A new site popped up recently that may be of interest to you. The content on it SHOULD be of interest to you. UnclogCambria.com tells the story of Cambria development from the point of view of lot owners not on the CCSD wait list. An appeal was set for last Thursday (10/28) and no matter how the judges rule on the appeal, the case is still far from over.
UnclogCambria.com includes all the case filings in a battle that may not end well for the CCSD and will continue to cost Cambrians money that would be better spent elsewhere. If you can wade through some of the more slanted and obnoxious statements about the Coastal Commission, the Cambria Community Services District and the sometimes immature tone, it is an interesting read that will provide some background on the other side of the “preserve our village” coin.
My recommendation: click over to the site and read the couple of brief pages (Home and Case Background) with an open mind and the understanding that there are always more ways to see things than the one we may prefer. The best way to protect ourselves and a vision of Cambria we can support is to get informed, stay involved and keep the conversation going. This will not go away just because it is being ignored.
Browsing Posts published in October, 2009
At the Cambria Community Services District October 22, 2009 meeting, Ron Crummit gave an update on the Buildout Reduction Committee’s progress. Listen to it by downloading the mp3 below. (Full audio of the meeting is available at www.slo-span.org)
93428 Cambria
In October 2005, a group of young Cambrians put on a music festival at the Veteran’s Hall as a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The handful of bands that day included The Dreaded Ninth and Pony Farm Showdown and a clear local favorite (and CUHS grad, I think) Port O’Brien. They got the joint a-jumpin’, as seen from these pictures of the event:
And now, a mere four year later, NPR has picked them for their song of the day! Today! Take a listen at NPR’s All Songs Considered.’
Port O’Brien was earlier included in a “Showcase of Great Unknowns” that All Songs Considered produced in May 2008.
Another feather in our cap. Congrats to the musicians!
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October 28, 2009 |
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Port O’Brien offers an unromantic but soulful look at the time its members have spent toiling in isolation with the wind at one’s back. “Sour Milk / Salt Water” is the most literal interpretation of the musicians’ hands-on experiences, even in its production: All the reverb and the backwards-guitar melodies are non-computerized and organic, made by playing tapes in reverse, and barely touched in final mastering.
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Song: “Sour Milk / Salt Water” | Artist: Port O’Brien | CD: Threadbare | Genre: Folk
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Wit the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve EIR on Thursday’s agenda, there is very little extra time to rad more. Bu this relevant report on the accomplishments of Park and Rec over the last four years and the goals going forward could add another dimension to the discussion of the Ranch this week.
Prepared as a report to the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo county and on the consent agenda for next week’s BOS meeting, the report lists current priorities and goals as well as itemizing the work the Parks Commission has been involved with.
If you have a moment, you can read the report here.
More valuable than a gallon of gas? Say YES! with a small donation today.The agenda packet for the Cambria Community Services District meeting for this week is a hefty 368 pages. Download it from the CCSD website.
The agenda has a new preamble explaining the legal rules and restrictions of the Board. I applaud this change for a few reasons, but mainly because it may help “regular” citizens understand better what actions the Board can and cannot take at a meeting, relative to the published agenda.
This agenda is prepared and posted pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2. By listing a topic on this agenda, the District’s Board of Directors has expressed its intent to discuss and act on each item. In addition to any action identified in the summary description of each item, the action that may be taken by the Board of Directors shall include: a referral to staff with specific requests for information; continuance; specific direction to staff concerning the policy or mission of the item; discontinuance of consideration;cauthorization to enter into negotiations and execute agreements pertaining to the item; adoption or approval; and disapproval.
Copies of the staff reports or other documentation relating to each item of business referred to on the agenda are on file in the Office of the District Clerk, available for public inspection during District business hours. If requested, the agenda and supporting documents shall be made available in alternative formats to persons with a disability. The District Clerk will answer any questions regarding the agenda.
