Coastal Conservancy Public Meeting in Santa Cruz – December 19

Douglas Bosco (Public Member), Chair
Ann Notthoff (Public Member), Vice Chair
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudinš (Public Member)
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources; Bryan Cash (Designated)
Dayna Bochco, Coastal Commission Chair; Susan Hansch (Designated)
Keely Bosler, Director, Department of Finance; Gayle Miller (Designated)

Senate Representatives
Benjamin Allen (District 26)
Bill Monning (District 17)
Jerry Hill (District 13)

Assembly Representatives
Mark Stone (District 29)
Lorena Gonzalez(District 80)
Monique Limón (District 37)

Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer
Amy Roach, Chief Counsel

AGENDA

DATE: December 19, 2019
TIME: 09:00 A.M
LOCATION: City of Santa Cruz
809 Center Street, Council Chambers Room
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1. ROLL CALL

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the Conservancy’s October 17, 2019 public meeting.

3. CONSENT ITEMS

A. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $200,000 to Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District to implement riparian restoration on Ebabias Creek at the Ocean Breeze Dairy property within the Estero Americano watershed in Sonoma County.

B. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $165,000 to Aquarium of the Pacific and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to implement two separate projects to aid in recovery of the southern sea otter and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

C. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $185,000 to the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District to prepare plans, permit applications, and environmental review documents for restoration of their Los Osos Creek property in the lower Morro Bay watershed in San Luis Obispo County.

4. EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

A. Update on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Guidelines.

B. Resolution of Appreciation for Conservancy Board Member Dayna Bochco.

CENTRAL COAST

5. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $2,500,000 to Save the Redwoods League to acquire the 554-acre Cascade Creek (Holmes) Property in northern Santa Cruz County.

6. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,480,000, of which $980,000 was awarded to the Conservancy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under its National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for Phase 2 of the Elkhorn Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration Project in Elkhorn Slough, Monterey County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

7. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,800,000 to the City of Pacific Grove to construct a segment of the California Coastal Trail and related parking facilities, and restore coastal dunes, in Monterey County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

8. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $301,000 to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to prepare preliminary planning documents for a seven-mile extension of the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail on the San Mateo County coast.

SOUTH COAST

9. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,000,000 to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to acquire the 23.71-acre Ramirez Canyon, Lauber Smith property for habitat conservation, open space, and public access and recreation in the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County.

10. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $460,000 to the Laguna Ocean Foundation to prepare a 30% restoration design plan, complete the CEQA environmental review process, and conduct necessary studies for future permitting for the Aliso Creek Estuary in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

11. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,455,000 to the County of Marin Flood Control and Water Conservation District to increase flood protection and enhance up to 136 acres of seasonal wetlands in the Novato Baylands in Marin County.

NORTH COAST

12. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $3,000,000 to Save the Redwoods League to restore damaged coastal redwood forests and reduce sedimentation in the Greater Mill Creek watershed of Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

13. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $588,000 to The Smith River Alliance, Inc. to undertake a third phase of feasibility analysis and pre-acquisition planning activities, and minor clean-up actions, for properties within the Pacific Shores Subdivision adjacent to the Lake Earl Wildlife Area in Del Norte County.

• Addendum: Pacific Shore Subdivision Additional Support Letter

STATEWIDE

14. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,595,470 to two nonprofit organizations and two public agencies for Climate Ready projects that address the effects of climate change on coastal resources and communities and facilitate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

15. CLOSED SESSION

A. To confer regarding Pappas, et al. v. State Coastal Conservancy, et al., Santa Barbara County Superior Court, Case No. 1417388. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

B. To confer regarding City of Trinidad v. Tsurai Ancestral Society, State Coastal Conservancy, et al., Humboldt County Superior Court Case No. DR180684. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

C. To confer regarding Bordessa v. Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, Sonoma County Superior Court, Case No. SCV-256943. The session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

16. CONSERVANCY MEMBER COMMENTS

17. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

18. ADJOURNMENT

CONSERVANCY TOUR INFORMATION:

On Wednesday, December 18, the Conservancy will tour several projects in southern San Mateo County. The tour will begin at 11:30 am at Cowell-Purisima Coastal Trailhead (southern parking lot), off Highway 1, approximately 2.6 miles south of the intersection with Miramontes Point Road. The tour will include a time to eat lunch. The tour will include additional stops at Tunitas Creek Beach, Cloverdale Bluffs and Cascade Creek. Members of the public are welcome to join the tour but must provide their own transportation and lunch. For any questions regarding the tour, please contact Trish Chapman at Trish.Chapman@scc.ca.gov

Note: 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).

Any person who has a disability and requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this public meeting should contact Taylor Samuelson no later than five days prior to meeting.
Questions about the meeting or agenda can be directed to Taylor Samuelson at
(510) 286-4182 or Taylor.Samuelson@scc.ca.gov or at the Conservancy:
1550 Clay Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612