Minutes of the Palomar Mountain Planning Organization Meeting
October 8, 2005
Thomas Burton, Robert Carlyle, Tracy Dixon, Donna Dose, Elizabeth Getzoff (alternate), Bruce Graves, Jim Hamerly, Susan Humason, Elliot Miller, Jack Norvall, Bonnie Phelps, Michael Pique, Earl Walls.
About 8 members attended as well.
The PMPO Board meeting was convened 10:06 A.M. October 8, 2005, at the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department. The minutes of the April 9, May 28, and July 16 2005, board meetings were distributed with approval deferred to the next meeting.
The treasurer, Tracy Dixon, reported expenses of $36.00 for Post Office box rental and $37.00 for postage stamps, for total expenses of $73.00. Income was $160.00 from donations. Our beginning bank balance was $37,854.73 and ending bank balance was $37,941.73. The report was approved.
Terri Bailey has resigned from the Board to devote more time to the Bailey Meadows Bed & Breakfast. The Board appointed Earl Walls to fill her term, expiring in May 2006.
Jack Norvall said he and Michael Pique still need to meet with Bob Haase on maps to accompany the letter Haase has written presenting our case to the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service. The goal to to get the agencies to help us, not fight us.
Tom Burton says the county staff is still bogged down in traffic studies.
Earl Walls said the CCPM is facing deadlines on submitting grant applications. The county has $1.6 million left for everybody, and our construction budget is $1.4 million. The community development block grants require project completion within one year, and will not support our preferred separation into two related grants to the CCPM and the PMVFD.
Elliot Miller identified three routes under consideration:
1. northeast from the northeastern part of Birch Hill, near the Ackerman's home (road marker 32J) to Conifer Road. This route is possibly dangerous under some conditions because a hazard along Conifer Road would not be visible in advance.
2. southeast from the southern part of Birch Hill, near the Fortney home, across the Jameson and Williams properties to meet the East Grade near the Pacheco Memorial.
3. south from the southern part of Birch Hill, near Boris Glazer's home, more or less directly down the ridgeline across US Forest Service land to the East Grade Road near the dump. It has a good view from the top down to the bottom. Boris Glazer has prepared a plan for Route 3 that includes gates at both ends, with a budget of $11,000 for a minimally graded road and a budget of $39,000 for a better graded and graveled road.
Elizabeth Getzoff has telephoned the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in Sacramento and was told that the Realty Branch has not received an application for the land transfer from the tribe.
Kimberly Zuppiger, San Diego East County MSCP Plan Project Manager, gave an overview of the East County Multispecies Conservation Program, which includes Palomar Mountain. The overall effect of the ECMSCP Plan is the creation of a large connected preserve that addresses the regional habitat needs for at least 254 species.
The plan currently is in the ``public outreach'' stage, developing a draft preserve map using habitat modeling. After modeling, county staff will work with consultants and the San Diego Museum of Natural History to locate sensitive habitats. The Park Department would then try to purchase these areas.
In response to questions, she said that the process 1. takes into consideration work necessary for the fire safety and fuels reduction programs, 2. is separate from the 2020 planning, and 3. has no jurisdiction over tribal lands. The Multispecies Conservation Program does not itself affect zoning density, but Bonnie Phelps said the requirements it imposes for `open space' could greatly reduce the usable land in existing parcels.
For more information, email Kimberly.Zuppiger@sdcounty.ca.gov, call her at (858) 694-3499, or see the MSCP web site www.mscp-sandiego.org and the East County MSCP Plan web site dplu-mscp.sdcounty.ca.gov/pub_out/eastcountyplan.html . To be placed on the mailing list for updates and notifications of upcoming public meetings, send an email to MSCP@sdcounty.ca.gov with ``East County Plan'' in the subject line.
The next board meetings will be Saturday, January 14, 2006 and April 1, 2006.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 A.M.
Michael E. Pique, Secretary.