Office of the Secretary Manager
Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors
Meeting
May 14, 2019 Minutes
The Board of Directors of
the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on May 14, 2019
at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Three Director and Chairman
Fred Schnebly, Division One Director and Vice Chairman Mark Hansen, Division
Four Director Larry Bland, Division Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Five
Director Paul Weaver, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin
Eslinger, Field Supervisor Bob Main, Treasurer Stacy Berg, Lands Clerk & RRA
Specialist Keli Bender, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Sara Vickers, Legal Counsel
Jeff Slothower. Also, in attendance was KRD land owner Janeice Jump.
The amended agenda was
approved with the addition of two executive sessions for reasons consistent with
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The first Executive session would be at 1:30 p.m. and
the second would be prior to the conclusion of the meeting. The motion was made
by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed
unanimously.
The minutes for the April
2, 2019 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Bland and the
second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comment: There were
no public comments.
Water Master Report: As
of May 14, 2019, the five reservoirs were at 71% capacity which was 90.1% of
average. Precipitation for the reservoirs from May 1st to date is
zero. Precipitation for the water year to date is 177.43 inches, or 89% of
average. The Snotel Sites for the Upper Yakima Basin are reporting 33% of
average and the Lower Basin sites are at 63% of average. Mr. Eberhart provided
documentation from the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) which
illustrated the current water forecast in the Yakima Basin.
Maintenance Report: Mr.
Main reported that the crews are working at Easton Dam, doing ongoing
maintenance that has been recommended by the USBR. This includes, replacing log
booms in front of the canal intake trash racks, also doing some concrete and
stair work. Spray crews have completed the spraying in the badger pocket area
and are now working on the North Branch. Crews are hauling out spoils in the
badger pocket area, and also doing some road work.
Secretary Manager’s
Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that while he was at the Denver
Stakeholders Meeting, it was announced that the USBR had opened and closed a
comment period on the draft Directive and Standards (D&S) for O&M of transferred
works. What was surprising was that attendees were all from irrigation districts
throughout the west and most had not heard of the changes being proposed. After
significant encouragement from the attendees the comment period was reopened.
The KRD provided comments to the USBR on this matter.
Director Weaver made a
motion to pay the $500.00 in Ruckelshaus Center Dues. A second was made by
Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
A tour was provided on May
13th to the Assistant Regional Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service who toured the Upper Yakima Projects.
On June 4th the
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Integrated Plan Workgroup will be
hosting a 10-year celebration.
There will be a celebration
commemorating 42 years of the Aquavella adjudication, hosted by Department of
Ecology on June 5th at Sarg Hubbard Park in Yakima, WA.
Director Hansen made a
motion to change the date of the June Board Meeting to June 11th at
1:00 p.m. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Eberhart requested
approval to travel to Reno, Nevada to present at the United States Society for
Irrigation and Drainage Professionals Conference November 5-8, 2019. Director
Weaver made a motion to approve the travel to Reno, NV. A second was made by
Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
Director Bland made a
motion to change the date of the November Board Meeting to November 12, 2019 at
1:00 p.m. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.
There will be a WaterSmart
Water Marketing Advisory Group Meeting this week.
The Yakima Basin Focused
Managed Aquifer Recharge Assessment Group has had a tour that hydrogeologists
attended to view some possible project sites. The group will continue to be
active throughout the summer.
The South Branch 13.8
Connection to Manastash Water Ditch Association (MWDA) has been completed.
The South Branch Canal
Lining Phase I, including change orders 3,4,5 and 6 are complete.
The fencing from the canal
road to Boylston Road is complete.
Treasurer’s Report: The
Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary
Vouchers for the March 2019 expenses and the April 2019 payroll which included
check numbers 43157-43244, direct deposit numbers 9901629 through 9901648 in the
sum of $2,077,908.18 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri. The
second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.
Old Business: The
agreements between the KRD and the participants in Kittitas County Water
Purveyors (KCWP) were presented. Director Hansen made a motion to approve the
agreements that were presented. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the
motion passed unanimously.
New Business: Legal Counsel
Slothower reported that the City of Ellensburg has proposed an expansion of
their Downtown Registered Historic District which would include the parcels that
the KRD Office is currently housed on. A letter was drafted in opposition and
forwarded to the Senior Planner Historic Preservation for the City of
Ellensburg. There is also a proposition that the City of Ellensburg would like
to change the zoning for the same parcels. The concern is that the change in
zoning could make the KRD’s existing activities non-conforming. KRD staff will
attend the zoning meeting and will continue to monitor the situation.
Director Weaver made a
motion to approve Resolution 2019-09 which allows KRD to raise the debt ceiling
with Jacobs Engineering to not exceed the ceiling of $5,000,000.00. A second was
made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
A discussion ensued
regarding the benefits of the Retro Safety Program. Director Weaver made a
motion to approve the payment for the 2019 Retro Safety Dues in the amount
$2,421.60. A second was made by Director Bland, the motion passed unanimously.
The 2019 Foreclosure List
was presented to the Board which listed all the outstanding 2016 assessments.
Treasurer Berg will continue to attempt to collect the outstanding balances and
provide an updated report at the next board meeting.
Mr. Eberhart presented an
email from Nick Marquez who was requesting the Board forgive the past due
interest in the amount of $76.16 on an account. The email was read verbatim, the
board discussed the request and chose to decline the request.
Other Business: The Board
adjourned to Executive Session at 1:30 p.m. for 15 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Hansen and a second made
by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular
Session at 1:45 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri, and the second was
made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously. The Board adjourned for
the second Executive Session at 2:05 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Hansen and a second was
made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to
Regular Session at 2:35 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second
was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.
All business having been
concluded the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of
Directors Chairman
______________________________________
Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary
Manager