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OK, well, welcome everyone. 00:00:00
This is the final meeting of the year. 00:00:05
And if we can have a motion to approve the agenda? 00:00:08
So moved. 00:00:15
All in favor. 00:00:18
Aye opposed. 00:00:19
OK. Does anybody have any announcements? 00:00:26
I should you want to start first. 00:00:32
I'd be happy to chair Myers, but maybe we could start with A roll call vote and then we'll move into the announcement, if you 00:00:34
don't mind. 00:00:38
Commissioner. 00:00:44
Here, Commissioner. 00:00:46
Commissioner walking stick. 00:00:49
Secretary. 00:00:52
Present, Commissioner. 00:00:53
Vice Chair Dunn. 00:00:57
Chair Myers. 00:01:00
Here. 00:01:02
And now I'll launch into the staff. 00:01:14
Starting. 00:01:18
My staff is happy to announce the dissemination of the proposed. 00:01:20
Revisions to Title 12, Trees and the Urban Forest. 00:01:25
This is available to all the NRC members and the public. The easiest way to find it is to go to cityofpg.org/news. 00:01:28
Or search board on the city's. 00:01:37
And there are There's a tracked changes copy and a clean copy of the proposed revisions to the tree ordinance. 00:01:40
And this was part of the larger effort that is in line with the City Council. 00:01:47
Goals Work plan for 2324 to initiate and complete a Citywide tree Improvement and Management plan and this is the first milestone 00:01:53
to complete. 00:01:58
Comprehensive Title 12 revisions and to ultimately have those revisions reviewed by the BNRC, so we're hoping that this will be 00:02:04
the main agenda item for the January meeting. 00:02:09
And the religion see. 00:02:15
Clarify findings for tree removal and trimming to create a more transparent decision making process. 00:02:18
Enhance the replanting. 00:02:26
Update the fee. 00:02:28
Leave AMP the floor process and hopefully streamline and depoliticize the appeal process and make the code more accessible and 00:02:31
navigatable for the public. 00:02:36
So that is all available online for everyone's review between now. 00:02:42
The January meeting and we hope that any public members with input can submit that to by January 19th. 00:02:47
To be included. 00:02:55
January BNRC. 00:02:57
And then kind of along the same lines in the topic of trees, if you want to give a quick update of the monarch sanctuary. 00:02:59
The numbers with from the weekly counts from the museum staff have hovered around 6000 between 5 and 7000. 00:03:06
For the last few weeks, and the Public Works did make the decision to shut the lower section of The Walking path to the public. 00:03:15
There's a large pine tree. 00:03:20
That was known to suffer from Pitch Canker. It's kind of one of a pair of trees that the other of the pair was removed ahead of 00:03:26
the 22 season. 00:03:30
And we kind of watched this tree decline and just in the last couple months rapidly decline where there's. 00:03:34
No visible green foliage in the crown and the tree is just immediately adjacent to the path as large branches that hangover the 00:03:42
path and has a tilt towards the path. So just in an abundance of caution. 00:03:48
For the visiting public, we have shut that section of the path down South, starting at the lower entrance on Grove Anchor up to 00:03:55
the kind of right where the the kind of open bulb of benches and the beginning of the nectar beds. It's shut to public access. 00:04:03
But you can still access from Ridge Rd. At the upper entrance. The bathrooms are still open and where the bulk of the monarchs are 00:04:12
overwintering. 00:04:15
Is a wide open. 00:04:20
That's that. Thank you. 00:04:22
What's the? What's the count? 00:04:24
I believe. 00:04:27
Close to 6000 And if you hold on one second, I'll give you an exact. 00:04:28
As of December 15th, the last count was 5900 and. 00:04:52
And I think 95% of those are on One Pine Tree. 00:04:58
Very close to the path, so if you haven't had a chance. 00:05:02
Highly recommended. 00:05:05
That's good. 00:05:06
Thank you. Do any commissioners have any comments? 00:05:09
Marty Mythologies Excuse me in advance to Mr. Go. I'm going to bring up a subject that he and I have talked about before. It has 00:05:14
to do with St. sweeping. 00:05:19
I continue to be concerned about the. 00:05:26
What I see is the inadequacy of the number of times our streets are getting cleaned. We are blessed to be a tree city. 00:05:31
The downside of that is that we have a lot of needles and leaves in the gutters. 00:05:40
And a lot of that. 00:05:46
Snagging the. 00:05:48
The the sewer drains. 00:05:52
Some of it ends up in the Bay. You can see a clumped at lovers point and then plastic residue catches in it. 00:05:55
And it all ends up in the ocean. And I went by today one of my favorite watering holes. 00:06:02
At the corner of 17 Mile Drive and. 00:06:09
And somebody continues to scoop that out by hand. 00:06:13
Otherwise it would be incredibly backed up. As it was last year. I took a picture. 00:06:18
But as I understand it, we have a the city does not own the street cleaning equipment. It's a contract job out. 00:06:23
But I I really believe that if we were able. 00:06:31
The same old story. Find some. 00:06:36
To increase the number of the sweeps this our streets get that it would improve the the health of the Bay. Thank you. 00:06:38
A few critics? Anyone else? 00:06:49
Yeah, we just wrapped up the Sea Watch Seabird Census and now we're upon Audubon Christmas bird count reminder, I don't know if 00:06:56
you all. 00:07:01
Know about that, but it is a bird census across the country. 00:07:07
In this area we have a few. The one closest is. 00:07:12
The Monterey Bay on December 27th, and for new birders, Amanda Priest will be doing. 00:07:18
Beginners. 00:07:25
Christmas bird count at a sale, Lamar. That morning. So good citizen science. 00:07:27
I'm sorry, what was the second one? 00:07:34
The the Audubon. 00:07:36
Audubon Christmas Bird. 00:07:38
27th of December. 00:07:41
Yeah. 00:07:43
OK, moving on. 00:07:51
This Council. 00:07:54
Yeah. Thank you. 00:07:59
I want to look so forget about. 00:08:00
I don't know if it's appropriate, but I wanted to invite Jennifer Gorman to be on the Tree subcommittee. 00:08:03
We're going to be talking about that later. This is the end because this is the end of the year. We're going to be re establishing 00:08:12
the subcommittees. In fact, I I wanted to say a few words about that so we can get a jump on it. 00:08:19
And then I attended a online relief RLRELEAF meeting. 00:08:28
And the topic was. 00:08:36
Schools being involved and I thought that was so appropriate because the city manager at the last council meeting. 00:08:38
Said he was reaching out to the schools to establish a relationship. 00:08:46
The city and and the school district and the first part of the meeting I'm happy to forward to anyone who's interested was. 00:08:51
Videotape for the first time. And that was an excellent presentation, but it was that was a presentation. And when you got down to 00:08:59
