Umatilla County Critical Groundwater Taskforce
Minutes of July
6, 2006 Meeting
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1. CALLED TO ORDER: Vice-Chairman
Harmon Springer called the subcommittee work session to order at 2:00 p.m. in the Board Room at
Umatilla Electric Co-Op in Hermiston,
Oregon.
2. INTRODUCTIONS: Vice-Chairman
Springer requested that the Taskforce members and public participants introduce
themselves and sign-in. There were 12
Taskforce members, two staff members and approximately 14 public
participants. (A copy of the sign-in
sheet is attached to the original minutes and included by this reference.)
3. OUTREACH, PROJECTS & 2050 PLAN
SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING: Jr Cook
began by explaining that rather than starting from scratch with a new agency to
help facilitate outreach activities and help facilitate and finish out the
planning process, he has spoken with Todd Jarvis
of Institute for Water and Watersheds (IWW) at Oregon State University
(OSU). Mr. Jarvis
expressed an interest in wanting to personally perform the functions for the
Taskforce. Mr. Jarvis brought
Michael Campana, the Director of IWW/OSU, to see
if their services would be a good fit for the Taskforce. Mr.
Jarvis also brought a current
draft of the data synthesis report from OSU.
The purpose of this exchange was primarily to see examples of Mr. Jarvis’
previous outreach work and to gather information to create a scope of work for
the project.
Mr. Jarvis explained that outreach was a big part of his work
for 20 years when he was a consultant before returning to Oregon State. He brought examples of public outreach brochures
that he developed. Copies of the
brochures were passed out to the members for their review. Mr.
Jarvis proceeded to answer questions
and give information about the brochures.
Mr. Cook explained that there were ample funds through the
OWEB grant for printing and dissemination costs of materials, including hiring
a consultant such as Todd
Jarvis. Dr.
Campana added that IWW/OSU would
be willing to contribute $5,000 toward this outreach project.
The project is only limited by the amount of funds
that are spent. Along with the
brochures, Mr. Jarvis has had experience with newspaper,
radio and television advertisements. Dr. Campana
shared that they often have success in targeting younger generations by giving
presentations in schools, etc.
Mr. Jarvis is aware of our timeline and is personally available
to focus on the Taskforce project.
The flow model that Mr. Jarvis
used in a presentation at Farm Fair 2005 is available for the Taskforce to use
at their booth at the Umatilla County Fair, which is the kick-off for the
Taskforce’s outreach project. Mr. Jarvis
also has a 30 minute DVD video presentation that can be used. Mr. Jarvis offered take the important parts
of the presentation and reduce it down to 5 minutes, if needed.
Tamra Mabbott made the suggestion of ordering bottled water with
the Taskforce logo and distributing them at the County Fair. There was also a lot of talk on the
particulars of the County Fair exhibit.
Items such as who will work the booth and for how long, displays,
posters and the flow model presentation were discussed. Mr.
Jarvis confirmed that he would be
willing to train the Taskforce members on how to answer questions from the
public.
Ray Kopacz moved to allow Mr. Cook to
reserve a fair booth, get it organized and get it going. Betty Klepper
seconded the motion. There being no
further discussion, the motion was taken to a vote and carried unanimously. During the meeting the fair booth arrangements
were made. The booth will be located in
the Cooper Hall at a cost $160.
Mr. Cook also announced that the RARE student will be coming
on board in October for one year.
Mr. Cook reported that as of July 1, 2006 the Taskforce has $53,682 in
their account. That amount does not
include the $15,000 from the OWEB grant, $5,000 from DLCD and the $5,000 that
IWW/OSU has committed to the outreach project, if we use their firm.
Bob Patterson has been officially approved to serve as a member of
the Taskforce by the Board of Commissioners.
Jim Klukkert moved to purchase a groundwater flow model. Charles Miller
seconded the motion. There being no
further discussion, the motion carried unanimously.
