HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 1995/06/26MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING
Resource Conservation Commission
Chula Vista, California
6:30 r.M. Council Conference Room
Monday June 12 1995 City Hall Building
CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order with a quorum at
6:50 P.M. by Chair Buttascano. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called
roll. Present: Commissioners Hall, Marquez, Clark. Also present: Barbara Reid, Planning
Department. It was MSUC (Burrascano/Marquez) to excuse Commissioner Thornburg who
notified Commission he would be working late; vote 4-0, motion carried. Absent: Fisher.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of May 22, 1995 could not be voted
upon due to lack of quorum from that meeting.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. a. Clarification of MSCP Comments: Barbara Reid explained the reasons why some of
RCC's comments were omitted from Staff report to Council. These items, as listed in the May 22,
1995 meeting, were reviewed and/or further clarified as follows:
[Robert Fisher arrived at 7:10 p.m.].
Species which are not covered by the Draft
MHPA Plan and should be covered:
Species which are covered by the Draft
MHPA Plan and should not be covered:
• Brodiaea filifolia~
• Chorizanthe orcuttiana
• Caulanthus stenocarpus
• Hemizonia conjugensl
• Navarretia fossalisl
• Orcuttia californica'
• Pogogyne nudiuscula'
• Cactus wren
• Golden eagles, burrowing owls and
grasshopper spattows2
[NOTE: RCC is concerned that if the high-
risk species are not preserved, one of the
main problems the MSCP is attempting to
solve will not be solved (losing more
species).]
• Rosa minutifolia`
• Acanthamintha`
• Button celery`
• Orcutt's birds-beak`
• Pacific Pocket mouse;
• Belding Savannah sparrow`
• Clapper rails
• Least terns
• Snowy plovers
• Least bells vireo`
• Orange-throated whip tails;
• Fairy shrimp`
• Horned lizazd3
• Tri-colored blackbird
Resource Conservation Commission Page 2
1 This fact is an indication that vernal pools are not being adequately preserved.
z This fact is an indication that native grasslands are not being preserved.
' Removal of these special from the "covered" list is recommended due to the Draft Plan's
inadequate data base and need for further study.
° Removal of these species is suggested unless there is better coverage of known
populations.
5 The plan does not contribute to the preservation of the species so they should not be
considered covered.
e Insufficient preservation of riparian areas supporting this species.
b. The RCC's preference is that the preserve design be modified to include known populations
that currently fall outside of the preserve design.
c. The RCC would like to see "in-concept" a multiple species conservation plan adopted and
encourage the City of Chula Vista to work with the resource agencies and developers to
protect the quality of life in Chula Vista.
d. Designate the vernal pool area on the Otay Ranch north ofNorth Point as a special study area.
Both the preservation of Acanthamintha and the button celery need further study.
e. The Lower Otay Ranch area from the south to the southeast portion to the Lower Otay Lakes
does not provide a functional preserve design.
f. The state of completion of the HCP for the Sweetwater River is unknown. Is there currently
a draft plan and can it be incorporated into the MSCP?
g. There is a high level of probability that the gnatcatchers will not be preserved which is one of
the major purposes of the MSCP. With some of the other species, what the City of Chula
Vista does may not impact the long-term viability but it does with the gnatcatcher.
h. Many covered species aze counting on the wetland protection through the Army Corp of
Engineers permitting. How will we be assured that covered wetland species will be preserved
through this process?
i. A priority system of land acquisition should be developed to encourage in-kind mitigation
whenever possible.
Resource Conservation Commission
The land use designation for the golf courses to the west of the Sweetwater Dam should
retain its linkage capability as open space.
k. Watershed management plans are necessary in conjunction with the adoption of the MSCP to
prevent adverse downstream impacts to the preserve. The adverse impacts usually result in a
high level of maintenance and upkeep of downstream preserve at great expense to the City.
1. Comments on the EIR/EIS:
Page 131, last pazagraph: The EIR/EIS references two areas (over 1000-acres in size)
that are being changed from low density residential land use to preserve. The document
needs to specify the significant areas that aze being described.
RCC requests Figure 15 overlays with the MHPA for evaluation purposes.
RCC requests the preserve alternatives overlaid with the vegetation community (Fig. 15).
STAFF REPORT:
RCC budget discussion: Contractual services budget was reduced. Staff noted meetings in the
past fiscal year had been canceled due to lack of quorum and as well as lacking 3 members on the
Commission. It was MSUC (Burrascano/Hall) that the department request the $1600 for
contractual services be retained as originally budgeted; vote 5-0, motion carried.
CIIAIRMAN'S COMMENTS:
Burrascano would like Michael Meacham to update the Commission in a future meeting on the
paper recycling industry and other recycling issues.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS:
Marquez and Clark requested their terms of office on RCC be renewed. Doug Reid will have the
City Clerk contact them for renewal.
Fisher requested the name of the appropriate party to contact in order to conduct reseazch in the
city-owned land located by Rancho Del Rey, azea north of E. H Street, and Rice Canyon. He was
directed to Joel in the City Pazks Department.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Burrascano at 10:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
EXPRESS SECRETARIAL SERVICES
Barbara Taylor