Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

September 4, 2018 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on September 4, 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, KRD Field Supervisor Bob Main, KRD Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender, KRD Treasurer Stacy Berg, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower 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) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) 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 August 7, 2018 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Schnebly and the second was made by Director Hansen. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment: No comments

Water Master Report: As of September 4, 2018, the storage in the reservoirs was 98.5% of average. There has been no measurable precipitation recorded at the five reservoirs for September 1 to date. Precipitation for the water year to date is 240.92 inches, or 109% of average. Flip flop begins today, the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is putting the buoys in the river and will start out with 50 cfs and increase to a maximum of 200 cfs.    

Maintenance Report: Mr. Main reported that fall maintenance has begun. Maintenance crews have been mowing, spraying, widening roads and clearing right of way, weed eating around weir pools and head gates.    

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart reported that he had a scheduling conflict for the upcoming October Board Meeting and asked if the board would consider moving the meeting. Director Schnebly made a motion to change the board meeting date to October 11^th at 1:00 p.m. A second was made by Director Hansen, the motion passed unanimously.

There was an Upper Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Legislative Tour on August 13^th that was well attended and included KRD site visits. 

Mr. Eberhart presented to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council on August 15^th in Portland, OR. The emphasis on the presentation was the Columbia Basin Partnership and how the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and Collaborative Projects like the KRD Tributary Supplementation and Storage Projects are good examples for the system to follow.

On August 21 & 22^nd, Mr. Eberhart attended at the Columbia River Group Meeting in Portland, OR.

The Office of Columbia River Policy Advisory Group will be meeting in Ellensburg on September 6^th.

A Ruckelshaus Luncheon is scheduled for September 11^th in Seattle, WA.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has a tour scheduled for September 28^th that include stops at KRD. KRD is collaborating with Trout Unlimited and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on conservation funding.  

Mr. Eberhart will be presenting at the Northwest Regional Floodplain Management Association (NORFMA) Conference in Bellingham, WA on September 27^th.

On October 2^nd & 3^rd, Mr. Eberhart will be attending the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Columbia Basin Partnership Meeting in Portland, OR.

The KRD had a meeting last week with a group of geologists, engineers and geophysicists and looked at three potential sites for the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act Storage Study.

The 2018 Watersmart Application with Trout Unlimited is expected to arrive from the Denver Office of the USBR. Upon arrival KRD will be able to review and sign the final document. Once the contract is signed, KRD will begin working with the Washington State Department of Ecology on the agreement for matching funds. 

KRD Consultant Walter Larrick prepared comments for the draft of the Yakima Basinwide Tributaries Programmatic Investigation Report. The report is working its way through the USBR and then will be sent to Congress. It was recommended that letters of support for the report be submitted.

Tetra Tech is working on a scope of work for the design of a functional spill at the pumping plant on the North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase II Project.

The target to have the North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase III sole source language completed and negotiations to occur on costs is during September. The funding will be from the 5-year agreement from the USBR, in addition KRD is working with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Trout Unlimited for additional funding.

The South Branch Canal Lining Phase I Construction Project is expected to begin at Robinson Canyon and work up to the Swede Tunnel. Director Weaver made a motion to accept the grant agreement RA18AP00036 from the USBR in the amount of $5,751,700.00. A second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed unanimously. There was extensive conversation about future planning, including animal ramps.

Jacobs Engineering is working on the South Branch 13.8 MWDA Connection Project.

KRD is working with Jacobs Engineering on the KRD Managed Aquifer Recharge Design Contract Package which will be submitted to Ecology in a request for funding.  

Jacobs Engineering stated that hand core piping would not be sufficient, for the Manastash Ridge Trail Pipeline, KRD will be working on funding sources to accommodate the change.

Treasurer’s Report: The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary Vouchers for the July 2018 expenses and the August 2018 payroll which included check numbers 42516-42592, direct deposit numbers 9901462 through 9901478 in the sum of $283,574.64 were approved with a motion made by Director Hansen and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

Old Business: Mr. Eberhart reported that during the 2017 Federal Grant and Financial Audit there were some misclassifications that were reflected. The publication will be forthcoming.  

Treasurer Berg reported that the Call for Bids for the new trucks was published and has ended. In this process KRD received two bids that met the qualifications. There were other responses that came in however the vehicles were not available to meet the bid specifications. Legal Counsel Slothower advised that if the board approved the purchase KRD would be within the legal parameters to purchase the vehicles in the Call for Bids. Director Hansen made a motion to purchase two 2018 Chevrolet Silverado trucks from Harvest Auto. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

There was one landowner who fulfilled their obligation for the 2015 Delinquent Accounts. There are six remaining accounts. The deadline to fulfill payments is September 14^th and for those remaining accounts will begin the foreclosure process.

New Business: Treasurer Berg presented a banking proposal from U.S. Bank for the review and discussion. Discussion followed with the consensus that KRD accept the proposal and continue banking services with U.S. Bank.  

Mr. Eberhart reported that the USBR notified KRD that the Storage Cost Allocation for 2018 are projected to be $723,000.00. This was meant to be informational only at this time. Further information will be forthcoming. 

Legal Counsel Slothower reported that KRD has updated the Public Disclosure Policy to reflect some legislative changes. A draft of the policy was sent to the Attorney General’s office for review. Edits from the Attorney General’s Office were received and incorporated into the policy. Director Weaver made a motion to adopt the Public Disclosure Policy. A second was made by Director Schnebly, the motion passed unanimously. As a side note, Legal Counsel Slothower mentioned that his office will be working with KRD to establish an updated administrative policy manual.

Mr. Eberhart provided memorial information for former KRD Director Laurin Mellergaard who recently passed away.

Other Business: The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:05 p.m. for 30 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) and (iii) 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 2:35 p.m. with a motion made by Director Hansen and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

All business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.

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Mr. Bland KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager