area in the NBHCP described as “Area B.” The request included providing a map of Area B, the citations in the NBHCP which first included it then led to its unavailability, and comments from the Board Chair as to the future of the area. Staff will brief the Board as requested.
S. Update: property tax research
Staff will update the Board on the progress made in obtaining property tax relief.
T. “Conservancy Calendar” familiarization
Staff will brief the Board of Directors on an internal document that guides operations called the “Conservancy Calendar.”
U. Executive Session
Executive Session is scheduled to initiate discussion on performance review and evaluation of the Executive Director. Executive Session for the performance review is pursuant to Government Code Section 54957, Employee performance evaluation.
V. Executive Director’s Report
Various matters for Board members’ general information will be presented by the Conservancy’s Executive Director.
W. Public comments
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Conservancy’s Board of Directors
X. Adjournment
Official adjournment of the meeting.