Board of Directors Agenda
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 “Action by Consent,” 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 minutes and consent items of the Board of Directors meeting of August 7, 2019.
4. Sacramento Tree Foundation
The Sacramento Tree Foundation provides tree counting services as specified in the Conservancy’s Implementation Annual Report. Historically, the services cost the Conservancy $15,000 per year. Due to increased cost in providing this service, the proposed contract with The Sacramento Tree Foundation for the next three years will be $17,000 per year.
Board approval of this agenda item authorizes the Executive Director to execute and deliver a contract with The Sacramento Tree Foundation for fiscal years 2020-2022 at $17,000 per year.
5. Audit Committee Charter
The Conservancy’s Audit Committee Charter is presented for Board review and approval with minor updated. The policy was last updated October 4, 2017.
6. Finance Committee Charter
The Conservancy’s Finance Committee Charter is presented for Board review and approval with minor updated. The policy was last updated October 4, 2017.
7. Land Dedication Checklist
The Conservancy’s Land Dedication Checklist is presented for Board review and approval with minor updated. The policy was last updated December 7, 2016.
8. Travel and Other Expense Reimbursement Policy
The Conservancy’s Travel and Other Reimbursement Policy is presented for Board review and approval with minor updated. The policy was last updated October 4, 2017.
Download the Travel and Other Expense Reimbursement Policy (PDF, 82 KB)
9. Agriculture leases – TNBC
This item requests the Board authorize the Executive Director to execute and deliver agriculture leases with the following farmers using the Conservancy’s standard rice and non-rice agriculture lease templates for one year with the rent costs remaining unchanged from the previous year. These are typically very small properties (except Frazer South and Bianchi West, each approximately 100 acres) and short-term (one year). The Frazer South and Bianchi West leases are subjected to interruption should the Conservancy convert them to managed marsh (as planned).
Bill Charter – Souza (28 acres – alfalfa and pasture grass), Rosa East and Rosa Central (approximately 100 each – pasture grass)
Dennis Bastio – Alleghany (50 acres – row crops)
Kurt Bianchi – Frazer South (100 acres – rice) and Bianchi West (100 acres – rice)
Brian McKenzie – Silva South (29 acres – rice)
10. Agriculture leases – SAFCA
This item requests the Board authorize the Executive Director to execute and deliver agriculture leases with the following farmers using SAFCA’s standard non-rice agriculture lease templates for one year with the rent costs remaining unchanged from the previous year:
Bill Charter – Hewitt (23 acres – maintenance with option to farm), Novak (45 acres – tomatoes), and Willey (4 acres – tomatoes)
11. Reclamation District 1000 Board of Directors Election
This item requests authorization for the Executive Director to cast votes in the Conservancy’s interest in the election of Directors at the Reclamation District 1000. Election is scheduled for November 5, 2019.
12. City of Sacramento report
Report from the City of Sacramento regarding HCP-related activity and other topics.
13. Financial statement review
Financial statements will be provided for the period ended August 31, 2019 (unaudited). Additional financial information will be provided.
Download the unaudited August 31, 2019 financial statements (PDF, 2 MB)
14. 2020 draft budget
Staff will discuss with the Board the 2020 draft budget. The submitted draft is for familiarization and review by the Board. The final 2020 budget will be included with the NBHCP Finance Model update and presented to the Board at its December 4, 2019 regular meeting.
15. Giant garter snake translocation project update
Translocation of Giant garter snakes (GGS) to the Conservancy’s Fisherman’s Lake Reserve Area has been under discussion for many years. Populations of GGS are very low in the Reserve Area, despite the Conservancy’s creation and management of managed marsh complexes there. Scientists believe that populations are so extremely low that extirpation is a real possibility in that portion of the Natomas Basin. In August 2018, the Board approved a GGS translocation project conducted by Allie Essert at U.C. Davis in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey in Dixon, CA. The program is for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Essert will present her 2019 findings to the Board.
16. Impacts of American bullfrog on Giant garter snake
Richard Kim is a UC Davis graduate student studying the ecological impacts of the invasive American bullfrog on GGS at the Conservancy BKS tract. Kim will present his 2019 findings to the Board.
17. Executive Director’s Report
Various matters for Board members’ general information will be presented by the Conservancy’s Executive Director.
18. Executive Session
Executive Session is scheduled for performance review and evaluation of the Executive Director. Executive Session for the performance review is pursuant to Government Code Section 54957, Employee performance evaluation and report out to the Board of Directors.
19. Executive Session
Executive Session is scheduled for real estate.
20. Employment agreement
Results of the Executive Session for performance evaluation will be reported. Recommendations will be made and proposals advanced with respect to an employment agreement between the Conservancy and the Executive Director.
21. Adjournment
Official adjournment of the meeting.