Coastal Conservancy Public Meeting in San Rafael – April 06

Meeting Notice

Douglas Bosco (Public Member), Chair
Joy Sterling (Public Member)
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
Gregg Hart (District 37)
Christopher Ward (District 78)
Tina McKinnor (District 61)

Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer
Amy Roach, General Counsel

AGENDA
Hybrid Meeting
DATE: April 06, 2023
TIME: 10:00 A.M
LOCATION: Marin Civic Center Annex
20 Avenue Of The Flags,
San Rafael, CA 94903

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/j/81712892522?pwd=WmZFVmtPZVdWN25lK1lONG9FWllVUT09

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 April 06, 2023 meeting if you join by zoom.

1. ROLL CALL

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the Conservancy’s February 2, 2023 public meeting.

3. CONSENT ITEMS

A. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $41,200 to the Mattole Restoration Council to complete preacquisition activities for 52 acres of wetland, riparian, grassland, and forested habitat on the North Fork Mattole River in Humboldt County.

B. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $3,000,000 to augment the Conservancy grant of $1,200,000 previously authorized to Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District to prepare plans, designs, and environmental documentation for the 3.4-mile segment of the Santa Ana River Trail known as the Rincon to Prado Spillway segment in the County of Riverside.

C. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $200,000 to the City of Riverside to complete a feasibility study to assess the viability of establishing the Riverside River District along the Santa Ana River in the City of Riverside, Riverside County.

D. Information Report to correct an error regarding the prior grant amount in the May 27, 2021 staff recommendation for the Topanga Lagoon Restoration Planning Project at Topanga State Park and Topanga Beach in Los Angeles County.

E. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $400,000 to the Solano Land Trust to augment the Conservancy’s previously authorized grant for construction of a staging area and other public amenities at Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park (formerly Rockville Trails Preserve).

F. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $100,000 to the Mendocino Land trust, Inc. to prepare designs, environmental review documents and permit applications for the Arena Cove Coastal Trail in Arena Cove, Point Arena, Mendocino County.

4. EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORT

A. Resolution in Honor of Ann Notthoff

B. Delegation of Additional Authority to Conservancy’s Executive Officer

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

5. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $7,000,000 to the Land Trust of Napa County to acquire 465 acres of the 2,300-acre Walt Ranch Property for habitat preservation, biodiversity protection, climate resilience, improving wildlife corridors, and public access and tribal cultural uses compatible with natural resource protection in the Capell Valley of Napa County, California.

6. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $1,500,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to complete environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and prepare permit applications for beneficial reuse of excavated tunnel material from VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II tunneling project in Santa Clara County at wetland restoration projects in the South San Francisco Bay.

7. Consideration and Possible authorization to disburse up to $3,049,000 to the City of Berkeley to design, obtain permits for, and construct Berkeley Waterfront improvements in Alameda County consisting of 1) renovating the existing South Cove West parking lot, and 2) repairing the existing Cesar Chavez Park perimeter trail; and adoption of findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

• Addendum: Letter of Support
• Addendum: Public Comment

NORTH COAST

8. Consideration and potential authorization to disburse up to $1,377,000 to the Crescent City Harbor District to prepare plans and designs, environmental review documents, and permit applications for the reconstruction of Citizens’ Dock and to construct a new restroom serving South Beach in the Crescent City Harbor in Del Norte County.

9. Consideration and potential authorization to disburse up to $309,650 to the Smith River Alliance to prepare final designs, permit applications, and plans for interpretive elements for the Point Saint George Coastal Trail Project, which consists of construction of approximately 1.25 miles of coastal trail, resource protection, interpretive content, and improvements to the main trailhead parking area at Point Saint George in Del Norte County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

• Addendum: Letter of Support

10. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $750,000 to the County of Humboldt to implement the Humboldt Bay Living Shoreline Planning Project, which consists of completing preliminary designs, conducting CEQA review and technical analysis, and preparing 65% design plans and permit applications for phased salt marsh restoration as a sea level rise adaptation measure along the Eureka-Arcata Highway 101 and Humboldt Bay Trail corridor in Humboldt County.

STATEWIDE

11. Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $995,500 to Zero Foodprint to implement 15-25 agricultural soil carbon sequestration projects, and to sustainably increase soil carbon sequestration in California by developing ongoing regional funding mechanisms, and by helping establish and advance relevant local ordinances and policies.

Please note: If a closed session is needed, the Conservancy will reconvene in person and on the webcast and zoom webinar to make any reports required by Section 11125.2 of the Government Code.

12. CONSERVANCY MEMBER COMMENTS

13. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

• Addendum: Public Comments
• Addendum: Public Comments

14. CLOSED SESSION
A. 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).

B. 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).

C. 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).

D. 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).

E. 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).

F. 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).

15. ADJOURNMENT

CONSERVANCY TOUR INFORMATION:
On Wednesday, April 5, the Conservancy will tour the following sites, as close as possible to the identified times, which might be affected by traffic:

• 11-12:30pm: Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park (project site for item 3E on this Agenda), Fairfield
• 1:45-2:30: Dotson Family Marsh/Giant Marsh Living Shorelines at Pt Pinole Regional Shoreline, Richmond (lunch break at Giant Marsh from 1:15-1:45)
• 3:30-4:30pm Hamilton Wetlands including Native Plant Nursery and Bel Marin Keys Unit V Restoration, Novato

Members of the Public are welcome to join the tour but must provide their own transportation. The tour will conclude at 4:30pm.

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