About Cambria

Part One in a Series

San Luis Obispo County has no polar bears stranded on mini icebergs, no melting glaciers, no sinking island nations, no dissolving coral reefs – all effects caused by the growing  instability of our climate. This doesn’t mean San Luis Obispo County will escape the effects of climate change. Although most of the more drastic effects are being seen and felt at the poles and the equator, environmental changes in the more temperate zones of the planet are becoming more noticeable.

Last Wednesday I attended an very intriguing workshop hosted by the Local Government Commission (LGC) in San Luis Obispo: SLO Climate Change Adaptation Workshop. LGC partnered with the National Center for Conservation Science & Policy (NCCSP) and Susanne Moser Research & Consulting in collaboration with the City and County of San Luis Obispo to develop and implement climate change adaptation strategies for the region through a grant from the Kresge Foundation. The strategies will help local leaders, decision-makers, and governments prepare for the impacts of climate change in a way that provides benefits across multiple sectors and systems. Our goal is to develop strategies that cohesively consider economics, health, culture, social needs, infrastructure, ecosystem services, and natural resources.

Last week’s daylong event included presentations on the effects and potential needs for adaptation to changes in San Luis Obispo County and breakout sessions where participants discussed the priorities for our county as we plan for the future.  An abbreviated list of some of those in attendance:

David Church, Executive Officer, SLO LAFCO

Judy Corbett, Executive Director, Local Government Commission

Adam Hill, SLO County Supervisor

Ellen Carroll, Environmental Coordinator, SLO County Planning

Larry Allen, Air Pollution Control Officer, APCD

Ron De Carli, Executive Director, SLOCOG

Joy Fitzhugh, Legislative Analyst, SLO Farm Bureau

Marni Koopman, Ph.D., Climate Change Scientist, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy

Andrew Christie, Chapter Director, Sierra Club

Jan Marx, Council Member, SLO City Council

Chuck Stevenson, AICP, Long Range Planning for SLO County

Ray Weymann, Retired Astronomer

Michael Winn, Chair, WRAC and board member of Nipomo CSD

Paavo Ogren, Director, SLO County Public Works

Don Maruska, Strategy & Fisheries Policy Advisor, SLOSEA

Jerry Bunin, Government Affairs Director, Home Builders Association Central Coast

Maggie Macro, Initiating Team, Transition Paso Robles (one of about half a dozen Transitions members who were there)

Among the many others were residents of a number of communities and green business/energy folks. I was encouraged to see so many staff from many local non profit organizations and government agencies like SWAP, SLO County Housing Trust Fund, Caltrans, Creston Area Advisory Body, Los Osos CSD, Economic Vitality Corporation, ECOSLO, Central Coast Salmon Enhancement, Cal Poly, Cuesta, CA fish and Game, and planners from the cities of Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Morro Bay.

The morning presentations set the stage and helped build a shared foundation of information about changes that are predicted for this county and what adaptations might be required. Starting with the Importance of Adaptation, a look at adaptation and the connection to City and County mitigation work, SLO Climate Change Projections, Climate Change Impacts on SLO Socioeconomic Systems and a review of the Top Socioeconomic Issues and Strategies.

Briefly, the top 10 concerns for species and ecosystems under climate change:

1. Water withdrawals from groundwater basins and rivers are an urgent issue, regardless of climate change, but will become much more
   severe of a challenge under climate change. Workshop participants identified monitoring and regulation of water withdrawals as necessary. Changes in pricing, types of crops, and residual dry matter from land use practices were all recommended. Water conservation measures are urgently needed to reduce competition for water and retain supplies for protected species and important natural processes.
2. Connectivity of fish and wildlife habitat is vital under climate change, yet development is quickly reducing opportunities for connectivity. Longterm region-wide planning is non-existent. Planning for connectivity will require communication and collaboration across land ownership boundaries, incentives for climate change easements on private property, regional analysis of potential buffers and corridors, regional scale climate change consideration in all development decisions, and a better understanding of how and where species will move.
3. Sedimentation in rivers, streams, and estuaries is problematic and likely to get worse with more fires, increased storm intensity, and continued land use practices that lead to erosion. Sedimentation will have negative impacts on riparian and water delivery systems, both of which are already stressed by general drought and overdraft. Land use controls, incentives, newly developed best practices, and prescribed fire were all recommended to reduce sedimentation. Monitoring and adaptive management should be implemented to keep sedimentation rates within historical bounds, if possible.
4. Loss of riparian, wetland, and marsh ecosystems greatly reduces the resilience of the landscape to climate change. These ecosystems are disproportionately important as breeding grounds for fish and wildlife, habitat for rare species, flood abatement that protects nearby infrastructure, water filtration, water infiltration to groundwater storage, and oases during drought. These ecosystems should be protected, restored, and created across the County ASAP.
5. Sea level rise is a huge concern due to its potential to impact marine and terrestrial ecosystems, coastal development, tourism, recreation, and agriculture. Rather than armoring the coast, the coastline should be allowed to be dynamic in state. One suggested approach was rolling easements. Relocating some developments would be necessary, thereby allowing the sandy beaches, dunes, rocky intertidal zone, estuaries, and bluffs to shift over time but still persist. Persistence of these features is vital to tourism, fish and wildlife populations, local fisheries, recreational opportunities, public safety, and quality-of-life for residents. A statewide or regional policy will need to be developed specific to sea level rise and coastal armoring.
6. Loss of oak woodlands from increased fire, drought, and invasive species is of great concern. Reducing current stressors to oak woodlands, such as overgrazing and frequent fire, may allow this important vegetation type to be more resilient to climate change. Educating private landowners about climate change projections and best management practices in oak woodlands, as well as providing them with incentives to retain healthy oak woodlands on their property, would help. Propagating more drought tolerant varieties of oak may also be an option.
7. Many important strongholds for threatened and endangered species are not protected and are not included in critical habitat designations. Critical habitat needs to be revisited and revised to include these areas as well as buffers for climate change range shifts. Some species are already in perilous condition and climate change is likely to cause extinction. It will be important to identify which species can be managed for persistence and which ones are too costly to maintain. Revisiting critical habitat will assist in this determination.
8. Planning should be carried out on a watershed scale, with all major land use players brought to the table, including ranchers, agricultural producers, county planners, the Forest Service, BLM, USFWS, conservation organizations, and others. Planning is currently done in a piecemeal fashion, and regulation is insufficient and unenforced. Planning for development, agriculture, natural ecosystems, and other interests needs to be done collaboratively and through a long-term, climate change lense. Enforcing current laws and regulations (CWA, ESA, local regulations) that affect land and water management is an important first step towards increasing the resilience of species and ecosystems to climate change.
9. Monitoring of species and ecosystems needs to be increased to detect trends early on and adjust management quickly in an adaptive  management approach. Careful planning and thought will need to go into designing monitoring strategies. A central clearinghouse that makes data available from all monitoring and surveying efforts, would be especially useful and could lead to more informed, timely, and sophisticated management efforts.
10. Keeping options open and taking advantage of opportunities. San Luis Obispo County has more options than other areas. Much of the coastline is undeveloped, thereby making marsh and wetland migration possible. Climate change may make marginal farmland available for conversion to coastal wetlands or native grasslands. Topographic complexity provides climate change refuges for species across the County as they shift to new areas. Many areas are currently available for providing buffers and connectivity for natural ecosystems (primarily on private land), but these areas could be lost to development if new policies and approaches are not quickly instituted with climate change in mind.

Upcoming posts will summarize the presentations (and have the MP3s available for download) and the results of the afternoon discussions on priorities. Most of the research is in documents available on the Local Government Commission website.

From the North Coast Advisory Council email maven (aka Marty Main):

Hello Everyone:

We want to alert you that John Busselle, SLO County planner, will update the NCAC (North Coast Advisory Council) on the Vacation Rental Ordinance recommended changes to the amendments. If you remember, the Board of Supervisors requested the 5-yr review of the Ordinance. In July 2009, the staff report presented a list of suggested recommendations that would update the Ordinance to be more enforceable in their opinion. We, the residents, presented many of our concerns at that time. And staff actually took some of these suggestions under advisement and incorporated them into their report for recommended changes. The Supervisors listened and then requested staff to go back and rework some of the issues under discussion.

A copy of the ’09 staff report with the original recommendations for changes to the Ordinance is available. John Busselle will be reporting on the updates to these recommendations. Note, the Board has not voted on any changes to date; but is simply gathering information.

The NCAC meeting will be held July 21st at 6:30 pm in the Rabobank meeting room.

Please attend to know what changes the county plans. Also, it is important to give feedback. We, the residents of Cambria, are the only ones who know if these proposed changes will improve the quality of our neighborhoods with regard to the vacation rental home business. The county can make suggestions; but we need to let them know what will work and what are the real issues.

Again, July 21st, NCAC meeting, 6:30 PM, Rabobank meeting room. Please attend.

