AMBAG

An article in a recent edition of the Carmel Pine Cone alerted me to an upcoming series of meetings that should be of interest to Land Use Report listeners. As the Pine Cone put it, “if you have ever wanted to offer an opinion on the future of growth and transportation in Monterey County, now’s the time.” In fact, this message applies to residents of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties, too. The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, or AMBAG, is seeking input from residents in all of these counties, as AMBAG tries to determine priorities for future highway and street improvements. It’s part of an AMBAG program called “Moving Forward,” and I hope KUSP listeners will want to get personally involved.

The Pine Cone article quoted AMBAG planner Heather Adamson. She says that AMBAG projects that by 2035 Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties will see an increase of more than150,000 people, 40,000 housing units, and nearly 65,000 jobs. “One of our greatest challenges,” says Adamson, “will be finding ways to ensure that our ability to move around the Monterey Bay Region keeps pace with our population and workforce needs.”

AMBAG held an initial series of workshops in May. Another round of workshops is scheduled for July. Links to information about the upcoming workshops can be found at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Carmel Pine Cone, June 14-20, 2013 Edition [See Page 22]

List of Upcoming “Moving Forward” Meetings

AMBAG Announcement of May 2013 Meetings

AMBAG Community Workshops Page

AMBAG Website

Sign Up For Email Alerts

SVSWA

I encourage listeners to let me know their thoughts about the Land Use Report, and certainly to let me know when I have made a mistake. When I do make mistakes I try my best to correct them! I also encourage you, if you know about an upcoming meeting or event, to let me know, too, so that I can perhaps relay the information to KUSP listeners here on the Land Use Report. If you want to be in touch with me, for any reason, please visit the Land Use Report page at kusp.org/landuse. There is an email link built right in, which will get your comment or suggestion to me.

Last week, I got an email that alerted me to an event that will be occurring today. I want to pass on the invitation. The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority will be holding a public ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Authority’s Crazy Horse Sanitary Landfill, located at 350 Crazy Horse Canyon Road, in Salinas. Maybe I should say that this is the “former” Sanitary Landfill, since what the Authority is officially celebrating is the installation of a rather innovative way to provide the “closure” of the landfill required by state and federal regulations. The technique being used employs an artificial (plastic) turf for the former landfill area.

If you would like to see how this works in person, think about attending that celebration this afternoon.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Salinas Valley Land Use Authority Website

Information on the Crazy Horse Landfill Closure

Event Contact: Monica Ambriz

• Email – monicaa@svswa.org
• Telephone – 831-775-3000

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Food & Water Watch Volunteers

There will be a Town Hall Meeting this evening, sponsored by Public Water Now. The meeting will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 490 Aguajito Road in Monterey. The Town Hall Meeting will begin at 7:15 p.m. this evening, and you are all very cordially invited to attend.  The meeting will include a panel of speakers with long experience in Peninsula water issues, and will feature a presentation by Adam Scow, from the national organization Food &Water Watch.

Public Water Now believes that public ownership and management of the water facilities serving the Monterey Peninsula, currently owned by CalAm, will help reduce the large water bill increases that are expected in the future. There is a big debate about that, of course, so this evening’s meeting may be a way to get some information that will help you make up your own mind about whether public ownership makes sense.

In today’s transcript, found at kusp.org/landuse, I provide a link to an interesting publication called Reclaiming Public Assets: From Private to Public Ownership of Waterworks. This is an in-depth study by Public Citizen, which has helped sponsor a “Water For All” campaign in California. There are four case studies that make a good argument that vital water supplies should be under public, not corporate, control.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Public Water Now Website

Meeting Notice – June 19th Town Hall

Food & Water Watch Website

Public Citizen Publication on Public Ownership

Public Citizen Website

Save The Redwoods League

The Coastal Watershed Council does a lot of great education and outreach work, throughout the Monterey Bay Region. I have touted their programs before, and if you are not familiar with the work of the Coastal Watershed Council, or CWC, I encourage you to follow the links provided in today’s transcript.

The CWC is sponsoring a June “Water Tour,” to be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on this coming Thursday, June 20^th. Participants will be given special access to the former CEMEX property, near Davenport. The Land Trust’s Conservation Director, Bryan Largay, will lead the tour and share his knowledge of the property, as well as outlining some of the future plans for the CEMEX redwoods. Here are some interesting facts about the CEMEX property:

• The property constitutes the largest expanse of intact unprotected redwoods and wildlife habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

• The property includes Laguna Creek and the headwaters of San Vicente, which provide drinking water for the City of Santa Cruz and Davenport.

