Multi-Agency Advisory Council

DRAFT Minutes Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council

FOR APRIL 9, 2021 CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY

A video recording on the meeting can be accessed online here. Approximate HH:MM:SS start for some agenda items have been noted.

I. CALL TO ORDER Supervisor Mary Adams called the meeting to order at 10:00am. She reviewed the meeting format, features, and processes.

II. ROLL CALL and INTRODUCTIONS (00:02:37)

Member Agencies Member Name/Representative

Big Sur Resident, North Coast Martha Karstens Big Sur Resident, South Coast Bree Harlan Big Sur Chamber of Commerce Rick Aldinger Community Association of Big Sur Butch Kronlund Monterey County Planning Department John Dugan Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Caine Camarillo Coastal Commission Linda Locklin Caltrans Sara von Schwind California State Parks and Recreation Marcos Ortega Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Karen Grimmer Forest Service Tim Short 5th District, Monterey County Mary Adams 30th District, California State Assembly Dominic Dursa 17th District, California State Senate John Laird 20th District, United States Congress Jimmy Panetta

III. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 15, 2021 MINUTES (00:05:13) Martha Karstens requests an update under her report to remove the comment about the church. Request approved. Motion by Butch Kronlund, Second by Martha Karstens, motion passes with member Rick Aldinger abstaining.

IV. REPORT FROM MEMBER AGENCY (00:07:49)

a. 17th District, California State Senate

Senator Laird reports that the Morgan Hill legislative meeting is at the same time as today’s BSMAAC meeting, so he will need to hop off early, although his Monterey Policy Advisor, Kate Daniels, is on the call and will remain on the call. Senator Laird reports on meeting with state agencies regarding Big Sur, including resource management and access as issues to be aware of. Newly sworn in State Parks Director has been briefed by Senator Laird. He reports on issues pertaining to the lighthouse, Big Sur Byway Organization, California Coastal Trail, legislative office law enforcement taskforce. More generally, all senate members received an additional staff member to address EDD casework issues. Senator Laird reports on legislation he is leading regarding the EDD and recession plans. He brings to this group’s attention a few of the bills he has introduced or is partnering on: wildfire planning, sea level rise, range land protection. Lastly, he is hosting a virtual town hall on April 29th with State Insurance Commissioner regarding homeowner insurance and wildfire.

V. NEW BUSINESS a. California Coastal Trail, Community Association of Big Sur (20 minute presentation + question/comments) - Butch Kronlund (00:16:16)

Butch Kronlund presented a power point presentation regarding the California Coastal Trail. In response to the last BSMAAC meeting (held on January 15th) Tim Duff from the California Coastal Conservancy announced a map of the California Coastal Trail (CCT) would be released. This alarmed the CABS Executive Committee which resulted in the preparation of the following presentation. The Conservancy is proposing a “Braided” trail of networks while the community and CABS is proposing a single alignment. Over the last 7 years, the community representatives, elected representatives, and public agencies came together to design and plan for the CCT alignment. The key initiative of the planning effort is to use only public lands and existing public easements to align the trail. The power point includes visuals of segments via a map and photos of the views as you are on the trail. There were many attendees of the BSMAAC who used the “chat” function to comment and approximately 16 attendees shared their “support for a single alignment, community based planning process.”

Public Comment on Agenda item V. a. • Martha Karstens: Who is doing maintenance on the trail? Butch answers: Multiple agencies with the north end maintained by the Regional Park District, the middle maintained by the US Forest Service, along Highway 1 is maintained by Caltrans. • Question from Q&A: Will bicycles be allowed on the trail? Butch responds: it depends on the agency who maintain the portion of the trail. • Rick Aldinger: The proposed alignment looks great, and urges all stakeholders to commit to managing and maintaining the trail effectively. We want to make sure as we invite more people to share Big Sur, the entire trail system is managed. • Linda Locklin: Coastal Access Program Manager for the Ca Coastal Commission. Shows appreciation to working group with such a huge piece of geography. Clarifies the