Choosing a  Replacement Commissioner

This month the couple of dozen special districts in the County will vote for one of four candidates to fill the LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) seat left open upon the retirement of the Oceano CSD director at the end of December 2009. Each county in California has a LAFCo who mission it is to ensure orderly development and efficient provision of services, including annexations and applications for citihood.

The Candidates and Incumbents:

The four candidates are Ed Eby (Director, Nipomo CSD); Brian Kreowski (Commissioner, Port of San Luis Harbor District); Kristi Jenkins (Trustee, CCHD) and Muril Clift (Director, CCSD). With two possible winners, Cambria has an even chance of getting representation on LAFCo this time around. Supervisor Gibson is on the LAFCo board, but he is the only one from the north coast currently there. (other commissioners:  Duane Picanco City Member, City of Paso Robles; Richard Roberts Public Member; Katcho Achadjian, County Board Member, District 4 Supervisor; David L. Brooks Special District Member, Templeton Community Services District; Bruce Gibson County Board Member, District 2 Supervisor; Allen Settle City Member, City of San Luis Obispo, Alternate Commissioners Ed Eby, Tom Murray, James R. Patterson, Kris Vardas.

Who Elects the LAFCo Commissioner?

There are three special district boards in this area that have a vote on who will fill the special district seat: Cambria Community Services District(CCSD), Cambria Community Healthcare District(CCHD), and the Cambria Cemetery District. At this week’s CCHD meeting, a divided board decided to not vote for any of the candidates after rejecting suggestions of Eby (first) and Clift (second) both 3 to 2. The discussion began with Trustee Jenkins essentially pulling her name from consideration, explaining she felt there were at least two candidates better qualified for  the position. Trustee Fratto then nominated Eby, which Trustee Lemming seconded and both voted to approve. Trustee Bates and Jenkins voted “no” immediately and Trustee Headding voted no, after some consideration, to break the tie. Then Trustee Gates moved support of Muril Clift, which ws seconded by Trustee Jenkins. There was no hesitation from the three “no” votes and when no one else was suggested, the final action of non-action was taken.

What This Means

I am not inside the minds of the CCHD trustees, but Muril Clift’s stunt last year (packing a CCHD meeting with folks upset about the ALS equipment and other issues) seems to have left a mark on the trustees, and not in a good way. Rather than using their vote to support Cambria on LAFCo, the CCHD  seems to prefer to hold a grudge. Three of these Trustees are up for election in November 2010. Are they serving the community in a way that you support?

At the last regular Cambria Community Services District meeting of 2009 the Board chose it’s new leaders. Bucking the usual tradition of selecting the Vice President to be the next president, Muril Clift nominated current board president Greg Sanders to continue in that role. Director Sanders didn’t refuse the nomination and was unanimously elected to serve for 2010 as the Board president.
Then Director MacKinnon nominated Director Chaldecott for Vice Chair, citing the logic of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. When there was no second to his motion, Director DeMicco nominated Director Clift for Vice Chair. His reasoning included ensuring the Executive committee becoming more balanced between the experience of Sanders and the fiscal responsibility represented by the recently elected Clift. It almost appeared that DeMicco’s motion would also die for lack of a second when Director Chaldecott quietly seconded Clift’s nomination.
Director Sanders responded “Always the gentleman, Peter.” It was hard to hear exactly what Chaldecott said in response, but the gist of it seemed to be that choosing Clift as Vise president would ensure some continuity, since he would be retiring at the end of 2010. Chaldecott’s term is up in 2010 and he apparently isn’t planning a run next year.
The president and vice president make up the executive committee of the Cambria Community Services District. This committee sets the agendas for the monthly meetings and provides much of the direction for what policies the Board will consider over the year.
Whether or not you agree with Sanders or Clift on individual matters, I think these two men will serve the community well in 2010. The monthly meetings are professional and usually run smoothly by president Sanders. Unlike other Board presidents, Sanders allows some latitude in time available for public comment and manages the action expertly. Clift has shown strong political acumen in his year and a half on the CSD and we will benefit from his ability to ask the right questions at the right time.
More on the rest of the meeting (which was packed for the Army Corps of Engineers presentation) in tomorrow’s post.

The agenda for next Monday’s Cambria CSD Board meeting is now available online. Below  are highlights of the  agenda. The main item looks to be the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve EIR. The closed session agenda includes the performance evaluation of the general manager (plus 3 legal matters). Download the full agenda packet from the CCSD’s website.  More to come….

