Coastal Conservancy Public Meeting – December 4, 2014

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Douglas Bosco (Public Member), Chairman
Sara Ramirez Giroux (Public Member)
Ann Notthoff (Public Member)
Peter Sadowski (Public Member)
John Laird, Secretary for Natural Resources; Bryan Cash (Designated)
Steve Kinsey, Coastal Commission Chair; Susan Hansch (Designated)
Michael Cohen, Director, Department of Finance; Karen Finn (Designated)

Senate Representatives
Anthony Cannella (District 12)
Jerry Hill (District 13)

Assembly Representatives
Luis Alejo (District 30)
Das Williams (District 37)

Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer
Jeannette MacMillan, Legal Counsel

AGENDA

DATE: December 4, 2014
TIME:  1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Novato Arts Center at Hamilton Field
Building 500
500 Palm Drive
Novato, CA

1.  Roll Call

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Conservancy’s October 2, 2014 public meeting.

3.  CONSENT ITEMS:
A.  Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to grant up to $118,000 to the University of California to implement projects focused on the conservation and recovery of the southern sea otter, Santa Barbara through San Mateo counties.

B. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse an additional $50,000 to Alnus Ecological, Inc. to continue to provide environmental  services to the Conservancy to guide development of watershed restoration projects that meet resource goals and achieve full compliance with all applicable environmental regulations, Santa Barbara through San Mateo counties.

C. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $1,000,000 to be reimbursed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement regarding work undertaken in support of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project’s Adaptive Management Program in Santa Clara County.

D. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $17,152.50 to The Bay Foundation for the Southern California Abalone and Kelp Forest Habitat Restoration Project in Los Angeles County.

E. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $100,000 to  Scripps Institution of Oceanography to augment the previously authorized Scripps Coastal Trail Project, involving the construction of a new segment of the California Coastal Trail on the UC San Diego campus.

F. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse an amount not to exceed $100,000 to the City of San Clemente for preparation of designs, environmental analysis and permit applications for a one-third of a mile extension of the California Coastal Trail in San Clemente, Orange County.

G. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse an additional $32,110 to Orange County Coastkeeper for ongoing  maintenance of the Conservancy’s public access easement at Portofino Cove in Huntington Harbor, Huntington Beach, in Orange County.

H. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $65,000 to the City of Point Arena for the acquisition of the 1.8 acre Point Arena Cove Property, located in Point Arena, Mendocino County, for the purposes of open space, habitat protection, and public access.

I. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $75,000 received from the Sean and Alexandra Parker and Neraida LLC to the State Department of Parks and Recreation for Coastal Trail improvements in Garrapata State Park using the services of the Conservation Corps, Monterey County.

4.  Executive Officer Report:

A.  Update on Proposition 1
B.  New statute regarding recordation of votes at public agency meetings
C.  Acquisition Mapping Report
D.  Update on potential Conservancy collaboration with The California Endowment
E. Legislative Report

CENTRAL COAST

5. POSTPONED – Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $646,500, including $510,222 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program, to the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District to acquire, and prepare a restoration plan for, the
82-acre Morrissey Ranch located along lower Los Osos Creek in the Morro Bay watershed in San Luis Obispo County.

6. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $200,000 to the City of Half Moon Bay to prepare designs, environmental analysis and permit applications for replacing the collapsed Pilarcitos Creek Bridge, a part of the Coastal Trail at Half Moon Bay State Beach in northern San Mateo County.

NORTH COAST

7. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $2,000,000 to the Western Rivers Conservancy to acquire approximately 4,000 acres in the Blue Creek watershed in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties for the purposes of preserving and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat.

8. POSTPONED – Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to accept $1,000,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and disburse up to $960,000 of these funds to The Nature Conservancy to acquire a working forest easement over the 2,419 acre Parker Ranch, located adjacent to the Ten Mile River, Mendocino County, to preserve open space and fish and wildlife habitat and for sustainable timber production.

9. Consideration and possible Conservancy authorization to disburse up to $350,000 to Save the Redwoods League to construct a 2.3 mile section of the California Coastal Trail on the Usal-Shady Dell Creek Property, northern Mendocino County.

