Let me tell you about some upcoming civic participation opportunities, including a meeting in Santa Cruz and some other meetings in Monterey County.

Tonight, the Santa Cruz City Water Commission will be meeting, at 7:00 p.m., in the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers. The main item on the Commission’s agenda is a review of the City’s Final Water Supply Outlook Report for 2012; however, if you are following the proposed desalination plant, a report on that topic is also scheduled.

In Monterey County, the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority will be holding a workshop this evening to provide information on a proposed fee increase. If approved, that fee increase would go into effect on July 1st. My advice is to speak up now, as opposed to waiting until you get hit with a big new bill. The meeting tonight is at 6:00 p.m. at the Prunedale Grange Hall, located at 17890 Moro Road in Prunedale. There is another meeting tomorrow, also at 6:00 p.m., at the Salinas City Hall, and a meeting on Wednesday, again at 6:00 p.m., at the San Ardo Elementary School, 62428 Center Street in San Ardo. What may really be going on, apparently, is an effort to get the money build a controversial new solid waste incinerator.

I’ve put links to more information on all these items in today’s Land Use Report Blog.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Blog: Two Worlds
• Santa Cruz City Water Commission Agenda Packet
• Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority Website
• Information on the proposed rate increase
• Information on the proposed Plasco incinerator
• Gonzales Tribune article on proposed incinerator
• Monterey County Weekly article on proposed incinerator

You can contact the Solid Waste Authority for more information at (831) 775-3000.

From my view from across the Bay, it seems to me that the biggest current land use issue in Monterey County is the future of the former Fort Ord. I think that virtually all the residents of Monterey County have a big stake in what happens on Fort Ord, and my personal advice, as always, is to get engaged in the decision-making process now, before all the decisions are made, and it turns out that you don’t like the result. People are skeptical, I know, about the ability of ordinary individuals to affect the political process, but my experience is that community participation does make a huge difference. If you track down today’s edition of the Land Use Report blog, you’ll find some links that may help to get you started.

The biggest single issue on Fort Ord (and there are a number of significant issues) may be a proposed new four-lane road, cutting right into the heart of currently wild areas. Concerned residents are calling it a “road to nowhere,” and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors appears willing to let the road proceed without a currently updated Environmental Impact Report. Again, whatever your views, now is the time to get engaged. Once new roads are built, there is no turning back, even if they go to “nowhere.”

“Nowhere” becomes “somewhere” really quickly. Providing a public subsidy for future development (like building a big new road) is an almost certain way to make sure that development happens.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Blog: Two Worlds
• Citizens For Sustainable Marina
• Salinas Californian article on Fort Ord Reuse Authority
• Fort Ord Reuse Authority Website
• Keep Fort Ord Wild Website
• LandWatch Monterey County Website
• LandWatch Meeting Calendar – Meetings on Fort Ord

There is a distinction between “policy” level decisions and “project” level decisions, and my ambition is always to get KUSP listeners to care about the land use “policies” that ultimately determine the future shape and character of our local communities, and that should (and often do) determine what happens when specific “projects” are proposed.

The fact is, though, it’s pretty hard to get folks “jazzed up” about “policy.” What really stirs interest are proposed “projects.” If someone wants to put a Costco on agricultural land in Watsonville (and that’s what the current Mayor of Watsonville wants to do) it’s easy to get people’s attention. Decisions about General Plan “policies” don’t seem directly connected to such “projects,” but they are. So, I keep plugging away, reminding listeners of important land use policy topics.

“Green Building” is a kind of “combination of ingredients” issue. Important “policy” questions are involved, but the applications are quite specific, as particular building “projects” are advanced. Those involved in the building and project side of land use might like to attend a workshop this evening on “Energy Modeling for Integrated Design and Planning.” The workshop is sponsored by the Green Building Council, and will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the IBEW Local 234 Headquarters, located on Merritt Street in Castroville.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Blog: Two Worlds
• Information on tonight’s Green Building Council’s event

On March 29th, the California Transportation Commission approved funding for the following projects in Santa Cruz County:

• Highway One/Highway Nine Intersection Improvements ($850,000)
• Storm Damage Repairs on Nelson Road ($1.2 million)
• Storm Damage Repairs on Redwood Lodge Road ($850,000)
• Sidewalks on Park Avenue in Capitola ($200,000)
• Soquel Drive/Park Way Intersection Turn Lanes ($450,000)
• Sidewalks and Bike Lanes at Vine Hill Elementary School ($400,000)
• Airport Boulevard Sidewalk, Travel, and Bicycle Lane Extensions ($850,000)
• Highway One Widening From Soquel Drive to 41st Avenue ($4 million)

Clearly, the big item is the proposed continued widening of Highway One. There was a lot of debate about this item last December, since $4 million dollars doesn’t even begin to pay for the enormous cost of that project. The key policy issue is whether it makes sense to stash away money for a project of that magnitude, when there are so many local needs right now. I think the debate is likely to continue. Hopefully, the monies just allocated will at least mean that the other projects can actually be constructed over the next five years, which is what the Regional Transportation Commission says will happen.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Blog: Two Worlds
• The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission Website
• 2012 Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Improvement Program

If you are at leisure next Wednesday, April 11th, here’s a suggestion for how you can have a wonderful morning and afternoon at the Pinnacles National Monument. The Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (or CNPS) is conducting a Pinnacles flower walk from 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This will be a dual purpose event, including a walk up flower-strewn Juniper Canyon, combined with a celebration of the opening of a new Visitor Station on the west side of Pinnacles National Monument.

The National Park Service has specifically invited the local Chapter of CNPS to attend the Visitor Station event. That event starts at 11:00 a.m. on April 11th, and features a ribbon cutting ceremony, with Congress Member Sam Farr, green technology tours, a condor presentation, and ranger programs. Those who want to attend should bring a lunch and liquids (probably not the intoxicating kind). It sounds like a great way to spend a day; again, if you have the time to do it.

The federal government gets involved in land use, among other ways, by acquiring and maintaining federal lands of unique environmental importance. The Bureau of Land Management, for instance, maintains habitat in most of the former Fort Ord. And as for the Pinnacles, if you haven’t been there, please find a way to do that – next Wednesday or some other time. They are truly spectacular.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Blog: Two Worlds
• Pinnacles National Monument
• CNPS Monterey Bay Chapter April Calendar

To join the CNPS group and arrange carpools, email Corky Matthews at mmatthews2@comcast.net by April 9th.