There is a new web site devoted to these meetings with links to agendas, minutes, and member reports. It can be found here

Thanks so much, Laura, and all!

BIG SUR MULTI-AGENCY
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Congressman Sam Farr and Supervisor Dave Potter, Co-Chairs

FRIDAY, May 17, 2013 – 10:00 A.M.
Pfeiffer Big Sur Lodge Conference Center
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur

AGENDA

10:00 a.m.​I.​CALL TO ORDER​ ​ Congressman Sam Farr

​II.​ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS

. APPROVE MINUTES OF October 19, 2012

10:15​IV.​PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

10:25​V.​OLD BUSINESS
1. Coastal Trail Update​​ ​Sen. Bill Monning
. NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion on LCP update process
re: short term rentals and events in Big Sur ​ ​Carl Holm
2. Vista Point Interpretive Displays​Corby Kilmer, Caltrans
3. Elephant Trunk Slide Permanent Repair Project​Lisa Lowerison, Caltrans​
11:00 ​VII.​REPORTS FROM MEMBER AGENCIES

(please bring written report)

Big Sur Resident Member
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
Coast Property Owners’ Association
Monterey County Planning Department
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District
California Coastal Commission
Caltrans
State Parks and Recreation
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
United States Forest Service
30th District, State Assembly
17th District, State Senate
United States Congress​
​
12:30 p.m.​VIII.​REPORTS FROM OTHER AGENCIES​

1:00​ IX.​NEXT MEETING ON: August 9, 2013 (Please note date change)

​ (10:00 a.m. Pfeiffer Conference Room, Big Sur Lodge)
​
​2013 Dates

​November 1, 2013

1:05​ X.​ADJOURNMENT

Here are the minutes from the last meeting in October :

BIG SUR MULTI-AGENCY ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 19, 2012
PFEIFFER BIG SUR LODGE CONFERENCE CENTER
47225 HIGHWAY 1, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA 93920

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Dave Potter, at 10:20 am. Roll call and introductions were made. Attendees are: Congressman Sam Farr, Supervisor Dave Potter, Tim Short (USFS), Aileen Lowe (Caltrans), Laura Lawrence (County Planning), CL Price (California State Parks), Kirk Gafill (Chamber of Commerce), Rob Carver (CPOA), and Dick Ravich (Resident of Big Sur).

Supervisor Potter introduced former Coastal Commissioner and Santa Cruz Supervisor Mark Stone. He is currently running for the office of Representative of the 29th Assembly District.

PROCEEDINGS
. Minutes:
– Minutes of July 20, 2012 were approved as written.
. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items:
– Bill Nye: A fundraising golf tournament will be held on November 10, 2012 to benefit the Central Coast Veteran’s Cemetery. Donations can be made through CCVCF.com. The culverts along the Old Coast Road are being replaced; the road will be closed during the week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm through October 26th.
– Ken Eklund: The next Big Sur River Watershed Plan stakeholders meeting will be held at the Big Sur Station on November 14, 2012 from 10-12:00 pm.
– Martha Karstens: Gave a heads-up to everyone about an upcoming bike ride for disabled riders on October 23, 2012. The ride will follow Highway 1 from the Carmel Mission Inn to Cambria. The Big Sur Fire Brigade and others have been meeting to strategize how to handle planned road closures in case of emergencies. Sheriff Scott Miller stated that they will be staging a car on the south end of the closure in case of an emergency; a resident reserve officer will also stay overnight.
– Rick Hutchinson from CALFIRE: encouraged residents to pay the invoices for State Responsibility Area (SRA) fire prevention fees that started showing up in the mail 2 weeks ago in order to avoid paying fines. The Howard Jarvis Tax Association has filed a lawsuit over the fees. Congressman Sam Farr commented that the fees should be going to first responders; in many cases, CALFIRE is not the first responder. Rick also noted that the Air Resources Board will require permits this year for burning.