the nitty gritty of what's it like to go before a school board, well, what's it like to go into a teacher's classroom? And how do 00:09:05
you advocate for funding? 00:09:10
And. 00:09:16
Each specific games and things you can do with the children. 00:09:20
All that part they didn't want to intimidate people from discussing, so they didn't record it, but hopefully they will next time. 00:09:26
Really, really good ideas I took. 00:09:30
Really good notes and it was for all ages, everything from first grade through high school and there are so many resources out 00:09:35
there. 00:09:41
It would be such a wonderful thing to invol. 00:09:47
Our school children in what we. 00:09:51
And like I noticed that our arborists involved Trinity High School recently in a tree planting and that would be so excellent to 00:09:54
actually involve our. 00:09:59
Our residents. 00:10:05
And then the second announcement I had was. 00:10:07
About it issues here. 00:10:13
I had a. 00:10:16
First, I noticed it was just getting more and more difficult to access like our videos on our page. Like you had to go through. I 00:10:19
wouldn't say difficult, but more steps to get there. And so I had a discussion with Dara Sanders and she said, Oh yeah, a lot of 00:10:24
the cities that I work. 00:10:29
With when they start expanding their IT program and trying to to to. 00:10:35
Better their. 00:10:42
They layer it and I wasn't familiar with this concept of layering and when you layer it to make it effective for the the 00:10:45
programmers and the people during the work, a lot of times that public access aspect is made a little more challenging and so I 00:10:51
just wanted to put it out there. 00:10:57
Maybe as a potential agenda item to recommend to council to. 00:11:04
Ask the IT people to. 00:11:11
Make it. 00:11:14
For the public, because we want to encourage people to get involved, we want to encourage people to become part of the city 00:11:16
government. We don't want to do anything to discourage that and. 00:11:21
I'm not sure I'd be able to really readily figure out how to go listen to a video of our meeting today. 00:11:27
If I if I if I started with how it is? 00:11:34
OK. And then. 00:11:39
I did. I did want to see. George, thank you so much for that announcement about the. 00:11:42
Title 12 revisions. Those revisions sound excellent. I haven't had time to look at them yet, but. 00:11:47
What you said sounds spot on to me about what needs to be revised and. 00:11:52
You know, with that in mind, I did want to announce that. 00:12:03
At 675 pine, there are three trees being taken. 00:12:08
Or. 00:12:12
And with regards to the revisions of the Title 12, I think they provide a lot of food. 00:12:17
For thought about those revisions. So one thing is that the money's coming from the owner. 00:12:26
Another thing is just native versus non-native. 00:12:34
Supposedly they're given the OK to come down because they're non-native, but they're also over 6 inches and that's protected by 00:12:38
Muni code. 00:12:42
There's the issue of what do you do when a sidewalk cracks? How do you prevent sidewalks from cracking? 00:12:48
There's so much here additionally. 00:12:55
Again, this going back to this IT issue of public access to information. 00:13:02
How do we, how how could we have accessed online immediately the Arborist report? So all of this I I hope we will certainly be 00:13:10
recommending using this as an example to recommend for the title 12 revisions, but. 00:13:17
I I hope people will start thinking about it now. 00:13:25
Because that's in January and it's only one meeting, Secretary Lee. Perhaps these thoughts are best held and kind of pondered by 00:13:28
everyone and then on a discussed as an agendaized item in January as opposed to at this venue as an announcement. 00:13:37
Is that the January meeting is really going to get in depth with with the the report that's coming, the changes that are being 00:13:46
made. 00:13:49
And I would suggest that we talk about it. OK, just one more sentence. And that sentence is? 00:13:53
I'd like you to walk through the streets and encourage envisioning how you want it to look. Because when you start looking at the 00:14:00
Title 12 for Visions, you get in your head, you get intellectual, you start. You know all that. And just to like, what do I want 00:14:05
my town to look like as best? 00:14:10
Thank you. 00:14:18
Wonderful. 00:14:21
I just wanted to, I kind of made a reference to it. So this is the final meeting of the year at the beginning. Next month we will 00:14:23
be starting all over with 2024 goals. 00:14:30
New subcommittees, new subcommittee assignments. 00:14:37
So if everybody can be thinking about how they'd like to change the goals, add, add some goals, delete some goals, modify them. 00:14:41
And and same with the subcommittees. Do we want to increase the number of subcommittees? Do we want to change, you know, change 00:14:50
them, delete them? 00:14:55
If you. 00:15:02
Send your thoughts and preferences as to also to which subcommittees you'd like to be on. 00:15:03
To me in the next month. 00:15:10
Then we'll get a, we'll get a head start and hopefully we can get those wrapped up and finalized in the January meeting. 00:15:12
So it may take a little bit longer, but hopefully not like to hit the ground running. 00:15:21
OK, council liaison announce. 00:15:27
Council Member Co. 00:15:32
Good afternoon, Chair Myers and members of the BNRC. 00:15:34
I like you. 00:15:38
We're kind of at our last meeting, which will be tomorrow. 00:15:41
But things are winding down. 00:15:45
But there are a couple of things worth mentioning on tomorrow night's agenda. 00:15:47
One of them being consideration of the proposed Chinese pavilion project in Elmira **** Park. 00:15:52
And then also. 00:16:00
A special shout out regarding Rocky Pinero's retirement The mayor will be having a proclamation honoring Rocky. 00:16:02
And as many contributions to the city. 00:16:13
He certainly participated in a supporting local events. 00:16:15
Keeping our downtown and the rest of the. 00:16:21
In shape and he will be sorely missed. I've known him since I was a child, so. 00:16:24
Goodman and he will be missed. 00:16:30
Also, just a reminder that the Mayor and the City Clerk are accepting applications for our city boards, committees and 00:16:33
commissions. 00:16:37
So if you have anyone or know of anyone that might be interested. 00:16:42
Please direct them to the city. 00:16:46
For the mayor, have a good meeting. Thank you. 00:16:48
Thank you. 00:16:52
OK, now we'll open it up to general public. 00:16:55
We have two hands raised in the virtual audience. 00:17:05
We'll start with Inga, Lawrence and D. 00:17:09
Thank you. I'm going to first say Chair Myers, if you turn your head and don't speak directly into your mic, I really can't hear 00:17:14
you. So I would appreciate it because they are unidirectional mics. Thank you. And then I wanted to speak to Commissioner Dunn's. 00:17:24
Comment about the street sweeping because I find it incredibly useless. 00:17:34
