It is rare but not impossible that a public agency might carry out the entirety of one of its meetings behind closed doors. That is exactly what the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is planning to do tomorrow.

In any county, county government has land use jurisdiction over large areas of “undeveloped” land, and the land use and other decisions of county government are often the most important determinant of what will happen to a local community in the future. Persons who want to have an impact on the future of their community need to pay attention to what their county Board of Supervisors is doing. Luckily, the California Public Records Act gives every member of the public a right to look at government files. The Ralph M. Brown Act gives the public access to public meetings. These two statutory systems really make possible the kind of informed self-government that allows ordinary members of the public to affect the public policies that most affect them.

The “open government” provisions of state law, though, do allow City Councils and Boards of Supervisors to hold “closed” meetings in certain circumstances. Tomorrow, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, meeting as the County Water Resources Agency, has made the entirety of their meeting into a “closed” session, to deal with specified litigation matters. This is not the best news for those members of the public who would like to know “what’s going on?”

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• California Public Records Act
• Ralph M. Brown Act
• Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agendas

Land use decisions come in at least two different “flavors.” First, there are “policy” level decisions, like decisions related to the adoption or amendment of a city or county general plan. Second, there are “project” decisions.

Unless you are a first time listener, you will probably remember that I am consistently urging listeners to get involved in the land use “policy” decisions made by their local city council or board of supervisors. Adopted “policies” drive the decisions made on “projects,” and it is these “project” level decisions that actually result in changes to the natural landscape, or to our urban environment. LandWatch Monterey County has a publication entitled Land Use And The General Plan that provides some details on how this works.

“Policies” tend to be quite abstract, but “projects” are very specific, so most people get involved in land use issues at the “project” level. If four-story apartment building is proposed in your low-rise neighborhood, whether it gets approval or not may depend on the relevant land use “policies,” but neighborhood concerns focus on the “project.”

If you live in the City of Santa Cruz, and want to see how the “project” level operates, you should probably meet your ZA, or Zoning Administrator. There is a ZA meeting tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. A number of city projects will get the go-ahead, or not, at that meeting. There is more information below.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• City of Santa Cruz Website
• ZA Agenda, City of Santa Cruz, May 16, 2012
• Land Use And The General Plan
• LandWatch Monterey County Website

Residents of the Monterey Peninsula well know the significance of Pebble Beach, which contains some of the most important Monterey Pine Forest remaining in the state of California. It has some pretty nice golf courses, too, not to mention scenic roadways and lovely homes.

The California Coastal Commission recently made what the Commission has called an “historic” decision about the future development of the Pebble Beach property. There is more information in today’s blog posting, available below. Mary Shallenberger, the Chair of the Coastal Commission, said that the Commission’s action “ends decades of unproductive conflict about how to protect and develop the Del Monte Forest.” The Commission’s action clears the way for Monterey County to approve land use permits. A forest preservation easement, to be held by the Del Monte Forest Conservancy, will protect 635 acres of forest for the benefit of the public.

The “deal,” and that’s what it was, was negotiated in private between the owners of the Pebble Beach Company and Peter Douglas, who was then the Commission’s Executive Director. Douglas and Company representatives actually signed a joint letter, outlining the “deal,” prior to public involvement. This wasn’t exactly a public process. Despite requests that it address the issue, the Commission’s decision also did not require any onsite affordable housing. Maybe the County will insist on that in future action.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey County Weekly News Article on a New Book on the Monterey Pine Forest
• Coastal Commission Press Release on Pebble Beach Decision
• May 9, 2012 Coastal Commission Staff Report
• Coastal Commission Website

The Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission is meeting this morning, starting at 9:00 o’clock. The meeting will be held in the Commission’s offices, located at 1523 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz.

On the agenda today are several interesting items. For instance, Agenda Item #5 is a proposal that the Commission approve draft goals, targets, and policies that are intended to reflect sustainability principles, for incorporation into the Regional Transportation Plan, or RTP. When finally adopted, this plan will become the Santa Cruz County component of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, and the approved policies will guide action on transportation project level decisions.

Agenda Item #6 will find the Commission discussing potential ballot measures, intended to get County voters to vote for more money for road and other transportation improvements. Many listeners may be interested in this topic! If you are not interested now, you probably will be if measures come before you later, on the ballot, asking for a sales tax increase, or something similar. Now would be a good time to start getting informed and involved.

Finally, Agenda Item #4 recommends that Iowa Pacific Holdings be selected to operate the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which will allow the Commission to finalize its purchase of the rail corridor running between Davenport and Watsonville. That’s exciting!

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission Website
• Commission Agenda For May 17, 2012 Meeting
• Staff Report on Selection of Operator for the Branch Rail Line – Agenda Item #4
• Staff Report on RTP Goals, Targets, Policies, and Strategies – Agenda Item #5
• Staff Report on Possible Revenue Raising Ballot Measures – Agenda Item #6

Tomorrow, you can volunteer to help track “Sudden Oak Death” in Santa Cruz County, by taking part in a “bioblitz” survey. A one-hour training will be given by U.C. Berkeley’s Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, and after the training you will then collect plant material on your own during the weekend, returning samples by Sunday, and thus helping scientists find ways to head off Sudden Oak Death in Santa Cruz County.

I can’t imagine that you were already planning to do something like that, but I do encourage your involvement. The one-hour training program begins at 10:30 tomorrow morning. It will be held at the Cal-Fire Training Room, located on Gushee Street, in Felton. The meeting room is located immediately behind the forestry office, and if you are using GPS to get there, the address is 6059 Highway 9, in Felton.

The pathogen that causes Sudden Oak Death threatens the beautiful Coast Live Oaks that are not only lovely in themselves, but that are vital to the survival of the plants and animals that depend on them. By tracking the fungus-like mold that causes the disease, it is possible to take steps to reduce the impact of Sudden Oak Death, and to protect at least some trees.

Your participation can make a huge difference. Here is a wonderful excuse to get our in our natural environment, and to do something that will help preserve and protect it. There is more information below.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Information on Sudden Oak Death
• For more information call Annie Murphy: 831-818-9226
• Or, contact organizers by email at:
  • Annie Murphy – anniekate@earthlink.net
  • Nadia Harney – nadiah@big-creek.com
  • Doug Schmidt – dschmidt@berkeley.edu