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

mapping project from the Conservancy and the Commission will go to the full Ca Coastal Commission in May. The mapping project shows where the existing segments are. It does not show where the trail should go. According to the legislation, we know it is a braided trail system. The Coastal Commission is appreciative of the work of the local planning group and will consider using the inland trails as a potential piece of the braided network of trails. Linda reports on the importance of Caltrans as one of the four agencies responsible for maintaining the trail. Caltrans is obligated to participate in parts of the Coastal Trail where the right of way is concerned. If the trail is only up on the ridgetop, Caltrans won’t see the nexus of their bridge projects or highway projects as needing to complete pieces of the Coastal Trail. • Tim Short: The Forest Service looks forward to receiving the proposal and working with the community. As a reminder, any segments that go through Forest Service land will be subject to the environmental review process. • Sara von Schwind: Caltrans is committed to the active transportation plan the identifies the needed gaps, but we are not proposing to approve any trail alignment. We recognize as one of the agencies the trail will be mostly funded and maintained by others, but we see this as a partnership and we are all in. Many highway projects are directly involved with the trail. • Q&A: Are horses permitted? Butch responds that it will depend on the agency who oversees the section of trail in question. • Q&A: Total distance? Butch responds he does not have a confirmed number for distance. • Q&A: How will the new trail be funded? Butch responds this could be answered in greater detail if there were more time, but it again depends on increase in usage could push more funding towards the trail. • Q&A: What measures would be taken to prevent trail users from crossing through private land, and second question, how will trail users who start campfires be monitored and addressed? Butch responds it will depend again on who manages the land. Butch mentions legislation titled the Save Our Forest Act from Congressman Panetta that if passed, would help provide more funding to help manage lands Monterey District Los Padres National Forest. • Pam Silkwood: Representing , making a comment about the braided trail system. Pam notes she disagrees with Linda Locklin’s comment about the braided system is a requirement of the legislation and that this requirement was stricken from the language of the bill. Pam would like to ask Linda Locklin if she can provide, in law, that the braided trail is allowed. • Steve Martin: Speaking as a Board member of the Mal Paso Creek Property Association representing 225 homeowners, expressing support for a community-based planning process and a single alignment. The draft, specifically Segment 1 of the draft, is the proposed alignment that is supported as the preferred alignment of the trail. • Michael Wisner: Vice President Carmel Highlands Association to express support for a single alignment.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

• Carissa Chappellet: Lend verbal support for the single alignment and community process. • Supervisor Adams: Asks what will be the next step? Does the community have an opportunity to share their feedback again? Does this need to go to the California Coastal Commission? Butch responds, looking for further feedback from the community on the trail. Additionally, looking forward to working with Senator Laird and California Coastal Conservancy. • Kate Daniels: It would benefit panelists and attendees to understand we are at an impasse, we are in the middle to negotiate to get through the difference of a braided network of trails or a single alignment. Feel free to reach out via email at [email protected]

b. Monterey Bay National Heritage Area (15 minute presentation + questions/comments) - Congressman Jimmy Panetta & Monterey Bay National Heritage Area working group (00:59:17)

Congressman Panetta introduces three community members Mike Dawson, Bill Kampe, and Rick Hanks. Mr. Panetta describes this National Heritage Area (NHA) for the Monterey Bay would include the three counties Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, and Monterey County. An NHA is not a National Park or a National Monument. It celebrates a large, lived-in landscape of land that has cultural significance. It is a place designated by Congress where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. A National Heritage Area can also be a mechanism for limited federal funding. Congressman Panetta is considering legislation that would complete a feasibility study to see if the Central Coast, which his Congressional District is, could be determined a National Heritage Area. Mike Dawson, Bill Kampe, and Rick Hanks present additional information regarding the National Heritage Area for all three counties. The presentation includes sensitivity and respect for concerns of over-tourism in Big Sur. NHA’s can boost heritage tourism and improve heritage preservation. There is no change in land ownership, no change in the role of land use jurisdictions, and it would be run by a non-profit organization. The three main themes are natural resources, history, and culture. Next steps are focused on a feasibility study, which would require public engagement and commitment from key constituents including government, resident industry, and non-profit representatives. The purpose of this meeting is to seek the community’s input and hear concerns.

