SW Idaho Advisory Committee
Minutes
June 16, 2005
SW Idaho RAC Members
Present: Phil Davis (Chair), David
Whaley (Vice-Chair), Lois Van Hoover, Tom Glass, Edward Mansfield, Joe Hinson,
John Gebhards, John McCarthy, Robert Baker
Designated Federal
Officer: Doug Gochnour
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Chair, Phil Davis, called the meeting to order
at 10:40 a.m. He stated that there would be a full agenda
today and reminded the committee that a tally was necessary on the declining
balance.
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DFO, Doug Gochnour, stated that the previous agenda
was incorrect as numbers 036,
037, were misnumbered and instructed
the group to use the corrected second agenda. He directed attention to the
second page in the packet spreadsheet.
The project log is current as of June 5th.
The minutes were discussed.
David Whaley made a motion to accept the minutes and financial report as
written. Ed Mansfield seconded the
motion. The minutes and financial report
were accepted as written.
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DFO Gochnour proceeded with reports on RAC
expenses, RAC funding balance update and Project Log Update. DFO Gochnour stated $ 455,000
of this year’s money (‘05)
was spent and RAC has committed approximately $162,000
of next year’s money (’06). He also indicated this is a conservative
estimate and there was a little more money in the bank, as some projects have
come in under estimate.
There was some discussion regarding
the status of contracts, including Horned Creek. DFO Gochnour stated that every contract out
for agreement has been disseminated and signed. He clarified the process for
subtracting funds; the day the agreement is made the dollar amount is
subtracted from the budget.
Project Log#:5028 (Part 2)
Project Name: Elmore County Weed Building
Project Sponsor: Mary Egusquiza, Elmore Co.
Ms. Egusquiza handed out packets of information to RAC. This project is designed to target three
areas: Noxious Weeds, Search and Rescue Operations, and Rescue and Extrication. Ms. Egusquiza went over the spreadsheet and
clarified issues in cost. If they break
ground next year, the anticipated cost is $214,000 vs. the
original request for $266,000. Their Title 3
dollars will forward to ’06
and total $25,000 vs. $19,000. She also brought to RAC’s attention a special
allocation of $70,000. When the county passed their jail bond, they approved
the proposed building for these projects will share the same property and
therefore the utilities will be the county’s responsibility. There was some discussion on property tax
issues and terminology used in the project.
All questions were answered.
It was suggested by Chair Davis to move to Part 2.
|
Federal Resource Benefits
|
Community Stability/Job Opps
|
Cooperative Relations
|
Cost/Benefit Relationship
|
Project Quality/
Coor.
|
Matching
Funds
|
Project
Urgency
|
Tangible Outcome
|
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
Part 2 of
the Evaluation criteria equaled 38.
Tom Glass made a
motion to approve Project 5028 Part 2, David Whaley seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Project Log#: 5036
Project Name: Roaring River Culvert Replacement
Project Sponsor: Michael
Kellett, Boise Forest Fish Biologist
Mr. Kellett was the luncheon speaker for the March 9th RAC meeting where he gave a
presentation on the culvert inventory. He
formally introduced the project at this June RAC meeting. After the ’03-’04
culvert inventory, the Roaring River Culvert was identified as one of the top
priorities on the forest. Mr. Kellett
proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation.
He explained that the existing culvert is 13 feet in diameter and 40 feet long with a steep grade just under 5 %.
This adversely affects the bull trout’s ability to jump through the
culvert and swim upstream to spawn, thus threatening the status of the bull
trout. Mr. Kellett discussed the
longevity of trout families, necessary criteria in conditions to generate trout
environs, number and location of current bull trout populations and several
other important facts to support the perceived need to replace the culvert. They would like to ask for ‘05 monies, but implement the project in ’06. The
proposal would require $265,000 in contracted
costs to come from RAC. The plan is to
get $125,000
additional funds in federal dollars through the “Bring Back the Natives”
Project.
Questions were answered in the following areas: the age of
the culvert is forty yrs., a bridge will replace the existing culvert with a 40 foot span and concrete abutments, the load
capacity of the proposed bridge will meet all state highway legal requirements,
gradient change will be to 4%
with a natural sub straight bottom, the road which crosses this culvert is #255
in the Trinity Lake area, cost comparisons were made with similar projects and
determined comparable.
Chair Davis
recommended a move to Part 1.
