Coastal Conservancy Public Zoom Meeting – September 22, 2022

Meeting Notice

Douglas Bosco (Public Member), Chair
Ann Notthoff (Public Member), Vice Chair
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš (Public Member)
Joseph Alioto Jr. (Public Member)
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources; Bryan Cash (Designated)
Donne Brownsey, Coastal Commission Chair; Madeline Cavalieri (Designated)
Keely Bosler, Director, Department of Finance; Gayle Miller (Designated)

Senate Representatives
Benjamin Allen (District 26)
Josh Becker (District 13)
John Laird (District 17)

Assembly Representatives
Mark Stone (District 29)
Robert Rivas (District 30)
Christopher Ward (District 78)

Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer
Amy Roach, General Counsel

AGENDA

Hybrid Meeting
DATE: September 22, 2022
TIME: 9:00 A.M.
LOCATION: Fort Bragg Town Hall
363 N. Main Street
Fort Bragg, CA 95437

This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid virtual/in-person format in accordance with Government Code Section 11133. To maximize public safety while maintaining transparency, members of the public can choose to watch the webcast of the meeting or participate in the meeting via Zoom, by telephone, or in person at the location listed above. People attending in person will be required to adhere to the site’s health guidelines, which could include wearing masks, health screening, and social distancing. Members of the public may watch an online webcast of the meeting or join the meeting by internet with Zoom or by telephone with the following steps:

Webcast (Watch Only): To watch the meeting and not provide verbal comments, please view the webcast at this site: https://cal-span.org. If you do not wish to provide verbal comments, we strongly recommend watching the webcast as this will free up space on the webinar for those who are providing verbal comments. If you intend to make verbal comments, please do not view the webcast, and then switch over to the Zoom webinar or phone to comment, as the webcast will have a time delay and you may miss the opportunity to comment.

Zoom (To Make Comments): In addition to in-person participation, remote participation is available to members of the public via Zoom webinar. To participate via Zoom, you must register for the Zoom Webinar at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_on7GSmpkRyabiYjoYZjiNg. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Telephone (To Make Comments): Members of the public can offer verbal comments on agenda items by calling in via telephone. Zoom registration is required. Register for the Zoom Webinar at the link above and you will receive an email with a phone number to dial in by telephone. When the agenda item you want to speak on is being presented, press *9 to “raise your hand” and indicate your interest in making a comment. You will be called upon (using your phone number to identify you) and will be unmuted at the appropriate time.

More information on how to participate and comment verbally on an agenda item or during open public comment can be found here.

* Spanish interpretation will be provided for the September 22, 2022 meeting if you join by zoom.*

**Agenda PDF**

1. ROLL CALL

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the Conservancy’s May 5, 2022, public meeting.

3. CONSENT ITEMS

A. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse $1,500,000 to the City of Healdsburg to construct the public access improvements described in the Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve Management Plan in Healdsburg, Sonoma County.

B. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $250,000 to the County of Sonoma to develop a plan for a climate adaptation center at the former Sonoma Developmental Center, Sonoma County.

C. Consideration and potential authorization to disburse up to $41,500 to the Council for Watershed Health for permitting for, and implementation of a portion of, an Arundo donax eradication program in the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed in Los Angeles County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

D. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $590,000 to the County of Santa Cruz to prepare final plans and construct a new restroom at Hidden Beach County Park.

E. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $396,200 to San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory to rehabilitate a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nursery in the City of Fremont and to grow and prepare the native plants and seeds necessary for revegetation of 17 acres of flood risk management levee that will be constructed as part of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project in Santa Clara County.

F. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $3,000,000 to the County of San Bernardino to augment an existing Conservancy grant authorized on January 29, 2015, to construct a 3.8-mile segment of the Santa Ana River Trail in San Bernardino County.

G. Consideration and authorization to designate The Nature Conservancy as the long-term management entity for the Santa Clara River properties acquired with Coastal Conservancy funding since 2001 and approve the revised Enhancement Plan as an amendment to the Santa Clara River Conceptual Enhancement Plan adopted by the Conservancy on October 26, 2000.

H. Consideration and possible authorization for the Association of Bay Area Governments to disburse up to $366,250 of previously-granted Conservancy funds to the City of Vallejo to complete full final design and engineering documents for the approximately two-mile segment of Bay Trail and Ridge Trail at Vallejo Bluff in Vallejo, and the adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

I. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,200,000 to the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council for planning for future Bay Area Ridge Trail projects, and to conduct public engagement and outings for underrepresented trail users.

J. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $248,915 to the Tomales Bay Watershed Council Foundation to prepare designs, permit applications, and environmental review documents for a one-acre tidal wetland enhancement project at Tomales Bay, Marin County.

4. EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

A. Personnel Update

B. Legislative Update

C. Draft Strategic Plan

D. Consideration and possible approval of the 2023 Conservancy meeting schedule

NORTH COAST

5. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $$845,000 to the Westport Village Society for acquisition of the 26-acre DeHaven Creek Headlands property for cultural resources protection; open space protection; protection, enhancement, and restoration of natural resources and habitat; and public access and beach recreation compatible with such uses; and preparation of a resource management plan for the property, located in coastal Mendocino County.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

6. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $3,570,000 to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to implement Bay Adapt Joint Platform tasks and actions related to: (1) development of Regional Sea Level Rise Adaptation Guidance; (2) regulatory improvements; and (3) continued coordination with stakeholders and communities.

7. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $2,160,000 to the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to restore and enhance approximately 40 acres of wetland habitat and improve public access at Stivers Lagoon, adjacent to Lake Elizabeth in the City of Fremont, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

8. Consideration and possible authorization to enter into an amended Project Cooperation Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and to disburse up to $20,000,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Bel Marin Keys Unit V expansion of the Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project in Marin County.

9. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $700,000 to the City of San Rafael to conduct a community-informed technical feasibility study of sea level rise adaptation options along the shoreline of the City of San Rafael, Marin County with emphasis on involvement of the Canal District communities.

CENTRAL COAST

10. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $440,000 to the City of Pacifica to prepare plans, environmental review documents, and permit applications for two bluff protection structures to protect City-owned infrastructure along Esplanade Avenue in northern Pacifica, San Mateo County.

11. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $260,000 to the Western Flyer Foundation to restore the Western Flyer boat for the purpose of marine education and exploration on Monterey Bay.

12. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $508,000 to the Santa Cruz Hostel Society to plan and implement renovations to the Santa Cruz Hostel in the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County.

13. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,000,000 to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to acquire the 2,613-acre Rocks Ranch property for natural resource protection and restoration; wildlife connectivity; open space; and to the extent compatible with the foregoing, agricultural preservation, tribal access, and potentially public access, located at the northern tip of the Gabilan Range in Monterey and San Benito Counties.

STATEWIDE

14. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,098,500 to three nonprofit organizations, one tribe, and two public entities for six Coastal Stories projects to create storytelling installations or interpretive materials that represent diverse communities and perspectives that historically have been excluded from narratives of California’s coast and publicly accessible lands.

15. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $3,301,005 to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for 31 projects that facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore the California coast. Participants are drawn from throughout the State and will visit coastal locations from Del Norte County south to San Diego County.

16. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $6,061,729 to augment 42 Explore the Coast grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to extend previously authorized projects to facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore the California coast. Participants are drawn from throughout the State and will visit coastal locations from Del Norte County south to San Diego County.

WILDFIRE RESILIENCE PROGRAM

17. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $10,996,600 to nonprofit organizations, public agencies, a tribe, and one consultant for 27 wildfire resilience projects.

18. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,080,000 to Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to reduce wildland vegetation fuels on approximately 200 acres, purchase equipment for use in reducing wildland vegetation fuels, refine existing prescribed fire plan and conduct associated environmental review, and build staff capacity to implement their Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.

19. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,000,000 to the East Bay Regional Park District to conduct fuel treatments on 80 acres and implement a biomass facility pilot program in Anthony Chabot Regional Park.

20. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $750,000 to San Diego Canyonlands for fire fuel reduction, including removal of brush, dead trees, and invasive vegetation, in the brush management zones of seven canyons within the underserved communities along the Chollas Creek corridor in Southeast San Diego and the neighborhood of City Heights in the city of San Diego, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

21. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $175,200 to the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District to complete Phase 1 of the Redway Shaded Fuel Break Project, a forest health and wildlife risk reduction project located along the eastern edge of Redway in southern Humboldt County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

22. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

23. CONSERVANCY MEMBER COMMENTS

24. 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 Grassroots Coalition, et al. v. California State Coastal Conservancy, et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 21STCP02237. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

C. To confer regarding Defend Ballona Wetlands, et al. v. California State Coastal Conservancy, et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 20STCV29911. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

D. To confer regarding Lebolt v. City and County of San Francisco, et al., San Francisco County Superior Court Case No. CGC-19-581761. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

E. To confer regarding City of Trinidad v. Tsurai Ancestral Society, 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).

F. To confer regarding Ballona Wetlands Land Trust v. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, et al. (Environmental Science Associates, Real Party in Interest), Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 22STCP03307. Session will be closed to the public pursuant to Government Code Section 11126(e)(2)(A).

Please note: If a closed session is needed, the board will reconvene on the weblink provided above to make any reports, provide any documentation, and make any other disclosures required by Section 11125.2 of the Government Code.

25. ADJOURNMENT

CONSERVANCY TOUR INFORMATION:

On Wednesday, September 21st, the Conservancy will tour several projects in Mendocino County. At 1:30 PM, the Conservancy will visit the Jughandle Farms Nature Center in Caspar. At 2:30 PM, the Conservancy will leave the site and travel to the DeHaven property in Westport, arriving at 3 PM. At 4 PM, the Conservancy will leave the De Haven site for the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail. Members of the public are welcome to join the tour, but they must provide their own transportation. For any questions regarding the tour, please contact Karyn Gear at Karyn.Gear@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:
1515 Clay Street, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

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