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Minutes - January 7, 2000
Utah Geological Survey Board Meeting
UGS Conference Room

Attendance:

Board Members:
  • William Berge, Chair
  • Deedee O'Brien, Vice Chair
  • Craig Nelson
  • Richard Kennedy
  • Robert Robison
  • Tom Faddies (for David Terry)
  • Excused: Cary Smith, Charles Semborski
Staff:
  • Kimm Harty
  • John Kingsley
  • Cheryl Ostlund
  • Gary Christenson
Guests:
  • Dennis Carver, Department of Natural Resources
  • Sherm Hoskins, Department of Natural Resources
  • Lowell Braxton, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining
Chair William Berge called the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey to order at 8:30 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Robert Robison made the motion to approve the corrected minutes of the December 6, 1999 meeting. Craig Nelson seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

Chair William Berge called for nominations for the chair and vice-chair of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Mr. Robison nominated Craig Nelson for chair. Richard Kennedy seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Richard Kennedy nominated Mr. Robison for vice chair. Craig Nelson seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Budget Status
Associate Director John Kingsley reviewed the budget status of the Survey as of November, 1999. We are currently 4 percent under projections, and mineral lease revenues are up. Acting Director Kimm Harty reported that a geologist in the Applied Section left the Survey and we are leaving his position open for awhile.

Legislative Issues
Acting Director Harty reported that as of this week the geologist registration bill will not be submitted to the Legislature this year. The Utah Seismic Safety Commission is proposing to allow the $4,500 that is appropriated to the Commission to be non-lapsing funds with a stipulation that any funds over $10,000 will lapse.

Friends of the Utah Geological Survey Financial Report
Acting Director Harty reviewed the annual financial report for the Friends of the Utah Geological Survey. The beginning balance in 1999 was $391.99, with the ending balance for the year at $521.73.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of Proposal Feasibility Review Policy
Acting Director Harty informed the Board that staff had drafted the Policy for Proposal Feasibility Review and developed a one-page summary form. A completed form for each proposed UGS grant or cooperative study must be submitted to the Board for their review. Mr. Kennedy made motion to approve form, Mr. Robison second, and the motion was unanimously approved. The Board reviewed the draft policy for Proposal Feasibility Review and amended it to include a statement that the proposal does not need Board approval if the funding request is less than $10,000. Mr. Nelson made the motion to approve the policy, with the amendment, Deedee O'Brien seconded. Mr. Robison amended the motion to include a statement that the majority of the Board (4 members) is needed for approval. Mr. Kennedy seconded the amended motion. The amended motion carried unanimously.

After adoption of the Proposal Feasibility Review Policy, the Board reviewed the Castle Valley water quality proposal. Mr. Robison made motion to accept proposal, Mr. Kennedy seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

Approval of Foreign Travel Policy
Mr. Nelson made the motion to approve the Policy for Foreign Travel by UGS Employees, with the amendment "except in emergency response situations" added to the end of the first paragraph, and including the statement that a majority of the Board (4 members) is needed for approval also be added. Mr. Kennedy seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.

Approval of Position Establishment Policy
Mr. Nelson made the motion to approve the Policy for Position Establishment, amending it to include the statement that a majority of the Board members at a regular or special meeting of the UGS Board is needed for approval. Mr. Robison seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.

Approval of Board Meeting Schedule for 2000
Schedule for the meetings approved, with a special meeting called for February 4.

Approval of 2000 Professional Development Plan
Acting Director Harty reviewed the 2000 Professional Development Plan with the Board. Mr. Kennedy requested a list of professional development activities that the UGS staff have attended. The list will be compiled and given to the Board. Mr. Nelson made motion to accept the list with the change in title for the policy to be "UGS Supported Membership". Mr. Robison seconded, and the motion unanimously carried.

Approval 2000 Conference Support
Mr. Kennedy made motion to approved the 2000 conference support plan for the Utah Geographic Information Council conference, with review after the conference for continued support by the Survey. Mr. Nelson seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Funding Ideas
School Site Program Review - Gary Christenson, Applied Program Manager, reviewed with the Board the actual costs for the Survey to conduct school site geologic hazard reviews. He also reviewed the proposed fee schedule for school-site reviews. Ms. Harty indicated that she had discussed with Steve Allred, legislative fiscal analyst for the UGS, the proposed fees for the site reviews. Mr. Allred indicated that because the fees are for a government entity, the fee schedule does not need legislative approval. Mr. Christenson based the fee schedule on the costs of previous site reviews. Mr. Kennedy made the motion to approve the fee schedule for school site review. Mr. Robison made the motion to amend the Mr. Kennedy's motion to create a Board policy that directs the UGS staff obtain at least reimbursable costs on school site geologic hazards reviews. Deedee O'Brien seconded the amended motion, and the amended motion was approved unanimously.

Role of the Utah Geological Survey and Board
Sherm Hoskins asked the Board to take upon itself the role as an advocate for the Survey. Mr. Hoskins asked the Board to bring their recommendations of what direction they feel the Survey should be going to Kathleen Clarke.

UGS Committee Update
Sherm Hoskins, chair of the UGS committee, handed out a copy of the report on the objectives of the review and items noted to date (copy attached to official copy of minutes). Mr. Kennedy asked if the Survey was the only agency going through this review process. Mr. Hoskins said yes because of the change in directors and the identification of the funding problems in the Survey. Mr. Hoskins also indicated that the committee is looking into some cost cutting measures. The financial audit of the Survey should be completed by the end of January. The committee will base some of its recommendations based on the audit findings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/MISCELLANEOUS

New Publications
A copy of the new publications released since the last UGS Board meeting were available for review by the Board.

Other
The next meeting of the UGS Board will be February 4, at 8:00 a.m. in the UGS conference room. The Board will be meeting to develop their recommendations for the future of the Survey which will be send to Kathleen Clarke, Department of Natural Resources Executive Director.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Kennedy made the motion to adjourn the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Mr. Robison seconded, and the motion was unanimously approved.

Meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

 
Dept of Natural Resources Dept of Natural Resources