 |
|
|
Stakeholder Groups
The October 3, 2002 Natural Resources and the October 10, 2002 Agriculture and Land Development Stakeholder Group meetings have been postponed. When an alternative date has been identified, we will post the information on the website.
Facilitators' Contact Information
Agricultural Resources [Read More] [Top]
Invitation List and Meeting Attendees Summary Table
|
September 4, 2002 - The Agriculture Stakeholders Group meeting will be held
on September 4, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation and the
meeting agenda, and
summary and facilitated notes.
July 24, 2002 - The Agriculture Stakeholders Group meeting was held on July
24, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation and the
meeting agenda, and
summary and facilitated notes.
June 13, 2002 - The Agriculture Stakeholders Group meeting was held on
June 13, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation,
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes, and the
list of invitees and attendees.
May 16, 2002 - The Agriculture Stakeholders Group meeting was held on May 16, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation,
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes, and the list of invitees and attendees.
|
Natural Resources/Environmental [Read More] [Top]
Invitation List and Meeting Attendees Summary Table
|
September 5, 2002 - The Natural Resources/Environmental Stakeholders Group
meeting will be held on September 5, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation and the
meeting agenda, and
summary and facilitated notes.
July 24, 2002 - The Natural Resources/Environmental Stakeholders Group
meeting was held on July 24, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation and the
meeting agenda, and
summary and facilitated notes.
May 22, 2002 - The Natural Resources/Environmental Stakeholders Group meeting was
held on May 22, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation,
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes, and the
list of invitees and attendees
April 17, 2002 - The Natural Resources/Environmental
Stakeholders Group meeting was held on April 17, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation, the
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes,
and the list of invitees and attendees.
|
Land Development and Business Issues [Read More] [Top]
Invitation List and Meeting Attendees Summary Table
|
September 4, 2002 - The Land Development/Business Stakeholders Group meeting
will be held on September 4, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation and the
meeting agenda, and
summary and facilitated notes.
July 24, 2002 - The Land Development/Business Stakeholders Group meeting was
held on July 24, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation and the
meeting agenda and
summary and facilitated notes.
June 13, 2002 - > The Land Development/Business Stakeholders Group meeting
was held on June 13, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation,
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes, and the
list of invitees and attendees.
May 16, 2002 - The Land Development/Business Stakeholders Group meeting was held on
May 16, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation,
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes, and the
list of invitees and attendees.
|
Municipal Entities; Public Utilities and Services [Read More] [Top]
Invitation List and Meeting Attendees Summary Table
|
September 5, 2002 - The Municipal Entities Stakeholders Group meeting will
be held on September 5, 2002. Following are the
meeting agenda, and
summary and facilitated notes.
May 22, 2002 - The Municipal Entities; Public Utilities and Services
Stakeholders Group meeting was held on May 22, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation,
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes, and the
list of invitees and attendees.
April 17, 2002 - The Municipal Entities; Public Utilities and Services Stakeholders Group meeting was
held on April 17, 2002. Following are the
meeting invitation, the
meeting agenda,
summary and facilitated notes,
and the list of invitees and attendees.
|
Stakeholder Description
For this process, a stakeholder is a person who has an interest in and will be directly affected by the outcomes of the NCCP/HCP process in each topical area identified for this process.
To increase public participation in, and understanding of, Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCP), “Stakeholder Groups” are now a part of every NCCP development process. In Merced County, four Stakeholder Groups are now being established for the Eastern Merced County NCCP/HCP process. These four Stakeholder Groups will engage members of the community in addressing issues within the following four major categories: Agriculture; Natural Resources/Environmental; Land Development/Business; and Municipal Entities - Public Utilities and Services. These four topic areas were chosen to reflect major issues of concern to Merced County. These stakeholder groups, along with other public outreach activities, reflect the commitment of the County of Merced, the California Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of California, Merced that the public be actively involved throughout the entire NCCP/HCP development process.
The Stakeholder Groups' role is to ensure that the NCCP/HCP reflects the values of the stakeholders by reviewing related materials, providing unique perspectives, discussing the design and content of various studies, and contributing opinions and suggestions on the development of the NCCP/HCP. The Stakeholder Groups will be expected to nominate individuals early in the process to act as members of an Advisory Committee. The public is welcome to attend meetings of the four Stakeholder Groups. The dates and times of all Stakeholder Group meetings will be posted on the project web site and by written invitation to those who have expressed interest in being involved.
Community Workshop Summary - March 23, 2002
On Saturday, March 23, 2002, an overview of the Natural Community
Conservation Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) for eastern
Merced County was presented at a workshop attended by over 100 community
members.
The speakers included Merced County Supervisors Kathleen Crookham and Gloria
Cortez-Keene, Bob Smith of the County’s University of California Development
Office, Jeff Single of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG),
Vicki Campbell of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and William
Ziebron of EIP Associates - the County’s consultant for the Plan.
