2/9/2023
1 Board of Directors Meeting
February 9, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
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2 WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Yxstian Gutierrez
Supervisor
County of Riverside
Jackie Peterson
Council member
City of Hemet
James “Stew” Stewart
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Temecula
Cheylynda Barnard
Council member
City of Moreno Valley
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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3 3. ROLL CALL
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Non-agenda items only; three-minute limit per person
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4 CONSENT AND POLICY CALENDAR (5.A – 5.I)
5.A Assembly Bill 361 Findings
Requested Action:
1. Affirm the findings of the Board of Directors in Resolution Number 2022-04, adopted on May 19, 2022, which are:
a. The Governor proclaimed a State of Emergency on March 4, 2020, related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which State of Emergency continues to exist today. b. State or local officials have recommended measures to promote social distancing.
CONSENT AND POLICY CALENDAR (5.A – 5.I)
5.B Summary Minutes from the December 15, 2022, Board of Directors Meeting Requested Action:
1. Approve the Summary Minutes from the December 15, 2022, Board of Directors Meeting.
5.C Status Report on the Attendance Roster
Requested Action:
1. Receive and file.
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5 CONSENT AND POLICY CALENDAR (5.A – 5.I)
5.D Financial Report Through December 31, 2022
Requested Action:
1. Receive and file.
5.E Status of Mitigation Fee Transfers from Member Agencies Through December 31, 2022 Requested Action:
1. Receive and file.
5.F Fiscal Year 2022/2023 2nd Quarter Budget Amendment
Requested Action:
1. Approve the 2nd Quarter Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
CONSENT AND POLICY CALENDAR (5.A – 5.I)
5.G Status Report Concerning Reserve Management Committee for Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve and the and Lake Mathews Reserve Requested Action:
1. Receive and file.
5.H Status Report Concerning Reserve Management Coordinating Committee Requested Action:
1. Receive and file.
5.I Contracts and Grants Status Updates
Requested Action:
1. Receive and file.
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6 ON STEPHENS’ KANGAROO RAT RECOVERY EFFORTS
6.A STATUS UPDATE
Brian Shomo
RCHCA
• Last fall, the RCHCA began collecting range-wide SKR and habitat data from approximately 100 random sample cells throughout the SKR range. In the next year, another 100 different sample cells will be surveyed and the process will repeat until sufficient data is provided to make a determination on SKR recovery.
• This process generates a tremendous amount of data that must be stored, quality checked, updated, and maintained for the duration of the project. The data is used to identify information gaps, predict population status and trends, and develop new survey parameters to ensure any determinations are statistically defensible and scientifically robust. • Currently, the RCHCA is using Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grant funding to contract with Conservation Biology Institute (CBI) to develop the initial database structure, test its functionality, and identify the ultimate location for the long-term data repository. RCHCA and its partners recognized that this arrangement was not ideal in that it requires ongoing funding as well as requiring other Federal agencies to submit their data first to the USFWS prior to submission to the CBI database.
SKR
Recovery
Efforts
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7 SKR
Recovery
Efforts
• Consequently, the USFWS recently began exploring the use of their own in-house database solution known as Ecosphere (ECOS) for the long-term SKR data repository. This new and enhanced cloud-based system will be more secure and with higher capabilities, including mapping functionality. This will make it more simultaneously more user friendly and integrated when looking for information such as population trends, mapping, and general reporting needs during regular status reviews.
• Ecosphere staff (USFWS staff) are now working closely with the project team to develop and mesh the existing database to Ecosphere’s structure to ensure that there is an easy transition when the time comes. In particular, the USFWS is exploring their ability to take over responsibility for support of the SKR Management and Monitoring Program. • The RCHCA continues to work with its partners
to ensure the shared responsibility associated
with the long-term needs of the SKR Rangewide management and monitoring program are balanced and fiscally responsible.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
ON STEPHENS’ KANGAROO RAT RECOVERY EFFORTS
6.A STATUS UPDATE
Requested Action:
1. Receive and File.
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8 6.B SKR RESERVE MANAGEMENT
AND MONITIORING EFFORTS ACTIVITIES UPDATE
Harry Sandoval
RCHCA
Management Activities
• Stinknet (aka: globe chamomile) is an invasive species native to South Africa that was first identified in our region in 1981. • Since 1981 the range of stinknet has greatly expanded in range and can now be found in central California, southern Nevada, throughout Arizona and northern Mexico.
Invasive Species Control
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9 Management Activities
• Stinknet poses a threat to SKR and many other sensitive native species within our region. • Uncontrolled stinknet will create a monoculture. Monocultures reduce biological diversity and have lower biological functions than diverse habitats. • A food preference analysis conducted by UCR determined that SKR will consume stinknet seed as a last resort. • SKR that have been trapped in areas with high concentrations of stinknet have exhibited lower body weights and less reproductive activity.
Invasive Species Control
Management Activities
• Rain events during late 2022 and early 2023 have led to an early and widespread germination of stinknet throughout the region. • Typically, stinknet blooms between February and June. • Staff regularly carry out surveys for various invasive species. • Surveys are carried out by walking transects on the land or by using unmanned aerial vehicles that employ specialized cameras and artificial intelligence systems to identify plants. • Various methods to control stinknet have been carried out already this year within the Lake Mathews/Estelle Mountain Reserve.