And what it actually does is they go barreling down the middle of the street in our narrow streets and cars of course there, but 00:17:42
they don't ever clean the gutters. They just push anything that might be leftover from the wind in the middle of the street into 00:17:50
the gutters and yes, into our storm drains. And I don't think it's really a matter of. 00:17:58
Pushing more money at them because their contract is huge already. 00:18:06
It's just the way they go about it and what seems to be considered OK and I don't think it's OK. 00:18:11
So thank you very much. 00:18:20
Thank you. 00:18:24
And we also have a hand raised from Lisa. 00:18:27
Thank you. I wrote to you a few hours ago about lack of transparency and neglect of stewardship regarding PG's natural resources, 00:18:32
specifically regarding tree removal. The plan to remove three city trees, including beautiful red flowering eucalyptus on Pine 00:18:40
Ave. at Congress is a huge concern. This species can bloom profusely throughout the year. It's not native, but a marvelous 00:18:47
pollinator species that's planted on both sides of the street along pine. 00:18:55
We need more of them, not fewer. We need increased canopy, not reduced canopy. 00:19:03
I don't live on pine and I didn't see the notice driving by. It would have cost a citizen $225.00 to appeal Public Works plan. 00:19:09
Checking Public Works free permit website, I learned that Public Works didn't provide a permit application documenting any 00:19:16
justification for removing the trees. Posting the permit application has been standard practice. Proper notice was not provided. 00:19:24
Apparently the trees are being removed due to damage to the sidewalk. 00:19:31
There appear to be far better alternatives than removing 3 trees. 00:19:39
I've only just had a chance to read quickly the arborist report. It does not address potential alternatives. 00:19:43
Did Public Works or the Arborist read the city's 2012 Urban Forestry Standards document? It can be found on the Public Works 00:19:50
website, although it requires A convoluted series of steps for the public to find it. The document explains how to deal with 00:19:56
sidewalk damage without removing trees. 00:20:02
Rebecca Lee provided additional recommendations from experts for responding to tree root conflicts with sidewalks when the Elm 00:20:08
Tree and Jewell Park was under discussion. 00:20:12
Preserving our tree canopy is more important than ever as we experience the impacts of climate change. I request that you consider 00:20:17
a policy or ordinance that adds a step in the tree permit process for Public Works to submit to the BNRC all tree removal permits, 00:20:25
including supporting information prior to public posting, giving BNRC the authority to call up permits that raise concerns. Any 00:20:33
BNRC member or subcommittee could place the item on the BNRC agenda following public posting. 00:20:41
Or there should be a requirement that the posted notice provide electronic access information to the permit application and any 00:20:50
supporting documents about the permit. The notice in question refers a person to call or e-mail Albert Weisface, the very busy 00:20:57
City Arborist. An appeal fee should be eliminated for public trees and for any tree removal called up by BNRC. My suggestion is 00:21:04
conceptual and details would need to be worked out of course. 00:21:11
And I assume you will. 00:21:19
But well, you'll be obviously talking about the tree. 00:21:21
I'm sorry, ordinance updates. 00:21:28
Next month, but please agenda, Agenda is this topic. 00:21:31
Thank you. 00:21:36
We have no further int. 00:21:40
Thank you. 00:21:45
OK, so we have a motion to approve the minutes. 00:21:49
2nd. 00:21:59
All in favor. 00:22:01
Any opposed? 00:22:03
Motion passes. 00:22:06
OK, next for our regular agenda. 00:22:16
The BNRC has representatives on the Climate Action Adaptation Planning Subcommittee. 00:22:20
We have three slots, two of which now are vacant with the departure of Megan McKenna and Claudia Tibbs. 00:22:28
So I. 00:22:37
We need, we need to nominate. 00:22:40
Did you? I don't know if you had anything that you wanted. 00:22:42
Chair Myers I do not have a presentation. 00:22:47
That sums it up nicely. 00:22:51
This meeting is scheduled for the middle of February. 00:22:55
It meets. 00:22:59
Generally. 00:23:00
I would. 00:23:03
To nom. 00:23:06
Kathy Wooten, because this is an agenda as item, perhaps we could open it to public comment. OK, before we move to that set. 00:23:08
That's good. 00:23:12
We had a one hand raised, Miss Lisa. Johnny. 00:23:22
Thank you. So I'm really glad to see this agenda item and I don't know if this is what's been holding things up so that we haven't 00:23:26
had as many meetings as you know the very. 00:23:33
Charged up. 00:23:41
Subcommittee or committee? 00:23:45
Is ready for it. They really wanted to move along and there have been very few meetings so. 00:23:49
I I, I look forward to having new members. 00:23:59
New enthusiastic members on that wonderful sub sub. 00:24:04
Thank you. 00:24:09
No further hands raised. 00:24:12
Thank you. 00:24:14
Does anyone does anyone have anything that they? 00:24:17
ADD I just wanted to say I really appreciated Colleen Ingram's letter and her suggestion to do this like. 00:24:21
Like the wildlife subcommittee was done so that it it is a term and it goes fast and so you you can achieve more in a shorter 00:24:30
period of time. 00:24:35
So, but I'm not going to be on the subcommittee, so someone else is going to have to take that idea up. 00:24:43
So I I. 00:24:56
To recommend. 00:24:58
Jennifer Gordon Foreman and Kathy. 00:25:01
But I'm certainly we can certainly talk about anybody that wants to be on. 00:25:06
Sub. 00:25:13
Be great. 00:25:15
Marty's interested. 00:25:18
We have two two openings. 00:25:25
So. 00:25:27
Well, you nobody's voted on anything, so I just would like to know who's, who's interested. I talked to you. You're not so. 00:25:30
So let's do it. I would move that Kathy wouldn't be. 00:25:42
Nominated to be on the climate action. 00:25:48
Plan. 00:25:51
All in favor. 00:25:55
Any. 00:25:58
Motion passes. 00:26:00
OK, Next I would recommend that Jennifer Gorman be. 00:26:03
Nominated to be on the Climate Action Subcommittee. 00:26:11
All in favor. 00:26:20
Aye, aye. 00:26:21
Any. 00:26:23
Motion passes. 00:26:27
Thank you. 00:26:29
Hey. 00:26:37
Really the last thing to that we have on the agenda tonight is the coastal wildlife protection measures. This is in follow up to. 00:26:39
The presentations that we had last month which were fabulous. 00:26:51
I know. I think, George, you have a PowerPoint and Andre. 00:26:57
A submitted 1. 00:27:01
Yes, if you can bear with me while I. 00:27:06
So a very brief slideshow just to lay out the kind of groundwork of where we're at now as far as coastal signage near Hopkins 00:27:33
Beach. And I know that this agenda item covers a lot more. 00:27:39
Coastal signage at Hopkins Beach, but I know that, but I understand this to be the focus. So I just wanted to kind of get us all 00:27:46
