Minutes from SW Idaho Resource Advisory Committee Meeting

�Minutes from SW Idaho Resource Advisory Committee Meeting

September 15, 2004�� Boise, Idaho

In attendance:

SW Idaho RAC Members/Replacements: Phil Davis (Chairperson), Tom Glass, Barry Ross, John Cramer, Bob Baker, Dale Hanson, David Whaley, John Gebhards, Randy Harrison, Darel Harris, Ed Mansfield, Lois Van Hoover and David Whaley

Designated Federal Officer:� Randy Swick

Others:� Boyd Hartwig (Payette National Forest), Jill Osborn (Forest Service, Washington Office), Doug Gochnour, (Boise National Forest), Keith Eisberg (Film Inc.), Brant Peterson (Boise National Forest), Roger Batt (Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign), Gary Grimm (Mountain Visions), Katy Flanigan (Mountain Visions) and Carl Phares (Mountain Home Highway District).

� Chairperson Phil Davis called the meeting to order at 10:34 a.m. DFO Randy Swick indicated that a quorum was present for conducting routine business and for recommending proposed projects to the Forest Supervisor.

� Chair Phil Davis announced that DFO Randy Swick had accepted a new position with the Idaho Panhandle National Forests and said that this would be DFO Swick�s last meeting with the Southwest Idaho RAC.

� DFO Swick said that serving as the DFO over the last three years had been one of the highlights of his career. He said he thought the RAC legislation had real vision and he thanked members of the RAC for their work over the last three years to fund good public lands projects.

� Chair Davis introduced the new DFO, Doug Gochnour, the District Ranger for the Idaho City Ranger District, Boise National Forest.

� Doug summarized his recent career postings and said he felt good about his new assignment as the SWI RAC DFO. He noted that he had experience with the North Central Idaho RAC.

� DFO Swick asked RAC members to scan the minutes of the June 23, 2004 meeting and note any needed corrections. RAC members were also provided copies of comments that John Gebhards and Jill Osborn provided on Keith Eisberg�s draft storyline (RAC Project #04010, USFS Fire Lookout Project).� These comments would be the focus of a later agenda item.

� David Whaley made a motion to approve the RAC minutes from the June 23, 2004 meeting. The motion was seconded by Darel Harris and the motion passed unanimously.

� DFO Swick reviewed the RAC expenses from the June 23, 2004 meeting. He noted that the costs for the legal notice, per diem, room rental and lunches came to $511.04.� This cost also included reimbursements for RAC member travel expenses to the National RAC Workshop in Reno last March.

� Tom Glass made a motion to approve the RAC expenses to date. The motion was seconded by Ed Mansfield and the motion passed unanimously.

� DFO Swick reviewed the current Title II fund balance. He noted that the RAC currently had just under $800,000 for project allocation.

� DFO Swick reviewed the RAC Project Log, updated through projects submitted for review at today�s meeting. He noted that Projects #04024 and #04025 had adjustments from their original project proposal applications.

� Chair Davis reviewed the RAC�s June 23, 2004 discussion on dust abatement projects. He noted that the RAC might need to consider dust abatement projects at the end of the year and suggested that the RAC might want to consider discussions with the counties and highway departments on the protocol for submitting dust abatement projects.

Discussion: David Whaley asked if the RAC was going to fund dust abatement projects at the end of each fiscal year, though the work would be done the following summer. Dale Hanson said the RAC has in the past funded projects early in the year knowing they will be implemented several months away. Chair Davis said the key point was that the RAC had approximately $765,000 at the end of this fiscal year and he asked if the RAC wanted to consider that money for dust abatement projects. He asked if the RAC should invite the counties to a discussion on dust abatement funding. Bob Baker said the RAC would need to prioritize dust abatement projects. Barry said the RAC could set aside a percentage of its allocation for dust abatement projects. Bob Baker said that would be a better approach than �burning up all the money� at the end of the year. Chair Davis said further discussions on dust abatement would be postponed until lunch.

� DFO Swick reviewed a request by the Mountain Home Highway District to extend the deadline for the engineering study for Project #03014 Pine Bridge Engineering Study until June, 2005. Bob Baker asked if this extension request was for both the Pine Bridge project and the Anderson Dam project. DFO Swick said that Carl Phares could provide clarification on the Anderson Dam project later in the day when he presents another project proposal. He noted that the RAC could consider an extension on both projects at that time.

Project Log #: 04026

Project Name: Mores Creek Summit Improvement Project

Project Sponsor: Brant Peterson, Idaho City Ranger District, Boise National Forest.

