CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE
TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA
Minutes, September 9, 2015
Cambria Rabobank, 1070 Main Street
Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm. A quorum was present. Attendees include: directors Crosby and Laura Swartz, Bruce Mumper, JoEllen Butler, Amanda Rice, Vari MacNeil, JoEllen Butler and Christine Heinrichs. Carlos Mendoza of CCSD, Mary (of NCAC and Greenspace) and Jim Webb, and Nancy Anderson of Greenspace also attended.
Minutes of Previous Meeting approved with one change, from Forest Management Plan in one place to District.
Treasurer’s Report: Laura Swartz reports that $1,151.77, remains in the treasury. $270 is left for sign grant.
SubCommittee Reports:
Pine Forest Interpretative Sign Fabrication: Laura Swartz wants to get the sign installed before the Scarecrow Festival in October. She is looking for a contractor who can do the work, complying with ADA and county requirements. Carlos said the hardware store will saw the wood, and the signs on the Fiscalini Ranch can be used as models. They are all ADA-compliant.
Website Updates and Additions: Christine Heinrichs has updated the web site and added some information. Crosby said not all the posts display well in every device. Amanda will check and adjust. She may have to start charging for web hosting. Christine asked all directors to look at the web site and make suggestions.
Tree Replacement Policy: Christine Heinrichs is summarizing NCAP requirements and comparing with county language as presented to permit holders. She will draft a letter to County Planner Airlin Singewald to be approved by directors at the next meeting. Once the requirements are clear, they will be posted on the web site. Mary Webb reported that someone in her neighborhood cut down a living 20-inch Monterey Pine because it was convenient to take it down while the tree cutter was removing a dead tree. She said the county knows about it but does not enforce. The Forest Committee will prepare a sample letter to be revised at the October meeting to complain to the county planning and code enforcement about unauthorized tree removals. “The process is complaint driven,” Mary said.
Nancy Anderson suggested providing information to new residents when they move in. A brochure such as Greenspace’s Living in the Forest could be included with property closing documents or could be given to new residents when they come to CSD office to change their water accounts. Crosby will find out from a title company what is currently included in closing documents. Amanda suggested talking to a Realtor. Vari will consult the Living in the Forest brochure and draft up a sample.
Forest Management
Cambria Forest Health Project Grant Application (Greenhouse Gas): no decision yet.
CCSD Blanket Tree Removal and RePlanting Permit: Current hazardous tree removal standards include requiring one-for-one tree replacement in the letter being sent from County Planning to authorize property owners to remove hazardous trees, as designated by Cal Fire. The CSD will direcct Carlos and his crew to remove 190 or so trees on Fiscalini Ranch and 40-60 trees from behind the wastewater plant. He has grants from PG&E and Cal Fire. A lot of the trees are small. “They counted everything,” he said. The CSD will plant replacement trees. “There’s a good survival rate for planted trees,” he said.
The CCC will chip the trees and the chips will be used on FFRP trails. A small tractor and a chipper can be brought into the forest without making another road. An old trail was opened for use and it will be closed and returned to previous condition when the project is done. JoEllen Butler of FFRP said they will scatter seeds and cones and plant some understory.
Amanda Rice noted that the forest is crowded in some places. The overall health of the forest needs to be considered in replanting.
JoEllen Butler of FFRP reported on the three one-acre test plots being treated by Cal Fire. The Minor Use Permit is on Information Hold, awaiting further documentation. Some material will be burned. Alan Peters of Cal Fire has designated the spot. No materials from any other site will be brought in.
Damage by Use of String Trimmers in Fern Canyon Preserve: Weed cutters are no longer getting the training in weed abatement that Rick Hawley of Greenspace used to do. The contractor told Laura Swartz, “I do not care about the habitat.” Carlos Mendoza explained that Buddy Cannon of Bushwacker had passed the business along to his uncle, who was overwhelmed by work beyond his ability. Crosby and Amanda will both check the list of lots to have weeds abated next year, to make sure only lots that qualify are listed.
New Business:
Cambria Community Council grant: The deadline is October 13. A grant could pay for printing brochures to inform new residents of responsibilities of living in the forest. Other ideas are welcome.
Recommendations to NCAC on New Permit Applications: no permits were submitted for review.
Forest Management District Ballot Measure: Crosby presented a list of Forest Management District Responsibilities and Forest Areas to be included. Variations in the name include Forest Management, Forest Conservation, Forest Maintenance District. He has information as to how to get it on the ballot. Ten percent of registered voters are required to sign a petition to place the description of what it is, what it will cost and how to pay for it on the ballot. Thirteen months is the minimum required time.
Amanda and Crosby both recommended keeping the assessment to less than $100 per parcel. That could generate $250,000, enough to start a district. Administratively, a district could be placed under the county, the CSD or be independent. Amanda said that some years ago, County Supervisor Bruce Gibson said the county would not handle it and the CSD refused to accept it. An independent district will be more expensive but be free of the influence of CSD directors or county supervisors. Mary Webb said that Greenspace will never support a district unless it is independent. Greenspace has an Implementation Document to accompany the Forest Management Plan. it is being digitized for distribution. “How else are you going to get someone who is not beholden to elected representatives?” she said.
Jim Webb suggested looking at successful districts, such as the one where he owns property in the Sierras, Sequoia Property Owners Association. They manage the forest, do some logging, have a sawmill and a co-gen plant. “The streams are clear and full of fish,” he said. “You would be hard pressed to know this is actively logged.”
Monterey County and the San Simeon Park may be examples of successfully managed forests. Amanda will invite State Parks to send a representative to Forest Committee meetings. Crosby will make a contact with Monterey County. Crosby and Christine will invite Alan Peters of Cal Fire to attend Forest Committee meetings again.
Amanda will explore the technicalities of forming different types of district and report at the October meeting. She asked all to evaluate the possibilities after more information is presented.
“Everybody brings a little piece of the wheel,” Amanda said. “The structure [of a district] is critical. We want to get a forest that is healthier and manageable. It’s critical not to make up your mind before we get the facts out. We are in the initial stage. It’s important to hear what people’s ideas are. We haven’t decided anything yet.”
Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Next Meeting October 14, 2015