This week’s agenda includes the usual pledge of allegiance, report from closed session, public comment periods near the beginning and end of the meeting, sheriff’s report, etc. Also this week:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/PRESENTATIONS
Cambria Forest Committee Member Galen Rathbun, Presentation of “County and State Codes, Related to Habitat and Fire Protection in Cambria”
MANAGER’S AND BOARD REPORTS
- GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
- DISTRICT ENGINEER UPDATE REPORT ON DESAL PROJECT COSTS
REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Consider Adoption of Resolution 51-2009 Approving Amendment to Settlement, Mutual Release and Covenant Agreement with Joshua Brown and Cathie Brown
B. Consider Adoption of Resolution 53-2009 Approving Agreement Between the CCSD and Granville Homes, Inc., for Conversion of Two EDUs toSingle Family Residential Allocated to 5860 Moonstone Beach Drive (Moonstone Inn) Property
C. Consider Adoption of Resolution 50-2009 Approving Certification of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR); and Consider Adoption of Resolution 54-2009 Approving the Revised Community Park Plan
The closed session agenda is rather full, too.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54956.9 (2 matters) Barbara Owen, Claimant; Cybernet Consulting, Inc.
B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Subdivision (a) of Section 54956.9 (1 matter) Landwatch/C Hawley San Luis Obispo County vs CCSD and DOEs 1 through 25 (inclusive), Army Corps of Engineers and DOEs 21 through 30 (inclusive) Real Parties in Interest CV-09-00928 GAF (RZx)
C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency Designated Representatives: General Manager Employee Organizations: IAFF, Local 4635, Cambria CSD
D. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency Designated Representatives: General Manager Employee Organizations: SEIU, Local 620, Cambria CSD
See you Thursday starting at 12:30pm at the Veteran’s Hall.
From TreePeople via Reuters:
“SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Despite threats by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to kill all of the 704 bills on his desk unless the and legislators reached an agreement, the Governor decided to approve SB 790, also known as the Stormwater Resource Planning Act. SB 790 creates a new framework encouraging California [...]
From the IMOC (Inquisitive Old Man’s Club) charter member Jerry McKinnon:
You’ve seen the banner for 350 in the sidebar of this site for a couple of months now. If you haven’t clicked on it yet to check it out, please take the time to do that today. I am proud to be a part of the Cambria Climate Action Group. We are a loosely organized collection of folks determined to make a positive difference in how we live on this planet. Getting involved and educated on issues related to climate change is not for the feint of heart. Over the last few months, I’ve gotten quite an education. It’s a lot of uncertainty about how bad it could get and whether anything humans do can reverse the upward trend of global temperature and the problems that is causing. In my opinion, ignorance is bliss and the more I learn, the easier it is for me to understand why people would deny its happening – it’s really quite scary. The radical changes we will have to make to keep our climate somewhat stable are going to be difficult. But doing nothing will be worse. The Cambria Climate Action Group, in conjunction with 350.org and over 2,700 other communities will be making our voices heard on October 24 – and you are invited.
About 350.org
»» 350.org is an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million.
»» 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide—measured in “parts per million” in our atmosphere. [For more on the science of 350 visit 350.org/science]
»» Although current levels are already at 390, if we put a high enough price on carbon that we stop using so much, while also ensuring poor countries a fair chance to develop, we will be able to reverse course, develop a clean energy economy and prevent serious, long-term damage.
About October 24
»» Six weeks from now, governments will be convening in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in order to create a new climate treaty. The International Day of Climate Action on October 24th is the best chance we’ll have to influence the treaty before
negotiating positions solidify.
»» On October 24th communities will gather at thousands of places around the world—from the Taj Mahal to the Great Barrier Reef—to draw attention to the need for a dramatic international agreement to reduce carbon emissions and set us on a rapid path to 350.
»» 2767 events have been organized for October 24 in 158 countries (as of noon on October 15). We are proving to the world that not only is 350 possible, but it is also what people all over the world demand.
You are Invited!
Please pack a picnic lunch and join us for an afternoon picnic in Shamel Park, on the beach in Cambria, from noon to four p.m. on Saturday, October 24th to bring attention to global climate change and what we can do individually and collectively to make change for the better—not worse.
Our event is one of over 2496 events in at least 157 countries to make that most important number visible to everyone. Each event will gather for a big group photo that somehow depicts 350, the most important number on earth. A year ago, our greatest climatologist—NASA’s James Hansen—and his team produced a landmark series of studies. They showed that if we let the amount of carbon in the atmosphere top 350 parts per million, we can’t have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.”