Invasive Species Control
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10 Management Activities
• Preparations have begun for Spring 2023 Prescribed Burns within the Lake Mathews Reserve. • Prescribed burning helps improve Stephens’ kangaroo rat habitat by reducing invasive grasses and removing grass thatch layer. • Controlled burning reduces available fuels and limits the potential for uncontrolled wildfires that can threaten the surrounding communities. • Prescribed burns within reserve lands provide some of the only live fire training opportunities for Firefighters and Fire Investigators
Prescribed Burn Planning
Management Activities
• Sites for prescribed burns are selected based on current habitat conditions. • SKR prefer habitat that contains 50% grass and 50% bare ground. • Prescribed burns are planned and carried out in a manner to promote optimal conditions for SKR and other grassland species. • Lands within the Lake Mathews/Estelle Mountain Reserve are burned on a rotational basis with approximately five years between burns.
Prescribed Burn Planning
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11 Management
Activities
• Approximately 300 acres will
be burned between May and June 2023
• Cal Fire Archaeologists and Cultural Resource Surveyors have been conducting records surveys and field
surveys to identify and map any sensitive cultural
resources. • RCHCA staff and Cal Fire will
begin the extensive process of creating fuel breaks around sensitive cultural and natural resources for
protection.
Prescribed Burn Planning
Management Activities
• Sheep have returned to the Lake Mathews / Estelle Mountain Reserve • Sheep grazing is an efficient and cost-effective method for managing grassland habitat. • Sheep flocks are shepherded through reserve lands in a way that mimics prehistoric herbivore behavior. • Grazing requires less effort and less expense than prescribed burning or chemical treatment of invasive grasses. • Sheep will be present at the Lake Mathews/Estelle Mountain Reserve for approximately two months. • We anticipate grazing approximately 2,000 acres of grassland habitat.
Grassland Management: Grazing
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12 Management Activities
• As part of an annual conference held in the City of Riverside, members of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society had the opportunity to attend a field trip to the Lake Mathews / Estelle Mountain Reserve. • Field trip participants from all over the western U.S. had the opportunity to learn about the various habitat management techniques and technologies that the RCHCA utilizes or has developed. • Fuel Management staff from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire were present and presented technical information related to fire management practices.
Western Section of the Wildlife Society Field Trip
6.B SKR RESERVE MANAGEMENT
AND MONITIORING EFFORTS ACTIVITIES UPDATE
Requested Action:
1. Receive and File.
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13 6.C SURPLUS LAND
DISPOSITION
Brian Shomo
RCHCA
Surplus
Land
Disposition
In August 2007, the RCHCA adopted Resolution No. 2007-004 that established the Uniform Policy and Procedures for Acquisition and Disposition of Real Property (Policy # RCHCA-003). This policy requires the RCHCA to conduct an annual inventory of surplus real property (“Surplus Land’). Surplus Land is property that is not necessary for the RCHCA’s use and is in excess of the RCHCA’s foreseeable needs. The RCHCA lists those parcels in its inventory that are not located in a core reserve and show no signs of SKR occupation as surplus real property. The RCHCA has determined over the years that there are 8 parcels that are “surplus” properties (APNs 307-120- 009, 307-130-071, 307-210-022, 454-090-014, 569-320-026, 580-120-013, 580-120-014, and 580-450-001).
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14 Surplus
Land
Disposition
Surplus
Land
Disposition
In May 2022, the Board directed staff to explore the opportunity to dispose of the three Nuevo surplus parcels as set forth in the Policy by notifying the appropriate entities and report back to the Board at the next scheduled meeting of any interested parties. In addition, based on new requirements set forth from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the surplus parcels were also advertised to various affordable housing developers that have registered with HCD.
Following the required 60 days’ Notice of Availability (NOA), the RCHCA received letters of interest from the following entities: 5 Talents 401K Trust, Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFCWCD), and Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP).
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15 Surplus
Land
Disposition
The Surplus Lands Act requires that any Housing and Community Development Agency or a developer registered with the HCD, such as 5 Talents 401K Trust be given priority and a full 90-day good faith negotiation. 5 Talents 401K Trust quickly informed the RCHCA that they were no longer interested but the RCHCA had to wait the entire 90 days before pursuing the other 2 offers. This period ended December 6, 2022, and staff quickly requested offer letters from the other parties.
In January 2023, staff received notice from the RCFCWCD that they were no longer interested in the 3 surplus parcels. Consequently, EIP has the sole remaining offer for consideration of $1,866,000.00 on an appraised value of $1,870,000.00. The original purchase price in 1994 for all 3 surplus parcels was $376,000.00. Therefore, the RCHCA surplus lands subcommittee met on January 26, 2023, to discuss EIPs offer and recommended moving forward for the full RCHCA Board’s consideration and acceptance.
6.C SURPLUS LAND
Requested Action(s):
1. Accept EIP’s offer of $1,866,000 for the three RCHCA surplus parcels (APNs 307-120- 009, 307-130-071, and 307-210-022).
2. Authorize the Executive Director to proceed with the sale and execute all associated agreements.
DISPOSITION
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16 7. REPORT FROM THE
Dr. Kurt Wilson
WRCOG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
8. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
9. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
10. NEXT MEETING
Thursday, May 11, 2023
11:30 a.m.
In WRCOG's office located at 3390 University Avenue, Suite 200, Riverside
11. ADJOURNMENT
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