• Rick Aldinger: A potential concern I have is that this is one more agency, one more organization we would need to engage with on top of the many who have jurisdictional oversight in Big Sur. • Butch Kronlund: Topline impression is that this sounds like a good thing and would help attract visitors who would be respectful when visiting. • Martha Karstens: Would like an example of where one of the places would be in Big Sur. Additionally, the Big Sur Historical Society has questions regarding this presentation. Bill Kempe responds with examples including the Library, ,

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

and Esslen Tribe significance. Mike Dawson offers to meet with Martha offline. Congressman Panetta clarifies that this NHA is the overall area and not specific sites. Supervisor Adams adds that this would highlight significant spots to visit to improve on tourism. Bill Kempe adds this is an opportunity to highlight what the community is proud of about where they live. • Kelly Sorenson: Glad to see wildlife is included in the scope of discussion and offer the as an iconic species to be included. And found in all three counties of the proposed NHA. Kelly also wants to share support for this effort. • Don Gruber: NHA would bring a regional view to the governance area and can provide advice without any oversight. • Q&A: Can you explain what the funding would go to and how? Rick responds with an annual fund to help enhance areas that may need attention. It will depend on what comes out of the feasibility study. Some existing NHA will invest in signage to help direct tourists to the area to focus on and direct away from areas that should not be the focus. • Congressman Panetta Staff Contacts for NHA: [email protected] and [email protected] • Q&A: Any disadvantages for becoming a NHA? Bill responds acknowledging the concern of over tourism. This could help with shifts towards “how do we have better tourism?” • Butch Kronlund: We will have to be cautious with historical highlights, specifically historical bridges in Big Sur. • Congressman Panetta closes that this conversation is starting in Big Sur and will continue throughout the three counties and greatly appreciates the time and presentation done today.

VI. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items – limited to 3 minutes (01:32:41)

• An email from Kate Novoa. I would really like someone to acknowledge Bree Harlan, an employee of , for the amazing community service she has performed. She picked up everyone’s packages from UPS and FedEx for those of us south of the closure at Rat Creek and brought them to a central distribution point at Lucia. She drove around each week from home at Lucia, to Nepenthe for work. A true representative of the Harlan pioneer spirit. To Lucia for providing that space to collect these packages and provide a place for us to retrieve them. More of the Harlan spirit. And to several people at the Hermitage for calling SLO waste disposal to pick up our full dumpsters each week. Everyone helped in whatever way they could to make this particular “disaster” a simple blip in the road. No community works together like the South Coast of Big Sur. Please share this at tomorrow’s Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council Meeting. And thank everyone for their support, once again.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

• Mike Caplin: Question for Congressman Panetta, Senator Laird, Assemblymember Rivas, and Supervisor Adams, what will it take for Congress, the State Legislature, and the County Supervisors to give residents and landowners regulatory relief from the multitude of local, state, and federal environmental laws that add costs, delays, requirements, restrictions, and other hindrances to thinning well documented hazardous accumulations of wildfire fuels to safe levels, so public and private landowners can prepare for wildfires to help protect lives, property, and resources. • Doug Thurston: Big Sur Marathon would normally be in two weeks, but it will not be held in 2021 and it did not happen in 2020. We wanted to say hello to our Big Sur community today and let you all know we plan to come back in April 2022. We miss you and hope to come back next year when it is safe to do so. • Joel De Palo: Two questions, one is to Caltrans asking about the barriers and if the areas where mortalities have taken place will be focused on, and the second question is for the Forest Service regarding confusion about gates. Final question, asking when these meetings may be able to be held in person again. Supervisor Adams responds we are looking for more direction from the State in when it is safe to hold public meetings in person again. Sara von Schwind from Caltrans responds that a monitoring system gets triggered and Caltrans will look at areas where fatalities took place. • Martha Diehl: Two things, one of them is we have not successfully rebuilt any of the homes that were burned down in the . And comment in the light of difficult of hearing Mike Caplins voice, we greatly need routine broadband coverage. • Kate Daniels: Address Mike Caplins question may include some of his concerns in legislation from Senator Laird titled SB 546. The upcoming townhall Senator Laird is hosting with Insurance Commission Lara will likely bring up this topic.

VII. Old Business - Brief updates on on-going issues (1-2 minutes) (01:46:28) a. CA State Parks and Recreation i. CHP Housing CHP Commander Kyle Foster provides an update that construction is on schedule. Conducting interviews with four different officers to fill the two living units. After 11 years of not having officers on permanent residence in Big Sur, CHP will be back in the Big Sur region with this new housing project. This will his last BSMAAC meeting as he has been promoted and will no longer be the Monterey District Commander.

Marcos Ortega walked through the CHP Housing Project, and it is looking great. ii. Log Jam(s) on State Parks has looked at log jams at St. Francis and State Parks Septic area. Without heavy rains, the areas continue to rehabilitate and armor the banks naturally. Will continue to monitor with the help of their partners at Caltrans. iii. Wayland Bridge Replacement Due to be completed in two weeks, progress has been great. Project will soon be coming to a close.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

iv. Garrapata Restrooms Senior Planners from State Parks had a site visit meeting with the Ca Coastal Conservancy, at the beach site and the Soberanes site. Coastal Conservancy Board will be meeting on May 27th to consider State Parks grant application for funding and design. Engineering cost for the project will be available on the Coastal Conservancy website on May 17th at www.scc.ca.gov. We want to be clear that these are conceptual plans, and moving the project forward entails detailed site planning to determine the most suitable site locations. We will continue to provide progress updates in this forum at BSMAAC and at the Big Sur Byway Organization.

b. United States Forest Service i. Restroom Access Tim Short: No new updates since last report, which was that we have purchased signage and are working with our concessionaire (Park Management Company) to direct visitors to restrooms.

c. Big Sur Byway Organization, Martha Diehl

Martha Diehl: Thanks for this opportunity to talk about BSBO. Reminder for those not yet familiar with us: BSBO is a new group of community and agency members appointed by the MtyCo BOS. We’re tasked to forward and update the management goals, priorities and commitments outlined in the Management Plan and its supporting documents to keep Hwy 1 operating safely and efficiently and in a manner that preserves, protects, respects and restores the scenic, natural and cultural character and qualities of this unique corridor. Appointed members of the BSBO are: Katie Moon – At large representative, Anneliese Agren – South Coast rep, Butch Kronlund – Big Sur Proper rep & vice chair, Martha Diehl – Mid Coast rep & chair, Dan Keig – Carmel Highlands rep, Rick Aldinger –Big Sur Chamber rep, CalTrans – John Olejenik rep, CA State Parks – Marcos Ortega rep, USFS – Fin Eifert rep. As a new group, we continue to work on figuring out how to actually do all we hope to do. We are meeting quarterly, and available support allows us one special meeting between the regularly scheduled ones. Our meetings so far have focused on self-education so our group and interested parties can build a common understanding around what unique contributions we can make. Unsurprisingly to anyone here an extraordinary number and range of issues and challenges are emerging where it appears that BSBO could offer a useful forum for robust and in-depth stakeholder collaboration and coordination. At our last meeting on March 9, we took a deeper dive into issues facing the Highlands road segment north of from the CHMP perspective. We heard from the public and several agencies and organizations working on plans to address the ongoing and emerging challenges in that area. As a result, we have planned a special meeting on April 20th 9-11 in order to discuss making a recommendation to the MtyCo BOS with respect to extending the temporary parking ban for the east side of Hwy 1 at , which item is scheduled to be considered by that body in May. We’ll also continue to hear from BSBO members and the public about other existing and emerging issues related to the Highway, of which there are MANY especially as visitors return in force, at that meeting. Building capacity to address these issues more substantively than just talking about them in meetings however continues to be a significant challenge for this currently unfunded organization. Anyone with ideas on how to address this please let us know ASAP.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

Significant facilitation and support are currently provided by Supervisor Mary Adams’ office, where Sarah Hardgrave is the designated point person, with substantive support from Senator Laird’s office, where Kate Daniels continues to materially assist and advise. Jeniffer Kocher at the MCCVB has managed keeping the meeting minutes thru June of this year. In addition, a number of other individuals, community groups and agencies have chosen to participate regularly, enriching our discussions immeasurably, for which we are grateful. Please contact me or Sarah Hardgrave if you would like to participate in any way & we’ll do our best to make sure you are added to the list. Thanks all!

