ALBA is the acronym for the “Agricultural and Land-Based Training Association.” The word also means “dawn” in Spanish. A year or so ago, I highlighted some of ALBA’s extraordinary work. Today is a good day to remind listeners about this exceptional nonprofit group. If you’d like to get a full briefing, please check the KUSP website for the transcript of today’s Land Use Report.

ALBA’s mission is to promote economic viability, social equity and ecological land management among limited resource farmers on the Central Coast. ALBA is probably best understood as a job training and economic development program, aimed primarily at farmworkers, helping farmworkers to advance to economic self-sufficiency as agricultural producers. Along the way to doing that, ALBA helps limited resource farmers learn how to farm in an ecologically sound manner.

Tomorrow, ALBA will provide a training on nutrient management. On January 18th, an ALBA workshop will focus on pest management practices. Both these workshops exemplify an important point: how we use our land has impacts that extend far beyond the land itself. The Planning and Conservation League is hoping to build support for programs that will follow ALBA’s lead, making sure that our land-based farming practices, and other activities, don’t send pollutants into our incomparable Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Get a briefing on ALBA’s work on the ALBA website
http://www.albafarmers.org

Phone ALBA at: 831-758-1469

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors is planning to take action on General Plan Update version #4 by December 19th. Today and tomorrow, the Board will be inviting public comment, and if you’d like to respond to this “last call” for comments, you should make plans to attend the meeting today, or tomorrow. Both hearings are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Ordinarily, I might say that the County’s General Plan Update process is finally “coming to an end.” However, I think it’s more accurate to say that it’s coming to a “next stage point.” The Board seems determined to “beat the voters to the punch,” and to get their rather pro-development plan voted on and officially adopted prior to any expression by the voters at the ballot box. But as I explained last week, Monterey County voters have taken the necessary actions to make sure that they’ll ultimately have the chance to vote directly on the General Plan. This is rather extraordinary, but things in Monterey County haven’t been “normal,” where land use is concerned, for about the last five or six years. The Monterey County Herald newspaper, recognizing this, wrote an editorial (linked on the KUSP website) that is unlike any editorial I have ever read, pleading with the Board to recognize the public’s right to vote.

Letting the Board know what you think about that idea might be a good reason to attend one of these next two hearings.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Monterey County Website
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/

Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/cttb/agenda120506.htm

General Plan Documents
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/pbi/gpu/

LandWatch Monterey County
http://www.landwatch.org

Monterey County Herald: “Board Clearly Ignoring Voters”
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/
montereyherald/news/opinion/16095616.htm

Frequent listeners to the Land Use Report will remember that I periodically suggest various types of outdoor activities as stimulating for mind, body, and spirit. Wildflower walks, clean up days, and Big Sur excursions have all been touted here!

As we move into the winter season I’d ordinarily be suggesting some nice warm public hearing type events to get you out of the house. At 1:30 this afternoon, for instance, just to reiterate what I said yesterday, it’s likely you’ll have one of your last possible chances to comment on Version #4 of the proposed Monterey County General Plan Update.

However, I want to recommend something that is probably even more exciting, and this might be something that parents with children would like to consider. The only downside is that these outdoor activities take place in West Marin County, so it’s a trip for Central Coast residents. Nonetheless, that jaunt across the Golden Gate can be beautiful, and here’s the payoff. From now through January 14th, on Saturdays and Sundays, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., experienced naturalists will guide groups to see salmon spawning. You will actually see it happening. Protecting salmon runs in California streams is one of our very highest priority land use and water quality objectives. You can see what it’s all about on one of these trips. Complete details are found below.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

The tours I talk about in today’s Land Use Report are organized by the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN), based in Forest Knolls, California. The SPAWN Website is
http://www.spawnusa.org.

According to SPAWN, tour guests are invariably delighted to spot salmon digging nests, fighting for dominance, and the ultimate…dropping their eggs into carefully-prepared indentations in the gravel. The tours take place rain or shine, and are a wonderful way to get outside during the winter. You must sign up to reserve a space.

When: Two tours daily on Saturday and Sundays at 10am and 1pm, now through January 14th. There will be special trips Monday – Friday December 25th – December 29th, and on New Year’s Day.

Where: West Marin County.

How: To reserve your space call 415-488-0370 ×107, or email Creekwalk@SpawnUSA.org

Cost: The cost is $6-$10, on a sliding scale, free to members.

The City of Santa Cruz is in the midst of a General Plan Update process, and the City’s General Plan Advisory Committee will hold an important meeting to discuss the General Plan Update next Thursday night, December 14th, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., at the Santa Cruz Police Community Room, 155 Center Street in the City of Santa Cruz. Of course, the public is very much invited to attend and participate.

In September, the City held a community design workshop, to gather ideas about the future of the City. The following ten outcomes received the highest ratings from those who participated:

• A Riverwalk with shops and restaurants near the San Lorenzo River
• Higher density housing near transit and along transportation corridors
• Infill development and renovation on Ocean Street, Water Street, and Soquel
• A Personal Rapid Transit system for the city
• Keeping vehicles off Pacific Avenue, in the Santa Cruz downtown area
• The prohibition of high impact development near residential areas
• Provide dense, mixed uses by extending downtown south of Laurel, and along Front Street
• High density development around employment and mass transit centers
• Greening transportation corridors – and using fruit trees
• More focused and effective planning for mass transit

From a planning perspective, this is what could be called a “progressive” agenda. You can follow up by attending the meeting to be held next Thursday night.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Information on City General Plan
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/
(Click on General Plan Link on Home Page)

Next Thursday, you will be able to put “one ear to the tracks,” and attend a symposium on potential rail and trail systems in Santa Cruz County. “One Ear To The Tracks” is the title of the Symposium, which is sponsored by People Power, a pretty impressive grassroots group working for transportation alternatives, and a great promoter of bicycle, pedestrian and rail solutions to some of our most vexing transportation problems.

This is an evening event, with free admission. It will be held at the Jade Street Park in Capitola, starting with marimba music at 6:00 p.m., and speakers and discussion from 6:30 to 8:45. Assembly Member John Laird is going to moderate an open forum, with nationally recognized experts taking questions.

Mike Hart, owner of Sierra Railroad, will address the freight and recreational potential of the rail corridor that runs from Davenport to Pajaro Junction. Michael Jones, principal author of a guide to rail/trail facilities in the United States, will discuss whether a rail/trail solution is possible here, and Bill Burgel, Vice President of rail operations for HDR Consulting in Portland, will speak on the possibility of electric light rail and trolley systems on the Santa Cruz corridor. Representatives of the Monterey County and Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commissions will also be participating.

For more information, click on the Land Use Report link on the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

For more information about the event, visit the People Power website
http://www.peoplepowersc.org

You can call People Power at: 831-425-0665