Supervisor Crookham welcomed the workshop participants and explained the
background for the project, while Supervisor Cortez-Keene initiated a series
of questions about Plan development. Smith explained the importance of
developing a NCCP/HCP in light of significant growth projections for Merced
County - doubling its population over the next 40 years. Such rapid and
substantial growth will make traditional planning tools, including zoning
and a General Plan, insufficient to preserve the County’s quality of life.
The Central Valley is the fastest growing region in the state. In Merced
County alone, the population will more than double, from 215,000
persons today, to nearly 460,000 persons by 2040.
California’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCP) was enacted
to encourage habitat conservation planning on a regional scale. Under the
law, local, state and federal agencies are encouraged to prepare NCCPs to
provide comprehensive, regional conservation and management plans for
multiple animal and plant species, rather than preparing numerous individual
plans on a species-by-species, project-by-project basis. Merced County’s
NCCP, as described at the workshop, is also intended to satisfy the
requirements for a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) under the federal
Endangered Species Act of 1973. Both the federal and state Endangered
Species Acts protect specific plants and animals, and currently require
permits for individual landowner actions, such as development or changes in
use, that would put them at risk.
 |
|
The goals of the combined Plan are therefore to protect eastern Merced
County’s ecologically significant resources, open space, and agricultural
lands as inevitable human population growth occurs; and to support the
County’s General Plan through the use of this additional planning tool. The
Plan can also enhance the economic vitality of the County and ensure that
development under the General Plan complies with existing federal and state
environmental laws.
|
Representatives of the California Department of Fish and Game and the US
Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed their respective agency roles within the
Plan development process; integrating state and federal wildlife agency
approaches and responsibilities to cooperate with the local community to
save local natural resources and open space. Each presenter emphasized the
importance of integrating public trust and private interests, through
community participation, to achieve a Plan that fulfills multiple
expectations.
Implementation of the proposed NCCP/HCP was explained as a voluntary, public
process that considers the needs of the County, including protection of
local natural resources and activities such as agriculture, development,
infrastructure, and economic stability in order to promote the long term
conservation of plants and animals. Plan development includes research and
independent scientific advice to identify important natural resources
including federally listed plant and animal species. Public participation
is a critical element of developing an ultimately successful Plan, and
members of the community will be provided a variety of ways to be involved
and stay informed about the issues and the process.
|
The contents of the NCCP/HCP would include a description of covered plants
and animals, covered activities (development, infrastructure, etc.), a
land-use strategy, an analysis of the impacts of prospective land use
changes, a natural resources conservation strategy, monitoring and adaptive
management, land owner assurances, and a funding and implementation
strategy.
| |
 |
Once approved and adopted, an NCCP/HCP provides a streamlined, local process
for project permitting, and long-term solutions to land use conflicts. It
emphasizes voluntary cooperation and region wide planning to sustain habitat
protection and open space. The Plan would also allow the greatest possible
local control and flexibility in complying with federal and state law.
The permitting process is currently undertaken by individual landowners with
various state and federal agencies. Under the Plan, a regional “Incidental
Take” permit administered by the County would enable landowners to seek a
local permit to conduct activities on their property which could negatively
affect specific plants and animals protected by law. Other results include
a strategy to ensure the conservation of protected plants and animals. The
NCCP would also provide an opportunity to consider complementary activities,
such as the growth of unincorporated areas under the General Plan, an
ongoing easement acquisition program, and involvement with the proposed UC
Merced campus and community, in a comprehensive fashion.
In May 2001, a “Planning Agreement,” required under state law, was signed by
Merced County, CDFG, USFWS, and the University of California to initiate the
development of the NCCP.
 |
|
The initial schedule and phases of activity for the proposed NCCP/HCP
include public outreach and development, and scientific input through 2004.
Data inventory will continue from 2002 into 2003. Beginning in 2003,
conservation strategies and economic analysis will begin. The development
of the NCCP/HCP and an Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact
Statement will follow into 2004.
|
Looking immediately ahead to the next three months, background studies in
agriculture, biology/ecology and land use will be initiated. State law
provides for independent scientific input, which will be provided under
separate contract with the County. A group of Science Advisors will be
selected for the purpose. Prior to Plan development and at intervals
throughout the process, as needed by those preparing the Plan, these
scientists will offer valuable advice to the community to ensure that the
conservation strategy developed is sufficient to protect and conserve the
animals and plants in eastern Merced County.
Other upcoming activities include the formation of Stakeholder Groups and an
Advisory Committee. In addition, a voter opinion survey is planned. A
broad base of interest groups and individuals will be solicited for the
Stakeholder Groups to represent agricultural interests, land development and
business, natural resources and the environment, and municipal government.
These groups will make recommendations to and be represented on the Advisory
Committee. Its role will be to facilitate working relationships among
interest groups, receive information and recommendations from Stakeholder
Groups, and to guide development of the Plan including making
recommendations directly to the Board of Supervisors.
The Plan must first be adopted by the Merced County Board of Supervisors and
any other cities or governmental entities that choose to participate before
it is submitted for approval to the California Department of Fish and Game
and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Click here to see the presentation that was given.
|
|