d. Cell Service/Telecommunications Bettye Saxton: AT&T has two active projects in the Big Sur region. The first that many of you already know about is the new transport microwave on Mt. Manuel. Thank you to Forest Service and Congressman Panetta’s office for the support and assistance in expediting this effort to improve cell service. Then, a new project that has been recently funded is to upgrade the existing microwave at Anderson Peak to improve broadband capacity. Dan Redmon: Regarding Manuel Peak, we are getting close. May 3rd start date will have helicopter on site. After this large project has been complete, the community should see an improvement. After our part at Mt. Manuel Peak is complete, our sister company, Mobility, will come in and do their part at Pt. Sur. This means we are getting close to the implementation phase for LTE at the Lighthouse. The second project includes upgraded radios without touching the ground and we can do some inside work to bring more capacity to Big Sur central office. We have many sister groups inside AT&T, and one group Outside Plant, they burry cables to the customer, should be able to burry more and transport the signal to additional customers in Big Sur. Martha Karstens: Tens of billions of federal dollars for broadband, why can’t AT&T apply for this funding to bring 5G/wireless to the Big Sur Coast? Bettye Saxon: AT&T made a business decision to not apply at this time. We wanted the FCC to finish their mapping so we could have a better idea of the areas that need broadband. We are not saying we will not apply for it, we decided to not apply for it right now. Butch Kronlund: I would like for you to address this rumor about not servicing T1 lines in Big Sur in July. Secondarily, Dan mentioned an expanded service using cables, can you expand on this? Bettye Saxton: There has been an IP transition inside of AT&T, which means older technologies are difficult to support, we will begin phasing them out gradually. Some of this has already started in other parts of the United States. This came up when an AT&T customer (?) received a letter, and the group that sent the letter did not have the authority to speak on behalf of AT&T when they stated that we were turning down or not going to support those T1 lines. That is NOT True. As long as we have T1 lines in the area, we will be servicing them. However, in the future, when we increase broadband capacity it means that we can move customers from an older T1 or DSL type product and move them towards a fiber base which is faster. But no one will be shut down and no services will be discontinued without proper notification ahead of time. Dan Remond: Basically, all the capacity used through businesses, individuals are via the microwave. The microwave comes from Greenfield. We got funding to increase the link which will help double the size. That doesn’t mean fiber shows up to everyone’s homes. Fiber in Big

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

Sur need permits and there are obstacles so not every customer will be able to have fiber where they want it place. Question from the chat: Do you know if there are any plans to improve access to cell service in Northern Big Sur near Palo Colorado Canyon? Bettye Saxton: There are no plans to my knowledge currently. Question from the chat: What is the justification for the historic Garrapata State Bridge? Sara von Schwind: Garrrapata Historic Bridge, we got a notification on April 1st that we must take immediate action. We went through a public hearing as recent as December, there were comments that projects in place to replace bridge rails, the bridge goes through inspection every couple of years, it was inspected in 2019. The guard rails are an interim measure until the project can come through for construction, and the project is taking a while because we are taking a lot of public comment. We anticipate going out in construction of March 2023. We won’t speed up process to disregard environmental process. Interim measure is what was needed to prevent a catastrophic event should someone hit the rail. Anneliese Agren: On the subject of Broadband, I wanted to mention a company in Camarillo called Geolinks, they received a contract for fixed wireless, and I am wondering if this is a company who can help solve the broadband problem here. Butch Kronlund: Geolinks awarded contract to provide broadband internet to Captain Cooper, Big Sur Health Center, and Pacific Valley School. They have built their backbone in those three customers. The customers are enjoying broadband internet. It is unclear now if Geolinks is willing to expand their network. Question will be if they can continue to install antennas. Kyle Evans has been running point person on this project. Lindsay Romanow: I’d like to let everyone know StarLink is in the process to offer broadband to remote locations with satellites.

