Commentary is provided by ActCoastal partners. This blog represents the views of the authors, and does not necessarily reflect the positions of ActCoastal and its partner organizations.
September 25, 2017
August 2017 Hearing Report
The August Coastal Commission hearing was located in Calabasas. The agenda was slightly lighter than usual. On Wednesday, the Surfrider Foundation along with the Sierra Club presented during public comment highlighting the success of Coastal Cleanup Day and the Coastal Commission’s key role in the statewide beach cleanup day.
August 21, 2017
July 2017 Hearing Report
The July hearing took place at California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside. Commissioners heard several important issues ranging from beach access and coastal armoring to cease and desist orders for the last sand mine in California. Indeed, a landmark enforcement settlement was approved, marking the end of the sand mining era and a huge win for coastal preservation.
July 19, 2017
June 2017 Hearing Report
The California Coastal Commission’s June agenda lasted only two days and boasted few high-profile items. The Commission met in Arcata, in far Northern California, an undeniably beautiful part of the state, yet challenging to get to and drawing a smaller than normal crowd. One proposal did bring in people from Sacramento and elsewhere: an attempt by Coast Seafoods Company to renew its permit and expand its oyster-growing infrastructure within Humboldt Bay.
June 14, 2017
May 2017 Hearing Report
The Coastal Commission reconvened in May in San Diego after a short hiatus after the April meeting was canceled due to budget constraints. The May hearing was eventful , with important issues ranging from water use, coastal access, recreation valuation and more – resulting in four vote charts. On Wednesday morning, Coastal Commission staff and experts gave two excellent presentations, the first on coastal dunes and the second on coastal access.
May 5, 2017
California Will Reject More Dirty and Dangerous Drilling
Today, the Trump Administration issued an executive order directing the U.S. Interior Department to review the current schedule for offshore drilling lease sales, potentially opening the door to new oil and gas drilling off California’s coast. The order also asked for a review of all marine national monuments and national marine sanctuaries from the past decade. The order has generated unified opposition by key California state leaders—both administrative and legislative.
March 21, 2017
AB 250 Coastal Cabin Bill Moves Forward
Sacramento, CA – Today, Assembly Bill 250 (AB 250), sponsored by Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee with a 7-1 vote. AB 250 would help Californians of all incomes and backgrounds access the coast by increasing the supply of cabins and other lower-cost overnight accommodations.
March 17, 2017
March 2017 Hearing Report
The March Coastal Commission hearing resulted in only one vote chart item; however, several important issues were raised over the two-day meeting. The public comment period was well utilized to raise awareness of nonagenda topics and impending items of interest.
March 14, 2017
February 2017 Hearing Report
The February hearing in Newport Beach lasted two days instead of the usual 3. Thursday was a busy day for coastal advocates as several important items were discussed. Notably, there were several San Diego County seawall decisions made and Commissioners approved staff’s revised findings on the denial of the Newport Banning Ranch permit application.
February 22, 2017
January 2017 Hearing Report
The January Coastal Commission hearing felt a little lighter than usual. Nonetheless, several important items came before the Commission, most notably, Poseidon Resource, LLC’s request for a permit fee waiver for their Huntington Beach desalination proposal. The Commission panel was also down one commissioner, Wendy Mitchell resigned her post after six years.
January 5, 2017
December 2016 Hearing Report
December’s Coastal Commission hearing covered a range of important topics including coastal access, recreational resources, and the application of recently vested power to levy administrative fines for Coastal Act violations. Most notably, Commissioners voted to levy administrative fines for an egregious and ongoing access violation in Malibu to the tune of $4.2 million. Several vote charts resulted, click here to see how the Commissioner’s voted.
December 16, 2016
November 2016 Hearing Update
November’s Coastal Commission hearing covered a range of important topics including low cost visitor serving uses, equality as it relates to coastal access, shoreline armoring and notably, the first major Local Coastal Program update since the statewide funding for sea level rise planning was issued. Several vote charts resulted, click here to see how the Commissioner’s voted.
November 17, 2016
October 2016 Hearing Update
While the October Coastal Commission meeting lacked the fireworks of the past few months, lasting a mere day-and-a-half instead of the usual three and prompting no vote chart items, interesting ground was nonetheless covered. Notably, the passage of AB2616, a bill by Assemblymember Autumn Burke requiring environmental justice to be considered in Commissioner appointments and project evaluation, as well as updates on the public access program and Executive Director hiring process.
October 14, 2016
September 2016 Hearing Update
The September California Coastal Commission meeting drew even more attention than usual as activists rallied bright and early at the Newport Civic Center. Conservation organizations, tribal representatives and environmental justice groups brought arguments against the Newport Banning Ranch, while the project’s proponents bulked up meeting attendance with a show of people in support.
