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Meeting started at approximately 10:15 am.
Patrick Roques asked if there were any comments or questions regarding the minutes from the last meeting. He asked that any comments anyone might have later be sent to Robert Bradley. Patrick then asked what was the status of the Texas Water Monitoring Congress Proceedings.
Robert Bradley introduced Gary Franklin of the TWDB as the new TWDB representative replacing Janie Hopkins.
2000
Congress Proceedings
Robert Bradley said that the report was finished and emailed
out for final review in pdf format. He said the next question was how
many printed copies of the report would be required. He noted that copies
would be needed for state libraries, legislators, etc. He also stated
that the proceedings would be placed on the website.
Patrick Roques said 40 extra copies over the original 200 for TWMC participants should be printed. Also the legislature would need 220 copies.
Miles Hall asked if there was a price break on quantity. We will not know anything until the job goes out for bids.
Denis Qualls asked if heads of state agencies and such as TWDB, TNRCC, Parks & Wildlife, etc. get copies of the reports. Also asked if board members could get copies.
Patrick Roques said that entities that tied in with the TWMC could be provided with copies.
Patrick Roques asked if a vote was needed on sending out copies?
Denis Qualls made a motion to send copies of the 2000 Texas Water Monitoring Congress report. The vote to send out the report to various entities was approved.
Council discussed enclosing a cover letter with the proceedings to the attendees, legislature and heads of entities tied in with the TWMC.
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Finances
Patrick Roques asked about the status of finances.
Robert Bradley stated that the finances were the same amount as January.
Patsy Waters gave a report on finances. A total of $8,542.01 is available for printing of proceedings, printing of fact sheets, and postage.
Patrick Roques discussed the TWMC having non-profit status. He said that what we are doing now is probably the best arrangement.
Robert Bradley said that non-profit status could open the door for lawsuits. Presently, the TWMC is protected because it is a state function.
At the last meeting the Council discussed what options the TWMC has of working with an existing non-profit corporation/association to handle finances. Robert agreed to have the TWDB's legal counsel to look over the TWMC's history (SB1, charter & bylaws) and to try to get some issues researched. Robert reported on this. The Council is currently what is best described as a voluntary club. It has no legal status and the only duties it is required to perform are those in its by-laws. It is legally possible to form a non-profit corporation or association but there are several large disadvantages:
- Forming a non-profit is not required by law or necessary to accomplish the goals of SB 1. Therefore, the state entities that are a part of the Council could not spend money or staff time on forming the non-profit.
- Forming corporations is time consuming - you need to complete various forms for submittal to the Secretary of State, usually legal review is beneficial.
- Once formed, the non-profit must meet legal requirements for yearly meetings and notice.
- Once formed,
the Council would be a separate entity that could be sued. As a separate,
non-governmental entity, sovereign immunity would not apply and the
Attorney General would not be able to represent the Council in court
- it would have to hire its own attorney from its own funds.
It may be that the Council is most versatile in its present state.
Patrick Roques suggested the Council make a decision about the status of the Council. He suggested the Council remain as we are or seek non-profit status. He moved that a vote be held.
Cindy Loeffler seconded the motion.
A vote was held and the decision to keep the TWMC as a voluntary organization and not seek non-profit status as approved.
Robert Bradley abstained from voting.
Patrick Roques asked about the use for credit cards for payment to the TWMC.
Robert Bradley said that some trouble was encountered in getting payment from some federal agencies and private entities.
Cindy Loeffler asked if there were problems associated with the food and food contract.
Robert Bradley said that state agencies couldn't buy food without some justification. TWDB was selected by the TWMC to be the agency to provide administrative services to the council and to collect registration funds for the Congress. Therefore, these funds were dispersed using TWDB expenditure requests, which required TWDB to prepare a justification for TWMC to have a working lunch to network with water monitoring professionals to share ideas and solutions regarding water monitoring.
New
Member
Robert Bradley discussed having the Texas
Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) as a member of the TWMC.
Paul Rodman made a motion to add TAGD to the TWMC.
Charles Scheffler seconded the motion
The motion
carried and TAGD was added to the TWMC.
Year
2002 Congress Planning
Patrick Roques discussed the starting time of the next Congress.
Robert Bradley said that the results of the surveys submitted by attendees of the last Congress stated that September was a good time to have the Congress.
Patrick Roques said that September was good for the TNRCC also, although late September would not be favorable.
Patrick requested that the TWMC set the time for the next Congress.
Robert Bradley said that he had a firm date that he would like. He also said that he would like to have a rough outline of what we are going to have at the next Congress posted on the web by June.
Patrick Roques noted that we were short on planning time for the last Congress.
Denis Qualls said that we need to contact vendors well in advance so they can have time to plan on whether to attend or not. He said that we need to send them a date for the next Congress and then have them let us know whether or not they will attend.