4. TASKFORCE
MEETING: The Taskforce members returned from break at 3:37 p.m. and started the official
Taskforce meeting since all of the Taskforce members that were able to attend this
month’s meeting were present.
5. MINUTES: There was one
typographical change suggested for the June 2006 minutes. Ray Kopacz
moved to accept the minutes as amended. Larry Klukkert
seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
6. LOGO CONTEST: Kim Puzey
has excused himself from voting on the logo contest due to a family entry. The Taskforce took a break and let the
members review the logos that were submitted.
There were a total of 6 logo contest entries. There were five votes were for logo “b” and 5
for logo “d”. There was a tie breaker
vote. Since logo “b” & “d” were
submitted by the same person both may be used by the Taskforce. Julie Puzey
was the official winner of the logo contest.
Betty
Klepper suggested having a press
release to announce the contest winner.
7. IWW/OSU CONTRACT: Jim Klukkert moved to hire IWW/OSU for the outreach project. Charles Miller
seconded the motion and discussion followed. The discussion focused on the amount of the
contract and the scope of work. $20,000
was the approximate dollar amount that staff has discussed with IWW/OSU. Betty Klepper
reminded the members that the scope of work needs to be done first before
IWW/OSU could give the Taskforce a dollar amount for the contract.
This contract is expected to take the Taskforce
outreach project through the water summit, including outreach training, facilitating
the county fair exhibits, etc. Everyone
seems optimistic about working with Todd Jarvis
and IWW/OSU seems to be eager to do the work for the Taskforce.
Charles Miller moved to amend the original motion to establish a cap
of $25,000 for the contract with IWW/OSU.
Larry
Clucas seconded the amendment. The amendment was taken to a vote and carried
unanimous.
There being no further discussion, the original motion
was taken to a vote and carried unanimously.
Charles Miller moved to authorize Mr. Cook to
purchase a banner for use at fair booth and other activities of the Taskforce. The banner should have the Taskforce name and
logo and be about 3' x 6-8'. It should
be a sturdy tarp like fabric with grommets.
Jim Klukkert seconded the motion. There being
no further discussion the motion carried unanimously.
8. BOTTLED WATER: Mr. Cook
was looking for guidance in purchasing the Taskforce labeled bottled
water. The members instructed Mr. Cook
to look into the pricing and report back to the Taskforce members with the
estimates.
9. COUNTY STAFF
REPORT: Tamra Mabbott
and Mr. Cook have been working on drafting a
concept paper for the “Big Look Taskforce” to show the disconnect between water
and land use planning and the need for it to be addressed in the Big Look plan
in the State of Oregon. They submitted
the paper to Big Look Taskforce Chairman Mike Thorne last week.
Tamra Mabbott suggested that the Taskforce, as a whole or
individually, make suggestions to the Big Look Taskforce. Dr.
Reed moved to have the Taskforce
send a letter of support in to the Big Look Taskforce requesting that they put
water in as a major consideration in planning for the future. Jim Klukkert
seconded the motion and with no further discussion the motion carried
unanimously.
Charles Miller moved to have the Taskforce send a letter to OWRD in
support of the conservation initiative, Senate Bill 82. Jaime Clarke
seconded the motion. There being no
further discussion the motion passed unanimously. Dr.
Reed said that he would assist Mr. Cook
in preparing a letter of support.
10. USGS
PROPOSAL: USGS has sent a letter confirming the
Taskforce’s switch from getting a science based review done through the Bureau
of Reclamation to going through USGS.
11. TOPICS OF UPCOMING MEETINGS: All upcoming
meetings will be focused on outreach projects until further notice.
12. PUBLIC COMMENT/OPEN DISCUSSION: There were no
comments from the public. There was open
discussion amongst the members and OWRD personnel.
13. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business the meeting was
adjourned by Vice-Chairman Springer at 4:35
p.m.
Signed for the Umatilla County
Critical Groundwater Taskforce by:
_______________________________ _______________________________
JR Cook Annette Rambel
Taskforce County
Staff Member Taskforce Recording
Secretary