The Land Use Report

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 The Santa Cruz City Council meets at 2:30 this afternoon. Agenda Item #10 is a public hearing, and it takes twelve lines on the agenda to describe the item. Here is a shortcut: The crematory located at the Santa Cruz Memorial Park cemetery has applied to expand its facilities and to modify its location. Nearby residents on Ocean Street Extension, who would be directly affected, don’t think the City should approve the application without evaluating possible adverse environmental impacts. The City staff says there’s no problem. As it happens, burning bodies can cause some problems. The major problem is mercury pollution. Amalgam mercury dental fillings, in some dead bodies, can release significant amounts of mercury when the bodies are burned. Mercury is, without doubt, a dangerous and toxic substance. In this case, the proposed site for the discharge would be within forty feet of the San Lorenzo River, the region's largest surface source of drinking water and home to coho salmon and steelhead trout, which are listed as endangered and threatened species. If you care about this topic, you should show up this afternoon, or otherwise communicate with the City Council. The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, does require that a full scale Environmental Impact Report must be prepared if a proposed project “might” have a significant adverse environmental impact. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Santa Cruz City Council Agenda – March 11, 2014 Agenda Report – Crematory Item

Monday, March 10, 2014 All governmental power (theoretically, at least) belongs to the people. Elected officials have power only because we, the people, have given it to them. Similarly, non‑elected governmental officials only have power to the extent that our elected representatives have given it to them. When any department of government takes action, those governmental employees taking the action have to be able to point to an approval, somewhere, from our elected representatives. That’s the way it is supposed to work, and it largely does work that way, because when governmental bureaucracies start taking actions that have never been properly authorized, those actions are subject to a successful judicial challenge. This brings me to the “Consent Agenda” system. The governing bodies of most government agencies adopt a “Consent Agenda” as one of their first actions, every meeting. Tomorrow, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors has a Consent Agenda with fifty items. When it’s adopted, that means the Board will have given fifty different authorizations for the government bureaucracy to do something. Bottom line, if you want to know what your government is doing, check the Consent Agenda. As a for instance, Santa Cruz County government is moving towards the creation of a new “Geological Hazard Abatement District” in Seascape. That will end up costing property owners some money. It’s Item #38 on tomorrow’s Consent Agenda. You might want to check that out! More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Agenda – March 11, 2014 Consent Agenda Item #38 – Seascape Geological Hazard Abatement District

Friday, March 7, 2014 I have been teaching some Legal Studies courses at UCSC over the last couple of Quarters. It is good to see young people confronting the challenges ahead, and making plans for what they are going to do when they graduate. Getting a good job is high on the list, of course, but so is finding some way to help our society make progress on the immense economic, environmental, and social problems that we need to confront. On Wednesday, I mentioned the “Earth Summit,” held on campus yesterday. Today, let me alert you to an event being held tonight at the UCSC Kresge Town Hall. At 6:00 o’clock this evening, you can treat yourself to a free vegetarian dinner and hear what I think will be an inspiring presentation by City Repair Project founder Mark Lakeman. He will be addressing the topic “Reclaiming the Commons: Uniting for Our Shared Future.” City Repair began in Portland, with the idea that localization  (of culture, of economy, of decision making) is a necessary foundation for sustainability. City Repair educates and inspires communities and individuals creatively to transform the places where they live. By reclaiming urban spaces to create community-oriented places, City Repair says we plant the seeds for greater neighborhood communication, empower our communities, and nurture our local culture. Find out more at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog UCSC Kresge Common Ground Center Reclaiming The Commons – Facebook Announcement The City Repair Website

Thursday, March 6, 2014 Today, I would like to alert you to some recently introduced legislation, now pending in the California State Legislature. Assembly Member Susan Talamantes Eggman, who represents Stockton and surrounding areas, has introduced Assembly Bill 1961, to require county governments to develop and include in their General Plans a “Sustainable Farmland Strategy.” There is a link to this bill in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report, so you can read it in detail. You might also like to “subscribe” to the bill, which you can do at the state’s LegInfo website. If you subscribe, you will get an emailed notice every time something significant happens, so you can make sure you are up to date, and can fire off letters or make telephone calls if you have a position on the bill. Thanks to the passage of Measure J by the voters of Santa Cruz County, in 1978, Santa Cruz County already has strong protections for farmland built into its General Plan. Measure J established the following rule, the strongest in the state: “It shall be the policy of Santa Cruz County that prime agricultural lands and lands which are economically productive when used for agriculture shall be preserved for agricultural use [period].” Eggman’s bill outlines many reasons why preserving California farmland is both economically and environmentally important. Check it out at kusp.org/landuse! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Assembly Member Eggman’s Website Information on AB 1961 State LegInfo Website AB 1961 (Eggman)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014 The UCSC Student Environmental Center is presenting its 13th Annual “Earth Summit” on Thursday, March 6th. That’s tomorrow! The Earth Summit will be held in the College 9/10 Multipurpose Room, and while UCSC students are the target audience, members of the public, including KUSP listeners, are invited to attend. The event will run from 10:00 o’clock in the morning until 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Again, that’s tomorrow. The theme of this year’s Earth Summit is: Imitate, Innovate, Initiate. If you go, be prepared to learn about waste prevention, water and energy conservation, green building, social and environmental justice, transportation, and much more! There will be fresh local foods, informative and fun workshops, tabling, keynote speakers, and wonderful entertainment! The bulletin published by the Earth Summit sponsors put the following statement in caps: “Did we mention it's all FREE?” On a personal note, I am not quite sure about the “Imitate” part of the theme. I hope the sponsors mean that we should “imitate” some good examples. Our current methods of living together, in my opinion, don’t much meet the “sustainability” objectives that the Earth Summit will be promoting. But “Innovating” and “Initiating?” That sounds good. If you’d like to attend the Earth Summit tomorrow, you can get more information at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog UCSC Earth Summit Facebook Page Information on Earth Summit

Tuesday, March 4, 2014           We had some rain last week. That was good! The drought is still with us, though, and groundwater overdraft is still a huge problem in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Tonight, the Soquel Creek Water District is holding another meeting about groundwater. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Capitola City Hall (420 Capitola Avenue in Capitola), and will include the following presentations: An overview of California groundwater law and management by attorney Russell McGlothlin. Santa Cruz County’s role and responsibilities in addressing mid-county groundwater issues by John Ricker, Santa Cruz County Water Resources Division Director. Current and future groundwater management activities by Soquel Creek Water District by Kim Adamson, General Manager of the Soquel Creek Water District. There is another water-related meeting tonight, too. The Coastal Watershed Council and the San Lorenzo River Alliance are hosting a meeting about the future of the San Lorenzo River at the Museum of Art and History, in downtown Santa Cruz, located at 705 Front Street, running from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A Facebook item asks this question: “What would you like to see on the San Lorenzo River? Water taxis and bars, as on San Antonio’s Riverwalk?” This is only one possibility! A series of meetings about the future of the San Lorenzo River will be held over the next several months. I’ll try to keep you posted. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Coastal Watershed Council Website San Lorenzo River Alliance Information on Groundwater Meeting

Monday, March 3, 2014 Here are some facts from a recent edition of Xasáuan Today, a blog that posts interesting articles about Monterey County, and that proclaims “Nature Bats Last.” Number of months since a month of average … rainfall: 13 Amount of water that has flowed … into lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento this year: None Number of feet the water level in Lake San Antonio has dropped over the past twelve months: 92 Additional feet the water level in Lake San Antonio can drop before it reaches the “dead pool” level of the outlet pipes: 10 Combined capacity of Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento: 729,000 acre feet Amount currently in storage: 95,330 acre feet Chance that current drought will exacerbate nearly all Salinas Valley water problems: 100% The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has held numerous closed meetings (possibly illegal meetings) in which they have discussed using an allocation of potentially available water from the Salinas River for urban uses, including new development, instead of using the water to address current overdraft and other problems. Farmers are very concerned about what’s going to happen to this water allocation, as a recent article in the Monterey County Herald makes clear. The Herald article is worth reading. Check the links at kusp.org/landuse. More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Herald Article on Farmers’ Fears Xasáuan Today – Salinas Valley Drought Index

Friday, February 28, 2014 There are two different, though related, ways you can get involved in land use issues. First, you can focus on specific “project” items. For instance, should Safeway be allowed to reconfigure the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center in Aptos, and vastly to increase the size of the existing store? As another example, should that proposed housing development on Val Verde Drive in Carmel Valley be given the go-ahead? These are important decisions, and they are decisions about what “projects” should be approved, or denied, or about what sort of conditions should be imposed on a project approval. Prior to any “project” applications, however, come “policy” level decisions. Under the state’s Planning and Zoning Law, all “project” approvals must be consistent with relevant “policy” documents, the most important being a City or County General Plan. Depending on adopted “policies,” certain kinds of “projects” won’t even be considered. Good planning really depends, ultimately, on good “policies,” maintained and applied. Right now, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments is overseeing the development of a key “policy” document, the “Monterey Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy.” I encourage you to get involved in this critical “policy” discussion. Comments are due on April 8th. Get more information at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy

