At 10:45 tomorrow morning, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal by Supervisor Ryan Coonerty that the Board officially support the designation of the Coast Dairies property, located on the county’s North Coast, as a National Monument. The intention is to show broad public support, and thus to persuade President Obama to use his executive power to designate the National Monument.

The National Monument idea is somewhat controversial. The biggest concern seems to be that by declaring the Coast Dairies property to be a National Monument, more visitors would be attracted. Bad traffic conditions on Mission Street might just get a lot worse. Parking, littering, sanitation, and other problems could get worse, too. Other monument designations have definitely had the effect of increasing public use, and the problem that concerned members of the public are highlighting is whether it makes sense to ask for the designation before having a good idea of what the impacts will likely be, and how they might be addressed. There is also some concern that existing protections for the land might actually be weakened by the designation.

Supervisor Coonerty is suggesting lots of conditions, intended to deal with the concerns identified so far. You can find a link to the proposed resolution at kusp.org/landuse. And you are invited to testify tomorrow, if you’d like to do that.

More Information

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Board of Supervisors Agenda, April 21, 2015
• Agenda Item #48 – Resolution Supporting Monument Designation

Today is a good day to think about water. In fact, considering our not so abundant rainfall recently, every day is probably a good day to think about water, and specifically to think about how we can use less, and live within the constraints of the water we’ve got.

There is, of course, the other alternative, which is to find a way to increase our water supply. Historically, Americans have always been fond of the “supply side” approach. Facing natural resource constraints, our inclination is to build a dam, extend a pipeline, or drill a well. Most recently, the “let’s increase our water supply” approach has focused on building a factory to “manufacture” fresh water, using that big ocean out there as our supply source.

Here are two upcoming events focusing on water supply, one of them specifically on desalination:

• Tomorrow, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., the City of Santa Cruz Water Supply Advisory Committee will receive a presentation on the “Potential for Water Transfers and Exchanges, and Aquifer Storage and Recovery.” That presentation will take place in the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers.

• Also tomorrow, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and in honor of Earth Day, Monterey Peninsula College will present a “Desalination Panel.” That panel presentation will take place in MPC Lecture Forum 102.

There is more information on both these events at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• WSAC Meeting Announcement
• MPC Website
• MPC Campus Maps And Directions
• Public Water Now Website

Yesterday, I let you know about a Desalination Forum being held at Monterey Peninsula College this afternoon, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. I also told you about a meeting on Regional Water Transfers and Exchanges, being held in the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers this afternoon, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. There is more information in today’s Land Use Report blog. A person truly dedicated to learning more about our water supply situation could actually take in both of these meetings, starting in Monterey, and then heading to Santa Cruz.

Let me add a third important meeting to the list of today’s meetings on water supply. Tonight, at 7:00 p.m., in the Watsonville City Council Chambers, the Board of Directors of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (or PVWMA) will consider a Recycled Water Storage and Distribution project. Reusing wastewater to help offset groundwater overdraft is a strategy that the PVWMA has been pursuing for a number of years, and this project is the Agency’s latest effort to prevent the “waste” of wastewater, and to maximize efficient water use.

It’s a fact that an interested person could actually take in all three of these meetings! I hope that at least some KUSP listeners out there will decide to attend at least one of them! It would be hard to overstate how important it is that we be aggressive and proactive in dealing with our water supply situation.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Agenda Packet, April 22, 2015 PVWMA Board Meeting
• PVWMA Meeting Agendas
• WSAC Meeting Announcement
• MPC Website
• MPC Campus Maps And Directions
• Public Water Now Website

Regular listeners may remember from earlier reports that the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (or FORA) has been overseeing a project that has involved a lot of public participation. Local residents have been asked to specify what sort of design guidelines for future Fort Ord development would seem most congenial to them.

The workshop process that FORA has followed is called the “Regional Urban Design Guidelines” project. Participants were told <quote> “the workshops are an opportunity to offer input on former Fort Ord village and town center, gateway, regional circulation corridor and trail design preferences. Your input will contribute to the eventual completion of the Regional Urban Design Guidelines, which will include standards for road design, setbacks, building heights, landscaping, signage, and other matters of visual importance.” Lots of people have responded, and their preferences are now known.

According to a fascinating article in the Monterey Herald, the public officials who initiated this public process don’t like what the public is telling them. The public wants “open space.” The public officials, not so much! They want development. At least that’s what the article says. I have a link to the article at kusp.org/landuse. Check it out. And remember that the officials we elect are supposed to work for the public, not vice versa.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• February 26, 2015 Land Use Report on FORA Process
• Monterey Herald Article on Fort Ord Planning
• Description of Design Guidelines Project
• Fort Ord Reuse Authority Website

All around the Monterey Bay Region, local residents are thinking about “sustainability” and community “resilience.” The “sustainable cities,” or “transition” movement, which is nationwide in scope, is absolutely flourishing in Monterey County. I have a link to the Sustainable Monterey County website in today’s transcript, available at kusp.org/landuse. From there, you can find the websites of the many local action groups based in Monterey County, groups like “Sustainable Carmel,” “Citizens For A Sustainable Marina,” and “Sustainable Carmel Valley.” To give you an early warning “heads up,” the annual meeting of Sustainable Monterey County is currently scheduled for Saturday May 16th at the Park Lane Activity Room, 200 Glenwood Circle in Monterey. I encourage you to put that meeting on your calendar, and to subscribe to the periodic email bulletins furnished by Sustainable Monterey County.

I have also put a link in today’s transcript to a website that poses a “Community Resilience Challenge” to anyone who would like to respond. A whole list of suggested projects is included, including starting or joining a school or community garden, planting a fruit tree, or installing a greywater system.

The “Community Resilience Challenge” began in 2010 in Santa Monica. If you get involved, you can help bring it to the Monterey Bay Region.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog
• Sustainable Monterey County Website
• Monterey County Local Action Groups
• Resilience Challenge Website
• Sign Up For The Challenge