10.  CLOSED SESSIONS:  Possible closed session:

A. To confer regarding pending litigation or anticipated litigation (Malibu-Encinal Homeowners Association v. Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, et al, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BS 431798; Pappas v State of California, Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Case No. 1417388; and other pending litigation; and/or to consider the initiation of litigation). Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e).

B. To give direction to the Conservancy’s real estate negotiators regarding the price and terms of payment for the sale of the Conservancy’s Victorine Ranch Property (Monterey County Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 243-211-025, 243-211-026 and 243-221-019). Session will be closed pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(c)(7).

11.  CONSERVANCY MEMBER COMMENTS

12.  PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

13.  ADJOURNMENT

N.B.: Agenda items may be taken out of sequence at the discretion of the Conservancy. At any time during the meeting, but prior to the adjournment of the open session of the meeting, the Conservancy may recess or adjourn to closed session to consider personnel matters, prices and terms of real estate transactions, and possible and pending litigation. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to attorney-client privilege and statutory authorization under Government Code Sections 11126(a), (c) (7), and (e).

Questions about the meeting or agenda can be directed to Dick Wayman at (510) 286-4182 or at the Conservancy: 1330 Broadway, 13th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612

Any person who has a disability and requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this public meeting should contact Mr. Wayman no later than five days prior to meeting.

Itinerary for Hamilton Wetlands Board Tour, December 4, 2014

9:50 Arrive Hamilton Native Plant Nursery (directions below)
10:00 Tour Nursery
10:20  Walk to top of Reservoir Hill,  hill top presentation, walk down Westside of trail
11:00 Meet Bus at Novato Arts Center (directions below)
11:15 Bus drops off at end of Hangar Ave at playground (directions below)
11:20 Hike to south overlook
11:50 Return to Bus
12:00 Return to Novato Arts Center, Building 500

Directions to Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project Nursery on Aberdeen Rd.  (Meet here at 10 am)

From Oakland/SF/Points South Take 101 North to Nave Drive exit.  Merge onto Nave Drive and go 0.9 miles. Turn right onto Hamilton Parkway and go 0.4 miles. As you cross the RR tracks and the road turns again to the south, you will see the skate park on your left.  Go past the skate park to the next road on the east/left side. There is no street sign on the road but if you search Google Maps it will be called “Aberdeen Road”. You will drive through two chain link gates staying to the right. Stay on the road, obey the 15 mph speed limit and proceed to the large stucco building at the far end of the old landfill with a wood kiosk out front.  Park near the gate to the building, on the side of the road.  If you end up on a levee, you’ve gone too far!

From Points North Take 101 South to Ignacio Blvd exit. Merge onto Ignacio Blvd. Turn right onto Nave Drive and go 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Hamilton Parkway and go 0.4 miles. As you cross the RR tracks and the road turns again to the south, you will see the skate park on your left. Go past the skate park to the next road on the east left side. There is no street sign on the road but if you search Google Maps it will be called “Aberdeen Road”.   You will drive through two chain link gates staying to the right. Stay on the road, obey the 15 mph speed limit and proceed to the large stucco building at the far end of the old landfill with a wood kiosk out front.  Park near the gate to the building, on the side of the road.  If you end up on a levee,  you’ve gone too far!

Directions from Nursery to Novato Arts Center, Building 500, 500 Palm Drive, Novato (We will meet bus here at 11 am to be shuttled to end of Hangar Ave) Head southwest on Aberdeen Drive. Turn left on Hamilton Parkway and go 0.9 miles. Turn right on Palm Drive and park in lot at corner of Palm Drive and South Palm Drive.

Directions from Novato Arts Center to end of Hangar Ave. Head northeast on S. Palm Drive. Turn right onto Hangar Avenue and go 0.4 miles to the parking lot just before the playground.

Directions from end of Hangar Avenue to Novato Arts Center, 500 Palm Drive, Head north on Hangar Avenue for 0.4 miles.  Turn left onto S. Palm Drive.  Park in lot at intersection of S. Palm Drive and Palm Drive.

Members of the public are welcome to join the bus tour in Novato.  Please call (510) 286-0343  no later than December 1, 2014 to reserve a seat.

Any person who has a disability and requires reasonable accommodation to participate on his tour  should contact Mr. Wayman no later than five days prior to meeting.