on the same page on where we are now as far as coastal signage and I know that. 00:27:51
Commissioner Person also has prepared a presentation, so I don't know if we want to have a discussion following this or go right 00:27:58
into her presentation, but I'll start with this. 00:28:01
The area in question. 00:28:07
Here is an aerial view Hopkins Beach next to the Hopkins Marine Station. 00:28:10
And kind of working its way over to about 8th St. and Berwick Park. 00:28:14
The semi currently I think that's about 2014 A rec Rex the following signs. 00:28:24
Of two varieties, about 30 signs. 00:28:32
And they go up seasonally. 00:28:34
With the Lattice Fencing. 00:28:36
And so they're installed with approximately 270 feet of temporary lattice fencing. They're erected at the beginning of pumping 00:28:43
season, approximately March, but very varying year to year and they up. 00:28:49
Until May 31st. 00:28:55
And with the 30 signs just under 300 feet, that's about a sign every 10 feet. 00:28:57
A permanent sign that we have. It can be seen right here. 00:29:07
And if you kind of follow the arrow. 00:29:10
Just asked Berwick. So very close to 8th St. at a little turn out to anybody walking on a path could just step aside from the path 00:29:13
and take a look at that sign right there and you can see that sign is all about. 00:29:20
Rubber seals. There's quite a bit of information, very nice interpretive pictures. 00:29:26
Shows kind of their. 00:29:31
And also. 00:29:33
Information on what to do. 00:29:35
Wildlife disturbances or abandoned or sick wildlife and also includes. 00:29:38
Warnings against drone use and. 00:29:43
And here's a view of that same sign from the path, so you can see Hopkins in the distance. 00:29:48
And there's. 00:29:53
All right, walking down the path, here's a smaller sign that is just. 00:29:56
I don't know, 30 or 40 feet down the way and this includes a QR code that links to the cities. 00:30:01
Phone based app. 00:30:08
Walking. 00:30:10
And that walking tour includes a stop all about Hopkins Beach, so it has information about the harbor seals. 00:30:12
And information on what tourists can do to help the harbor. 00:30:17
And here's a view of that. 00:30:23
From the bath, you can see it's right. It's a smaller sign. It's on a post. I think it's one of the whole series of these walking 00:30:25
tour prompts that suggest people scan QR code, bring up The Walking tour on their phones, and then. 00:30:32
Learn about our. 00:30:39
Walking further along towards Hopkins. 00:30:41
Here's another kind of a larger maybe. 00:30:44
The size of four of these approximately. 00:30:47
Sign titled Conserving California's Coastal Treasures. You can see it includes some information on harbor seals. 00:30:50
And also there's mostly focused on the different protected areas. 00:30:57
Of the. 00:31:00
And you can see the arrow, that sign is just a little further down on another turn out with a bench right there near the beginning 00:31:03
of the gated area of Hopkins. 00:31:08
And then just just past that sign you. 00:31:14
Hopkins pronunciation signs to stay off their property and then just a little further down from there. 00:31:18
You have the kind of generic warning that. 00:31:24
Climbing on the rocks and swimming is not safe. 00:31:27
And then looking. This is a ways down, walking towards the aquarium and looking back. 00:31:31
You can see there's not a lot of sign there's not signage up on for the most of the fence line. 00:31:37
Immediately adjacent to the. 00:31:42
Bing Beach and then you can see the Welcome to Pacific Grove sign on the left there. 00:31:46
So that is kind of the summary of signs in this general area. 00:31:54
Thank you. That was. 00:32:00
Do you want to have a? Do you want to have any discussion on that? Or I think maybe we have Andre's presentation 1st and then we 00:32:05
can discuss it all? 00:32:09
Would you like Andres presentation? 00:32:17
Thank you. 00:32:21
That was super. 00:32:23
And much nicer photos on PowerPoint than mine. 00:32:26
I don't know. 00:33:16
That in presentation screen. Oh, maybe it is OK. Thank you so much. OK, so. 00:33:19
We're going to speak about the harbor seal Rookery primarily at Hopkins Beach tonight. I really wanted to. 00:33:27
Kind of summarize what we've heard I think at BNRC for the last year, speakers coming in with concerns, people sending in letters 00:33:35
and summarize that especially for our new people. 00:33:42
At BNRC. 00:33:48
Next slide please. Thank you. 00:33:50
OK, so a bit about our harbor seals. They are resident icons. 00:33:52
They do promote ecotourism. People come from all around the world, all around the country to see these animals. 00:33:57
They bring in a lot of tourist dollars because people do come to the fence to see them. Some have never seen harbor seals. 00:34:07
Some have never seen the Pacific Ocean. 00:34:14
And after watching these sales for hours and learning about them, they do get hungry. And so we do send them off seal monitors and 00:34:17
Bay net over downtown to the restaurants and shops. 00:34:23
So again, they do bring in a lot of tourist dollars. 00:34:30
I would say they are highly educational on. 00:34:34
You can see their annual life cycle. 00:34:38
Right there, which I cannot tell you as a biologist how amazing that is to have this Rookery. So I'm going to go through that a 00:34:41
little bit on the next slide, but I will also say that they're scenic. 00:34:47
We can go back to that side scenic and also very charismatic. I think it would be a very different beach without. 00:34:54
These seals on it. 00:35:01
OK. So we're going to talk a bit about annual energetic demands and their annual cycle. So effectively we're going to talk about a 00:35:06
female harbor. 00:35:11
So right now we're in December, getting into January. Our females are in their last trimester, so a really critical time for them. 00:35:16
They will begin popping. Peak is April, primarily from February, end of February into May, another critical time for them. 00:35:25
There's a lot of maternal care that goes into these pups. Those females stay with them. 00:35:38
Four to six weeks, they. 00:35:44
They're lactating. They're they're feeding these pups four to six weeks. And the pups get bigger, the females get smaller. The 00:35:48
females are basically not eating. 00:35:53
They are out teaching these pups to. 00:35:58
At about four to six weeks, weaning takes place where the. 00:36:02
Uh, moms effectively have to go back to the sea. They need to start eating again. So it's a, it's a it's really survival for them. 00:36:07
So they will wean the pups at that time. 00:36:12
Effectively when they when they wean and go back into the ocean to feed they made. 00:36:19
They have a nine month gestation, but we could say maybe a 10 month gestation period because of delayed implantation and that is 00:36:26
where the egg will be fertilized, but it'll float around and it will not attach. 00:36:33
To the uterine wall. And so basically that gives this female about a month's time to kind of regroup. 00:36:41
