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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 2000/03/13 RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 13,2000 Public Services Building Conference Rooms 2 and 3 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair, Cindy Burrascano Robert Fisher Juan Diaz Viviane Marquez Teresa Thomas MEMBERS ABSENT: Charles Bull - Excused GUESTS: Sam Sepehri, Corporate President SEC Laurie McKinley, Senior Partner, MNA Consulting Brock A. Ortega, Dudek & Associates, Inc. Stephen Hester, Trimark Pacific Homes Andy Hartzel, Attorney representing Trimark Pacific Homes STAFF PRESENT: Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator Leilani Warren, Recording Secretary Christina Clark, Associate Planner Duane Bazzel, Principal Planner Brian Hunter, Community Development The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 31,2000 The appropriate commissioners were not present for approval of the minutes of January 31,2000. The minutes were deferred until the next meeting, April 3, 2000. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Review of Negative Declaration IS-00-12 Main Square - Fourth & Main Street Brian Hunter, Community Development, presented an overview of the project. Mr. Hunter stated that during one of his site visits he observed the presence of a burrowing owl. Several visits later the burrowing owl was not seen. He has contacted RCC Minutes - 2- March 13, 2000 the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife Service and their representative indicated that the Endangered Species Act did not cover this species, but that it was protected under the Migratory Treaty Act. The recommendation was to continue to check to see if the bird was observed or detected. Mr. Hunter stated that subsequent visits to the site resulted in the bird not being observed and the recommendation was to proceed with the project without any further studies since the site is located in the midst of a highly urbanized and trafficked area and did not represent viable habitat for this species. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER DIAZ to find the Negative Declaration adequate and recommended the adoption, with the inclusion of a mitigation measure that a filtration system be implemented in the areas used for washing down by-products, chemicals, etc., to include whatever areas are used to service vehicles, in order to prevent the possibility of spills going into the sewer system. Commissioner Marquez stated she would like to add a mitigation measure that if grading has not commenced by November 1, 2000, burrowing owl surveys will be done prior to grading, in accordance with the State Department of Fish & Game Department protocol, within three weeks prior to grading. Diaz included in his motion. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS and was passed unanimously. 2. Review of MSCP Mr. Duane Bazzel, Principal Planner, gave an overview of the project. The Commission asked numerous questions regarding the following: The Commission raised issues and asked questions, which will be addressed and answered in the Final Draft of the MSCP. Commissioner Fisher questioned Table 2, page 27, lists 245 acres of developed land. He asked if the City was getting 245 acres of developed land as part of the preserve? Ms. McKinley stated that this was disturbed land and there were no buildings mostly graded land. Commissioner Fisher asked to have this clarified because he felt that there was a difference between developed lands versus disturbed land. Chair Burrascano questioned page 99 - Section 5.2, Development Outside Covered Project. Areas: states," There will be no limit on encroachment into sensitive habitats with the exception of (I) narrow endemics, (2) wetlands regulated by federal and state laws, and (3) listed non-covered species habitat regulated by federal and state law. RCC Minutes - 3 - March 13. 2000 Chair Burrascano stated there are quite a few species that are considered sensitive and have never had any analysis and no MSCP coverage. Ms. McKinley stated the wording could be changed to read: "The HUT will not limit encroachment..... . " Page 47 - Salt Marsh Bird's Beak "100% of major populations in Sweetwater Marsh." Condition states "include measures to enhance existing populations (e.g., protect and improve upland habitat for pollinators)". When would a monitoring plan be developed for that species? Would the City of Chula Vista take action? Who is responsible to develop a plan to incorporate all these measures? What does the Chula Vista MSCP Subarea Plan state now as far as timing of Area Specific Management Plans with regard to length of development projects? There is a gap there. There needs to be a specific plan for other areas where other species exist- what is the timetable and who's responsibility is it for monitoring? The map does not convey timing for management. How is the City committing to this? Commissioner Fisher stated that the five goals in the Chula Vista Subarea Plan were sufficient but there needs to be better clarification of Priority I and Priority II, especially in the City Component as to who is responsible to pay for it. Commissioner Thomas .made several points: (1) The MSCP needs to be more user friendly for the layperson to understand. (2) The MSCP makes no mention of monitoring noise, which has a big impact on the animal species in the Subarea Plan. (3) There is not enough monitoring of existing conservation initiatives at the present time. Commissioner Marquez stated that the City of Chula Vista MSCP Subarea Plan is not affording additional protection beyond existing programs. Page 81 - the Lightfoot-clapper rail. Was it left out of the Chula Vista Subarea? It is not in the salt marsh where you would expect it to be. Page 94 - Large-billed Savannah sparrow - why are only 50% of mapped localities preserved? There is concern that there is not adequate conservation. Page 95 - Tricolored blackbird - How is the management of avoidance in the wetlands going to occur and how will the policy actually protect that species? For example, the RCC Minutes - 4- March 13, 2000 wetlands in Poggi Canyon had a breeding colony of blackbirds and the Poggi Canyon wetlands were not avoided. Page 58-California red-legged frog condition states "area-specific management directives must provide for management of any new discovered