Thursday, February 27, 2014 Sierra Club California and other environmental groups have been working on state legislation to impose a moratorium on fracking and well stimulation. Fracking is a big issue within our Central Coast Region. Working with environmental advocates, State Senator Holly Mitchell, from the Los Angeles region, has written, and has now introduced, Senate Bill 1132. Senator Mitchell’s Bill is jointly authored with State Senator Mark Leno, from San Francisco. I have put a link to SB 1132 in today’s Land Use Report transcript, so you can read the actual bill. If you care about this issue, I suggest that you “subscribe” to updates for SB 1132 through the California “LegInfo” website. SB 1132 imposes a moratorium on fracking and well stimulation until an expanded version of a study of fracking and well stimulation is completed, reviewed, and then sent to the Governor. After he gets that comprehensive report, the Governor will have to determine if the study warrants removing the moratorium based on the information it contains about the impacts that fracking and well stimulation might have on public health, and on environmental and economic sustainability. Check out SB 1132, and then tell our local representatives what you think. I’ve placed links to their websites at kusp.org/landuse. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Senate Bill 1132, As Introduced State’s LegInfo Website Website, Sierra Club California Sierra Club Press Statement on SB 1132 State Senator Holly Mitchell State Senator Mark Leno State Senator Bill Monning Assembly Member Luis Alejo Assembly Member Mark Stone

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Let me alert listeners in Monterey County to a meeting of the Monterey County Planning Commission. The meeting begins at 9:00 o’clock this morning, and will be held at the County Government Center, 168 West Alisal Street in Salinas. I have placed a link to the Planning Commission agenda in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. That is available at kusp.org/landuse. There are a couple of interesting “project” items on today’s Planning Commission agenda. For instance, the Commission will consider a proposed single family dwelling in the Coastal Zone, in Pebble Beach. The proposed house would be 5,132 square feet, with a 1,126 square foot attached garage, a 136 square foot mudroom, a 519 square foot storage loft above the garage, a 107 square foot entry portico, among other features. The proposed project would also include a 243 square foot conservatory, a 192 square foot shop, and other facilities. Staff is recommending approval. Of more general importance are three different “policy” items that will face the Commission today. How should the County handle inactive land use permit applications? What kind of a countywide traffic impact fee might be appropriate, and what about restrictions on proposed ridgeline developments? More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog February 26, 2014 Agenda of Monterey County Planning Commission Staff Report on Pebble Beach Project Proposal Staff Report on Ridgeline Development Staff Report on Traffic Impact Fee Staff Report on Inactive Applications

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Both the Monterey County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will be taking action today on very significant land use policy and project items. In Monterey County, the Board will consider whether or not to rescind its former action on a controversial Carmel Valley development project. This is all part of a legal settlement. In 2012, the Board denied a combined development permit for a proposed project on Val Verde Drive in Carmel Valley. The property is almost eight acres, and thirty-one residential units were proposed. The hearing on this item will be at 1:30 p.m. in Salinas. Housing, traffic, water, and related issues, all of critical importance in Carmel Valley, are facing the Board. If you care, you can definitely testify in person. In addition to this item, the Board will also consider a controversial proposal to give neighbors an increased voice over proposed developments on private roads. A big item in Santa Cruz County is a proposal that the Santa Cruz County Board will consider at 11:00 o’clock this morning. The proposal is to change an existing service charge into a special tax, to provide a stable funding source for parks and recreation purposes. The tax would be $8.50 per year, for improved parcels. If you have a position, let the Board of Supervisors know! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Agenda, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Staff Materials, Santa Cruz County Parks Proposal Agenda, Monterey County Board of Supervisors Materials on Monterey County Items Are Available Through the Board’s Agenda Link.

