This newly available talk by James Fryer, former head of conservation programs, Marin Municipal Water District covers alternatives to desalination and offers clear explanations of the options upsides and downsides. It runs about half an hour. It is definitely worth the time and has a lot of good, credible information. (Published on blip.tv June 14, 2011)
http://blip.tv/DesalAlternatives/james-fryer-sustaining-our-water-future-in-santa-cruz-5275809
The upcoming Cambria Community Services District board meeting will include some significant discussion of how the district has spent and will spend our money – both the water and sewer rates we pay and the taxes. I’ve included the background documents for some of the items here. The full agenda and board packet is available at the Cambria CSD website.
The meeting will start, as usual, with public comment (items not on the agenda), the Sheriff’s report, the General Manager’s and Board committee reports. Below is the rest of the agenda, including a couple of items on the consent agenda that might be of interest.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
All matters on the consent calendar are to be approved by one motion. If Directors wish to discuss a consent item other than simple clarifying questions, a request for removal may be made. Such items are pulled for separate discussion and action after the consent calendar as a whole is acted upon.
A. Approve Expenditures for Month of May 2011
B. Approve Minutes of Board of Directors Meetings; May 26, 2011 Special and Regular Meeting
C. Consider Approval of Mission Country Disposal’s Prop 218 Notice of Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Solid Waste Rate Increase and Schedule Public Hearing for August 25, 2011 to Consider Mission Country Disposal’s Proposed Rate Increase in the Amount of 4.32% Click here to read CCSD June 23, 2011 – Item 7C Detail
D. Consider Adoption of Resolution 25-2011 Approving Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Contract Click here to read the detail of this item from the CCSD June 23, 2011 agenda packet.
(Estimated Time: 15 minutes)
8. HEARINGS AND APPEALS
A. Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution 26-2011 Approving the CCSD Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
B. Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution 27-2011 Authorizing a 3% CPI Adjustment in the Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment
C. Public Hearing to Confirm Itemized Report and Consider Adoption of Resolution 28-2011 to Collect Delinquent Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Charges on the County Tax Roll Click here to read the detail of this item from the CCSD June 23, 2011 agenda packet.
(Estimated Time: 30 minutes)
9. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Presentation by Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Regarding Seasonal Wetlands and Discuss and Consider PROS Commission Recommendation Regarding Seasonal Wetlands
B. Consider Adoption of Resolution 29-2011 Approving Extension of Intent to Serve Commercial EDUs, Applicant Kim Eady, Cambria Shores Inn
C. Consider Adoption of Resolution 30-2011 Approving Employment Agreement between CCSD and General Manager Click here to read the detail of this item from the CCSD June 23, 2011 agenda packet.
D. Consider Adoption of Resolution 31-2011 Amending Payment and Compensation Plan for Management and Confidential Employees Click here to read the detail of this item from the CCSD June 23, 2011 agenda packet.
(Estimated Time: 60 minutes)
10. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION, 1316 Tamsen Street, Suite 201, Cambria
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b)(3)(A) – 1 Potential Case
You probably already know that there is a public comment period about to end on the desalination environmental impact report (EIR). You should take this opportunity to make your opinion heard. This process, provided by a law called the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is a powerful tool for public participation. It allows public agencies to make informed decisions about activities that could degrade public health and damage the environment. It also provides California residents the legal framework to hold their public agencies accountable for decisions that may substantially alter the quality of their lives.
Feel intimidated or don’t know where to start? Here are a few helpful tips and a couple of links to demystify this public process. You don’t have to write a dissertation or even do much more than read the document itself.
What should I say? Read here for more about how to formulate your comments.
Throughout the CEQA process, the public is asked to comment on the environmental impacts of any given project. These environmental impacts fall into the categories listed below. Keep in mind that these lists of questions are non-exhaustive and only represent a general, non-specific overview of potential impacts. Choose one or two categories to focus on, especially since time is short. Some are more technical than others, but you’re not expected to be an expert – just a person who may be affected by the project.
How should I say it? Read here about delivering effective comments.
If you are still unsure about providing comments, check out some of the comments on previous CCSD EIRs, like the Water Master Plan. Or these examples of effective and ineffective comments offered on the Planning and Conservation League website.
During a previous EIR process, agency comments successfully reduced the size of the 2010 drilling project, reduced the amount of time drilling equipment could be on the beach, required monitoring of stream flows due to concerns over endangered steelhead and other species, and required more care in handling potential mercury laden materials. Local citizen comments resulted in the Army Corps scaling down their equipment– instead of a 41 foot long drill rig they used an SUV Sized rig.
Please consider commenting again on this new proposal. Comments on this Geotechnical Drilling project #2 are due June 20, 2011.
Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. The June 14 date is also when Congress adopted “the American continental army” after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.
Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria has been going since 1946. In the last 10 years, they’ve made major improvements. A key development is a great outdoor amphitheater stage and seating. Set in the forest, overlooking the ocean, this creative amphitheater has been a labor of love for hundreds of volunteers!
They’re having this singer-songwriter benefit to raise money to polish off the final touches. The BBQ and concert is Friday night, June 10, 6-9pm. Food starts at 6pm and music starts at 7pm. Cost is $10 over the phone in advance (805-927-0254) or $15 at the door. They will have a great tri-tip dinner for sale, along with beer and wine. Please carpool as parking is limited
The Performers:
Severin Browne (former Motown staff writer and brother of Jackson Browne)
Rosemary Butler ( In the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame there is a clip of Rosemary with Jackson Browne singing “Running an Empty ” continuously)
Scott Hicok (local favorite on the central coast)
Dale Laduke (co-founded the folk group ” Kaedmon” which went on to be a top pick of 2006 by both Music Connection magazine and KSUN radio . )
Penny Nichols (Award winning, Grammy nominated, singer/songwriter & one of the original Coral Reeferettes in the Jimmy Buffet band.)
Britta Lee Shain (Great singer/songwriter, Toured with Dylan and Tom Petty in the 80′s)
Jaynee Thorne ( Fabulous songwriter and singer from LA)
Alan Thornhill (This award winning songwriter (American Song Festival, Mavric Music Awards) has been well-covered by Kenny Loggins, The Desert Rose Band, The Cache Valley Drifters, Chris Hillman, Michael Parks, Jim Messina and others.)
Rebecca Troon (Award-winning songwriter and recording artist)
Joyce Woodson (winner of the Will Rogers Academy of Western Artists Best Female Performer of the Year and Song of the Year for the title song of ha CD “If I Hadn’t Seen the West” from the Western Music Association)
The main use of their amphitheater will be as an “opening” or “closing” night performance from one of their educational retreats. For example, the performers for this June 10 concert are the staff for the following week of Singer-Songwriter camp for adults. They have hosted Improv camps, storytelling, Shakespeare, Mozart, choir camps with Gary Lamprecht, and this summer will be the first Summer Strings Camp for kids run by Michael Nowak and the SLO Symphony.
Camp Ocean Pines is a non-profit environmental nature and arts camp. They run summer camp, teen wilderness trips, adult arts workshops, outdoor environmental education for school kids – and when they have any empty space, they rent the facility to other groups. People stay in strawbale cabins, and eat excellent meals in a dining hall with a 180 degree view of the ocean. Deer, squirrels, and birds cruise through the forest adding to the natural sounds. You can stand on the deck and watch the whales migrate by. It is a pretty fine place.
“Beloved Fire Chief Re-instated” is the headline on site for good causes, Care2.com. The e-petition signed by just under 400 Cambrians and a couple of dozen others was powered by thePetitionSite.com, a partner site of Care2.com. Check out the article by clicking here
