Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

July 9, 2019 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on July 9 , 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 Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Five Director Paul Weaver, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, 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) and (iii). The motion was made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

The minutes for the June 11, 2019 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Hansen and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment: There were no public comments.  

Water Master Report: The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has pro-rationed the KRD to 67%. Mr. Eberhart relayed documentation to the board that was presented at the River Ops Meeting last week. To manage this level of pro-rationing, the KRD is planning to run the system at 900 cfs a day of chargeable water which with later reductions in daily diversions that will extend the water season to September 15^th. As of July 9, 2019, the five reservoirs were at 68% capacity which is 85% of average. Precipitation for the reservoirs from July 1^st to date is .90 inches. Precipitation for the water year to date is 196.75 inches, or 92% of average.

Maintenance Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that the maintenance crews were clearing the north side of the canal right of way near Parke Creek Rd of willows and cottonwoods. When spraying is not being done because of the wind, mowing is occurring. There have been some requests for canal sealing and general maintenance items continue.   

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Cascade Irrigation District Director Jack Clerf inquired whether the KRD was aware that they would like to entertain the concept of wheeling water for them through the KRD Canal System. After speaking to the USBR, Mr. Eberhart relayed that for KRD to come into an agreement to wheel water we would need to get approval from the USBR. After further discussion it was determined that the KRD would need more information to determine if it was possible to accommodate the request. The conversation was tabled until additional details could be obtained.  

There was a Joint Legislative Committee Meeting at Central Washington University on June 26^th. Mr. Eberhart was invited to discuss the impacts to KRD during a drought year.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will be hosting an Emergency Supplemental Water Workshop on July 11^th in Yakima to discuss the emergency drought program. This program allows for landowners to go from a pro-rationed 67% of irrigation water up to 70%. To apply for this program, landowners will need to fill out an application and Ecology will help with the mitigation of a portion of that supply. The cost for this water to the farmer is expected to be $500 per acre foot.

There was a discussion regarding the North Branch Project. The board chose to have Legal Counsel Perkins submit a draft complaint to Tetra Tech.

The KRD is working with the Roza Irrigation District to schedule a tour on July 16^th.

Kittitas County had a public auction on July 9^th to lease some of the county water rights to bidders within Kittitas County. Mr. Eberhart reported on the results of that auction.  

Director Hansen made a motion to approve the travel for Mr. Eberhart to attend and present at the Coalition of the Willing on July 31^st in Medford, OR. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

A scope of work is being drafted for the Upper Yakima System Storage Project.

The KRD and Trout Unlimited continue to work with the team of graduate students from the Evans School at the University of Washington on the WaterSmart Water Marketing Project. The committee will be sorting through published papers on water marketing from throughout the world. The goal is to sort the papers from hundreds down to about 120 of the most relevant papers.   

The Yakima Basin Focused Managed Aquifer Recharge Assessment Committee has a meeting coming up this month. The committee is continuing to gather further information and the project is ongoing.  

The Tributary Supplementation Program is in progress. Currently there is there is 6 cfs being placed into Little Creek, 3 ½ cfs into Tucker Creek, 17 cfs into Taneum Creek, and 22 ½ cfs into Manastash Creek.

Director Hansen made a motion to submit the Easton Drum Gate Inspection Report to the USBR. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

Jacobs Engineering is expected to have the bid notice to the KRD for the South Branch Phase I by July 15^th. The Bid Opening is scheduled for August 5^th.

Director Hansen made a motion to approve the South Branch Phase II Engineering Task Authorization for $52,000.00. A second was made by Director Wakkuri, the motion passed unanimously.

The North Branch Phase III B Construction is slated for a bid packet in late August.

Legal Counsel Slothower provided a brief description of the request that was given to Rob Acheson who was approached by Ecology for a permanent turbidity device being placed on his property. The board had a discussion about it and suggested that Mr. Acheson be informed that the Kittitas County Water Purveyor’s (KCWP) are also testing water quality at that location currently. KCWP maintains a good relationship with Ecology and KCWP would be interested all of the information from the turbidity device.  

Treasurer’s Report: The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary Vouchers for the May 2019 expenses and the June 2019 payroll which included check numbers 43330-43402, direct deposit numbers 9901675 through 9901691 in the sum of $651,741.07 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri. The second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.    

Old Business: The Washington State Auditor’s Office is currently in the process of working on the 2018 Accountability and Financial Audit.

The Foreclosure List was released to Legal Counsel Slothower’s Office. The letters are ready to be mailed out to the landowners. For those landowners who do not pay a minimum of the 2016 Assessment, Interest and the Legal Fees by September 1^st, the next step would include the certificate of delinquency, title reports and foreclosure.    

Legal Counsel Slothower reported that he drafted a letter on the KRD’s behalf that would be given to the City of Ellensburg by July 12^th. There is a Zoning Meeting scheduled for July 9^th at Hal Holmes Center which Lands Clerk Sara Vickers will attend. There was also a brief discussion regarding a summary of the Downtown Ellensburg National Register District Expansion. There were only two letters that were submitted to the City of Ellensburg on the subject. The process is expected to continue to move forward and the KRD will continue to monitor the situation.

New Business: Director Wakkuri made a motion to send Treasurer Berg to the 2019 Washington Finance Officers Association Conference in Yakima, WA on September 17-20^th. A second was made by Director Hansen, the motion passed unanimously.       

Other Business: The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 1:30 p.m. for 15 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) and (iii) there was a motion made by Director Weaver and a second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 1:45 p.m. with a motion made by Director Weaver, and the second was made by Director Hansen. The motion passed unanimously. The Board adjourned for the second Executive Session at 2:16 p.m. for 25 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) and (iii) there was a motion made by Director Hansen and a second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:41 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.

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Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager