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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 1999/02/15 - - MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING DRAFT Resource Conservation Commission Chula Vista, California 6:30 P.M. Conference Room # 1 Monday, February 15, 1999 Public Services Building CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Yamada. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present: Commissioners Fisher, Marquez, Thomas, Yamada. Also present - Barbara Reid, Marilyn Ponseggi. Absent: Bull, Burrascano, Castaneda. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Status of Mitigation Monitoring - Marilyn Ponseggi a. Rancho del Rey SPA III - discussed the preparation and adoption of the 4d uses. Some monitoring is still ongoing. Ms. Ponseggi explained that the revegetation plan includes irrigation and success criteria. Observations were made on the revegetation projects. Coastal sage scrub and native hydroseed mix was planted on canyon slopes. She stated the monitoring period will end after it has met the success criteria and is approved by biologists who survey the area. Ms. Ponseggi reported that the success criteria is not stated for the gnatcatcher but there is one for the plants. She stated that during grading, biologists went out to observe the gnatcatcher during its nesting period and cordoned off the areas to avoid any disturbance. It was noted that the City does monitor for gnatcatchers only through a program required by federal and state agencies. The gnatcatcher is an issue with regard to the MSCP, which calls for total preservation of the canyons. Tremendous erosion problems were reported on site. Mark Dedero went into the canyon and observed the silt run-off and impact on riparian. Some mitigation measures included reestablishing riparian habitat with revegetation. A majority of mitigation occurred with the acquisition of O'Neil Canyon. McMillin bought credits and endowment for the Environmental Trust. SPA II (Rice Canyon) does not fall under the mitigation monitoring requirements. RCC would like to see a funding mechanism established to maintain these canyons and not rely on volunteers. They felt that the canyons are degrading without a planned maintenance. Rice Canyon south leg is not a biological open space as approved in development; however, it will change with the adoption of the Sub-Area Plan. RCC commented that if it is going to change its status then it needs to change physically so it becomes biological open space. In the meantime, it is degrading while this process is still ongoing. - - Resource Conservatio Jrnmission February 15, 1999 Minutes ßRAFf Page 2 Barbara Reid noted that the City would like to develop a Memo of Understanding with other resource agencies to maintain sensitive areas, not what to do with these areas, and decide who should be responsible for maintenance. The City is trying to have a consultant give this priority as they work on the MSCP. A suggestion was made by Staff to allow RCC's input and comments as they go through this process. As part of the monitoring, Ms. Ponseggi said a biologist is needed to make sure the weeding occurs at the right time of year and the correct plant is being pulled out, etc. Posters were erected as a guide for field crews to see what was allowed to be pulled. Ms. Marquez voiced her concern with continuity within those entities monitoring the revegetation of plants. The reports are not always timely submitted and are sometimes only done when monitoring does occur. Although the City does have an existing mechanism to direct and enforce these projects within the City, it does not keep track of follow-through or proper monitoring (i.e., no follow-through of a report due within a 5-year deadline, but still not done). Staff will try to insure that all reporting is done on an annual basis, even if mitigation did not occur due to unavailable funding. Fisher asked if there was a document of proof to insure mitigation actually occurred. Ms. Ponseggi said it is in place and acknowledges they need to have better reporting mechanisms to prove mitigation. Ms. Thomas was concerned with the Western Sycamore full of fungi and asked if they had success with eradication of fungi in the Rice Canyon area. Ms. Ponseggi stated she will follow-up on recent reports with those who do the monitoring. Visual observations have been made and Mark Dedero has the more detailed reports. Fisher voiced his concern with Argentine ants which would kill the gnatcatcher eggs. Ms. Ponseggi stated that project areas will be made accessible for biologists to observe sensitive areas. With regard to pipes and sprinklers still in the ground, she also stated they will leave them alone rather than pull them out so as to not disturb established habitats. RCC requests they pull out pipes and sprinkler heads, even those already disconnected. Irrigation should be used only as necessary. It was noted that the City gets mitigation credit but it is not part of the preserve area. RCC was concerned about mitigation outside the City of Chula Vista. They felt that mitigation should benefit the City and not the County. It is requested that credit be more within city limits. A discussion ensued to hold a workshop to develop and draft policies and principals related to the City for future requirements of developers; i.e., dealing with fire ants enforcement when monitoring does not produce, etc. Ms. Reid explained that the State adopted revised EIR guidelines. The Planning - .- Resource Conservatio. Jrnrnission DRAFT February 15, 1999 Minutes Page 3 Department wants the EIRs to be more uniform and is already beginning to draft revisions to local issues. RCC could assist in this effort by their input to make the EIR more consistent. b. Sunbow II Mitigation is done monthly and is in the beginning of the mitigation period. The City has followed up on the following areas: construction questions and residential complaints (i.e., residents called about dust and the City monitored for a number of days); erosion occurring at the edge of canyon impacting cactus area; Fish & Wildlife is coordinating and reviewing grading plans in the revegetation areas; dead trees are being replaced; and paleontology and archeology is going on in the area. Ms. Marquez commented that some plants should not be near other plants and was in favor of any follow through to insure this does not happen. c. Otay Ranch SP A I - Monitoring of all environmental mitigation measures is done. Of particular concern are grading impacts to the channel on Telegraph canyon and monitoring is still ongoing. d. Salt Creek - no report except that there is some coastal sage scrub. They will be watching mitigation in the San Miguel bank. Fisher raised a question on the burrowing owls on Otay Ranch and Salt Creek. Ms. Ponseggi explained they were using artificial burrows and the owls are now moved into the artificial burrows on the habitat preserve. Mitigation has been done to protect the burrowing owls. Ms. Marquez stated that when developers purchase mitigation land for conservation they give an endowment with it to manage in perpetuity. She felt that the mitigation for the revegetation site no longer needs the endowment and should not be continued. Ms. Ponseggi replied that they are covered differently and are maintained by homeowner's associations or go into a CFD for monitoring. There is no reason they should be monitored in perpetuity. Chair Yamada suggested a workshop be conducted to draft policies and procedures on issues that were raised. Doug Reid will check first with Bob Leiter to see if staffing can be released to do this. It is noted that the staffs process is already established. It may be more beneficial for RCC to comment on how to refine their process. It was requested that staff provide a summary of issues discussed at this meeting and how they might be incorporated into future mitigation monitoring efforts. Ms. Marquez requested that other mitigation monitoring reports on wetland, two churches, Favre Street, and Bayfront be presented to RCC. It was noted that students from Eastlake High School were sent home one day possibly due to dust from grading on Otay Ranch. APCD went out to check and there has been no problem since. - - Resource Conservatio jmmission ÐRAFr February 15. 1999 Minutes Page 4 An update status on riparian mitigation was requested by RCC. 2. Review of Negative Declaration IS-99-15, Radio Towers - Doug Reid presented an overview of the project. He stated there was some electrical interference. Antennas for new technology on radio transmission are being replaced by this new facility. After a brief discussion it was MSUC (Fisher/Marquez) to accept the negative declaration with a recommendation that the six acres be maintained as consistent with biological open space of a broad definition and not of the potential impact on birds on the towers; motion carried unanimously. STAFF REPORT: Doug Reid reported they may be understaffed in the next month. CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS: Chair Yamada- Doug will set a date to tour Otay Ranch. Members will be advised of time and date. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS: Marquez asked who to contact about and was advised to call Ted Larson. Thomas asked if Barbara Bamberger could give a report on other environmental entities and how RCC could support their efforts. It was suggested that these reports be requested in writing rather than to make presentations due to excessive cost to the RCC. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Yamada at p.m. Respectfully submitted, EXPRESSSECRETAJUALSERVICES Barbara Taylor (transcribed taped minutes)