• The property is home to two animal species found nowhere else in the world: the Mount Hermon June beetle and the Zayante band-winged grasshopper.

The CEMEX redwoods tour is free, but you do need to RSVP. Find out how in today’s transcript at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

Coastal Watershed Council (CWC)

CWC Water Tours

Press Release on CEMEX Redwoods

• RSVP by Email – tours@coastal-watershed.org
• RSVP by Telephone – (831) 464-9200

sanclementedamremoval.org

The Planning and Conservation League, or PCL, lobbies for the environment in Sacramento. The Planning and Conservation League Foundation, or PCLF, provides environmental education, and sometimes even helps carry out real world projects.

This coming Thursday, June 20^th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., PCLF will be hosting a party in Carmel Valley, to celebrate one of those projects: specifically, the San Clemente Dam Removal Project. The event is free, but you do need to RSVP. You can find instructions in today’s transcript.

Amy White, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County, will be acting as MC. The Carmel River Watershed Conservancy is being honored for the key role it played. Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter is expected to be in attendance, and I would be surprised if there were not some representatives from the State Coastal Conservancy, since the Conservancy played an important role in making this project happen. PCLF staff members Monica Hunter and Jonas Minton deserve personal recognition for their unflagging work to make the project a reality.

If you don’t know much, or anything, about the San Clemente Dam Removal Project, you can find links at kusp.org/landuse, along with instructions on how to RSVP for the party on Thursday.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Planning and Conservation Website

Planning and Conservation League Foundation Website

Information on the Carmel River Dam Removal Project

Jonas Minton Contact Information

Dr. Monica Hunter Contact Information

Contact Michelle Oyewole at PCLF for more information or to RSVP:

• Email – moyewole@pcl.org
• Telephone – 916-822-5636

Photo Credit: Bill Ringe

The Land Use Report attempts to give listeners a “heads up” on actions at both the local and state level that might have an impact on land use. Recently, I have particularly highlighted Measure T in Watsonville, and several important bills in the State Legislature. Here is a “what happened?” report.

Many listeners probably know what happened on Measure T. Measure T was an initiative measure, sponsored by former Mayor Daniel Dodge, which would have facilitated the annexation and development of prime agricultural land located along Highway One. The Watsonville City Council spent at least $80,000 dollars to call a special election on Measure T for Tuesday, June 4^th, instead of waiting for the next regular election. On June 4^th, voters decisively defeated Measure T, with 77% voting “NO.”

Listeners are probably less aware of what happened to the bills I highlighted in earlier reports. AB 953, which would have made some positive changes to the California Environmental Quality Act, failed to pass the Assembly. Assembly Bill 203, by Assembly Member Stone, which would have helped the Coastal Commission do something about coastal violations, also failed to pass the Assembly. Assembly Bill 976, related to coastal enforcement, was weakened, but it did pass the Assembly; it moves to the Senate.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

June 3, 2013 Land Use Report – Measure T

Measure T Results

Watsonville Fishing Report Blog – Measure T

May 28, 2013 Land Use Report – CEQA and Coastal Legislation

For Legislative Information – The LegInfo Website

Grist.org

When billionaires get married they may need to push a little dirt around. And … they don’t always think they need to get permits to do it.

The infamous Sean Parker wedding in Big Sur is going to be discussed tomorrow by the California Coastal Commission. I have put links to the Coastal Commission agenda in today’s Land Use Report blog, and have included a link to a news story that calls the wedding a “perfect parable for Silicon Valley excess.”

If you haven’t been following the saga of the Sean Parker wedding at the Ventana Inn campground, I invite you to check out these links, available at kusp.org/landuse. If you would like to see the Coastal Commission discuss the wedding, it looks like this will be the first item discussed tomorrow morning, at 8:30 a.m. A streaming webcast of the discussion should be available through the Coastal Commission website.

Four different items will be discussed tomorrow: (1) A Consent Cease and Desist Order against Sean Parker; (2) A Consent Restoration Order against Sean Parker; (3) A Consent Cease and Desist Order against the Ventana Inn; and (4) A Consent Restoration Order against the Ventana Inn.