October 3, 2016
August Coastal Commission Report
While none of the items on the Coastal Commission’s August agenda resulted in vote charts, many of them still deserve attention. The meeting took place at the Scott’s Valley Hilton and drew about 300 people the first day. Many of those attending utilized public comment to declare support for Commission enforcement staff’s cease-and-desist order given to CEMEX’s sand-mining operation in Monterey County and encourage a timely shut-down of the plant – see the full story in the Monterey County Weekly.
July 25, 2016
Public Access and Parking: a complicated relationship
Conversation about cars dominated this month’s California Coastal Commission meeting. Why so much discussion? Because exercising our right to visit our beaches depends upon being able to get to them, especially if you’re not among the lucky few living within walking distance.
July 20, 2016
July 2016 Coastal Commission Hearing
The July hearing was the unanticipated stage for a broader discussion on public access to the coast and the impact of parking on access.
July 1, 2016
Diverse Coalition Requests Legislature Fund Coastal, Ocean, and Public Access Protection
Today, a large coalition of diverse organizations submitted a letter to Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia respectfully requesting that he provide at least $100 million in funding for each the Ocean Protection Council and State Coastal Conservancy in his proposed park bond, AB 2444.
June 10, 2016
June 2016 Coastal Commission Hearing
Back in April, a controversial attempt by State Parks to impose parking fees on undeveloped lots in Sonoma County brought out hundreds of people in protest. At that time, Commissioners could have voted against the proposal and ended the years-long controversy. Instead, and against staff’s recommendation, Commissioners opted to direct staff to keep trying to work with Parks and the County of Sonoma to determine if moving forward was possible.
June 3, 2016
Major Coastal Commission Reforms In Play in Legislature
The 2016 legislative session started off with an impressive slate of eight bills aimed at reforming the California Coastal Commission, some of those proposing to weaken the California Coastal Act. The Legislative session reached its halfway point on June 3rd, with the deadline for all bills to pass out of their house of origin. Of the eight original Coastal Commission bills, only three are still alive.
May 20, 2016
May 2016 Coastal Commission Hearing
Notable items at the May California Coastal Commission meeting included a majority of Commissioners supporting legislation that would level the playing field between the public and developers, public outcry over the modified Newport Banning Ranch staff report, the hiring process for the Commission’s new Executive Director and a Santa Barbara appeal in which the Commission referred to the city's LCP in order to determine substantial issue existed and reinforcement of water responsibility.
April 27, 2016
April 2016 Coastal Commission Hearing: a summary
Last month we reported that events of the March hearing did nothing to repair the damaged relationship the Commission and Commissioners have with the public. The April hearing also offered no help.
April 4, 2016
SONGS: a hot topic (update)
In my previous article on the decommissioning process for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), I discussed the unfortunate reality of nuclear waste remaining on the SONGS site for perhaps decades due to the lack of a permitted offsite permanent disposal facility. As discussed in that article, an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at San Onofre has been approved by the California Coastal Commission and is currently under construction.
April 3, 2016
Access At Long Last: Strands Beach Access Settlement Agreement Affords Ample Public Access
Surfrider Foundation celebrates the resolution of a six-year battle for beach access at Dana Point Strands Beach. The City of Dana Point has been embroiled in litigation with Surfrider Foundation and the California Coastal Commission since 2010. The recent Settlement Agreement between the City and the Coastal Commission lifts the restrictive beach access hours and demands unrestricted accessways throughout the property. The Settlement Agreement has been signed by the City, but will have to be approved by the Coastal Commission at the April meeting before it is signed by Jack Ainsworth, acting Executive Director of the Coastal Commission.
March 29, 2016
State Parks: making the Sonoma Coast Beaches harder to access?
California State Parks is proposing new $8 dollar access fees for Sonoma Coast beaches that have historically been free. Beaches being considered for fees include all parking lots at Bodega Head, Shell Beach, Goat Rock and Stump Beach, all of which have only gravel parking lots with no amenities save pit toilets.
March 29, 2016
Community Unity: taking a stand against desal
It was here on March 22, with the gathering and support of community members and organizations, that the Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously approved its letter of opposition to the West Basin Ocean Water Desalination Project. With this, Hermosa Beach joins the ranks of Manhattan Beach in taking a stance against the project.
March 21, 2016
March 2016 Coastal Commission Hearing: a summary
A month after the Commission disregarded the input of thousands of Californians to fire Executive Director Charles Lester, tensions from that decision continued to run high. As mentioned in an earlier post, social justice, education and environmental advocates held a press conference calling for more transparency and formal inclusion in the upcoming hiring process. Behind them, a contingent of protesters from Venice waved signs accusing Commissioners of attempting to sell off California’s coast.