And put her fat back on before she starts the process all over again. 00:36:49
So while she is pregnant, she then will molt on the beaches on Hopkins Beach in the summertime. So if you look at these this 00:36:55
photo. 00:36:59
You'll see a pup and you'll see a mom next to it. The mom, of course, being the larger animal on that code, is kind of dingy. 00:37:06
She's been wearing that coat for a year. She is going to have a sparkling, silvery pellage just like that pop next to her, but 00:37:11
that will take. 00:37:17
Energetic demands and she will be on the beach shedding that skin and creating this beautiful. 00:37:24
Silvery. 00:37:32
Next slide please. 00:37:34
So annual energetic needs are really pretty basic. They need food, they need a safe, quiet habitat and they need sleep. So the 00:37:37
seals really must haul out on land to ensure survival and reproduction. 00:37:44
Next slide. 00:37:51
So threats will go through them rather quickly. I've highlighted disturbance and harassment because I think that's really 00:37:55
something that we have some control over in Pacific Grove. 00:38:00
So threats, disturbance, harassment, declining beach sites. So habitat loss. 00:38:06
And they have R1 Beach, Hopkins Beach and Pacific. 00:38:13
Declining fish stocks? That's happening all over the planet. Declining fish stocks, disease, predation are natural threats to 00:38:17
these animals, but threats nonetheless. 00:38:24
Fishing gear. These animals can get caught in fishing gear and drown. 00:38:31
We have seen them at Hopkins with Hook. 00:38:36
In their mouths. Hooks on their faces, hooks on their. 00:38:39
Dragging fishing line climate change of course a global threat to these animals and that will. 00:38:44
Again. 00:38:53
Further decline beach sites and fisheries. 00:38:54
Next slide please. 00:38:59
So disturbance and harassment. Disturbance is direct or indirect. It can come from land, air and sea. It does include noise, 00:39:03
motion and approach. I will say these animals are very skittish, unlike our sea lions. 00:39:10
Our sea lions, you can make noise around them. These animals will flush, They will abandoned sites. They will abandoned pups with 00:39:18
noise. 00:39:23
Also a reminder, seals are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. So I do think it is incumbent upon us to be 00:39:29
doing all that we can for these animals And again, disturbance is a threat we have some control over. 00:39:37
OK, so here's our coastal. 00:39:49
I'm beyond recognition in some spots, so on the left, as George mentioned before, you can see Hopkins there and really no signs. 00:39:51
Along the. 00:40:02
Or really along the path on the right you see. 00:40:04
Probably popping season crowds, heavy crowds. I see blue bayonet jackets in there, which would be. 00:40:09
UMM volunteers advising, educating the public and probably doing some cloud control. 00:40:19
Keeping people quiet. 00:40:25
Again, we really don't have any permanent signs. 00:40:29
Coastal Trail. 00:40:33
Next slide. 00:40:34
OK. So briefly some recent studies of Hopkins that have. 00:40:37
Brought to our attention this year from some grad students, noise does alter seal behavior, increases risk of miscarriage. 00:40:41
Six fold and results in significant reproductive decline. 00:40:50
We did. 00:40:56
Reproductive success rates fall in from 2021 to 2022. 00:40:58
That was attributed to some road construction during puffing season. 00:41:06
And then Ryan, last month, Ryan O'Connor gave a wonderful presentation showing an overall decline in our Rookery. 00:41:11
Next slide please. 00:41:22
OK, so some city responses to students to seal disturbance I think have been really positive. Public Works does put up fencing and 00:41:25
signs at that 5th St. overflow during pupping season and City Council unanimously passed. 00:41:32
Road work restrictions during harbor seal pumping Season following. 00:41:41
The road construction in spring of 2022. 00:41:45
Next slide. 00:41:51
OK, so some recommendations. I would recommend year round signs for a year round Rookery in addition to signs during the pupping 00:41:54
season. I really liked this sign that I found. It is for endangered lung seals in Hawaii. 00:42:02
And I really liked it because it is a nice silhouette. I think especially for bike riders coming down the trail who are passing 00:42:11
very quickly, this kind of gives the brain. 00:42:17
An image and a quiet place, so I think it's a really nice sign that I think we could maybe work from. 00:42:23
Next slide. 00:42:31
OK, so some placement recommendations would be Hopkins area year round? 00:42:32
2 quiet sales signs along the bike path from both directions I think would be ideal. They could be somewhat low to the ground. 00:42:38
They don't have to be tall. 00:42:43
Maybe two to three signs on the fence, or potentially 2 signs lower to the ground. 00:42:49
In that vicinity, but a little bit away from the fence, so people are not climbing on the signs onto the fence. 00:42:57
5th St. during pupping season. I also think it'd be great to have some of these quiet still signs along the bike path from both 00:43:04
directions and some on the fence. 00:43:08
Next slide. 00:43:13
OK, so recommendations would be recommending the city place permanent year round signs in the Hopkins Coastal Trail area. Consider 00:43:16
additional signage of Hopkins and 5th St. during popping season and consult with Nic for final style and placement of signs. 00:43:25
Next slide please. I think with that we. 00:43:34
Wrapped up for potential. 00:43:37
Thank you. 00:43:40
That was great. I mean, I agree with everything. 00:43:56
The only thing I would say is, if you don't mind a suggestion to open up, open up the floor for public comment. We have some hands 00:43:59
raised. Sorry. 00:44:04
And also just a gentle reminder to everybody in the public end on the Dyess just to speak directly into the microphone for the 00:44:12
benefit of the virtual audience and the recording. Thank you. 00:44:17
Part of the SEAL team, so I want to thank you for bringing this forward. It is so needed and long overdue. 00:44:33
You know, I've been watching the Seals really since 2010 and my husband for about 20 years, and it didn't used to be such a big 00:44:42
deal in the past. I mean, we did have disturbances here and there and things would happen. And then there's the general. 00:44:50
Construction, which is one of the highest, but we didn't really have the kind of noise that we now have that came during the 00:44:58
pandemic and it never stopped. 00:45:04
And the wreck trail got a lot more rowdy. 00:45:10
And the noise, the sounds of radios just went way up. And that has become a huge problem for the harbor seals. 00:45:12
The racing cars that go up and down that street and revving motorcycles have also caused a huge disturbance. It was the number one 00:45:21
disturbance in November. 00:45:26
We saw 139 disturbances and number one were the cars that were revving their engines going by. 00:45:32
Number two were the human disturbances, So people at the fence line may be talking loud on their cell phones using the speaker 00:45:40
