Agenda - Rural Forum
Sacramento Convention Center
Room 309/310
California, California
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Presiding:
Bradley Garbutt, Chairman
Laura Houle, Vice Chair
Larry Matteson, Vice Chair
Frank Nelson, Committee LiaisonC.A.R. Staff
Elizabeth GavricI.  Opening Comments: Chairman GarbuttII. Rural Issues to be addressed in C.A.R. Policy Committees1. AB 26 (Nakanishi) - Flood control: natural community conservation plan ~ This bill would require the preparation of natural community conservation plans (NCCP) that encompasses the Sacramento and San Joaquin Drainage Districts to provide comprehensive management and conservation of multiple wildlife species. AB 26 seeks to use efficiencies of scale to reduce the environmental compliance costs for maintaining Central Valley flood control facilities.  It does not rely on complete exemption from environmental law, but requires the State to take responsibility and pay the costs for maintaining the entire system.  Because the State remains ultimately responsible for the entire system, this comprehensive approach may provide some overall efficiency and reduced costs. Instead of numerous local agencies going through separate, annual regulatory processes, the State would proceed through one long-term process to address the wide range of environmental issues that arise in NCCP and habitat conservation plan (HCP) processes.  C.A.R. supports any efforts to streamline environmental impact reporting and mitigation requirements.2. AB 1338 (Huffman) – Public Resources: Local Coastal Programs ~ This bill expands the California Coastal Commission’s (Commission)jurisdiction into water quality by requiring a nonpoint source pollution prevention element in every local coastal program (LCP) whenever certification or an amendment to an LCP is sought.  The bill creates a duplicative regulatory framework as theCoastal Commission is not the proper regulatory entity to address water quality issues.  The Coastal Act clearly prohibits the Commission from taking actions that conflict with the authority of the regional boards relating to water quality.  This is appropriate because the prevention of storm water runoff pollution can involve actions that originate far beyond the coastal zone.  C.A.R. opposes this bill because by expanding the Commission’s jurisdiction, the bill would create confusion and conflict at the local level between regional water quality control boards and the Commission. 3. SB 466 (Steinberg) – Forest Resources ~ The Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 regulates the conversion of timberland to uses other than the growing of timber. SB 466 would specify the manner by which the environmental effects of forestland and timberland conversions may be mitigated. The bill would authorize the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to adopt implementing regulations. C.A.R. opposes this bill because it would require landowners with any type of forest (e.g., pine, oak, etc.), consisting of a canopy cover that spans a minimum of 10% of the property, to mitigate land use changes either by putting the forest or timberlands into a permanent conservation by easement or by a fee equaling two times the amount being converted to non-forestry uses.4. SB 634 (Wiggins) – Land Use: Williamson Act: contracts  ~ The Williamson Act authorizes any city or county to enter into a contract with a property owner for the purpose of preserving agricultural land. C.A.R. originally opposed this bill because it required local Williamson Act agency approval of any residential development on a Williamson Act parcel during the term of the contract or any successive contract. Prior to the construction of any housing or roads, land owners would have been required to provide notice to the local Williamson Act agency, and then receive an approval from that agency for the construction. Amendments accepted in Senate Local Government Committee substantially amended the bill and C.A.R. is currently evaluating the amended language to determine the impact of the bill.5. SB 838 (Cogdill) – Fire Prevention and Protection ~ The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is required to assist local governments in preventing wildland fire and vegetation management problems within the department's budgetary limitations. SB 838 authorizes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to award grants to the California Fire Safe Council to implement community-based wildfire threat reduction and prevention programs. C.A.R. supports this bill because it will fund programs to serve communities that could potentially be threatened by wildfires.III. Information Sharing

A. Status of AB 885 Draft Septic Regulations – A verbal report will be given at the meeting.B. Williamson Act in Santa Clara County – A verbal report will be given at the meeting.C. San Diego County General Plan Update 2020: Waging the Battle for Private Property Rights – A verbal report will be given at the meeting.IV. Guest Speaker: Darryl Conklin of Renewable Technologies, Inc. (RTI).  Mr. Conklin is a solar energy industry expert holding several degrees and licenses in the State of California.  His company, RTI has been on the forefront of the emerging solar industry since 1994. Mr. Conklin is recognized as one of the leading experts in the solar industry and serves on numerous panels andboards.  He is an Industry Expert for the State of California Contractors State License Board and has worked diligently to have alternative energy construction projects placed under the auspices of the new Zero Energy Homes Program and Title 24 Standard.  Mr. Conklin will be presenting a discussion on energy alternatives that allow homeowners in both rural and urban settings to “live off the grid”.  With energy and fuel prices skyrocketing, greenhouses gas concerns increasing and utilities charging small fortunes to connect customers to the grid, this is certain to be an insightful and timely discussion.V. Other