Members attending online:
Jamie Barnes (Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands)
Lisa Shepherd (was standing in for Tom Sakievich, but he showed up in person a few minutes late)
Curtis Blair (Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce)
Mark Johnson (Mayor of Lehi)
Brady Brammer also joined about 12 minutes late (Utah State House of Representatives)
Attending in person
Sam Braegger (Deputy Director of Utah Lake Authority)
Luke Peterson (Executive Director of Utah Lake Authority)
Anna Hall (Utah Lake Authority Outreach Coordinator)
Heather McEwan (Utah Lake Authority Events Manager)
Addy Valdez (Utah Lake Authority Conservation Biologist)
Kamron Dalton (Governor’s office appointee)
John Mackey (Utah Division of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality)
Marty Larson (Mayor of Genola)
Chris Carn (Saratoga Springs city council member)
Michelle Kaufusi (Chair and mayor of Provo)
Carolyn Lundberg (vice chair and Lindon Mayor)
Lanae Millet (Orem City Council member)
Tom Sakievich (Utah County Commissioner)
Mike McKell showed up 10 minutes late (Utah State Senate)
Community members present: 10 in person, 12 online
Agenda
Presiding Board Member: Chair Michelle Kaufusi
Vice Chair: Carolyn Lundberg
UTAH LAKE AUTHORITY BOARD REGULAR SESSION
1. WELCOME & CALL TO ORDER/ INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT
They actually started the meeting at 9:11 a.m. There were some technical difficulties with getting zoom audio to be projected into the room.
The next meeting will be hosted at the airport, hopefully there will be fewer technical problems next time.
Chair Michelle Kaufusi invited everybody to briefly introduce themselves, then LaNae Millet offered an inspirational thought
They actually started the meeting at 9:11 am. There were some technical difficulties with getting zoom audio to be projected into the room.tial to help and support the lake and create solutions.
The ULA is there to support the dignity of the lake and preserve it for the future
2. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS’ REPORTS/ DISCLOSURES/ RECUSALS
(2- minutes each)
No reports, disclosures, or recusals to be made at this time
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS ( 2 - minutes each )
“Public Comments” is defined as time set aside for citizens to express their views. Each speaker is limited to two minutes. Because of the need for proper public notice, immediate action cannot be taken in the ULA Board meeting. If action is necessary, the item will be listed on a future agenda; however, the Board may elect to discuss it only if the item is an immediate matter of concern. If a person is unable to attend the meeting, public comments can be submitted no later than seven days before the meeting to anna@utahlake.gov and the comments will be shared with the board.
Jake Holdaway, Vineyard City
He expressed excitement for the new group and said that he has hosted several of the ULA members in his home to get to know them already.
He referenced the Walkara Way project and said that he is excited for new progress to happen with the new ULA board.
Excited to work together to keep the grazing program growing on his property that the ULA has previously been involved with.
Holdaway invited everyone on the board to come and meet with him if they haven’t already.
Kaufusi expressed support. She has been working with Holdaway for the past five or six years on this project.
Sam Braegger mentioned that since the online public members can’t talk right now, they can email any public comments to him at sam@utahlake.gov and he will share those with the board.
4. CONSENT ITEMS
4.1 Approval of the January 24, 2024 ULA Board Meeting Minutes
4.2 Approve January and February, 2024 Monthly ULA Budget Reports
Marty Larson motioned to approve both items, Tom Sakievich seconded. No discussion on the matter. All in favor of approving the minutes and budget reports.
5. STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
5.1 Conservation and Restoration Efforts (3- minutes each)
Addy Valdez was at another meeting but came later on in the meeting. Notes from her are at the end of the notes.
5.2 Communications and Outreach (3- minutes each)
Anna Hall, who started about 2 months ago as the outreach coordinator gave a brief report:
Her main responsibility is social media, and she is working on creating consistent content and developing a specific “voice” in the content she creates.