versus putting it to their head. 00:45:45
Or making noises, or ringing the bells from the bikes. Or just screaming at the side of Scene Harbor seals. You know kids can't 00:45:50
control themselves. 00:45:54
Maybe they're climbing the fence, but all of these things have dramatically increased since the pandemic, and it's become a real 00:45:59
problem. 00:46:03
So thank you for bringing this forward. Yes, our harbor seals need to sleep. They are nocturnal. And you know, as docents were out 00:46:08
there telling people this all the time, we do all the educating we can and at some point that is not enough. We need signage. So 00:46:16
people who have told us repeatedly come here to visit or why are there no signs here telling us to be quiet? 00:46:25
Then we can at least point to the. 00:46:33
Doesn't mean they're going to listen to it, but at least it's there and a lot of people will. A lot of people. 00:46:36
You don't want to know that they're not harming the seals, so let's give them that opportunity. 00:46:42
These guys, you know are known worldwide now. We should be proud to have a colony of seals that have a lot of fans. They're over 00:46:48
14,000. On their Facebook page we have people traveling from England, Ireland, Scotland. We've even had people from Russia. People 00:46:55
in England come regularly and we're in contact with them. That's the Cornwall seal people. So we do meet with them online and have 00:47:03
meetings back and forth with England. 00:47:10
So our seals are very popular. We are one of the few places in the Monterey Bay that have this large of a colony that's in a 00:47:19
location that people can see and not disturb. We just need to help them know how not to do that. 00:47:26
I think we owe it to the Seals. They give us a lot. So thank you for bringing this forward. 00:47:35
And any help you need were there to help you guys. 00:47:40
Thank you. 00:47:45
Hello, my name is Tricia Bennett. 00:47:52
Kim asked me to speak today because I'm a docent at Point Lopez. 00:47:56
And I'm the Harbour Seal Pup Watch Advocate at Point Lobos. 00:48:00
Our problems are not nearly as severe as yours, are disturbance problems simply because we are a reserve, a nature reserve, and 00:48:08
there's a certain. 00:48:12
Behaviour that's expected in the reserve and we have a lot of docents out and about keeping an eye on things. 00:48:17
We have 4 rookeries, harbour seal rookeries at Point Lobos. We don't have any signage up. 00:48:24
During the year, except during popping season from mid March to the end of May. 00:48:33
We don't really need signage, as I say, because we have a lot of docents out and about, keeping an eye on things, but the critical 00:48:39
time, as everybody knows, is popping season. 00:48:44
So Kim asked me to just talk about the science that we use during popping season. 00:48:49
In front of the rookeries themselves. I don't know if I should just hold this up or pass it around. 00:48:55
We have eye level signs that say quiet please and with a little bit of exclamation explanation as to why it's important to keep 00:49:01
quiet. 00:49:06
There's fairly effective, not 100% effective, but they do help. 00:49:12
I personally think we should actually reduce the wording on this sign because people don't really stop to read. The whole thing is 00:49:17
the quiet please one. That's the really important and the reason why. 00:49:23
Last popping season, so we introduced some other. 00:49:29
And this really made a huge. 00:49:34
This one right here. 00:49:37
First of all, the color. 00:49:39
Is quite striking. They're not State parks colours, but I got away with this somehow. 00:49:42
And there's a camera from the back of the room, if you don't mind showing the virtual audience. That's that's perfect. Thank you. 00:49:48
That's OK. Yeah. 00:49:52
So as you can see the lettering is an orange and it contrasts with the with the blue and it says you are approaching a harbor seal 00:49:55
birthing site. 00:50:00
And we found this made a huge difference. It really attracted people's attention. 00:50:05
And then by the time they got to the birthing site, they were they understood it was important to keep quiet. 00:50:10
Just a word on education. I do find I do a lot of training and a lot of explaining to the public. We do find that once people 00:50:18
understand why it's so important to keep quiet around the babies. 00:50:24
They really are on your side. 00:50:30
And they have, honestly, whisper quiet. It's absolutely fantastic. 00:50:32
So the signs do work. 00:50:37
Thank you. 00:50:39
Thank you. 00:50:41
Hi, I'm Tom Aikman, as I think most of you know. Andre, thank you. I'll not argue with the thing you said, but I'll. 00:50:47
Try to put a little depth into it. I've been a dozen down at the shoreline for 20 years. 00:50:57
And in that. 00:51:02
And put in a lot of hours. 00:51:04
But I've talked to more than 60,000 people face to. 00:51:06
The conversation has changed dramatically over 20 years. 00:51:10
In the beginning, 20 years ago, I would go down to do a bayonet shift. 00:51:15
And it was fairly slow. 00:51:19
And I would make myself stay until I talked to at least 20 people, and that would be two or three hours usually. And by then I 00:51:22
heard that's enough. 00:51:26
Report on SO I. 00:51:31
These days there will be 3 or 4 docents at the same. 00:51:34
And we'll all click 80 to 100 folks before our legs get out and we go. 00:51:38
It's a mob scene now. It has been growing over the years for a lot of reasons. One of the reasons is M started the Facebook page. 00:51:43
13 years. 00:51:54
And it has 14,000 followers. A lot of them are local, a lot of them are tourists, but it draws a lot of attention and clowns 00:51:56
always draw crowns. 00:52:00
But with the pandemic, we got mobs, we got a different kind of tourist, and we've always had, and we get rowdier and it's noisier, 00:52:04
and the electric bikes zipping down the path and trying to bowl people over haven't added to it. So my conversations these days 00:52:11
usually start off in some way to try to quiet things. 00:52:18
One of the first things I usually say to people that if you don't know, they're sleeping in the daytime and that's why they're not 00:52:26
sick, they're not dead, they're resting and we need to be quiet about. 00:52:32
I would welcome sign. 00:52:39
Over the years I like everybody else. I don't want to over sign the shoreline. I don't want to ruin the view. 00:52:41
But as time has gone by, I. 00:52:48
The text on the signs that the studio uses, we did that, I wrote that some years ago and the Coast Commission approved them and 00:52:51
blah blah blah, but. 00:52:56
We have, I will not divide signs now because when we had a few people going by, they may or may not have been that important when 00:53:01
you have the mobs we have now going. 00:53:07
If 20% of the books passing or approaching, see the signs and follow them. 00:53:13
That's a big. 00:53:20
And I would. I don't want to over. 00:53:22
