Alviso and Lower Guadalupe Collaborative Meeting
Alviso Water Task Force (AWTF) and Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD)
Alviso Community Center
5050 North First Street, Alviso
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. AGENDA
6:00 – 6:10 Welcome & Introductions – Mary Ann Ruiz • Introductions • Overview of Collaborative agenda 6:10 – 6:35 Accomplishments of 2006 – Rick Callender, SCVWD Accomplishments of 2006 – City of San Jose 6:35 – 6:45 Ideas for positive public campaigns – All 6:45 – 7:05 SCVWD Updates: SCVWD Board Agenda Items – Rick Callender, SCVWD Alviso Water Task Force recipient of Water District CEO Environmental Stewardship Awards on Jan. 12, 2007 Alviso Slough Restoration project – Katherine Oven • Problem Definition Report (PDR) • Advisory Panel Kick-off meeting held Jan. 19, 2007 Gold Street Educational Center – Katherine Oven 7:05 – 7:15 New Business – All • Community Announcements (2 minutes each) 7:15 – 7:30 Wrap Up and Next Steps – Mary Ann • Summarize Action Items Next meeting: March 13, 2007 Collaborative Meeting • South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project – Quarterly update – Steve Ritchie • (Proposed) Public Safety Drivers Facility – City of San Jose Meeting Adjourned
Alviso and Lower Guadalupe Collaborative Meeting Alviso Water Task Force (AWTF) and Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Summary Notes
AWTF:
Charles Taylor (Chair), Betty Brown (Vice-Chair), Lurdes Rivera, Lorna Chang, Denise Stephens, George Trevino, Vern Santos, Bob Gross, Lonnie Gross Jim Fiedler, Rick Callender, Al Gurevich, Katherine Oven, Richard Santos, Thuy Le Michael O’Connell (City of San Jose) Mary Ann Ruiz
SCVWD: Participants: Facilitator:
1. Welcome & Introductions – Mary Ann Ruiz 2. Water District CEO Environmental Stewardship Awards – The Alviso Water Task Force (AWTF) will be awarded and recognized on Jan. 12, 2007 for environmental stewardship in partnership with the SCVWD. 3. AWTF Priorities and Goals – AWTF Charles presented the AWTF 2007 priorities; based upon the existing AWTF priorities. Additional comments to the Priorities: • Outdoor Educational Center: this is an opportunity for increased community outreach for the AWTF and SCVWD benefit. • Removal of Non-permitted piers and vessels: The AWTF will work with BCDC and elected officials. Action: AWTF to write a letter to BCDC and officials, to also include a timetable. • New Chicago Marsh Management: The AWTF has set a Subcommittee to focus on this. Dan Bruinsma, City San Jose, has requested for the AWTF to keep him/City San Jose informed. Action: The AWTF will have an internal review to discuss/decide an approach. The AWTF will invite stakeholders including USF&W, City San Jose, SCVWD to subcommittee meetings. This will then be scheduled at a Collaborative meeting. • • Recreation including trails, marina, etc. are also a priority. Jim Fiedler, SCVWD, raised agenda items for 2007: SBSPR environmental documents will be prepared in 2007; ie. the EIR in March 2007. All agreed that there should be a SBSPR quarterly update from Steve Ritchie. • Alviso Slough Restoration project – there will be ongoing activities ie. the Fisheries Report and the Recreation report. All agreed continue with regular updates.
4. AWTF Goals:
a. Greater communication: The AWTF and SCVWD are allies, and the AWTF want to build relationships with other allies. Trust has been built with the SCVWD and AWTF. Action: Charles to confirm how the SCVWD can best communicate written notices, etc, for example send by mail and/or provide a packet to Director Santos. Lurdes noted that communication with the SCVWD is extremely important. It is crucial that the SCVWD (internally) always updates Rick Callender and provide him with all information related to the AWTF and Collaborative. Rick is the Collaborative Liaison, and it has occurred that he is not informed of a SCVWD meeting related to the AWTF priorities. Action: Rick, Jim, SCVWD to discuss and confirm at an internal SCVWD meeting. b. Extensive and intensified Outreach. The AWTF will outreach to Alviso and communities. c. Additional Engagements – reaching out and building engagements including BCDC, City of San Jose. d. Positive public Campaigns The SVWD will work with the AWTF on positive messaging and campaigning. 5. Update on Alviso Activities – SCVWD a. Al Gurevich provided an update on the management of vegetation debris. The SCVWD will be putting in preventative methods including: o measuring the amount that is managed o Pulverize and will monitor o Starting herbicide application which will reduce the amount of debris b. Al Gurevich provided a response to Bob Gross question on the longevity of mosquito fish. The lifecycle is approximately 1 year and lives in freshwater and salt water. c. Al Gurevich provided an overview of the property ownership of New Chicago Marsh based on county records of assessor parcel numbers. This may not be up-to-date. d. Al Gurevich provided an update of a meeting held with BCDC, Jose Guerrero of Fire Dept, Harry Adams, SCVWD and others. This was convened by BCDC; BCDC will send a letter to outline actions regarding the unpermitted vessels. Action: Thuy to send the information that was provided to the SCVWD Board. Lurdes requested that Rick Callender be informed of all such meetings (see Communication above). e. Katherine Oven provided an update on the Alviso Slough Restoration. The Advisory Panel of 3 fishery experts and 3 recreation experts, will have a Kick-Off meeting on Jan. 19, 2007. This will include a tour of the Alviso slough area. Tom Laine has been invited and will be present. Charles, chair AWTF, will present the AWTF perspectives and priorities for the Restoration Project. f. The SCVWD will provide the revised Problem Definition Report (PDR). Action: Charles to confirm to Thuy, how many copies of the reports to provide to the AWTF. g. There will be a Public Outreach meeting as part of CEQA for the Restoration Project. The public will be invited including regulatory agencies, community, and AWTF. The SCVWD to keep the AWTF informed. 6. SCVWD Board Agenda Items – Rick Callender, SCVWD 7. New Business – All Ideas for future meetings: Lorna, AWTF, proposed that the AWTF goals should have performance indicators and
timelines. Jim, SCVWD: FEMA – Flood insurance rate maps Recertification of levees Lonnie, AWTF: Pumps installed at Marina to drain the Marsh; following up on Al’s presentation. 8. Wrap Up and Next Steps – Mary Ann • Summarize Action Items Next meeting: February 13, 2007 9. Meeting Adjourned at 7.30 pm.