HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 1995/06/12MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING
Resource Conservation Commission
Chula Vista, California
6:30 P.M. Conference Room #1
Monday, May 22, 1995 Public Services Building
CALL MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:32 r.tvt. by Chair
Burrascano. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present:
Commissioners Marquez, Fisher, Thornburg, and Clark. It was moved and seconded (Marquez/-
Burrascano) to excuse Commissioner Hall who called in complaining of back pain; vote 4-0-1
(Clark abstain; ineligible to vote), motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was MSUC (Burrascano/Thornburg) to approve the minutes of
the meeting of May 8, 1995, with the following spelling corrections: On #2 (a) and (b) the
abbreviations should read USF&WS; (f) is Orcutts bird's-beak; (n) is minutifolia; (t) should be the
snowy plover; (z) is Lake Kumeyaay; #7 should be "reconstruction of meeting." Vote 4-0-1
(Clark abstain; ineligible to vote), motion carried.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
Continued revisions and recommendations on MSCP: The following revisions and
clarifications were made to the comments presented at the May 8, 1995 meeting and should
be forwarded to Council:
a. Inconsistent information on the Hemizonia conjugens (Otay tar plant) which is not
listed as a covered species but the USF&WS wants to protect it. It is unclear which
rules are followed for preservation of species.
b. The definition ofREO is Real Estate Owned. It was MSUC (Marquez/Clark) to
delete this item from the list to Council since this was clarified in the plan.
c. The vernal pool area on Otay Ranch north of North Point which contains button
celery should be preserved according to the Otay Ranch Master Plan EIR. The
grassland area containing Acanthamintha should also be preserved according to the
Otay Ranch Master Plan EIR.
d. The Lower Otay Ranch area from south to southeast portion to the Lower Otay
Lakes does not provide a functional preserve design.
e. The Otay River area west of Heritage Road and east of I-805 should reflect the open
space as shown on the Chula Vista General Plan.
£ Orcutts bird's-beak between 805 and the eastern Chula Vista boundary at Heritage
Road is not shown.
Resource Conservation Commission
g. There's no differentiation in terms of quality vegetation (high, medium, low,
disturbed) as it references the coastal sage and the commission would like to see more
preservation of native grasslands versus non-native grasslands.
h. Golden eagles, burrowing owls, and grasshopper sparrows are at high risk. That fact
is an indication that native grasslands are not being preserved. They are at high risk
with this plan. The MHPA should be adjusted to cover a larger area of grasslands.
i. There are several bay species that are not covered and no additional protection for
numerous covered species is being provided through the MSCP; hence, they should
not be covered or the Port District should be requested to be an active participant in
the program (list of species on page 3-24).
j. Single houses, cattle grazing, agriculture, and streets are considered compatible in the
plan. However, they are a major conduit for the spread of invasive species and should
only be allowed in coordination with exotic species removal programs.
k. There is no adequate preservation of the rosa minutifolia since there has been no
successful transplantation before.
1. The Strand and Miramar should be included in the regional planning for the species
list to be adequately covered.
m. Tri-colored blackbird and Pacific pocket mouse will not be adequately covered. The
plan includes the assumption there will be adequate buffers surrounding that area.
There are no identified "areas" within the plan to buffer.
n. Provide an overlay of the plan with the species and include in the report.
o. Pages 3-43 and 3-95 discuss that the covered species are "open to change depending
on biological data" yet the implementing agreement says otherwise. This is general
and vague; the plan should define how new data should be incorporated upon
agreement between participating agencies.
p. Everything on the Belding savannah sparrow, clapper rail, least tern, and the snowy
plover refers only to Navy property.
q. Why is the commission reviewing the plan before the EIR/EIS?
r. How were the figures on Table 4-2 page 4-4, areas of compatible land uses compiled;
i.e., land fill is used as buffer but could bring other feral animals; utility roads are not
compatible with preserve; low density residential is compatible with preserve. How is
compatibility determined; exercising a pet in a preserve is not compatible with
endangered species.
s. Linkages, hang gliding, ofl=road vehicles, and other land use compatibility should be
reviewed.
t. Several references were made to "non in-kind mitigation"; the plan's priority system
of land acquisition should be determined and compensation through like-kind
mitigation required when possible.
u. Provide performance studies for the success of skylights at road crossings as used on
Route. 52 prior to demanding their placement.
v. The equestrian center planned for Lake Kumeyaay, an open space park adjacent to a
large mitigation site for least bells vireo, is inappropriate.
w. Roads change the management requirements due to edge effects, "swath of death,"
Resource Conservation Commission
and increase access to preserve areas in such a major way that it should be addressed.
x. The golf course should be depicted as permanent "open space preserve" to ensure
functionality of corridor.
A motion was made and seconded (Burrascano/Thornburg) that the above corrected and clarified
list from the meeting of May 8, 1995, be approved; vote 4-0-1 (Clark abstained), motion carried.
Additional comments were then made on the MSCP and shall be forwarded to Council:
aa. Figure 1-I of the HCP Sweetwater River should show better linkage, and the
comparison numbers and reference should be consistent in the plan.
bb. Page 2-5 shows that the orange throated whip tails were not surveyed and thus should
not be included as an umbrella species.
cc. Vol. 1, page 8-78 the pampas grass should be listed as invasive exotic plant.
dd. Page 3-23, the fairy shrimp, horned lizard, and whip tail should not be covered
species and it's unclear what is actually protected.
ee. Page 3-40: the numbers for target species are inconsistent with the table listed on
page 3-30.
ff Based on Table 3-8 [page 3-42] the probability of extinction after 200 years of
implementation of the MSCP does not meet the goals established in the draft plan.
gg. The Pacific pocket mouse should not be covered unless more data is obtained on their
habitat.
hh. Many covered species aze counting on the wetlv~d protection through the Army
Corps of Engineer permitting; however, the San Diego office consists of one person
at this time without adequate manpower or qualification to do fish and wildlife work.
[Fisher left the meeting at 9:00 P.iv1.]
It was MSUC (Burrascano/Marquez) to approve the additional comments of the MSCP and
include them with the previous list to be forwarded to Council.
2. Kevin Clark was introduced as the new commissioner.
3. Planning Commission Agenda:
PCS-95-O5: Tentative Subdivision Map for Pazcel R-28; no action by Commission.
GPA-95-04: Proposal to amend land use; already discussed-no action by Commission.
Resource Conservation Commission
PCA-94-O5: Amendment of Municipal Code to allow freeway-oriented message boazd; no
action by Commission.
MSCP Plan: Already discussed.
STAFF REPORT: None
[Thornburg left the meeting at 9:20 P.M.]
CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS:
RCC still needs another commissioner. Burrascano is scheduled for presentation on the
Environmental Improvement Recommendations before the City Council.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS:
Marquez requested that a copy of the EIR be made available for the MSCP. Also, she would like
to see a copy of the minutes where the 5th Alternative of the MSCP was initially discussed.
Clark provide his new address to Staff.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Burrascano at 9:27 P.tvt.
Respectfully submitted,
EXPRESS SECRETARIAL SERVICES
~_, ~~.~~
Barbara Taylor