VIII. Reports from Member Agencies (02:16:57) a. Big Sur Resident, North Coast Grange: Our rental rates review has been completed. We have reached the point in our maintenance budget where we are holding off on any work unless it’s an emergency. We have gone back to holding our monthly meetings in the early evenings, in person outside the Grange. We hope to be able to start renting the Grange hall out soon. Here is a list of Grange needs we put in the Round Up. Contributions of the actual need, IE, chairs, donations or just coming down to help on our first Saturday cleanup day would be wonderful!! 1 Piano tuning, 2 Repaint stage flat black, new attic stairway needs paint., 3 Light switch for attic, 4 Permanent metal rain gutters, 5 New curtains and hardware for stage., 6 Repair main front patchwork curtain on stage, 7 Paint bathroom walls, trim is done., 8 Paint chair room., 9 Paint ritual closet, 10 Rebuild basement entry to make safer and accessible., 11 Shelves for basement, 12 New kitchen cabinets and counter top, 13 New DG for front entry, 14 Outside outlets on river side, 15 Ten new really nice chairs for meetings, 16 Finish coat to help maintain the lovely wood floor. Please visit us as www.bigsurgrange.org.

Historical Society: We are keeping an eye on the tiers to see if we can reopen the Museum. We still need to have our historical items returned so we are ready to open when we can. We are

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

going to publish another cookbook, 40 years after the first one was published. We need recipes! You may send them too [email protected]. Please visit us at www.bigsurhistory.org.

CERT: CERT Captains from Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey and the newly formed Carmel Valley CERT team met on Monday. We were also joined by CalFire, OES, CERV and Carmel PD. All of us had not met together before and we shared ideas about training, standardization of gear, radio challenges etc. We’ll try to have the leadership meet more frequently. Please visit us at www.bigsurcert.org Thanks to Marcos Ortega and St. Parks for putting up wattle on the Buzzard Roost road during the rain and for continuing to remove the graffiti that people put on the repeater building. Questions from residents. The south side of the Buzzard Roost trail is in pretty bad shape, are there any plans to repair it? Pine Ridge back country parking lot be open? What are the orange webbing fencing for up by Carmel Highlands?

b. Big Sur Resident, South Coast Bree Harlan: Thank you to Caltrans and everyone who helped to get Rat Creek back. It will be a huge relief for me. Couple of major issues to discuss dealing with the reopening of the Forest, Nacimiento-Ferguson Road. At this time, Naci-Ferg is closed indefinitely due to immense damage. The road is only passable to residents and emergency visitors. Gates have been closed to public. The Los Padres Forest is closed at this time, and a tentative reopening date of May 22nd has been shared. Concern is if the Forest reopens, but Naci-Ferg remains closed, there will be so much more traffic on Los Buros Road. This could create a protentional hazard. I’d like to suggest if the Forest is to reopen to the public in May, that access be restricted to backpackers only until Nacimiento-Ferguson Road reopens. Last summer we experienced an unprecedented number of visitors in the South Coast causing traffic issues, environmental damage, and unsafe social gatherings. Roadside camping was in undesignated areas. Forest Service was understaffed and underfunded, and camp fire restrictions were inadequate for the number of visitors. The Forest Service needs to be adequately funded and we need a visitor use management plan. A framework to help mitigate the number of visitors for the South Coast of Big Sur. People will abuse the wilderness and roads. Tom Collins, a resident of the South Coast, has been working independently to come up with a plan. I hope the bill Mr. Panetta has put forward will help address this critical issue for the South Coast. Finally, we need a visible and accessible visitor station for the South Coast. South Coast does not have any such facility. A proposal is for the station at Salmon Creek could be revitalized, and some funding could help serve the South Coast for visitation.

c. Big Sur Chamber of Commerce Rick Aldinger: Comment of support for everything Bree just said. Echo Kate Novoa’s acknowledgement of Bree Harlan’s efforts during the Highway 1 closure. The hospitality industry has been hit significantly hard due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Group meetings and conferences are going to be allowed to resume. After June 15th, the California economy should be returning to somewhat normal with hopes for larger events while mask mandates remain in effect. One of the biggest challenges the hospitality industry faces as the continue to reopen is rehiring staff.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

d. Community Association of Big Sur Butch Kronlund: Thank you CABS Executive Committee for their efforts on the California Coastal Trail presentation. I echo the sentiments of Bree Harlan as well, supporting backpackers on the South Coast but not allowing vehicle access. Express enthusiasm for this upcoming visitor use management process with the US Forest Service. Destination Stewardship Plan, hoping the traffic counter at El Paso Creek bridge to provide real time data via car. Hopefully this will be operational by Memorial Day Weekend. Researching implementation of the Green Pass. A food distribution serving 170 families.

