Friends of Pajaro Dunes Meeting Minutes
Date: Saturday, March
20, 2004
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Location: Pelican 33
1. Introductions
Attendees:
·
John Vernon
·
Barbara Vernon
·
Marianne Brown
·
Henry Robinson
·
Richard Jensen
·
Paul Irwin
2. Adoption of Agenda
·
Upon motion
made by Richard, seconded by Barbara and passed 3 to 0, the board approved the
agenda.
3. Approval of Meeting
Minutes from 2/21/04.
·
Minutes from
2/21/04 will be approved at April meeting.
4. Committee Reports
·
Treasurer
·
Dick McFarland
did not attend the meeting; no report
·
Education
·
Pelican Point
restoration project work days
·
PHOA
volunteers
·
On Saturday,
March 13, John V hosted over 20 Pelican Point volunteers in planting mock
heather, yellow lupine, buckwheat and beach strawberry in front of building D
·
On Saturday,
April 17, John V will host another work day for Pelican homeowners from 10 to
noon with lunch provided. The area to
be planted is in front of the last mile observation bench
·
·
On two
consecutive Wednesdays in March (3/24 and 3/31), John V hosted students from
the Youth Build program (an alternative high school program). The students planted over 1,000 native dune
grass plugs and protected them from the wind by surrounding each plant with
straw bundles on the state beach near building D. The Register-Pajaronian covered the
story. Click here to read the story: http://www.friendsofpajarodunes.org/Articles/2004%2003%2026%20Register.htm
·
Pelican Point
signage
·
John V
reviewed his plans for signage throughout the Pelican Point restoration areas
as part of the Coastal Development Permit special conditions required for the
riverwall construction.
·
“Prohibition”
signs will be placed along the Pelican side of the riverwall to encourage all
who visit to stay on designated trails and walkways. These signs will be paid for by PHOA
·
interpretive panels including artwork and written descriptions about the
location’s unique habitat and wildlife will be placed at two locations. These locations include the observation bench
overlooking the last mile and the observation deck on the dunes stairwell
between the point and building B. The
costs for these panels will be sponsored by PD business partners
·
Examples of
both types of signs will be posted on both the PHOA and FoPD websites.
·
Outreach
·
FoPD website
update (Henry)
·
Henry
continues to update the FoPD website with news “teasers” on the front page with
links to the complete article.
·
We need to
encourage more people to visit our website both within the PD community and
within the larger
·
Spring HOA
meetings
·
John will
write notes for FoPD presentations at the three HOA meetings
·
Richard will
present at PD North on May 15
·
Either Paul or
Henry will present at PD South on May 8
·
John V will
present at Pelican HOA on May 15
·
John V will
contact each HOA and request 10 minutes on meeting agendas
·
Beachcomber
Article
·
Henry
suggested that we can reach a larger audience at PD and beyond (guests and
renters) by publishing an article in the Spring edition of the PD newsletter “Beachcomber”
·
Carol Turley,
Beachcomber editor, has approved our request to submit an article by April 15
·
Henry has
volunteered to write the article focusing on the last mile of the Watsonville
Slough
·
PD
Nature/Visitor Center Proposal
·
John V would
like to approach the PDA South board with a proposal for establishing a Pajaro
Dunes visitor/nature center within the recently acquired office building across
the south gatehouse.
·
The proposal
will specify the gift shop area (formerly used by the Pajaro Dunes on
·
The center
would be managed and sponsored by Friends of Pajaro Dunes and PD business
partners
·
John will
write a brief proposal and review it with the FoPD board for comments at the
April meeting
·
John will
contact John Lundell to discuss the visitor center concept
·
Fund-raising
·
Since the
Winter HOA meetings in December, we have received approximately $350 in
contributions
·
Paul suggested
adding a contribution coupon adjacent to our article in the Spring,
2004 Beachcomber newsletter to solicit additional donations. John will ask Carol if this is possible.
5. Old Business
·
Richard
reviewed his recommendations on board and committee development presented at
the January, 2004 board meeting.
·
Upon motion
made by Richard, seconded by Paul and passed 5 to 0, the board approved a limit
of five members including the chairperson on any one committee.
·
The board selected
the following committees to be formed based upon our strategic plan objectives:
·
Last Mile
Restoration Committee
· Objective: In the next year, identify 1 project to reach the vision of a restored last mile with access for interpretation and easements to protect; identify projects for the following years.
·
Outreach Committee
·
Objective: In
the next 3-5 years, increase
awareness of the value of the slough among 5 of the interested groups and
engage in education.
·
Education Committee
·
Objective: In
the one to two years, develop educational programs centered on the native
plants, wildlife and habitat of Pajaro Dunes.
These programs would include a nature center, field trips from local
schools and interpretive signs and a brochure on native habitat
·
Fund-raising Committee
·
Objective:
In the next 3-5 years, expand FPD’s funding base through diversified Fund
Development that will have approximately 3 more types of funding sources
·
Finance Committee
· Objective: Supervise the reports of the treasurer on financial results of The Friends of Pajaro Dunes. The Finance Committee shall recommend policies applicable to the investment of funds, endowment management, audit of financial results, and all aspects of financial requirements of the applicable governments concerning not for profit organizations
·
These
committees will be announced at the individual homeowner meetings. Homeowners will be encouraged to volunteer
for a committee of interest or experience.
6. New Business
·
no new
business
7. Announcements
·
Next Meeting:
·
Date: Saturday,
April 17
·
Time: 1:00 to
3:00
·
Location:
Pelican 33