We will be taking a photo of the group at 2:00 p.m. to share with the other thousands of groups around the world celebrating the day and show on the big screen in Times Square, so if you can only be there for a part of the afternoon, then do try to be there then. We want the world to see that we care and are committed to doing things differently now. By the end of the day, we will be part of a powerful visual petition linking together the entire planet that we can deliver to the media and world leaders. When the world’s leaders meet in Copenhagen in December to reach agreement on a new climate treaty, we need them to go farther than they’ve planned to go: we need to make sure they’ll pay attention to the latest science and put forward a plan that gets us back to safety.
This is even more important than changing your light bulb—this is your chance to help change the way the whole world operates. It’s a great chance to take a stand—maybe the last great chance, given what the scientists tell us about the momentum of climate change.
Live music of Jill Knight, Sleepy Guitar Johnson and My Javelina will make Shamel Park sound great during the event.
Brownies, cookies and other sweets will be for sale for $1 each.
All day long we will raffle off many excellent prizes. Raffle tickets are $3 each or 2 for $5. And everyone who comes to the event will get one ticket – just for coming and enjoying the day. In the spirit of change, we aim to make the event high fun, low impact. If you leave your car at home, (reducing the impact of the event by walking, biking, skateboarding, etc) you will earn up to 5 free tickets. The Cambria Trolley runs by Shamel Park hourly. Schedules are posted at all stops and the ride will cost you $.50 each way.
Raffle prizes include:
- Local artist Sally Seago is donating a “green themed” artwork
- Local author Loren Carey is donating an autographed copy of his novel: The Custer Conspiracy.
- Local massage therapist Cat Rhyne — who specializes in deep tissue and Reiki massage — has donated a message.
- Personal trainer Lori Rosenlind (Cambria Life Fitness for Women) has donated two one-hour private sessions.
- Three prizes from Cambria’s Pacific Hair and Bath: A haircut and weave by April; a haircut and blow dry from April; a men’s or women’s haircut and blow dry by Shari.
- A small solar battery charger.
- Three 4-foot tall bamboo plants.
- A one night stay at any Moonstone Hotel property (good for up to one year, subject to availability. )
- A full set of signed books from renowned Cambria author Catherine Ryan Hyde. The set will include first editions of all twelve of the author’s published novels, including four hard-to-find, out-of-print titles, a now-unavailable hardcover edition of Pay It Forward, and her newest adult title, When I Found You, which is currently only available in the UK.
350 Monterey pine seedlings will become part of the solution in Cambria. Adopt a tree (or several) and work with Greenspace-the Cambria Land Trust and Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve to plant these trees to replenish our unique forest.
There will also be many people at the event with information about local agriculture, transit and other local products we can use to live well and reduce our impact.
Visit www.Cambria350.org for more detailed information. Or call 805-924-1154.
Words for thought: If people think nature is their friend, then they sure don’t need an enemy. -Kurt Vonnegut
Organized by Cambria Climate Action Group. All money raised will be used to offset event costs. Any money leftover will be donated to 350.org. Have an idea, donation or want to promote your sustainable, climate-friendly, local business or product at the event? Call us or send an email to cambriamaven@gmail.com
The Final Environmental Impacts Report for the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is now available on the CCSD website. The report will be presented to the CCSD Board on October 22, 2009, along with 268 pages of comments made on the draft EIR and responses to those comments. According to General Manager Tammy Rudock, this major undertaking will be Connie Davidson’s last project for the district. The draft EIR was published in March 2008 for a public comment period that ended that same April. Seven agencies provided comments, including the school district, Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Greenspace and Landwatch. There are letters/emails from fifty-three members of the public. Many of those letters are more than a page or two in length, but all have very specific responses to the concerns.
The document is available to be downloaded in chapters, instead of all at once because there are so many pages to the entire report. I am hoping to get to reading all of the comments and responses, at least, before the Board meets a week from today. Life’s been a little hectic since I started working with an arborist in Morro Bay five days a week. You are welcome to provide your insights, feedback and comments on the final draft and responses below.
See you at the Vets Hall Thursday.
From Asheville’s Citizen-Times, this commentary by Damien Schiff of the Pacific Legal Foundation:
“The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is one of the most powerful federal environmental laws, dictating land use and development over millions of acres throughout the nation. Whatever its original purpose, the ESA has become a handy tool for environmentalist extremists to push an [...]