Part 1 Evaluation
|
Matching Funds
|
Multiple Benefits
|
Affordable
|
Completed 1
yr.
|
Long- Term Benefits
|
Finite Project
|
Admin.
Costs
|
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y/N
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
John Gebhards made a
motion to move to Part 2. Bob Barker seconded the motion.
Part 2 Evaluation
|
Federal Resource Benefits
|
Community Stability/Job Opps.
|
Cooperative Relations
|
Cost/Benefit Relationship
|
Project Quality/
Coor.
|
Matching
Funds
|
Project
Urgency
|
Tangible Outcome
|
|
3
|
2.5
|
4
|
2.5
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
Part 2 of
the evaluation criteria equaled 27.
Further discussion followed which resulted in a recommendation
that the project sponsor contact the Board of County Commissioners to receive a
letter of support, in congruence with RAC procedure.
Joe Hinson made a
motion to postpone the vote until July’s meeting to allow for receipt of the County Commissioner’s letter and to take a budgetary look at the cost benefit ratio. Lois Van Hoover seconded this motion and the
motion carried. John McCarthy stated he
would prefer to see this project passed now.
This project has been tabled until July.
Luncheon
Speaker: the luncheon speaker was
Sarah Bigger with the Environmental Science and Public Policy Research
Institute, Boise State
University. She gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding
wildlife conservation strategies.
Sandra Mitchell joined the meeting for the luncheon and
afternoon portion of the meeting.
Public Forum: No
comments or questions.
It was suggested by Chair Davis and DFO Gochnour to move the
discussion of the next RAC meeting from the original time slot of 3:15 to right after lunch. This was agreed upon.
Mary Farnsworth, Council District Ranger, has invited the
committee to convene the next meeting in Council. The purpose of this field trip meeting would
be to review the currently funded projects’ status (Greenhouses with Fuels for
Schools and the completed RAC funded project of the East Fork Ditch), as well
as to share information regarding a potential fuels reduction project. The County
Commissioners also plan to
participate in this field trip. After
discussion regarding the need to have a quorum on the field trip if RAC
approves an additional project, and due to the conflicting schedules and
commitments of RAC members during the summer months, it was suggested by several members to move the next meeting from July to
September 21st
in Council.
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There
will be no RAC meetings in July or August 2005.
Ed Mansfield made a
motion to move the tabled project, Roaring River Culvert, from the July meeting
agenda to the September 21st meeting. Dave Whaley seconded the motion and it
carried. DFO Gochnour will notify Mr.
Kellett.
Project Log:5037 Parts 1 and 2 included
Project Name: Senior
Firewood Program
Project Sponsors: Judy
Ellis Adams Co. /Mary Farnsworth, Park Ranger Council
Judy Ellis explained the importance of this project through
discussion and a PowerPoint presentation.
This project involves pre-commercial thinning, cleaning up the forest,
cutting wood already down, and is very labor intensive. They are requesting $10,000
for an experimental program to pay for woodcutters to cut, deliver, and stack
wood for 40 low income and/or
disabled individuals and families.
Families will be identified through Idaho Power. Woodcutters could be healthy
people requesting assistance. In lieu of
giving money, they could be paid for the wood service. Matching funds would be generated from: $3,000
from the Forest Service and $1,500 from WICAP (Co.
Program).
DFO Gochnour has a letter of recommendation from all three
Adams County Commissioners.
Joe Hinson made a
motion to approve Project 5037.
Sandra Mitchell seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Project Log #: 5034
Project Name: Co. General Feasibility Analysis
Project Sponsors: Judy
Ellis/Mary Farnsworth
This project’s purpose is to save and extend the lifespan of
the Adams County Landfill by burning wood (approximately 10% of the landfill).
The objective is to generate electricity by implementing a 6-10
mw Biomass Generation Facility in Adams
County. There are three proposed phases of
implementation: Phase 1 ($25K) to determine economic feasibility, Phase
2 ($8K) to refine the process, and Phase 3 ($12K)
to technically refine the process. Each
phase’s funding would be contingent upon successful implementation of the
previous phase.
Much discussion and questions were generated from this
project proposal. Representatives from
project supporters were present and elaborated on Ms. Ellis’ presentation. The State Department of Energy and Siemens
Corporation support this project. This
proposal has not been submitted for county support. Concern was expressed by committee members
that this study may duplicate a recent study by the University
of Idaho. Joe Hinson expressed his concern that previous
studies have not shown proposals similar to this to be economically viable.
It was decided to move to Part 1.
Part 1 Evaluation
|
Matching Funds
|
Multiple Benefits
|
Affordable
|
Completed 1
yr.
|
Long- Term Benefits
|
Finite Project
|
Admin.
Costs
|
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y + -
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
Sandra Mitchell made
a motion to move to Part 2. Lois Van Hoover seconded and
the motion carried.
Part 2 Evaluation
|
Federal Resource Benefits
|
Community Stability/Job Opps.
|
Cooperative Relations
|
Cost/Benefit Relationship
|
Project Quality/
Coor.
|
Matching
Funds
|
Project
Urgency
|
Tangible Outcome
|
|
3
|
2.5
|
5
|
2.5
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
5
|
Part 2 of
the evaluation criteria equaled 31.
Sandra Mitchell made
a motion to send Project 5034 forward for funding. Lois Van Hoover seconded. The motion did not carry.
DFO Gochnour called for members to break into sub groups for
discussion. This was done. DFO Gochnour called
Randy Harris to record his vote in order to reach a quorum in Group B. Mr. Harris voted to approve this project.
Groups were called back to order.
DFO Gochnour called
for a roll call vote and reminded that it was necessary to get three
affirmative votes in each group to pass this proposal. Sub Group B failed to get the necessary three
votes.
Chair Davis asked for a clarification of the charter’s
bylaws, is it a majority of those present in each group or a definite three
affirmative out of five in each group?
He was advised that the interpretation of the bylaws has determined that
it is 3/5.
John McCarthy made a
motion to amend the original motion to reflect the following: fund $15,000 for one year, contingent on matching funds in the amount of $10,000 from the Department of Commerce or other funding source(s), with the ability to come back for a
proposal for second phase funding. Tom
Glass seconded the motion. DFO Gochnour
called for a roll call vote. The motion
did not pass due to not enough affirmative votes in Sub Group C.
Ed Mansfield and
David Whaley changed their votes to yes.
The amended motion carried.
Project Log: 5035
Project Name: RAC
Publicity Opportunities
Project Sponsor: Boyd
Hartwig/Dave Olson
Public relations sample products were reviewed at a previous
meeting. Mr. Hartwig passed out a printed
colored newsletter highlighting RAC accomplishments for the past year. The target audience would be federal, state
and county agencies, elected officials, media, special interest groups,
etc. The focus would be to enhance awareness
of RAC, its accomplishments, and funding available. Suggested format: color, picture oriented,
highlight: form, function, responsibilities, feature committee member profiles,
budget and allocations up to date for current publication. Recommendation is a one time a year
publication. Printing costs $800-$1,000,
research/layout @ 40 hours is
$1,200. Total approximate cost is $2,200.
Dave Whaley made a
motion to fund Project 5035. Ed
Mansfield seconded.
Discussion ensued. Postal costs were not included, as well
as a concern that this was a conservative estimate of real costs.
Lois Van Hoover made
a recommendation to amend the motion to fund up to $5,000. Both Mr. Whaley and Mr.
Mansfield agreed. The motion carried.
Potential Budget Carryover Options: DFO Gochnour stated there is $318,000
remaining, not counting the Roaring River Culvert Project. This can carry over to September. DFO Gochnour and Mr. Davis discussed dust
abatement options. Mr. Davis stated that
typically the committee commits 20%
of the carry over funds for dust abatement projects. Last year this cost $60,000. DFO Gochnour reminded the committee that
about one third of the 2005
budget, included carryover funds from 2004. DFO Gochnour called for a decision on the
proposal to solicit dust abatement projects this year. The committee consensus was not to pursue
this year.
There was no other business.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:23
p.m.
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Next
meeting September 21st in
Council.
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Decisions made during this meeting:
-To fund Project 5028, Elmore
County Weed Building.
-To table Project 5036 vote until September’s meeting, due to
budgetary concerns and determination of county support.
-To fund Project 5037, Senior Firewood Program, Adams
County
-To revise Project 5034 funding/approval to the funding of
Phase One only, with an opportunity to resubmit upon Phase One completion. To decrease Phase One funding to $15,000,
contingent on Adams County
securing $10,000 in additional funds first.
-To increase funding for Project 5035 to up to $5,000.
-To not solicit any dust abatement
proposals and to carry over existing funds.