Monday, February 24, 2014 Here is a “heads up” list, letting you know about various meetings and presentations that may be of interest. To learn more, please visit kusp.org/landuse, where KUSP provides transcripts of both current and past editions of the Land Use Report. Today, February 24th, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall in Aromas, FarmLink will present a “Farm Finance Expo.” Small farmers should check this out! Today at 4:00 p.m., the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission meets in Salinas. Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 25th, John Andrew, the Assistant Deputy Director of the California Department of Water Resources, will speak in Room 148 at Porter College, at UCSC, on “Responses to Climate Change for California’s Water Sector.” Tomorrow, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will consider a controversial Carmel Valley development project, address road access issues, and vote on other important land use matters. All this at 1:30 p.m. Tomorrow in Santa Cruz County, at 11:00 o’clock in the morning, the Board will decide whether to call a special election, to ask voters to replace an existing service charge with a special tax to support parks and recreation. If you care about that topic, you should consider making your feelings known. More Information Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog California FarmLink Website Information on FarmLink Farm Finance Expo Monterey County LAFCO Website LAFCO Agenda, February 24, 2014 Indicators of Climate Change in California California Climate Change Reports Agenda, Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors

Friday, February 21, 2014 It is clear that we are facing a drought year. Let’s hope we are not facing something a lot worse, like one of those “mega-droughts” you may have been reading about. The National Geographic ran an online article about a week ago with this scary headline: “Could California’s Drought Last 200 Years?” If you want to start grappling with that concept, track down today’s transcript at kusp.org/landuse, where I have posted a link to the National Geographic article. With or without such a dire prediction as a motivation, it makes sense for all of us to start getting serious about saving water. One neighborhood in Santa Cruz is doing something about water conservation on a neighborhood basis, and it’s pretty inspiring. Tomorrow, Saturday February 22nd, the Seabright Water Action Group is hosting a free “Water Wise Festival.” The Festival will be held in the heart of the Seabright area, at the Pacific Cultural Center, located at the corner of Seabright and Broadway. It runs from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and if you are anywhere nearby, why not check it out? Remember it is free. There will not only be resource and information tables, but free refreshments and free water-saving devices. Speakers, too, of course, including Sherry Lee Bryan from Ecology Action, Rick Longinotti from Desal Alternatives, and LeAnne Ravinalle, a water conservation professional. I hope you can attend. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog National Geographic Magazine Article On A California Mega-Drought

Thursday, February 20, 2014 Last Thursday, I tried to persuade listeners to plan ahead for a tramp around the woods and forests of the Central Coast Region, to assist scientists fighting Sudden Oak Death. The spread of Sudden Oak Death in both Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties is a real threat to our environment, and volunteers are needed for this year’s survey project. This will be a one-day commitment, and I wanted to give Land Use Report listeners an opportunity to plan ahead. Well, there is a little correction to be made in what I advertised last week. I have to apologize for attempting to link listeners to the event schedule for 2013. I guess I am resisting the fact that last year is truly gone! We are in 2014 now, so the dates are different but the activities are the same, and there is still plenty of time for you to make arrangements to participate in this most worthwhile project. The Sudden Oak Death Blitz is an effort that truly helps scientists trying to fight back against this horrible disease, which is afflicting huge areas throughout the Central Coast Region. Both the US Forest Service and the California Native Plant Society are involved. I hope you will plan to get involved, too. I have once again posted details at kusp.org/landuse, but this time I have posted the schedule for 2014! There are events in both April and May, with links to the organizers who can give you more information and sign you up. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog 2014 Sudden Oak Death Blitz Main Page – SOD Blitz Project

Wednesday, February 19, 2014 I live on the Eastside of Santa Cruz, in an area that might be called the City’s “Gateway to Groceries.” Shoppers Corner, Whole Foods, Staff of Life, and Safeway are all located within several blocks of each other along Soquel Avenue and Water Street from Branciforte to Morrissey Boulevard. My neighborhood is a pretty nice place to live, and I can walk to whatever grocery store I pick! Right now, I can also walk to the Eastside Post Office, located across the street from Safeway. You can also drive to the Eastside Post Office, because there are actually parking places available! That is not usually true for the Downtown Post Office, located at another complex intersection, where Mission Street, Water Street, Front Street, Pacific Avenue, and North Pacific Avenue all come together. Well, here is the news story. The Postal Service has apparently lost its lease for its Eastside location, sending more post office patrons to our congested downtown Post Office. And what is proposed in its place? Why, a Grocery Outlet grocery store, of course, right across the street from Safeway. There will be an informational meeting about this, sponsored by Grocery Outlet, in the Branciforte Middle School Cafeteria on Wednesday, February 26th, starting at 7:00 p.m. The address is 315 Poplar Avenue. This is definitely a “Who Cares?” issue. Consult yesterday’s Land Use Report transcript if that doesn’t seem to make sense! More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Santa Cruz Sentinel article on Grocery Outlet