e. Monterey County Planning Department John Dugan: Big Sur Plan update will be coming soon; we are planning a workshop for the Planning Commission in June. Members of the public are welcome to participate and share comments. Also, there is a draft fire safe regulation update by the State for 45-day review which has been posted by the Board of Forestry.

f. Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Caine Camarillo: Board of Directors recently approved general development plan for the Palo Corona Regional Park which will provide blueprint for the long-term management of the park. This document is available on our website. We are also talking with our partners at State Parks and the about possibly opening the San Jose Creek trail. As mentioned earlier, we have been working on the California Coastal Trail by working with CABS. We are happy to host the entire portion of Segment 1 on our property. We have endorsed a single alignment on our property. Excited to have read in the PineCone that repairs have begun on Palo Colorado Road, and are eager to access the Mil Creek Redwood Preserve again.

g. California Coastal Commission Linda Locklin: Nothing to report

h. Caltrans Sara von Schwind: Follow up on Rat Creek, to reopen for traffic, we will work around traffic control as we complete the project. We will be putting a very large culvert at the main part of the slide. The favorable weather was helpful and the materials to repair we great quality and everything has gone very well. Thank you, Bree, for all of your services in the community as the Highway has remained closed.

i. California State Parks and Recreation Marcos Ortega: We have resumed Pt Sur tours with COVID precautions. Pffier Falls trails will be reopening come summer. Julia Pffier Burns we will be opening Tin Bark to Tin House Loop. Limekiln Park is being worked on with PMC to remove hazard trees to reopen the campground. The trail system is still a work in progress.

j. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Karen Grimmer: Final MBNMS Management Plan documents are under NOAA review and clearance – this includes the updated Management Plan, an Environmental Assessment, and the

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

Final Rule (regulation changes). The Final Rule will include response to comments received for the draft documents. There were 3 public meetings with 117 participants. The MBNMs received 107 comments through the public meetings and 52 comments on Regulations.gov. The four proposed regulatory changes are 1) reducing the required condition to operate the MPWC at the Mavericks from high surf warning to a high surf advisory; 2) moving the boundaries for 4 year round MPWC zones closer to shore; 3) adding a new definition for the beneficial use of suitable ocean-dredged material for habit restoration purposes within the MBNMS, and 4) noticing the expected Department of Defense activities at the Davidson Seamount Management Zone. We hope to have final documents released by mid-summer of 2021. We are currently recruiting a permanent Superintendent, after Paul Michel departed last fall. This type of recruitment takes up to a year, and so we have had and will continue to have an Acting Superintendent rotating in every 4 months until a permanent Superintendent is hired. Currently Dawn Hayes, who is the Deputy Superintendent is filling the acting position. Sanctuary offices and visitor centers remain closed at this time. We hope to have a them open at a lower capacity in the summer, and also be able to resume research cruises and the dive program. Sanctuary Earth Day presentation on Saturday, April 24th as part of Carmel Unified School District focused on deep sea coral restoration in the Sanctuary. Link is: https://mearthcarmel.org/mearth- day/ It’s a panel discussion that will be centered around restoration - land and sea.

k. United States Forest Service Tim Short: Hiring, retraining, and preparing for this upcoming fire season. We are working on possible sites for a replacement station and have identified an interim station for the Nacimiento- Ferguson Fire Station that was destroyed in the Dolan Fire. It has been challenging to find a station that also can accommodate housing, so we are planning on housing this temporary station at Brazil Ranch. Thank you to the community for the support of our fire personnel. We still have one employee who is recovering from the Dolan Fire and the injuries they sustained. Implementation work for the strategic community fuel break has begun and we have been awarded $368,000 in joint chiefs funding for this program. Additional funding is expected through the state’s climate change program as well. The Dolan Burn Area Emergency Rehab work is underway. Thank you to our County and Fort Hunter-Ligget partners who have been providing maintenance and repair support. To address the concerns about the forest closure from earlier in the meeting, we take a closing the forest to public access very seriously. will be reopened on Tuesday, April 13th. After 5 years of closure, the public will be able to access this trail again. Partnerships of the community, including Los Padres Forest Association, , CABS, and more have all come together to make this happen. A personnel update, the long awaited Law Enforcement officer is trained and on duty.