The ULA is having four days of field trips over the next few months and are expecting 1,400 students from all around Utah County to join over those four days.
Hall has also been working on new flyers and stickers to promote engagement with the lake.
5.3 Events, Engagement and Operations (3- minutes each)
The ULA also recently hired Heather McEwan?(not sure on spelling and she isn’t on their website yet) as the events manager
She is originally from St. George and expressed excitement to work with the board
The ULA’s next big event is a Paddle with Care event on May 18th
Another event is the Utah Lake Festival on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
She is also working on developing a sponsorship program for the ULA. This will create private and public level opportunities to donate to the ULA.
Operations and Recreation report from Braegger:
5.4 Executive Director Report (5-minutes)
Report from Luke Peterson:
Peterson has spent a lot of time over the past several months meeting with people and just listening to their perspectives.
Peterson then presented his proposal for the 2025 ULA goals.
6. WORK SESSION
6.1 Updates to ULA Bylaws
Braegger expressed appreciation to the board members that commented on the bylaws.
Two major changes to the bylaws
6.2 Updates to Existing Policies and New Policies
The ULA made a change to the procurement section. Braegger mentioned that it is about 80% different than before.
6.3 First ULA Employee Handbook
The first portion of the handbook is based on a standard public employee handbook that other agencies in the state already use.
The addendums at the back of the handbook include the ULA’s specific needs for employees.
There is a plan to have a regular review of the handbook, bylaws and policies and procedures with the board.
6.4 Walk Through Airtable Access for Board Members
Airtable is an online interface to keep track of projects, documents and other items for the ULA.
6.5 Mitigation Bank Discussion
Presentation from Peterson:
6.6 Committees and Workgroups Proposal and Discussion
Presentation from Braegger on proposed committees and workgroups.
7. PRESENTATION OF TENTATIVE FY20 25 BUDGET
7.1 Tentative Budget Presentation and Discussion
Peterson asked for a review of the budget that he and the staff created.
No questions about the budget, Kaufusi mentioned that she went through the budget with Peterson yesterday and feels good about everything.
Peterson mentioned that this is just the tentative budget and the official budget will be approved in the future.
8. ACTION ITEMS
8.1 Approve Tentative Budget for FY2025
8.2 Approve Updates to ULA Bylaws
8.3 Approve Updates to Existing Policies and New Policies
8.4 Approve ULA Employee Handbook
8.5 Approve Committees
Larson asked about modifications that were brought up earlier in the meeting and if they needed to also be approved by the board. They did need to be approved so Braegger stated them again for everyone.
Carn motioned to approve all times, including the modifications. Larson seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.
Addy Valdez presentation on restoration
The ULA is hosting planting parties throughout the next several months. These are community engagement activities where community members can come and help plant native plants around Utah Lake. They currently have four scheduled with three more in the works.
The ULA reapplied for the Utah Pollinator Habitat Program Grants. They received the grant last year and hope to renew it this year.
They also partnered with Provo delta waterfowl group to put in a bunch of new duck nesting platforms along the Provo River.
Updates on education and engagement improvements:
Lundberg asked about a poster for the carp fishing tournament, Valdez will get that out soon to the board.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The next ULA Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, at 9 a.m. and will be held at the Provo Airport.
Motion to dismiss by Larson, Lundberg seconded, all approved. The meeting ended at 11 a.m.
Summary
Executive Director Luke Peterson’s big focus for the ULA is to keep everything transparent and to engage both the board and the public in decision making.
The ULA is hosting several public events over the next few months such as a carp bowfishing tournament, planting parties, and a Utah Lake Festival.
There are a lot of new policies in place to help ULA staff, but also to ensure accountability and transparency for actions taken by the executive director and other staff.
Questions
Almost everything discussed was focused on administrative topics, will the ULA do more to specifically manage the lake in the future?
Additionally, will the ULA use the management plan that was discussed in the previous board meeting?
When will the bylaws and policies and procedures be available for the public to review?
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