March 1, 2016
March Coastal Commission Hearing Press Conference
The next California Coastal Commission hearing is the first since seven of the 12 Commissioners voted, in a widely criticized move, to terminate former Executive Director Charles Lester. As expected, agenda items include the appointing of an interim Acting Executive Director and discussion of the hiring process for a new Executive Director.
February 17, 2016
Feb 2016 Coastal Commission Hearing Follow up
To everyone who wrote in, spoke up, spread the word and/or attended the Coastal Commission hearing in Morro Bay to support the Coastal Act, to demand a transparent and responsible Commission, to fight to protect California’s coast: Thank you.
January 20, 2016
2015 Annual Coastal Commission Vote Chart: A Summary
For over 20 years, coastal advocates have been producing an annual vote chart of the state’s most powerful land use agency – the California Coastal Commission. Coastal Commissioners and staff are tasked with upholding the primary mandate of the California Coastal Act of 1976: to permanently protect the California coast, our “distinct and valuable natural resource of vital and enduring interest to all people and exists as a delicately balanced ecosystem.”
January 14, 2016
The Verde Paper
“I think Latinos are very much misunderstood because there are a lot of stereotypes and perceptions about who we are what we believe in, what we do and what we don’t do when it comes to the healing of la Madre Tierra.” – Irma Muñoz, Mujeres de la Tierra
December 31, 2015
Coastal communities should adopt ‘managed retreat’
Heavy rain, high winds and giant surf have been roaring in off the Pacific Ocean in recent weeks as this year’s El Niño has begun. Along our beaches, from Pacifica north to Ocean Beach, a new cycle of coastal erosion is under way. In some locations, this means a threat to beachside homes, businesses and infrastructure.
December 30, 2015
Desalination: issues for consideration and informational resources
There are numerous proposals to build desalination facilities along California's coast and a 50 million gallon per day facility began operating in Carlsbad, California in December 2015. Desalination (desal) facilities have also been proposed in several other states including Texas and Hawaii and a facility has been built in Tampa, Florida.
November 30, 2015
Responsible Beach Events: a framework
The Surfrider Foundation was founded by and is made up of people that love the coast – the beaches, ocean, and waves. Thus Surfrider understands and supports time spent along the coast and in the water, whether for some solo time or with a group of like-minded beach-lovers. A primary function of Surfrider is preserving citizens’ right of access.
November 20, 2015
Under New Law, California Should Engage Key Experts and Stakeholders to Assess Oil Transportation Risks Using Best Available Science
Each year, approximately 500 million barrels of oil – 21 billion gallons – transit California’s coastline via oil tankers and other vessels. Transporting such an enormous amount of oil in our marine waters creates an enduring risk of a catastrophic oil spill that could cause devastating harm to our priceless marine resources and thriving coastal economy.
November 18, 2015
SONGS: A hot topic
In October 2015 the California Coastal Commission approved an application by Southern California Edison to construct an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS). The purpose of the ISFSI is to safely store spent nuclear fuel assemblies until the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approves transfer to a permitted long-term offsite nuclear waste storage facility. No such facility currently exists.
October 23, 2015
Public Beach Poached for Private Privilege?
The heart of California’s Coastal Act is its requirement that development not interfere with the public’s right to access the beach. Yet, this right is increasingly at risk as private landowners seek to shore up their own properties by building seawalls, revetments, and other structures on top of publicly owned beaches. The result is a loss of beach access statewide that will only get worse as sea levels are predicted to rise. A case in point is Broad Beach in Malibu.
October 16, 2015
Ex Parte: Critical Public Involvement in a Public Process
Stewardship of California’s coast is a public matter and responsibility, in addition to being a legal responsibility of California Coastal Commissioners, Commission staff, and local governments. This shared responsibility is enshrined in the Coastal Act’s strong policy favoring open and impartial decision-making and public participation in the Commission’s deliberations and actions.
September 15, 2015
Wet Sand is Public Sand
Locating wet sand is the easiest way to identify public land on beaches being claimed as private. — Unfortunately, there are some beaches in Malibu where private homeowners have a notorious history of wrongfully keeping beach goers off public beaches; which was most recently the case at Escondido Beach, in Malibu.
August 28, 2015
Parks Now
Both the California Constitution and the Coastal Act guarantee our right to coastal access. While these laws protect our right to beach access, there are many individuals and families who simply lack financial resources and transportation to actually reach the coast.
August 11, 2015
Overnight lodging at the beach …out of reach for most Californians?
Recent articles published by the San Diego Union Tribune and Los Angeles Times preview an important decision before the California Coastal Commission at its meeting on August 13 in San Diego: whether the San Diego Unified Port District has failed to meet a state guarantee of protecting and expanding affordable access to the coast.