Should the City of Santa Cruz put a measure on the ballot to get voter approval for a comprehensive water supply strategy recently recommended to the Council by its Water Supply Advisory Committee? The strategy is outlined in a 75-page report, but that doesn't count the report's many appendices that are hundreds of pages long. The strategy is based on taking water out of the San Lorenzo River during high water events, and then storing that water in local groundwater aquifers, to be used in times of drought. That's a great strategy, if the groundwater aquifers don't leak, which is a real possibility.

All involved in developing the proposed strategy admit that it might not work, and that it will take several years to find out whether it does. As of Monday, November 23rd, the public hasn't even had a full chance to comment, and the City Council hasn't even approved the strategy. Notwithstanding all this, putting the untried strategy on the ballot was one surprising recommendation from the City Manager in his agenda report. The City Manager thinks that a vote can <quote> “solidify community commitment to the strategy.”

You can comment tomorrow evening. I have links to the key documents at kusp.org/landuse. If you think we might want to see if the strategy works, before solidifying our commitment, or if you have another view, the Council will take your testimony tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton's Two Worlds Blog
• November 24, 2015 City Council Agenda
• City Council Agenda Report – WSAC Item
• WSAC Website
• WSAC Final Report And Appendices

In 2014, the State Legislature enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires groundwater basins to comply with new state standards. There are two time-certain requirements: First, to develop a Groundwater Sustainability Agency; second, to develop a Sustainability Plan. These requirements definitely apply to the Salinas Valley Basin, which is critically overdrafted.

Groundwater issues in the Salinas Valley are important to municipalities, to agriculture, and to the natural environment. After passage of the new law, a consortium of stakeholders from agriculture decided to hire a facilitator to conduct an assessment that will inform the creation of the required Groundwater Sustainability Agency.

The more people who get involved in this process, the more credible the assessment will be. So, individuals and organizations interested in groundwater management in the Salinas Valley are invited to participate in the assessment process. There are three ways to participate. First, through a survey on a web-based tool called “Survey Monkey.” Second, by submitting a survey as a Word Document. Third, by completing the survey using Google Forms. The survey takes some time to complete, and the deadline is Friday, December 4th. I have relevant links at kusp.org/landuse.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton's Two Worlds Blog
• Information on The Salinas Groundwater Basin
• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
• News Article On The New Law
• LandWatch Bulletin On Survey
• Survey Monkey Survey
• Google Forms Survey
• Email To Obtain Word Document Survey

If you want to keep informed about important land use issues around the Monterey Bay, you can ask to get on the mailing list for the Clearinghouse newsletter regularly published by AMBAG, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. Check the links at kusp.org/landuse to get more information.

As you might guess, I subscribe to the Clearinghouse newsletter personally, and the latest edition has lots of items relating to land use issues that I'd say are of pretty great significance. Those who care about the future development of Monterey County's biggest city, for instance, would do well to check out the proposed “Economic Development Element” that might be added to the Salinas General Plan. Salinas is proposing changes to its “Housing Element,” too. Comments are due the 1st of December.

The Carmel Area Wastewater District is planning to make future annexations and expansion easier, in an area comprising approximately 10.5 square miles, adding about 5.5 square miles to the District's “Sphere of Influence.” If this Sphere of Influence expansion proceeds, future developments will have a shorter and easier route to acceptance.

The City of San Juan Bautista is updating its General Plan, too. A community's General Plan is its “Constitution for land use.” Pay attention when the “Constitution” is being amended. There is more information in today's blog!

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton's Two Worlds Blog
• To Sign Up For AMBAG Clearinghouse Newsletter Contact:
  Paul Hierling, Planner
  Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
  Email: phierling@ambag.org
  Telephone: 831-264-5084
• Information on the San Juan Bautista General Plan - phiecityplanning@san-juan-bautista.ca.usrling@ambag.org
• Information on the Salinas Economic Development Element - tarah@ci.salinas.ca.us
• Information on the Salinas Housing Element – Telephone Jennifer Coile: (831) 758-7206
• Information on Carmel Area Wastewater District Plans - Lander@cawd.org

I have found the Supervisorial newsletter published by Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold to be a reliable source of information on key land use issues affecting Santa Cruz County generally, as well as those specifically affecting the First District, which Supervisor Leopold represents on the Board of Supervisors.

Most recently, Supervisor Leopold provided some very helpful information to those concerned about airplane noise related to the relatively recent modifications to flight patterns made by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA. There are LOTS of people affected by these changes, and this is actually a national problem, not just a local one. In order to make airplane transportation more energy efficient, the FAA has adopted a “Next GEN” set of rules that have resulted in some significant shifts in flight patterns. Noise complaints have proliferated, and I'm personally convinced that the complaints are justified. Congress Members Sam Farr and Anna Eshoo are definitely taking them seriously.

If you want to learn more, or would like to know whom to contact, if you are being personally affected by recent changes in flight patterns, check out today's Land Use Report blog at kusp.org/landuse. I am relaying Supervisor Leopold's references, and that will get you up to date on this significant issue.

More Information:

• Land Use Links
• Gary Patton's Two Worlds Blog
• Subscribe to Supervisor Leopold's Newsletter
• FAA Initiative To Address Noise Concerns
• Contact Congress Member Sam Farr
• Contact Congress Member Anna Eshoo
• File A SFO Noise Complaint
• Report Jet Noise Website