OLD BUSINESS
. Rocky Creek Viaduct Update: Ken Dostalek, Project Manager, Caltrans
– Construction on the viaduct started after Labor Day; construction is estimated to be completed in the fall of 2013.
– The viaduct is 600 feet long with 9 supports (2 abutments and 7 columns or “bents”.)
– The drilling is going slower than anticipated; construction of the piles, pile caps and girders will finish at the end of January 2013.
– The changeable message sign at the Carmel River Bridge will be used to identify road closures. The contractor anticipates some overnight closures (10 hours at a time) will be necessary, but they are working to do as much as they can without closing the road.
– Project information is available on the Caltrans website.
– Congressman Farr stated that the design of the viaduct doesn’t seem to be consistent with the Coast Highway Management Plan.
– Supervisor Stone commented that a bridge recently built in Mendocino County has a more aesthetically-pleasing design. Aileen Lowe said she would look into it.
– Supervisor Potter stated that the site is challenging for construction and that they have come a long way with the design of the viaduct. The design of the rail is dependant on the required safety measures.
– Ken stated that Caltrans can revisit the rail design in the future but due to the short time period for design and construction, Caltrans had to go with a rail design that had already passed safety review.; Aileen stated she would bring back information to the community about railing designs.

NEW BUSINESS
None

REPORTS FROM MEMBER AGENCIES
Dick Ravich (Resident of Big Sur):
– Big Sur Fire Brigade Strategic Planning is moving ahead.
– The Brigade’s water tender needs to be replaced; they are starting a fund to raise money for the replacement.
– The Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan (BSCLUP) update will be coordinated through the LUAC; the public is encouraged to participate.
– The River Run will be held on October 27, 2012 at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
– The Bal Masque will be held at Nepenthe on October 31, 2012; there will be no Caltrans road closure that night.
– Still working to get high speed internet to the community. Ailene Krebs helped prepare a grant proposal. Hughes, Xcede and DISH are the options available.

Kirk Gafill (Big Sur Chamber of Commerce):
– Business levels are at or near record levels; there have been a lot of foreign visitors to the area.
– Caltrans road closures are challenging to businesses and residents and expressed appreciation to Caltrans communication of upcoming closures.

Rob Carver (CPOA)
– CPOA’s Annual Meeting will be held on November 19, 2012 at the Grange; the BSCLUP update is the topic.
– A public workshop on the Coastal Trail will be held in January.

Laura Lawrence (RMA Planning Department):
– Project list is available. If you would like to receive it electronically before the meeting, please use the sign up sheet in the back.
– The RMA is looking into the issues created by public events in Big Sur—issues such as parking, garbage, noise, commercial public events on private lands, and live music.

Dave Potter (Monterey County Board of Supervisors):
– It is election season; he will be focusing on the run-off between now and November 6th as much as he can. Supervisor Potter will be returning to Boston on Monday and will remain there until the election to be with his mother who is ill.

Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District: absent

California Coastal Commission (CCC): absent

Aileen Lowe (Caltrans):
– Thanked the community for their participation; communication for the Caltrans projects is complex.
– Caltrans will continue to try and accommodate requests for no road closures.
– Tim Gubbins has been appointed the new Director for Caltrans District 5.
– $500 million worth of projects are going on in the District right now.

CL Price (State Parks):
– A redesign of the entrance to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is going on now. It is estimated to be completed in March 2013.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: absent

Tim Short (USFS):
– This is his first BSMAAC since he was permanently hired; he has moved into the new district office in King City.
– The new office will be dedicated on November 1st; the building is constructed of straw bales.
– He is working on establishing office hours for Big Sur.
– Sherry Tune is now the Forest Supervisor in Mendocino County; she said she misses our meeting.

27th District, State Assembly: absent

15th District, State Senate: absent

28th District, State Assembly: absent

Congressman Sam Farr (United States Congress):
– The construction on the roads in the community is a result of Stimulus funds and will end eventually.
– Proposition 30 is a “make or break” for California.
– The debt limit needs to be raised again; implementing cuts and taxes will take too much money out of the economy.
– Congress and Senate have a lot of work to do before the end of the year; there is a lot of division between the two. He predicts they will “kick the can down the road” again.
– Government has been hit the hardest in California when it comes to jobs.

REPORTS FROM OTHER AGENCIES
​None.

Next meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2013 (canceled). The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 pm.

FINALLY:

Working Group for the issue of Short Term Rentals and Events to be held Wednesday, May 22 from 1-2 pm, Salinas Government Center, Monterey Room, 168 Alisal, salinas. For additional information contact Dave Potter’s Office, 831-647-7755.