It is not a very pretty story, and the Coastal Commission appears to have settled for a million dollar plus negotiated payment, instead of stopping violations they knew were going to occur. Billionaires get different treatment.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

BetaBeat Article on Sean Parker Wedding

Atlantic Magazine on Sean Parker Wedding

Coastal Commission Website

Coastal Commission Agenda

Staff Report – Consent Cease and Desist and Consent Restoration Orders

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Jan Bentley / Rick Longinotti – SCWD2.org

The City of Santa Cruz and the Soquel Creek Water District are proposing a desalination project that they sincerely believe is necessary to provide what might be called “water security.” The Soquel Creek Water District serves its customers from underground aquifers that are being overdrafted. The City of Santa Cruz mainly uses surface sources, which are inadequate during sequential dry years. Having a “supplemental water supply” could help address these problems.

The law firm with which I am associated represents the Community Water Coalition, a community group based in Santa Cruz, which is skeptical about desalination. Another group that is active in the discussion is called Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives. The Desal Alternatives group has identified a number of cost-effective alternatives that they think would meet water security needs at a lower cost, and with a lot fewer environmental impacts. The environmental review process now underway is supposed to provide a fair examination of the issues.

If you would like to start learning more, think about attending a meeting tomorrow night, Thursday, June 13^th, to be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Quaker Meetinghouse, located at 225 Rooney Street in Santa Cruz. That is where Morrissey Boulevard meets Highway One. James Bentley, retired City Superintendent of Water Production, will discuss alternatives to desalination.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Desal Alternatives Website

City-Water District Desalination Website

Monterey County LAFCO

Monterey County residents probably know where the City of Greenfield is located; Santa Cruz County residents, maybe not so much. Greenfield is located in the Salinas Valley, between Soledad and King City, and Greenfield has ambitious expansion plans. Since Greenfield is almost completely surrounded by prime agricultural soils, the city’s expansionist ambitions will definitely require the elimination of some of the best farmland in the world.

The Monterey County LAFCO, which frequent listeners can identify as the Local Agency Formation Commission, has the legal authority to say where, and whether, cities can expand. In 2007, Monterey County Supervisor Lou Calcagno, acting as a member of LAFCO, cast the key vote that approved an expansionist “Sphere of Influence” for Greenfield, the first step towards the annexation and development of the prime lands surrounding the city. The LAFCO approval did require a subsequent agreement between Monterey County and the City. Six years later, that agreement is coming before the Monterey County Board of Supervisors today. Interestingly, Supervisor Calcagno negotiated the agreement, acting on behalf of the Board of Supervisors

If you care about the future of the Salinas Valley, check out Agenda Item #21 on today’s agenda. The hearing is at 1:30 this afternoon.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

Monterey County Board of Supervisors’ Agenda – June 11, 2013

KQED.org

Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold has sent out a reminder to people who have signed up for his periodic newsletters: Tonight, Monday, June 10^th, the Santa Cruz County Parks and Recreation Commission will consider the County’s current policies on when and where dogs must be on leash. This is a pretty controversial item. If you want to weigh in, you should be in attendance, at 7:00 o’clock this evening, at the Simpkins Community Room, located at 979 17^th Avenue, in Live Oak. I have placed links to lots of information in today’s transcript

Meanwhile, an article in a recent edition of The Carmel Pine Cone indicates that dog issues are controversial on both sides of Monterey Bay. Over 150 people attended a June 3^rd meeting of one of Monterey County’s Land Use Advisory Committees. The meeting focused on a proposal to build a Carmel Canine Sports Center just across the street from Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. According to the article, lots of people had big problems with the proposal. More meetings will be held in the future.

If you are a City of Santa Cruz resident, think about taking in the City Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11^th, at 3:00 p.m. There are some interesting planning items on the agenda, including a proposal to eliminate any requirement for covered parking in mixed-use developments.

More Information:

Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog

June 11, 2013 Santa Cruz City Council Agenda

Sign Up For Supervisor Leopold’s Newsletter

Supervisor Leopold’s Government Website

June 7, 2013 Land Use Report – Putting On The Dog

Letter from Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter

Off Leash Proposal

Statement by leash law supporters

Carmel Pine Cone Article, June 7-13 Edition