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KUSP LandWatch
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ogo.gif" width="108" height="109" border="0"> "Listen Live" |
KUSP provided a brief Land Use Report on KUSP Radio from January 2003 to May 2016. Archives of past transcripts are available here.
Week of January 19, 2004 to January 23, 2004
The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP Radio by Gary Patton, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP Radio, nor of any of its sponsors.
Monday,
January 19, 2004 – LAFCO Breakfast Tomorrow
The Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, is an important
land use policy agency. I served for many years on the Santa Cruz
County LAFCO, and was proud to wear a tee-shirt that said, "Sprawl
Busters." That’s what LAFCO is mostly about, stopping
urban sprawl.
But that’s not the only job assigned to LAFCO. LAFCO plays a key role in deciding whether fire districts should be consolidated, and whether or not new cities should be incorporated. For a full rundown, click on the Land Use Report link at the KUSP website. I’ve put some references there that will lead you to a goldmine of information.
The LAFCOs in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties are all seven-member bodies. Two members are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors; two members are appointed by the cities located within the county; and two members are appointed by the Special Districts Association, which represents agencies like fire districts and water districts. The six agency members of LAFCO select one public member.
In Monterey County, the Public Member is Vince DiMaggio, and he does something unusual. Each month, he holds a public meeting (generally a breakfast) to hear directly from the public. Tomorrow, he’ll be holding such a meeting in Carmel Valley. If you’re interested, click on www.kusp.org.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
LandWatch Calendar of Upcoming Events
http://www.mclw.org/pages/calendar.htmFor more information contact Lupe Garcia at 831-759-2824, Ext. 13
CALAFCO Website
http://www.calafco.org/Santa Cruz County LAFCO
http://www.santacruzlafco.org/Monterey County LAFCO
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/lafco/San Luis Obispo County LAFCO
http://www.slolafco.com/State Law Establishing LAFCO
http://napa.lafco.ca.gov/govcode.htm
Tuesday,
January 20, 2004 – City of Santa Cruz Transportation Projects
The Santa Cruz City Council will be holding a special meeting this
afternoon, beginning at 4:45 at the Santa Cruz City Hall. At a "special
meeting," the Council is legally entitled to consider only
those items specifically listed on the agenda.
The special meeting this afternoon (which will not be cablecast, incidentally) is going to focus on a proposed update to the Regional Transportation Plan. As you might guess, the Regional Transportation Plan is not under the direct control of the City of Santa Cruz, but representatives of the City do sit on the Santa Cruz County Transportation Commission, which has the ultimate authority to decide what projects are either "in" or "out" of the regional plan. The City Council is going to be talking this afternoon about the projects that they’d like to have included in the overall Regional Transportation Plan affecting the entirety of Santa Cruz County.
These projects include city sidewalk projects, improvements on the Bay Street corridor, and the addition of non-physical, "Transportation System Management" measures to the regional plan. Here’s what may or may not seem like a news item to you. Unlike many jurisdictions, the City of Santa Cruz clearly believes that pedestrians (not just cars) should be part of the transportation planning process. And, the City of Santa Cruz wants to try to "manage" transportation demand, at least somewhat, instead of just building ever bigger streets and freeways.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
City of Santa Cruz Website
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/
Wednesday,
January 21, 2004 – Farms and Fishes
Starting today, an exciting conference will be held at the Asilomar
Conference grounds, in Pacific Grove. Today’s events are focused
on the links between ecological agriculture and sustainable fisheries.
Beginning Thursday, the conference will target a full range of topics
related to ecological farming. You can get more information by clicking
on the Land Use Report link at www.kusp.org.
The Ecological Farming Conference is now in its twenty-fourth year. It is sponsored by the Ecological Farming Association, a non-profit organization based in Watsonville. The Ecological Farming Association promotes ecologically sound agriculture, and their events bring people together from all over the world to share ideas and experiences in producing healthful food in an environmentally sustainable way.
If you’ve ever been a student of history, you may have run across the writings of Lewis Mumford. His most famous book, called "Technics and Civilization," points out the problematic effects that the development and mechanization of agriculture has had on human society. Here, along the central California coast, advocates and practitioners of ecological farming are trying to find better ways to produce the food upon which our global civilization depends. I say, "Hats off!" to the Ecological Farming Association, a group based locally, which is both thinking, and acting, globally.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
For information on the Ecological Farming Conference
http://www.eco-farm.org/efc/efc_main04.htmlA brief biography of Lewis Mumford
http://www.nd.edu/~ehalton/mumfordbio.htmlA brief description of Technics and Civilization
http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/rojc/mdic/mumford.html
Thursday,
January 22, 2004 – The Santa Cruz County Branch Line
Regional transportation planning in Santa Cruz County is under the
jurisdiction of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.
The Commission is holding a policy workshop today, and will receive
an update on state budget actions. As you probably know, the budget
crisis affecting the State of California has impacted every aspect
of what government does, at every level of government. Most transportation
projects demand a combination of both state and local funding, and
the report presented today will almost certainly indicate that various
planned projects in Santa Cruz County are going to have to be delayed
or even dropped.
In a "closed session," not open to the public, the Transportation Commission is going to meet with its property negotiator to discuss the possible acquisition of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, running between Davenport and Pajaro. Money is actually available for this acquisition. The Union Pacific railroad is going to dispose of the line, and the question is whether local government agencies, acting through the Transportation Commission, are going to buy it. Buying this rail line will definitely preserve long term options for rail, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation, but neighbors next to the line are opposed to the purchase. This part of the meeting will not be open to the public, but the ultimate decision made will have a very significant impact on our transportation and land use future.
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
More Information:
SCCRTC Website
http://www.sccrtc.org/Agenda for January 22, 2004 Policy Workshop
http://www.sccrtc.org/packet/2004/0401/TPWagenda0401.htmFacts on the Rail Line Acquisition
http://www.sccrtc.org/pdf/railacfax.pdf
Friday,
January 23, 2004 – Tribute to John Brennan
The premise of this Land Use Report is that land use issues are
important, and dramatically affect the health of our local economy,
either advance (or don’t advance) social equity, and have profound
impacts on our natural environment.
Most people tend to think of land use decisions at the "project" level. For instance, should we approve a proposed new subdivision, or allow hundreds of acres of oak trees to be bulldozed down for a new vineyard? As important as these project level decisions are, land use "policy" decisions are of even greater importance. Local government agencies are mandated by state law to establish general plan and zoning policies that guide project decisions. State law says that each project decision must be "consistent" with the local general plan and zoning ordinances. The right kind of "policy" decisions will lead to good "project" decisions.
Who is making these project and policy decisions? Ultimately, it is elected members of City Councils and County Boards of Supervisors, but appointed Planning Commissioners often play a key role. Last week, a long time member of the Monterey County Planning Commission announced his resignation. I’d like to take this opportunity to salute John Brennan, now on his way to Siskiyou County, who carried out his duties as a planning commissioner in the very best tradition of citizen self-government. John, thanks for your good work, and all the best!
For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
Archives of past transcripts are available here
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