Water and land use are related, and I try, here on the Land Use Report, to keep you apprised of some of the key water policy issues that are on the “front burner” in both Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. If you’d like to keep abreast of important water policy issues in Monterey County, I have a suggestion. The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, which does not itself “deliver” water, but which has an important role in overseeing water service on the Monterey Peninsula, is now publishing a monthly Email Newsletter called Water Matters. There is a double message in that title. The newsletter covers a broad range of “matters” related to water policy in Monterey County, and of course especially on the Monterey Peninsula. What those policies are very definitely “matters” to the future of our local economy and natural environment.

If you would like to sign up for the Water Matters newsletter, go to today’s transcript, at kusp.org/landuse, and you will find out how to do that.

This month’s edition, by the way, outlines how a new property tax charge will work, and provides water conservation tips, and give you a calendar of upcoming events, including the next Board meeting on August 20th. While you are tracking down today’s transcript, click on the link to the Water Management District website. That website provides a good outline of exactly what is going on at the District.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Website
• Water Matters Newsletter
• To subscribe, send an email to outreach@mpwmd.net: “Please add me to MPWMD's Water Matters mailing list.”

Yesterday, I told you that “water matters,” and advertised the Water Matters newsletter published by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Water policy concerns in Monterey County, of course, are not just restricted to the Peninsula. A quick review of what the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is doing today makes that clear.

Agenda Item #27 on the Board’s agenda relates to an assessment district for the Aromas Water District. The “real action” on water policy, however, is found in a separate joint meeting agenda for the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors. Here are the topics to be covered in that joint meeting:

• What to do about multiple lawsuits (all to be discussed in a “closed session”)
• Disputes with the San Luis Obispo Flood Control and Water Conservation District
• The Greater Monterey County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
• Storm Water Management in Salinas
• The Pajaro River Bench Excavation and Flood Damage Reduction Projects
• The Salinas River Channel Maintenance Program
• Emergency Repairs on the Salinas River Diversion Facility
• The Carmel River Lagoon Project; and
• The Agricultural Discharge Order from the Regional Water Quality Control Board

Get more information at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Monterey County Board of Supervisors Agenda Links
• Monterey Peninsula Water Management District Website
• Water Matters Newsletter
• To subscribe, send an email to outreach@mpwmd.net: “Please add me to MPWMD's Water Matters mailing list.”

Water policy “matters” where land use is concerned. Transportation policy “matters,” too. Tomorrow, the Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission will be meeting at 9:00 a.m., and I want to make sure you know about it.

The “big item” on the agenda tomorrow is a 9:30 a.m. public hearing, to consider whether or not to call a special election on November 6th, to get voter approval for a $10 Vehicle Registration Fee. That fee, if approved, would help pay for local transportation projects. If you have thoughts about this topic, you should plan to attend, and testify. The staff recommends that the Commission place the measure on the November ballot, but only if the Commission determines that there is “strong support” for the measure. Your comments can have a significant impact on what the Commission decides to do.

The proposed resolution specifies very clearly where the money will go (it will be distributed between the County and the four cities), and on what kind of projects the money can be spent (for road maintenance, and for pedestrian and bicycle facilities). This money won’t go to widen Highway One.

By the way, I have an update on the removal of the La Fonda Bridge. Removal is now scheduled for August 6th and 7th, and August 13th and 14th. Traffic on Highway One will only be stopped in one direction at a time.

There is more information at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• SCCRTC Website
• SCCRTC Agenda, August 2, 2012 Meeting. The Staff Report on the tax proposal is Agenda Item #16.
• Update on the Highway One Soquel/Morrissey Widening Project

Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker represents the Fourth Supervisorial District, which encompasses the cities of Marina and Seaside, and includes part of the City of Salinas. There is lots of land use “action” in the Fourth District, partly because it has such a big piece of the former Fort Ord. Considering that so much new development is planned for the Fourth District, it’s nice to see that Supervisor Parker is trying to stimulate community involvement in land use and planning issues.

Let me alert you to a great opportunity this evening. Starting at 5:30, Supervisor Parker will be hosting a meeting focused on “Designing Healthy and Sustainable Communities.” The meeting will take place at the Chartwell School, located at 2511 Numa Watson Road in Seaside.

The Chartwell School is a LEED Platinum facility, and has received a number of “green building” awards. Speaking will be Doug Atkins, the Executive Director of the Chartwell School, who has been called a “green superhero.” Atkins will talk about “learning in a green building.” Gabriel Torres, from CHISPA, the Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association, will talk about “green community living.” That’s just part of the program.

I’ve put a link to more information in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. It’s available online at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Jane Parker Website
• Meeting Announcement – Designing Healthy & Sustainable Communities
• Chartwell School
• Chartwell Green Building Awards
• CHISPA Website
• For more information about the meeting call 831-883-7570

Next week, the California Coastal Commission will meet in the Monterey Bay Region, and specifically in the City of Santa Cruz. The Commission will be meeting on Wednesday August 8th, Thursday, August 9th, and Friday August 10th in the Chambers of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, located in the County Governmental Center, at 701 Ocean Street.

I think that the Coastal Commission sets the “gold standard” for land use planning in California. You can watch them in action on their website, no matter where they’re meeting, but when they show up in your locality, I can’t help but recommend that you drop by personally, to see them in action. I have put a link to the agenda in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report, and I hope that you will actually stop by and see the Commission do its work.

The state’s system to protect our coast places direct responsibility on local governments, but the Coastal Commission supervises and oversees how local governments carry out their Coastal Act responsibilities. That’s clearly what the agenda for Thursday is all about, as the Commission considers the following items relevant to the Central Coast region:

• Consideration of stormwater management standards in San Luis Obispo County.
• Consideration of changes to standards governing parking and changes of use for commercial structures in Santa Cruz County.
• Changes to Santa Cruz County geologic review procedures.
• Other “cleanup” changes to the Santa Cruz County Local Coastal Program.

More Information:

• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Coastal Commission Website
• Meeting Agenda – August 2012 Meeting