HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-09-16; City Council; 14355; PRESENTATION BY COUNCILMEMBER COLLEEN O'HARRA OF OCEANSIDE REGARDING NORTH COUNTY MULTIPLE HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAMCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGE A Biu
PRESENTATION BY COUNCILMEMBER COLLEEN
MULTIPLE HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council receive report.
Councilmember Colleen O’Harra of Oceanside is Chair of the Advisory Commit4
North County Multiple Habitat Conservation Program (MHCP). The MHCP
coordinated by SANDAG for the seven North County cities. The City of Carlsbad
Management Plan is a component of the MHCP, and Carlsbad is an active particir
program. Councilmember O’Harra is meeting with the City Council’s of the sei
County cities to provide an overview of the MHCP and to describe its current statu
an appropriate time for the Carlsbad City Council to hear the presentation in vi(
schedule for completion of the Habitat Management Plan.
This is an informational report and no action is required.
Memo from SANDAG, dated March IO, 1997.
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GOVERNMENT!
401 6 Street, Suite 800
San Diego. Californla 02101.4
(61s) 595-5300 Fax (619) 5
hrtp lIm sandag.cog ca.us
March 10,1997
TO:
FROM:
SANDAG Board members representing north county cities
Councilmember Colleen O’Hara, City of Oceanside and
Chair, Multiple Habitat Conservation Program Advisory Committee
SUBJECT; Multiple Habitat Conservation Program City Council presentationti
As you know, the M€?@ dr& policies were presented to the SANDAG Board on
February 28*, and are now out for public redew. This is the first step towards the
completion of the MHCP plan.
Given the complexity of this program, we plan to tah the MHCP plan in increments to the
SNAG Board. The biological component Will go to the Board in May, the financing
plan in early Fall, and the draft MHCP plan in December.
We would like to offer our assistance in presenting this information to your city councils.
Myself and the SANDAG staff could make 8 presentation to your City Council on the draft
policies at any time. Future presentations could be made at your request. We could provide the information in increments, or present the entire plan in one meeting
Each jurisdiction will be required to prepare a subarea plan before an implementing
agreement can be signed and “take” permits issued. This brscess could be explained in a council workshop: what must be in a subarea plan, the components of an implementing
agreement, and how “take” permits are issued.
Please call Janet Fairbanks, SANDAG staff to discuss your interest in having a workshop
with your city council. She can be reached st (619) 595-5370-
MEMBER AGENCIES. Citles of Carfsbsd, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Calon, Enclniras, Escondlda, lmpenal Beach, La Mesa. Lema
ADVISORYRIAISON MEMBERS: Callfomla Department of Transponatmn. U.S. Department of Defense, S.D Wndled Pon Dislricl,
S.0 Counw Water Authorny, and Tijuana‘Bela California
Natlonal Clly, Oceanside, Peway, Sari Diego. San Mems. Sentee. Salena Beach. Vista. and Counjy of 6en Diego
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" STATE OF CALIFORNIA-THE RESOURCES AGEN 9 0 PETE '
4 DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
1416 NINTH STREET
P.O. BOX 944209
SACRAMENTO, CA 942462090
(916) 654-9980
September 16, 1997
Ray Patchett
City Manager
City of Carlsbad
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, California 92008
Dear Mr. Patchett:
As a follow-up to our recent meeting with representatives of the City of Carlsbad, Secretary
Wheeler and I discussed the potential for acquiring a portion of the Villages of La Costa prope
with representatives of Bank of America. Bank of America was very interested in which land!
would provide additional conservation of California gnatcatchers and thereby improve the
preserve design within the Multiple Habitats Conservation Program (MHCP) area. Bank of
America informed us that they are in the process of appraising the properties that we identifiec
our meeting and will provide the Department of Fish and Game (Department) with a copy of j
after they have had time to review it internally.
The Villages of La Costa properties discussed are in the southeast portion of the City of Carls
and represent one of the options to ensure that a core gnatcatcher area is conserved within the
MHCP plan area. As agreed to in the meeting, the Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (wildlife agencies) also reviewed other alternatives to the Villages of La Costa proper
and have identified a biologically viable alternative. We are still waiting for your staff and
consultants to let us know if they have identified any alternatives. The conservation of a core
gnatcatcher area in the north County is important to both the City's Habitat Management Plan
(HMP) and the larger MHCP.
We realize that the City has some concerns regarding costs associated with acquisitions, but a
we have demonstrated in San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles counties, the wildlife agencir
will assist in the establishment of NCCP preserves. To date, the wildlife agencies have acquii
or provided funding to acquire lands at a faster rate than has occurred with local funding sour(
As with other partnership plans, it is the intent of the wildlife agencies to contribute to the
creation of the preserves needed for the HMP and the MHCP.
It was encouraging to learn that the City would not exhaust its 5% coastal sage scrub allocatic
as early as previously predicted and we encourage the City to complete the HMP as soon as
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Mr. Ray Patchett
September 16, 1997
Page Two
possible. We will continue to explore possibilities with the City regarding the 5% issue and
habitat to coastal sage scrub has some merit. Wildlife agency staff are available to work with
City staff if you would like to explore this alternative further.
With you assistance, we believe it will be possible to finalize an HMP shortly after the first of
year. If you have any questions, please give me a call at (916) 654-9980.
believe that some of the alternatives suggested by the City such as staged restoration of disturb
Sincerely,
-ma->-&
Ronald D. Rempel
Chief, Environmental Services Division
cc: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gail Kobetich
Sherry Barrett
Carlsbad
Rick Alexander