Members Present:
Bill Shaw
Paul Fish
Bob Steidl
Tom Sheridan
E. Linwood Smith
Frances Werner
Mac Donaldson
Jonathan Mabry
Members Absent:
Joseph Joaquin
Dan Robinett
Don McGann
Others Present:
Carolyn Campbell, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
Jim Barry, Pima County Administrators Office
Maeveen Behan, Pima County Administrators Office
John Regan, Pima County Department of Transportation, GIS
Jim Veomett, Pima County Planning
Lori Godoshian, Pima County Clerk of the Board
David Cushman, Pima County Cultural Resources
Julia Fonseca, Pima County Flood Control District
Lori Woods, RECON
Open Meeting Law
Lori Godoshian, Pima County Clerk of the Board, presented information about
the Open Meeting Law. It was stated that draft minutes for meetings must
be available
within 3 days of the meeting. A quorum consists of 6 members. It was suggested
to tape meetings. Commission members need to have materials 24 hrs in advance.
Agenda must be posted 24 hrs in advance. Lori Godoshian mentioned that
minutes of the meetings must be approved. They are permanent records of the
meetings.
The use of email to discuss items is discouraged. No more than 6 members
may participate except for setting meeting dates. Teleconference must be
posted
24 hrs in advance, and described as such. Nicole Fyffe posts for the
Commission meetings; currently, the Pima County Administration Building is
the official
site.
Bond Update
Carolyn Campbell presented on the upcoming bond issues. The January 20th
Board of Supervisors meeting will decide on the timing of the bond and
questions. At the polls, there will be 6 questions voters will say yes
or no to.
• $20M cultural resource packaged with parks and recreation, for a total
of $80M.
• Friends of the Sonoran Desert are raising money to promote open space bonds.
• Community open space priorities are parcel specific; habitat protection
priorities are described as seven target areas per AOLT/TNC.
Negotiations with land owners will precede sale of bonds. Easements cannot
be condemned and will be part of the program.
Frances Werner suggested sale of bonds in small increments. Jim Barry will
pass the suggestion on.
Carolyn Campbell mentioned that $127M for Section 10 habitat protection
seems low to the Coalition.
Informational Forum
Jim Barry discussed the possibility of the Commission holding an informational
forum. Barry thinks this Commission cannot advocate voting
for open space bonds. Individuals can advocate as individuals. County staff
cannot advocate.
Non-county
entities can advocate, if registered. Maeveen Behan does
not believe the Commission can hold an informational forum, while Jim Barry
stated that
County Attorney
advice was needed.
Bill Shaw and Commission members requested background information
on how commission was formed and how ideas were developed.
Maeveen Behan will
provide facts about
the process, how many meetings have been held, and background
information relative to the bond committee.
PAG Activities Related to SOER
PAG has begun to compile regional information on building
permits issued by all jurisdictions. The impetus for this
has been for transportation
and planning.
Julia Fonseca showed displays of development permits issued
between January 2000 to June 2003. The Commission requested
that the poster displays be
overlaid with
priority lands for SDCP acquisition, and overlaid for compliance
with archeological resources. Another overlay showing how
much land was undeveloped vs. infill
was also requested.
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan Update
Maeveen Behan presented a Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan
update for the Commission members. The big news was that
the draft MSCP is ready for review.
Before next
Tuesday, CHH wants to release a complete draft MSCP and
open up a public comment period. The MSCP is 2 volumes,
and includes
6 documents in the
Appendix including
the PVS report and an SDCP summary. A draft will be sent
out to the Commission. The document has not been released
to the USFWS, and is not a decision
document for the BOS. It was mentioned that one of the
different aspects of the plan
is how it empowers the local land use plan.
The USFWS lost in court on the no surprises policy; the
court struck it down. Therefore, it has to be re-noticed.
The question
will arise, why
get a permit?
The USFWS will fast track renotice of no surprises Maeveen
expects it to be completed prior to issuance of our Section
10 permit. The Bush administration
wants the
no surprises policy.
The MSCP covers a 30-year take period. The buildout estimation
looks forward 50 yrs, but take is broken into 10-year
estimates. There are milestones
so that take does not get ahead of protection and mitigation.
Concerns with the adequacy of monitoring in the MSCP
were brought up. Land acquisition will be the primary
mitigation
measure for the MSCP. Monitoring
for the MSCP
is relatively easy compared to overall SDCP monitoring.
State of the Environment Report
Action was deferred on this item.
Next Meeting
The next
Science Commission meeting has been set for Monday,
February 9th
from 9-11am. The meeting
will be held
in the Water Resources Research Center conference
room.