Office of the Secretary Manager
Kittitas Reclamation District Board of
Directors Meeting
June 5, 2018 Minutes
The Board of Directors of
the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on June 5, 2018
at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Four Director and Chairman
Larry Bland, Division Two Director and Vice Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Division One
Director Mark Hansen, Division Three Director Fred Schnebly, 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, Legal
Counsel Jeff Slothower, David Allison P.E. from Jacobs Engineering Group and
Consultant Walter Larrick. Also, in attendance was KRD land owner Janeice Jump.
The agenda was approved with
the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW
42.30.110(1)(b), RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(ii), and (iii).
The motion was made by Director Hansen and the second was made by Director
Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.
The minutes for the May 1,
2018 Board Meeting were approved as corrected with a motion made by Director
Hansen and the second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed
unanimously.
Public Comment: No comment.
Water Master Report: As
of June 5, 2018, the reservoirs storage is 111% of average. Precipitation at the
reservoirs from May 5, 2018 to date is zero inches. The canal flow is currently
running at 900 cfs and is on a downward trend as farmers are preparing to cut
hay. Precipitation for the water year to date is 231.94 inches, or 112% of
average. The next River Operations Meeting is scheduled for June 7th
where it is expected that an estimate for the Storage Control Date will be
released.
Maintenance Report: Mr.
Main reported that we have been concentrating on canal road work, checking and
resetting weir gauges to ensure accuracy, spraying and mowing. The crews are
very happy with the new mower. Maintenance crews continue to clear the right of
way in the upper county so that it will speed up operations next winter. The
county closed Mohar Rd until further notice due to water under the roadway that
was causing the roadway to sink. This was of concern to the KRD due to a canal
that runs in the same area. A company is in the process of evaluating the
stability of the land and ensure the safety of the canal.
Secretary Manager’s Activity
Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that on May 5-12th, he went to
Washington D.C. to work on the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. There were multiple
meetings, including one with the DC Leadership Group where discussions were held
on appropriations and operations. Two weeks later there was additional work that
was done with Family Farm Alliance and the Western Agriculture and Conservation
Coalition.
On May 17th Mr.
Eberhart gave a presentation as part of the “Fire and Ice” series with Emily
Washines at Central Washington University. The presentation consisted of an
overview of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and what the KRD is planning for
future development, for example building new dams, adding surface and ground
water storage to make up for lack of snow pack, water conservation and providing
tributary supplementation.
On May 31st, Mr.
Eberhart gave a Yakima Integrated Plan short story presentation to a group
sponsored by the Nature Conservancy at the Mountaineers in Seattle.
Mr. Eberhart met with
Senator Cantwell on May 31st in Bellevue to talk about the Yakima
Basin Integrated Plan.
On June 13th & 14th,
there is a Yakima Basin Science & Management Conference at Central Washington
University which Mr. Eberhart and Cole Province will be jointly presenting at.
Mr. Province will be giving a scientific presentation on the results of the
tributary supplementation program.
Mr. Eberhart will be
attending the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC)
Columbia Basin Partnership(CBP) Meeting in Hood River on June 19 & 20th.
The United States Bureau of
Reclamation (USBR) is now handling the project for the Water Infrastructure
Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act Storage. Wendy Christensen and Elayne
Hovde-Knudson are helping to direct the project and are scheduling drilling for
late summer.
KRD is working with Trout
Unlimited on the 2018 WaterSmart Grant. The contract is expected to be ready to
sign within a couple weeks.
Field Supervisor Bob Main
and an engineer did some testing on the North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase
II.
A discussion on the North
Branch Canal Lining Phase III allowed Legal Counsel Slothower to summarize
options regarding the selection of companies for future contracts. Option 1A,
Remain the same, publish the job and take bids, low bidder takes the job. Option
1B we do the same process as process as 1A except you narrow the definition of a
qualified bidder so that you are sure you get someone with the expertise and
experience to do the qualified work. The bidder would need to demonstrate that
they meet the qualifications to be considered for the bid. Option 2 is to use a
change order with our current contractor. Option 3 is the sole source exception
to bidder. The board discussed the options and chose to use option 3, sole
source. A resolution will be brought back to the July Board Meeting to cover the
process.
The South Branch Canal
Lining Project Memorandum of Agreement for the kiosk is an ongoing process.
The South Branch Canal
Lining Project Phase I Design Bid Announcement is expected to be ready in
mid-July. The KRD is in the process of completing the agreement for Phase I and
to finish the South Branch 13.8 to Manastash Water Diversion Association (MWDA)
pipeline connection with a budget of $2,107,000.00. The bid announcement for
this project is anticipated in mid-August.
Jacobs Engineering is
developing a scope of work and engineering costs for the South Branch Canal
Lining Phase II Engineering Design Project.
The inspection report for
the Yakima Pressure Tunnel is forthcoming.
Jacobs Engineering worked
with the KRD to develop a Water Conservation & Habitat Improvement Program to
determine the amount of water conservation that could be made with improvements
to the current canal system.
Treasurer’s Report: The 2017
Annual Report was submitted to the Washington State Auditor’s Office on May 30,
2018. A financial summary of the report was provided. There is an audit
scheduled to begin on June 18th to review the documents submitted.
The Directors’ monthly
payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary Vouchers for the April
2018 expenses and the May 2018 payroll which included check numbers 42245-42331,
direct deposit numbers 9901398 through 9901413 in the sum of $1,101,865.45 were
approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by
Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business:
New Business: Treasurer Berg
reported that the 2015 Delinquent Accounts have been forwarded to Legal Counsel
Slothower to continue the collection process. There are currently nine accounts
that are included in this process.
Director Wakkuri made a
motion to approve the payment for USBR Operation and Maintenance Cost for the
2017 deficit $202,931.75 and the 2018 2nd half payment $290,500.00
for a total of $493,431.75. A second was made by Director Hansen, the motion
passed unanimously.
Director Weaver made a
motion to approve the payment for the USBR Construction Debt Retirement (CDR)
payment in the amount of $53,823.01. A second was made by Director Hansen, the
motion passed unanimously.
Other Business: The Board
adjourned to Executive Session at 1:50 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW
42.30.110(1)(b), RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(ii) and (iii)
there was a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second made by Director
Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. Executive session was extended for 5
minutes. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:25 p.m. with a motion made
by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Hansen. The motion
passed unanimously.
All business having been
concluded the meeting was adjourned.
______________________________________
Mr. Bland KRD Board of
Directors Chairman
______________________________________
Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary
Manager