Brant reviewed the project and stressed that the intent was to redesign the shape of the winter use parking lot at the site and also make it larger. He said most recreationists using the area park along Highway 21, rather than parking in the parking lot, which he noted could not accommodate �box� trailers. He said the project being proposed would increase the size of the parking lot from 1,900 square feet to 3,900 square feet. He said the new parking lot would also improve access and visibility for motorists entering and exiting the parking lot. Brant� noted that a grant had been submitted to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to fund a CXT toilet for the site. He said if that grant request was funded, the RAC project proposal request would be reduced by $27,000. Brant said that project sponsors had conducted three public meetings to get public comment on the project. He said attendance at each of the meetings was over 100 people.

Discussion: Chair Davis asked how the Forest Service was able to get the Idaho Transportation Department to plow the current parking lot at the site. Brant said the transportation department plowed it because the area was a safety concern for them. Ed Mansfield asked when the sponsors will know if they have the state grant. Brant said they should know by May, 2005. Dale said $27,000 was a lot of money for a toilet. Chair Davis noted that CXT toilets typically cost that much. John McCarthy said that he had gone to all three public meetings on the project and he said he thought it was a good project, adding that the projects also had a watershed improvement component to it.

Tom Glass said water quality was an important issue with projects like this. Ed Mansfield asked for clarification that the sponsor would deduct $27,000 from the RAC project if they were successful in obtaining the state grant for the toilet. Chair Davis said, yes, the $27,000 would be deducted. David Whaley asked when the NEPA for project #04026 would be complete. Brant said the NEPA would be completed by the end of October this year.

Chair Davis directed the RAC to complete Form Part I evaluation for Project #04026 Mores Creek Summit Improvement.

Discussion: Lois asked for clarification on the project proposal Form Part II, Column B, specifically, who the workforce would be for the project. Brant said the workforce would include USDA Forest Service employees and Idaho Transportation Department employees. Lois said workforce costs should provide jobs for local contractors.

The RAC proceeded to complete the Form Part I evaluation: Project #04026

Matching

Funds

Multiple

Benefits

Affordable

Completed in

One Year or Annual Increments

Long-term

Benefits

Finite Project

Admin Costs

RAC decision: A motion was made to advance the project from Form Part I to Form Part II by Tom Glass and seconded by John Gebhards.� The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Davis directed the RAC to proceed with Form Part II evaluation for Project #04026.

Evaluation Relative to Criteria: 32.5

Multiple Benefits

Community

Stability and

Job Opps

Cooperative

Relations

Benefit/

Cost and

Affordable

Project

Quality

and Coord

Matching

Funds

Urgency

Implement

Tangible

Outcome

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� David Whaley made a motion to recommend Project #04026 to the Forest Supervisor for approval. The motion was seconded by Ed Mansfield and the motion passed unanimously.� Project approval and agreement forms will be drafted for the requested $66,810 of Title II funding.

Discussion: Lois said this project should be contracted under a best value contract. Brant said they had originally proposed IDT and Forest Service to do the work as it appeared more cost effective. He noted that the cost of the project would likely increase by $19,000. The RAC agreed that an amended project proposal with an increased cost allowance for a best value contract was acceptable.

� The following caveats to the recommended funding decision were attached by the RAC, agreed to by a voice vote, and will be stipulated in the agreement:

1) the District receives the $27 M IDPR grant which was identified as part of their match.

2) the work should be accomplished by contract, and the RAC will consider an increase in Title II funding should the contract estimate be more costly.

3) A best value contract approach should be used to facilitate local contract opportunities.

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� Lunch: Chair Davis asked RAC members to review and offer comments on the RAC operating procedures, specifically, to address any changes that might need to be made. Members were provided copies of the SW Idaho RAC Mission Statement as well as the SW Idaho RAC Operating Guidelines.

A motion to re-affirm the SW Idaho RAC Mission Statement and Operating Guidelines was made by Darel Harris and seconded by Ed Mansfield.

Discussion: John McCarthy asked if the RAC was doing everything that it could to publicize the mission of the RAC in the local community and among key interest groups and potential partners. Chair Davis stated his continuing disappointment in receiving no project applications from ICL, Trout Unlimited, The Wilderness Society, Cattleman�s Association, etc. Barry Ross said that both the USFS and Trout Unlimited have worked to get partners for RAC projects. DFO Swick noted that the RAC had created a subgroup to publicize the mission of the RAC and to attract sponsors for RAC projects. DFO Swick noted that the best way to establish interest is to make one-on-one contact with potential partners. He also reviewed the media coverage the RAC had received as a result of publicity efforts by the USFS. Chair Davis suggested inviting media to attend meetings. Barry said that a lot of the routine RAC business does not lend itself to media coverage. John McCarthy said the RAC should pursue more publicity in the hope of gaining a broader set of RAC sponsors. Chair Davis said the RAC might be smart to send a message to all District Rangers requesting that they make contact with user groups and have a representative of those user groups attend a RAC meeting. John McCarthy suggested the RAC work with Forest PAO�s to put a packet of information together about Title II and the RAC and send it out to potential partners.

The question on the motion was called for.� Motion carried unanimously.