The Monterey City Council is meeting this afternoon, but this meeting is just a bit different from their ordinary convocations. It won’t be in the historic old City Council Chambers. It’s out on the beach, near the public restroom at the foot of Wharf II. This is an official City Council meeting. The public notices are out, and you are very much invited to attend. Take a stroll on the beach with your elected officials! There could be a worse way to spend the late afternoon. The meeting, actually, is billed as a "field trip," and will begin at 4:00 p.m. The public notice provides the following "rules of engagement" for what will be an unusual venue for normal City Council deliberations:

"Field Trips provide an opportunity for the City Council to perform site visits, view construction staking for proposed projects, and have questions answered regarding items on those projects. Public testimony is taken prior to Council discussion, and the Council does not take formal action on the items."

We can thank the Ralph M. Brown Act for the right to participate, as members of the public, in even the most unusual gatherings of public officials. The purpose of the meeting this afternoon is to allow City Council members to view the City lands that might be leased on a long term basis to Adventures by the Sea and Monterey Bay Kayaks. Get more information at the KUSP website, www.kusp.org.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Monterey City Council Meeting Agenda
http://www.monterey.org/ccncl/agendas/2005/a050815ss.pdf

Cable TV Schedule For Monterey City Council
http://www.monterey.org/tv

Rancho San Juan is the biggest development project ever proposed in the history of Monterey County. It would put 70,000 new trips, every day, onto an already?]congested Highway 101; it would make the existing water overdraft situation worse; and is officially opposed by the City of Salinas. The Monterey County Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the project be denied. However, by a 3-2 vote, the Board of Supervisors approved the project in December of last year. Concerned citizens immediately launched a "referendum" campaign, to give Monterey County voters the right to express their own opinion about this massive development.

Over 16,000 signatures were gathered (during the holiday season, and during periods of really nasty weather), and that qualified the referendum for the upcoming November ballot. Now, as the time for the election comes closer, the Board is considering eliminating the election. They would do this by overturning their previous approval of the project, but the developer doesn’t need to worry. The developer is actually asking the Board to overturn his project, because the Board has already, informally, told the developer that it will approve a "redesigned" project in about a month. In effect, the Board of Supervisors and the developer are conspiring, in full public view, to disenfranchise the voters of Monterey County. Will they actually do that? Find out this morning! That’s when the decision will be made.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Board of Supervisors Agenda
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/cttb/agenda081605.htm

Listen Live To The Board of Supervisors
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/cttb/audio.htm

County’s Rancho San Juan Website
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/major/rsj/rsj_main.htm

LandWatch Alert
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/issuesactions/
northcounty/081105demonstration.html

To receive regular email alerts from the Clerk of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, contact the Clerk of the Board at

The Scotts Valley City Council has set a special meeting this afternoon, at 5:30, to discuss the "re-zoning of property and alternatives for consideration of housing issues generated by the Housing Element certification process." You can get more information by going online at www.kusp.org. Just click on the Land Use Report link, and track down the transcript for today’s Land Use Report. Please send me any comments or suggestions you may have, as well.

As the staff report for this afternoon’s meeting says, the City of Scotts Valley has been working since 2002 to obtain certification of its General Plan Housing Element. Certification of the Housing Element is given (or in this case not given) by the State Department of Housing and Community Development, usually called "HCD."

Under state law, the land use and other policies contained in local General Plans are really a matter of local community choice, but the "Housing Element" is an exception. In the case of the Housing Element, a local General Plan is supposed to meet some rather strict requirements, and HCD must "certify" that the Housing Element does that. At issue, usually, is how much housing growth a local community will allow. This afternoon, the Scotts Valley City Council will consider zoning decisions to increase possible future housing development. If you’re a Scotts Valley City resident, you might want to show up at City Hall for the meeting this afternoon.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Scotts Valley Website
http://www.scottsvalley.org/

Agenda for Scotts Valley City Council Meeting on August 17, 2005
http://www.scottsvalley.org/cca.PDF

State HCD Website
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/

I am on lots of mailing lists, and I get lots of bulletins and announcements about various meetings at which land use policy matters will be discussed, or during which important land use decisions will be made. If you’re a frequent listener, you know that I have an "unhidden agenda" of trying to get members of the public actually to attend and participate in these meetings. Self-government really does demand that we get involved ourselves. Today, I want to tell you about a chance to get a little education with your lunch, but before I do, let me put in a pitch for you (as listeners) to let me know about things that you think are of interest and importance. While I am on lots of lists, I have no "definitive" system to make sure that I’m not missing something, and I am anticipating that my upcoming move to Sacramento will make it harder for me to be in touch with upcoming Central Coast events. I’m planning to continue with these weekday Land Use Reports, but if you can help me out, I’d appreciate it.

Now, on to lunch! If you’re in the Marina area at around noon, and head to Francisco’s Restaurant at 262?]B Reservation Road, you can hear Mike Armstrong, the General Manager of the Marina Coast Water District, speaking on the topic, "Will Water Be A Stumbling Block?" It’s a pretty pertinent question! Land use decisions are inextricably tied to water. The luncheon is sponsored by the Marina Chamber of Commerce. You can find out how to make a reservation at the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

For a reservation to the lunch call 831-384-9155

Marina Chamber of Commerce Website
http://www.marinachamber.com/

Bulletin advertising today’s luncheon
http://www.marinachamber.com/newevents.htm

At a luncheon yesterday, the Marina Chamber of Commerce focused on the question, "Will Water Be A Stumbling Block?" Water and land use are definitely related, and getting that relationship right is one of the most important things for a local government to do, as it tries to build a strong and sound land use policy foundation for the future growth and development of the community. The Chamber of Commerce has a vital interest in making sure that land use decision making is properly linked to an adequate supply of water, and that water quality issues are not ignored. The future of the local economy depends on it. In Marina, there are both water supply and water quality issues, since past incidents of toxic contamination on Fort Ord are putting drinking water supplies at risk.

Land use and water policy decisions, however, affect not only the economy, but the environment, and our efforts to achieve social equity, as well. The economy, the environment, and social equity are the "Three E’s" affected by land use policy. To focus on the "equity" issue for just one moment, let me alert you to a new publication entitled, "Thirsty for Justice," a people’s blueprint for California Water. The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water has documented the connections between race, poverty, and the lack of access to water in California. Find out more at www.kusp.org.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:

Environmental Justice Coalition For Water Website
http://www.ejcw.org/

"Thirsty For Justice" Announcement Events
http://www.ejcw.org/blueprint.htm

Send an email to to receive periodic alerts.

For information on how to get a copy of "Thirsty For Justice," contact Amy Vanderwarker at 654 13th Street, Preservation Park, Oakland CA 94610. FAX: 510-251-2203. Email: