Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency and
Riverside Communities Partnership Project
Board of Directors
Meeting Recap
May 19, 2022
Following is a summary of essential items discussed at the last Board of Directors meeting.
Agenda Packet: https://rchca.us/DocumentCenter/View/964/rchca0522 PowerPoint Presentation: https://rchca.us/DocumentCenter/View/967/rchca0522pp Moving Annual RCPP Meeting from February to May
• The Board adopted a resolution moving the Annual Meeting to occur in May of each proceeding year.
Update on Non-profit Status and Activities
• The RCPP obtained tax exempt status through state and federal filings in October 2021. • RCPP activities are on hold while staff researches housing for AmeriCorps teams. Therefore, there is no anticipated revenue or expenses for FY 2022/2023.
Approval of Agreement with A.B. Landscape for Weed Abatement Services • The Board authorized the General Manager to execute and administer the PSA with A.B. Landscape for Weed Abatement Services with an annual not-to-exceed amount of $30k and to execute any future amendments to the PSA.
Approval of the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Agency Budget
• The Board adopted the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Agency Budget. • RCHCA is changing organizational structure in FY 2022/2023 by removing one full-time open space habitat technician (OSHT), filling currently vacant senior OSHT position, and hiring 2-4 season OSHT. • RCHCA presented a balanced budget of approximately $2.3 million in revenues against $2.3 million in expenditures, with an overall increase from FY 2021/2022 of approximately 12%.
SKR Downlisting Celebration
• To celebrate the milestone of the SKR downlisting, staff held an event at the Southwest Multi-Species Reserve on April 30, 2022, to honor and commemorate all of the partners and agencies who made the downlisting possible.
• In attendance were representatives from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, reserve managers and past and present RCHCA Board members.
Status Update on SKR Recovery Efforts
• Implementing the SKR Range-wide Management and Monitoring Plan is necessary to work towards full recovery of the species. This will require additional monitoring efforts. • The Board authorized the General Manager to execute and administer agreements to contract with the SAWA for four biologists.
Educational Outreach Program Activities Update
• RCHCA participated in Menifee’s Earth Day event on April 22, 2022, and provided hands-on learning stations and pamphlets to educate families about wildlife and natural resources. • RCHCA’s educational outreach program will resume this September and October to celebrate the importance of the Endangered Species Act.
• Staff will host approximately 300 5th and 6th grade students from Hemet, Lake Elsinore and Perris elementary schools.
SKR Reserve Management and Monitoring Efforts Activities Update • Staff conducted targeted sheep grazing within the Lake Mathews / Estelle Mountain Reserve improved and maintained approximately 2500 acres of habitat.
• Staff carried out targeted invasive species eradication activities on approximately 60 acres of land throughout the Lake Mathews / Estelle Mountain Reserve. • In conjunction with staff, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) conducted prescribed burns as part of their operational management and Company Officer training program. A total of 67 acres was burned at the Lake Mathews Reserve on May 4, 2022. A second prescribed burn will be carried out at the Lake Mathews Reserve on May 19, 2022. • Staff were invited to do presentations about land management and monitoring activities at the International Association of Landscape Ecologists Annual Conference, a meeting of the Tri Counties Land Management Coordinating Group and the Western Section of The Wildlife Society.
Disposition of Surplus Land
• The Board formally declared eight parcels of RCHCA-owned lands that are not located in an SKR core reserve and do not exhibit any SKR signs of occupation, as “Surplus Land.” • Recently, staff was approached by the Ecosystem Investment Partners about the potential purchase of three RCHCA surplus parcels, totaling 75 acres located near the unincorporated community of Nuevo for potential inclusion into the Riverpark Mitigation Bank. • The Board directed staff to further explore the opportunity to dispose of the three Nuevo surplus parcels by notifying the appropriate public entities and the authorizing Planning Authority of the RCHCA’s intent to dispose of the land before reporting back to the Board at the next scheduled meeting.
Next Meeting
The next RCHCA Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 11:30 a.m., on Zoom with the option for Committee members to attend in-person, location to be determined.
The next RCPP Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 11:30 a.m., on the Zoom with an option for Committee members to attend in-person, location to be determined.