Overlook the need for assigned to point Pinos or lovers Point, but in the Hopkins area I know and you know. 00:53:25
That we have thousands of people at a time down there during the pumping season. 00:53:32
And anything we can do to help draw attention to the need to be quiet. And it isn't just I don't want a complex sign. I want the 00:53:37
fewest words we can have and maybe just a sign to say quiet please or a quiet zone or, you know. 00:53:45
Sealed, sleeping up, sleeping, whatever, be fine, thank you. 00:53:53
Thank you. 00:53:59
Thank you Day and our three speakers. And we do have 3 Sandra's in the virtual audience. Sorry I gotta look. 00:54:08
True. 00:54:16
Let's start with Miss Ingle Lawrence Dah. 00:54:20
Thank you very much. 00:54:23
I love the signs idea. I like the ones in the letter that was sent to you too. I think it was either Tom or Kim, but the the more. 00:54:26
The. 00:54:36
And big enough and low enough to the ground. I love the seal. Just that seal with a monk seal. And possibly even, you know how you 00:54:37
have a daytime day headlight test section. Let's put daytime quiet zone, because this is the most important thing and they don't 00:54:44
seem to get that. 00:54:51
And then? 00:54:59
The no drones with our code. Those big signs need to be up to and interspaced along with the quiet. 00:55:01
And I agree that it doesn't need a lot and I'm talking about on the way to Hopkins and along there. 00:55:12
Because that really. 00:55:20
Need. 00:55:22
Effective sign. 00:55:25
That nobody has to stop and read a bunch or anything else because they're not going to. 00:55:28
And I don't know what you can do except for more enforcement on the revving their engines and the motorcycles. They'll wake me up 00:55:33
in the middle of the night, even. 00:55:38
But. 00:55:44
Simple. Effective. Large enough. 00:55:46
And definitely the drones. 00:55:50
Thank you very. 00:55:54
And we have a hand raised from Lisa. 00:55:58
Thank you. 00:56:02
We are so fortunate to have this Rookery protected by fencing and. 00:56:05
Amazing dedicated docents. 00:56:12
It's a. 00:56:17
Tony and I moved here from La Jolla. 00:56:18
There is a Rookery on the Coastal Trail, you could say, but it's just continual. 00:56:22
Aggravation. It's really difficult to to manage the people. 00:56:33
The signs are so important because they can be pointed to, whether it's by docents or by by residents or anybody who knows what's 00:56:39
going on, people get it. 00:56:45
Some people need signs they. 00:56:52
Really, pay attention to people. But signs. So the signs, especially the simple ones, The quiet, please. 00:56:56
And maybe a little detail, but not a lot. 00:57:04
Umm, the last. Oh my heavens, last year there were these. Pathetic. 00:57:08
Laminated signs on sandwich boards, you, some people or a frames. 00:57:14
That were there. We had lots of rain right? And and there was so much condensation inside you couldn't even read the signs. 00:57:20
So I there I hadn't thought about the issue. 00:57:29
People can climb on signs, so that would be tricky as far as spacing them, but the lower. 00:57:34
Ones that maybe come up to your thigh somewhere. They have some very nice ones at Moss Landing Marine Labs. 00:57:41
Anyway, that's a nice size where your height where you see them. 00:57:51
But they're not in your view. 00:57:58
So yes, people are more compliant when there's signs, OK, And just so important for our seals, but. 00:58:01
I would just like to add two things that we need signs on the streets. 00:58:11
Coming in to PG, I don't know if that was mentioned here, I didn't hear that and and the street obviously is is a real concern 00:58:16
and. 00:58:22
A neighbor, a wonderful young father on our street, walks his little girl in a stroller. 00:58:29
Almost every morning along the stretch West of Lovers Point, and there's two sets of rocks there on either side of what we call 00:58:36
Oak Rock. The the big one where the egret. 00:58:43
Stands and sometimes and it's covered with cormorants. 00:58:50
Sometimes black oyster catchers nest there. He's so distressed by people who taunt the seals trying to get a response to from 00:58:55
them. 00:58:59
So if there's any way to provide signs there too, that's not. 00:59:04
The huge priority that the Rookery is but but it is. People need to be educated, thank you very much. 00:59:09
Next we have Miss Carmelita Gar. 00:59:21
Thank you very much Andrew. The BNRC Commissioners, I want to thank you for your vacation and your work towards. 00:59:26
Our wildlife and trees. 00:59:35
What have you that make us such a great community? So, so I I agree with signage and I agree with Mr. Aikman's suggestion to keep 00:59:38
it simple. Quiet please. 00:59:44
You know, I've been in a number of campaigns and people spend all this money on Flyers and stuff and. 00:59:50
It's been proven that you have 3 seconds to sell yourself, so signage with a lot of verbiage probably won't fly. People will get 00:59:57
quiet please, 'cause they can do that within 3 three seconds. 01:00:02
So, you know, I'm part of PG deer awareness and some of the stuff that we've done as far as outreach to educate people about our 01:00:09
deer. 01:00:13
You know, except for the past few months, we've been down to the farmers market every Monday. We have a table there. It's free. 01:00:18
You just have to fill out the application. 01:00:22
We're members of the Chamber of Commerce who does e-mail blasts when we need them to be done. 01:00:26
And also you know the other special events that they have we we get to have a table at the good old days and and pass out. 01:00:33
Information and have kids draw pictures of deer and what? 01:00:41
Umm, I think if you know reaching out to folks like Adventures by the Sea and and that company that. 01:00:47
Does the tours. 01:00:53
Two Wheeler things, whatever they're called, you know, would be a good idea. And then also you know. So this is the first year, 01:00:56
thanks to Kim and Tom that Renee and I went down for the half marathon and and we made signs that said watch for the deer. 01:01:03
And actually, the renters got a big kick out of it And some of them even asked where is the beer? So, you know, it's kind of a 01:01:10
sense of humor on their part. Is pretty cute. But you know, So what I thought about with that half marathon is if the harbor seal, 01:01:16
folks. 01:01:21
And the PGDR awareness with the collaboration of the city, if we could write a letter or do a flyer to be included in the packets 01:01:27
for the half marathon folks, that would give them a heads up of what they're going to encounter as they approach that particular 01:01:34
area. And you know, to advocate, be proactive instead of reactive. 01:01:42
And you know, I want to give a shout out to the city. They've been very supportive in my opinion. 01:01:50
You know, with protecting the harbor seals, good, bad and indifferent, you know, getting this, the fancy nap and what have you. 01:01:55
And I know initially it was kind of a mess years back, but I think they've improved on that and I know they've been very proactive 01:02:02