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/PRESENTATIONS
Receive Presentation by CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry & Fire
Protection) on Emergency Medical Services and Fire Protection Services

REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Consider Adoption of Resolution 50-2009 Approving Certification of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR);
Consider Adoption of Resolution 54-2009 Approving the Revised Community Park Plan; Authorize General Manager to Sign and File Notice
of Determination; and Consider Adoption of Resolution 56-2009 Approving a Contract Change Order for Morro Group SWCA
B. Consider Adoption of 2010 CCSD Regular Board Meeting Schedule

On November 12,2007, this site was created. The original intention of AboutCambria.com was to provide a way for people to share information about water and sewer rates among the forty or fifty folks who had come together to protest the rate increase of the fall 2007. That first post was titled “Why Did You Protest The Rate Increase?”
The look and direction of the site has changed somewhat over the last couple of years. The focus has broadened to include more than just water and sewer rates and the activities of the CCSD. There is still much more to include here and I hope that Cambrians are able to get the information they want and stay informed about the decisions their community leaders are making on their behalf.
I encourage you to take a stroll through the last two years. At the very bottom of every page are links to each month of the last two years. Simply click the month and all the posts from that month will be listed as links. Find something fun? Leave a comment and I’ll re-post it for all to read.
The last two or three moths here have been rather quiet, mostly because I was very involved in organizing the recent Day of Action on Climate Change with the Cambria Climate Action Group (including being the webmaven for Cambria350.org) and I have a new job. I am working part-time for an arborist in Morro Bay. I’m still getting the hang of the five-day per week job and plan to get back to more writing here at AboutCambria.com now that I’m not busy with the Cambria350.org anymore.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed your thoughts, writing and support over the last two years. Special thanks to those few folks who have helped this site (and me) survive financially. It’s still a struggle and even the new job may not be enough to keep us afloat, but I have no immediate plans to stop trying or to stop keeping my eye on the CCSD, CCHD, county and state leaders and bringing you the information you need to make better decisions about who you elect and how you participate in creating a better community.
See you Monday at the CCSD meeting (12:30pm, Veterans Memorial Hall). Agenda posted here when it’s available.

P.S. You can still donate to the cause. Just click on the little guy right below this post!

Cambria 93428

Cambria is home to many U.S. veterans. Today is a day set aside especially to honor those among us who have served our country. My genuine thanks to all our Veterans for their dedication to our country and its ideals.

As a civilian all my life and teacher from a non-military family (since the Civil War anyway), today seem a good opportunity to broaden my knowledge about this holiday and its importance. Below  a brief note about the holiday is a proclamation by President Obama declaring November 11, 2009 Veterans Day.

Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both holidays were established to recognize and honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. But Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday in May, was originally set aside as a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.
While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, which is observed on November 11, Veterans Day is intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living Veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. From the Minutemen who stood watch over Lexington and Concord to the service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, American veterans deserve our deepest appreciation and respect. Our Nation’s servicemen and women are our best and brightest, enlisting in times of peace and war, serving with honor under the most difficult circumstances, and making sacrifices that many of us cannot begin to imagine. Today, we reflect upon the invaluable contributions of our country’s veterans and reaffirm our commitment to provide them and their families with the essential support they were promised and have earned.
Caring for our veterans is more than a way of thanking them for their service. It is an obligation to our fellow citizens who have risked their lives to defend our freedom. This selflessness binds our fates with theirs, and recognizing those who were willing to give their last full measure of devotion for us is a debt of honor for every American.
We also pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform and continue to serve their country as civilians. Many veterans act as coaches, teachers, and mentors in their communities,selflessly volunteering their time and expertise. They visits schools to tell our Nation’s students of their experiences and help counsel our troops returning from the theater of war.These men and women possess an unwavering belief in the idea of America: no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who your parents are, this is a place where anything is possible. Our veterans continue to stand up for those timeless American ideals of liberty, self-determination, and equal opportunity.
On Veterans Day, we honor the heroes we have lost, and we rededicate ourselves to the next generation of veterans by supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as they return home from duty. Our grateful Nation must keep our solemn promises to these brave men and women and their families. They have given their unwavering devotion to the American people, and we must keep our covenant with them.With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our servicemen and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided(5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall beset aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of theUnited States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11,2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognizethe valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriatepublic ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal,State, and local officials to display the flag of theUnited States and to participate in patriotic activities intheir communities. I call on all Americans, including civicand fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, andcommunities to support this day with commemorative expressionsand programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisthirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lordtwo thousand nine, and of the Independence of theUnited States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

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!

Port O’Brien: Joy At The Edge Of Sorrow 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.

Song: “Sour Milk / Salt Water” | Artist: Port O’Brien | CD: Threadbare | Genre: Folk

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.