Patrick Roques said a discussion of statistical methods for making decisions about what water quality means would be a good topic for the next TWMC. He said that this summer we should try to get a list of topics and speakers.
Robert Bradley asked about having the drought issue included in the next TWMC. He said that groundwater quantity and water-level measurements should be included also.
Denis Qualls said the Council should make changes to the bylaws describing data management.
Robert Bradley said that the last Congress had many talks involving surface water and the next Congress should have more issues involving groundwater.
Paul Rodman said that a balance between surface water and groundwater should be kept.
Harvey Everheart said that the Groundwater Availability Model (GAM) effort would be able to provide valuable input to current TAGD members in the next Congress. He said that TAGD presently has 41 members and will probably have 80 members after the legislative session ends.
Patrick Roques discussed getting together a groundwater committee with at least 10 members to discuss issues.
Denis Qualls noted that the By-laws identify four standing committees, the Planning Committee, Surface Water Committee, Groundwater Committee, and the Data Management Committee. Mr. Qualls recommended that the Council either appoint chairs for all standing committees in the bylaws or change the By-laws to reflect the current breakout session committees.
Harvey Everheart said an important issue for September 2002 will be the conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater.
Cindy Loeffler said that Senate Bill 2 (SB2) has many important changes, such as the sunset process. It also provides for the Texas Water Advisory Council. It also discusses raising money to pay for Senate Bill 1 (SB1). SB2 also provides for ratification of 1911 groundwater districts. She also discussed who members of the Texas Water Advisory Council would be and agencies involved.
Harvey Everheart
said that there are 43 amendments to SB2.
Cindy Loeffler noted the timeline for SB2. Amendments may get voted out
of committee today and should go to the house next week or it may have
problems getting passed through.
Eric Mendlemen discussed workshops for the next Congress. He said the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has a program for high school students to visit monitor wells with a working professional. He also said GIS as an assessment tool would be a good topic. He also suggested Aquifer watch and Adopt-A-Spring.
Cindy Loeffler said that amendment 37 (SB2) designated the Texas Parks & Wildlife to do instream studies.
Patrick Roques got back to the date issue for the next Congress and wanted to pick a date in the beginning of September.
Robert Bradley set September 9,10, and 11, 2002 as a tentative date. The next issue would be a place to have the Congress. Most likely it would be the Pickle Center or we could look into the Thompson Center (UT-main campus downtown).
Patrick Roques asked if there were any nominations for committee heads.
Robert Bradley nominated himself for committee Chair of the Planning Committee.
Harvey Everheart asked Gary Franklin if he would like to chair the Groundwater Committee and Gary said he would agree.
Patrick Roques
discussed surface water and data management committees. He said many choices
are available for committee heads. He said he would call prospective people.
Denis Qualls said Barbara Landry would be good candidate for the data management committee.
Gary Franklin made a motion to nominate himself for Groundwater Committee Chair.
Robert Bradley seconded the motion.
The motion was voted on by the council and passed unanimously.
Robert Bradley said that different venues should be looked at for the next Congress. Austin would probably be the best because of its central location.
Cindy Loeffler said that we should get 1st and 2nd choices for dates from the Pickle Center.
Robert Bradley said he would look at the Pickle center schedule. He asked if we should go ahead with using the Pickle Center. We would need to reserve the larger meeting rooms earlier in order to accommodate the large breakout groups.
Cindy Loeffler asked if there was any more feedback about locations for the next Congress. Robert Bradley replied that there were suggestions from the survey to hold the Congress in Bandera.
Other
Business
Robert then discussed the National Water Monitoring Council meeting that
he attended in Dallas. He said they are only about water quality. He also
said that he has been appointed to the Texas Water Foundation Council
(TWFC).
Cindy Loeffler asked what it is that the TWFC wants to do that is different from other councils.
Robert Bradley
replied that he is not sure, although he will try to steer them towards
policy and education. Robert then gave an update about the Texas Water
Information Network (TxWIN). He said that they presently have 22 cooperators.
The newest is the Nueces River Authority. He then discussed various cooperators
and said that a server has been loaned out to Barton Springs/ Edwards
Aquifer Conservation District.
Eric Mendelman noted that Earth Day is April 18th and discussed some activities associated with it.
Robert Bradley passed out some flyers about water-related coursework to be held at Fort Collins, Colorado.
Patrick Roques asked about setting a date for the next TWMC meeting.
Robert Bradley said that June 7th would be a good date and 10:15 am would be a good time.
Patrick Roques said for the next meeting, they would identify potential Chairs for the Data Management committee.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:35 am.
Next
TWMC meeting will be scheduled for June 7th at 10:15 A.M., USGS District
Offices.