l. 5th District, Monterey County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Mary Adams: 44% of all Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur residents have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. To register for a vaccine, please visit mccvaccinate.com If you do not have access to internet, please call 2-1-1 and an United Way representative can help assist. We are in the County budget season, and this year has been incredibly tough with the lack of TOT funding. There was a $1.8 billion dollar shortfall in the tourism industry this year due to the Pandemic.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

My office has been working closely with Congressman Panetta’s office on the status and repairs to Nacimiento-Ferguson Road. In addition, the County just approved a contract for initial design and environmental studies to repair Palo Colorado Rd. We are hearing from folks with how important the repair of this road is, including recreational access needs for the Boy Scout Camp. Lastly, we will be convening the Law Enforcement Taskforce with the elected officials staff to address concerns the Big Sur community has raised with lack of enforcement and concern of illegal camp fires. As always, my door is always open.

m. 30th District, California State Assembly Dominic Dursa: The Assemblymember joins in appreciation for Caltrans who worked tirelessly to repair Highway 1 at Rat Creek. Thank you to Caltrans and residents like Bree and others who have come together during crisis. Thanks to the County on their efforts to vaccinate our residents. On the EDD front, unemployment benefits have continued to be a challenge. Please contact our office if you are in need of assistance. Wildfire prevention, Assemblymember Rivas introduced legislation AB434, take on prevention measures with management grazing. Agriculture has an opportunity to contribute to a solution. Continue to collaborate with organizations like the Big Sur Byway Organization.

n. 20th District, United States Congress Thank you co-chair Adams, for everything you are doing with the County and for facilitating and allowing people to speak in appropriate ways during this meeting. Also, I want to thank the three community members on their presentation about the NHA proposal. And I’ve appreciated the CCT discussion from today as well. It has been great spending time in the district, with the vaccines that are going out into the community, we will continue to get back to normal or whatever normal will be beyond 2020. It’s been a little crazy in Washington, D.C.. We went from an Insurrection, to an Impeachment, to an Inauguration, all within three weeks. Back to back. Now we are on to the 4th “I” which is Improvement. Federal dispersement of vaccines are directly allocated to the counties. We are continuing to address COVID with the American Rescue Plan Act. Such as $85 million to Monterey County, going directly to the entity instead of filtering through the State. This is a transformational bill, to look at and adjust the tax code. Upped the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit. This is temporary but provides a foundation for what we can do with legislation. We did this by transferring money to those who needed it the most. A major bill coming forward is the American Recovery Plan, the infrastructure plan. Incentivizing the transfer of green energy. Congratulations to Kyle Foster on your promotion. And many thanks to everyone who worked on the Highway 1 Rat Creek repair. In regards to Broadband, you’ll see $100 billion to rural broadband infrastructure. This is a bi- partisan issue and we hope to see this as an investment in the final result of the bill. Federally, we are trying to do our part for funding for wildfire prevention and suppression. I’ll be hosting two town halls tonight; an interview town hall with Lookout Magazine from Santa Cruz and Veterans Town Hall.

IX. Report from Other Agencies on Issues Pertinent to Big Sur (03:09:50) Kyle Foster: The new commander for CHP will be Reggie Williams, promoting to the rank of Captain and brings commercial experience to our county.

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm

Monterey County Sheriff Deputy Jesse Villasenor: Quick update, team is gearing up for the reopening of Pine Ridge Trail. Work well with other agencies responding to those who need help when hiking on the Pine Ridge Trail. I hear your calls for when you need assistance, especially for concerns on fires. I address my schedule to do my best to be available during those peak times.

X. Adjournment – 1:00 p.m. (13:13:17)

Next Meeting – Friday, July 9, 2021

For minutes and agendas from the last three calendar years, please visit: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/planning/cca/BSMAAC/bsma_main.htm