populations within the preserve?" What happens if frogs are discovered outside the preserve? Page 70- Southwestern pond turtle - Condition states "maintain and manage areas with 1,500 feet around known locations within preserve lands for the species. Within this impact avoidance area, human impacts will be minimized, non-native species detrimental to pond turtles will be controlled/removed, and habitat restoration/ enhancement measures will be implemented." How is the City going to control non- native species in the Otay River Valley area and is the City going to be able to buffer 1,500 feet on either side as well as control human impact? RCC needs clarification as to how these conditions will be met. Page 60 - Snake Cholla - Commissioner Fisher pointed out that under the Chula Vista MSCP Subarea Plan 60% of all know locations (Salt Creek and Poggi Canyon) are conserved but under Conditions it states "The Otay Ranch project GDP and RMP require protection of 80% of existing occurrences and transplantation of any impacted occurrences to restored areas of comparable size. There needs to be clarification as to the location of the other 20% and the percentage that is in Poggi Canyon. Page 71 - San Diego Horned Lizard Conditions state "Area specific management directives must include specific measures to maintain native ant species, discourage the Argentine ant, and protect against detrimental edge effects to this species". How will this be monitored? How will the City commit to this? Page 87 - Burrowing Owls - Needs to be clarified. What amount of burrowing owl 'Take" will the City have? How will the City protect the burrowing owl? RCC needs to know specifically where those populations are located. 750 acres of suitable grassland and 4,000 acres of know habitat needs to be clarified. Where are those populations located beyond the 750 acres? Page 90 - Coastal Cactus Wren transplanting - The MSCP proposes to do something which in the view of RCC members is very experimental. Page 95 & 96 - American badger. The City is getting credit for the Subarea Plan and the only known badger location is in Poggi Canyon along the new road. If the City is going to get coverage for it and is only protecting 32% of grasslands will be protected, the Subarea Plan needs to be more specific about how the species will be protected. If it is a grassland species and the City is not protecting a high percentage of grassland within the Subarea, how will the species be protected? RCC needs more clarification RCC Minutes - 5 - March 13. 2000 Page 97 - Mountain lions and Southern mule deer. There needs to be a discussion of links out of the City's Subarea. Right now there is a map that just shows the City's Subarea, but RCC needs to know the regional and local corridors that will allow movement of Mountain lions and Southern mule deer through this Subarea and other Subareas. RCC would like to see that context for those species that operate at larger landscapes. RCC finds that the goals of the Subarea Plan are acceptable. However, sufficient information has not been provided to verify that the goals are being met by the Plan and therefore the document should be returned to the RCC with clarifications and answers to the issues raised for a final recommendation by the Commission. 3. 2000-2001 Work Program Commissioner Thomas presented a list to the RCC, of items she would like included in the Work Program. She stated that many of the items are follow-up from previous recommendations and requests. Ms. Marilyn Ponseggi, Environmental Review Coordinator, advised the committee that whatever they do as far as the Work Program, it must be done as a commission and suggestions should be raised as a motion with a second and voted upon. If the commission decides on a large number of suggestions, it is likely that the budget will not be able to accommodate them all, therefore, she suggested they be prioritized so that when she presents them to the administration of the department she can tell them what items are the most important. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS that the following items be approved in order of priority listed; as appropriate included in the Planning and Building Department 2000-2001 Work Program. 1. The City of Chula Vista provides a staff identified manager for monitoring the Subarea Plan. 2. Landscape maintenance staff be invited to an RCC meeting to do a presentation on park maintenance. 3. Sue Gray, Code Enforcement, be invited to attend an RCC meeting to do a presentation on code conformance. 4. Jim Sandoval, Assistant Planning Director, be invited to attend an RCC meeting to do a presentation on the C02 reduction program. 5. The General Plan update should include examining public safety issues due to lack of sidewalks in southwest Chula Vista. RCC Minutes - 6 - March 13. 2000 6. All Commission members receive a timely notification of the Environmental Awards presentation. 7. Michael Meacham, Conservation Coordinator, be invited to attend an RCC meeting to discuss solid waste reduction and the Navy's contribution to the solid waste quota. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURRASCANO and passed unanimously. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS: Ms. Ponseggi will schedule the Mitigation Monitoring on an agenda as soon as possible, considering staff constraints and agenda length. She announced that the Environmental Review Manager will start at the end of March. CHAIR COMMENTS: Chair Burrascano requested that another person be appointed to the RCC soon. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Commissioner Thomas announced they have started a new course at Southwestern College called ECO-MUNDO; it's a part of a whole series of studies of programs called Latino Neighbors. Commissioner Thomas presented a framed Environmental Awards Certificate for Doug Reid and a copy that perhaps could be displayed in City Hall. Ms. Ponseggi stated she would deliver the certificate to Doug and inquired as to whether or not the copy could be displayed in City Hall. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 11 p.m. The next Regular Meeting will be held on Monday, April 3, 2000, at 6:30 p.m., in Conference Room 1 of the Public Services Building, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA Respectfully submitted, ~ ) / J¿ .... (- ú/«~ ;_LI/;<" ....<-" "d' Leilani Warren Recording Secretary