[SCE] URGENT: Iron Rangers at CCC

[foglark at mcn.org]

Dear friends,

Many of you know my work on coastal environmental issues goes back to
opposing the "hole on the head" proposed for a nuclear reactor, back in
the 1960s. Many of you followed my award-winning news coverage of the
appalling proposal to withdraw water from North Coast rivers and ship it
south in huge plastic bags. My news coverage and monitoring of Coastal
Commission meetings since 1997 gave me a worker bee's understanding of
staff reports and Commission doings. I started visiting Fort Ross and
Gualala on family driving trips in 1946.

Here's my take:

The situation is not dire. You do need to show up to support Sonoma
County's denial of the appalling iron rangers. You will only be given
about one minute each to speak, and you may be allowed to donate your time
to a spokesperson. Ask the Commissioners to uphold the County's denial and
give your reasons why.

On the second page of the staff report, there is a list of what's wrong
with State Parks' fee-grabbing proposal. You can pick your favorite, agree
with them all, or best of all (!) pick your own.

Proceeding to the main hearing, the "De Novo" or "Fresh Look", is the
correct Commission action. People will be coming from far and wide.
Setting a hearing in the future would be unfair to the public!

My favorite objection to the State Parks proposals is that the Parks
Department staff created problems themselves by failing to maintain their
Sonoma Coast holdings in many ways, such as closing restrooms and allowing
parking lot pavement to deteriorate.

I currently represent the Sierra Club's Mendocino Group to the Coastal
Commission, but have not had time to check these views with club leaders,
they're my own opinions.

Take heart and be there!

Julie A. Verran







 ==========================
> Sonoma Coast Environmental
> ==========================
> You may recall this hearing notice, and possibly the petition, but
> probably don't know that it has escalated and we need to show up.
>
> I'm told the situation is rather dire ... State Parks introduced a new
> document yesterday basically trying to leapfrog over the hearing regarding
> substantial issue and moving to de novo at the hearing tomorrow', even
> though the de novo is unnoticed. On the assurances of the Calif Coastal
> Commission and their staff report none of us have been preparing for that.
>  The Resources Agency if basically trying to rewrite the CCC's staff
> report.  We need to pack the hearing to let the CCC know we still care
> about this issue or we will be paying $8 for a day, or filling the coastal
> roads with parked cars at the beach in about 6 months.
>
> Surfrider, Coastwalk and other groups in our region have been working on
> this.  This last wrinkle is not one they welcome.
>
> Feel free to forward this to anyone you think may be interested.
>
> have a wonderful spring week,
> Rue
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Date: March 27, 2015
>
> IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
> NEW APPEAL
>
> APPEAL NUMBER:                A-2-SON-13-0219
>
> LOCAL GOVT
> PERMIT NUMBER:                 CPH12-0004
>
> APPLICANT(S):                      State of California Department of Parks
> and Recreation
>
> APPELLANT(S):                     State of California Department of Parks
> and Recreation
>
>
> DECISION BEING APPEALED:  Appeal by the State Department of Parks and
> Recreation of a decision by Sonoma County denying the installation of
> signs and self-pay fee collection devices (“iron rangers”) for
> charging new fees for parking at 14 locations on the Sonoma County coast
> at Salt Point State Park and Sonoma Coast State Park.
>
> PROJECT LOCATION:  14 locations on Sonoma coast, including Stump Beach in
> Salt Point State Park, and Russian Gulch, Goat Rock – Blind Beach, Goat
> Rock – South Lot, Goat Rock – North Lot, Goat Rock – Arched Rock,
> Shell Beach, Portuguese Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, Salmon Creek – North
> Lot, Salmon Creek – South Lot (Bean Avenue), Campbell Cove, Bodega Head
> – Upper Lot, and Bodega Head – Lower Lot, within Sonoma Coast State
> Park, Sonoma County.
>
>
> HEARING DATE AND LOCATION:
>
> DATE:            Wednesday, April 15, 2015
> TIME:             Meeting Begins at 9:00 AM
> PLACE:          Marin County Board of Supervisors, 3501 Civic Center
> Drive, Suite 329, San Rafael, CA 94903
>
> PHONE:         (415) 407‑3211
> ITEM NO:        W17a
>
>
> __._,_.___
> Posted by: Rue Furch <pqrst at monitor.net>
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