CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE
TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA
Minutes, August 13, 2014 Download pdf here Minutes August 2014
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Rabobank, 1070 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
1.0 Call to Order and Establish a Quorum: Members: Crosby Swartz; Laura Swartz; Rick Hawley; Mark Miller; JoEllen Butler; Amanda Rice. Others: Alan Peters of Cal Fire; Vari MacNeil of Beautify Cambria; Craig and Lynn Cuny; Kathe Tanner for the Cambrian.
2.0 Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting: Meeting was recorded but minutes are not available.
3.0 Treasurer’s Report: Laura, please insert here.
4.0 Sub-Committee Reports
4.1 Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations:
Discussion of tree health. Public safety aspect of fire danger. The possibility that an entire generation of trees could be lost due to drought.
Cambrian Article on Drought – CFC Input
The committee offered various thoughts on saving trees to be included in Kathe’s article for the Cambrian. Trees can be watered. Trees stressed by drought are subject to disease and infestation.
Comment Letter on Water Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration:
Amanda Rice states that the Emergency Water Project is not growth inducing. She finds it difficult to get information from the District. Add comment letter to minutes.
PG&E Reliability Program Information:
Crosby Swartz was unable to get information on the Reliability Project. The continued absence of county enforcement officer Art Trinidade has ended communication with the county.
4.2 Forest Management
Eucalyptus Removal – Pros and Cons
JoEllen Butler defended the FFRP’s eucalyptus removal: that it was required as a condition of a $500,000 park grant from the County and was included in a permit for the park. She apologized for the failure to notify residents. Craig and Lynn Cuny commented their dismay. “It’s a horror,” Mr. Cuny said.
FFRP Forest Maintenance Program:
Butler discussed the issues on the Preserve. Plantings done before adequate knowledge have grown into a crowded stand of trees that need to be thinned. FFRP has not yet hired a forester and is not looking to do so in the near future.
5.0 New Business
5.1 Comments on New Permit Applications:
None include forest impacts. Crawford, remodel upper deck and roof.
6.0 Unfinished Business
6.1 Recommend Locations for Required Tree Plantings:
After a lengthy discussion of the difficult issues, the committee deferred this discussion to September.
7.0 Public Comments:
Taken during the discussion of agenda items.
8.0 Adjournment
Next Meeting September 10, 2014