with the deer in helping us to get the word out. 01:02:09
To help protect them more so than what they've been before, and to give them a voice. 01:02:16
Anyway, so those are just my comments. Thank you. 01:02:21
No further hands raised on the virtual audience. 01:02:29
Thank you. 01:02:33
Now it's OK. 01:02:36
I can't resist, but I want to give a huge seal of approval. 01:02:39
To Dre and to our three speaker. Tom, I see you frowning. 01:02:44
To everyone. 01:02:50
A couple comments. I completely support the idea of science. Simple, and as Lisa demonstrated that very. 01:02:52
Visible orange on blue. I would suggest though that we do not put any on the fence itself. 01:03:02
I see in the slides and from walking out there that ice plant. 01:03:10
Is just below the fence. 01:03:14
And we could. 01:03:17
Signs at either end of that ice plant that it's the beginning and the end of the fencing there. 01:03:18
On both sides of the wreck trail. And I also wonder. 01:03:25
If we could put. 01:03:29
Up on the top of the ice plant, where it faces the street. 01:03:31
Cars can see in both directions, can see these signs, and maybe not. 01:03:36
Decide to honk their horns. 01:03:43
So otherwise, I think it's a great idea. And I just have one question and I think Kim and Tom are perhaps the best to answer this. 01:03:47
Are you finding that drones are? 01:03:51
A notable issue. 01:03:57
And if so, what can we do? 01:04:00
An issue, not necessarily number one, but a problem at Hopkins. In the Hopkins area, right there, there are no. 01:04:13
Even the green signs that have the little no think there are none in that area. So we have no no drone sign there. And we could 01:04:22
use it because if somebody's going to fly a drone, it's there. 01:04:28
Or it's point pin. 01:04:35
Or Lovers Point. That's where we see them flying, usually Thrones. And so they usually say, well, where's the sign? And we can't 01:04:37
point to anything. We just always tell people that wherever they go, they need to check with the local police because every city 01:04:42
has their own ordinances now. 01:04:48
So a small one that said, no drones with our ordinance on it would be ideal. I know that there's possibly a new. 01:04:54
I mean, so I wouldn't get too elaborate on it because it might change, but if you put no drones, they can't fly over the harbor 01:05:03
seals and disturb them by federal law. 01:05:08
But if we put our PG ordinance on it, that would help. 01:05:14
Yeah. 01:05:19
I just. 01:05:22
What's the status of that? I was thinking it was. 01:05:27
It was almost done. 01:05:31
Finalized. 01:05:34
That he would know. 01:05:43
Where it is? 01:05:45
Dan and George, do you know what the status of the drone ordinance is? 01:05:47
Chair Myers I do not, but we do have a current ordinance that prohibits the flight of drones. So I mean, we have. 01:05:52
Some legal standing. 01:05:59
To prevent it, I think that they're tightening it up to some extent. 01:06:01
But we have signs that show that ordinance around town already that can be easily pointed to, to prohibit the flight. 01:06:06
I think the closest to this area would be at Berwick Park, and I'm certain we have no drone signs installed there. 01:06:14
And the general plays are discussed in previous meetings, especially when we've been talking about black oyster catchers. 01:06:21
The City of Pacific Grove has. 01:06:26
Permit only drone policy, and the only way to get a permit is to pay a fee and show that you're an FAA licensed drone operator. So 01:06:28
that effectively limits almost all recreational drone use because most people the flying recreational drones that tend to be the 01:06:34
problems. 01:06:39
So then that's the new ordinance, right, that's coming. No, that's the in place enforceable ordinance that's been the. 01:06:45
And George, when you say they need to have a permit, would that be a permit that they could take anywhere or would it be a 01:06:53
specific permit for this area? 01:06:58
Specific permit from the Pacific Grove Police Department. OK, for a specified time, purpose and location. So they couldn't have 01:07:05
one in in San Francisco, say and say hey, I've got it. They could fly it in San Francisco, but not in Pacific Road and. 01:07:12
That process of applying for a permit, I think, I think it really does weed out all of the people. 01:07:19
I think all of the nuisance drone operators are not. 01:07:27
Permitted, you know, I think across the board that's safe to. 01:07:30
And the people that are the nuisance drone operators are flying in, you know, contrary to the current ordinance. 01:07:34
But it's in the books right now. 01:07:41
What would be? 01:07:43
There have been cases when a permitted researcher has flown a drone and disturbed the seals, and I'm wondering what your 01:07:54
recommendation would be for. 01:07:59
Getting a communication channel open so like when that. 01:08:06
Permit is issued. 01:08:10
Perhaps bayonet could be contacted or I'm not sure how that. 01:08:12
Could work, but it seems like it's necessary. 01:08:16
Ordinance that's being worked on would probably address that. 01:08:27
And I'm sorry, I just don't know. 01:08:32
Ordinances. At this point, I kind of lost ark of it too, Kim. 01:08:34
Yes, that. 01:08:39
Veterans loan. 01:08:41
Handle research and some commer. 01:08:43
Flights which? 01:08:47
Be somewhere along the lines of having monitors to watch for distur. 01:08:49
Usually Noah contacts us to go down for the research. It doesn't always mean the animals aren't gonna be disturbed, but at least 01:08:55
we're there to monitor and give them back feedback. So we're mostly talking about like. 01:09:02
What he said that these these drone operators that don't have any permits at all and sometimes not even FAA which they need to 01:09:10
have. 01:09:14
And they're clueless as to having to have a PG police permit. 01:09:20
That's required. 01:09:25
And they just look at their their apps on the phone and the apps tell them they can fly there. 01:09:28
And so I always tell them you need to check with the local cities because everything's changing so fast. 01:09:34
That the apps don't stay up with that. 01:09:39
So this way if there's a little sign there, we can just point and say. 01:09:42
Little drones, so. 01:09:46
They know. They always just say, well, I didn't see. 01:09:48
Anywhere, yeah. 01:09:51
I have a question, I'm sorry. 01:09:54
No, go ahead. 01:09:56
OK. I just have a quick question about the municipal code ordinance number. If we were to print up or have these signs made for a 01:10:00
no drone zone, would it be the updated ordinance be the same number that would be on that or would we be making up new signs if 01:10:06
we? 01:10:11
Proceeded. 01:10:18
Commissioner walking stick, I think it's usually the municipal code numbers stay the same as far if it's just a simple revision. 01:10:20
And I think if it if they add a whole new section, you know, I'm not. I wouldn't rule out a change in code number, but I think for 01:10:25
the most part if it's just a revision, it'll be the same number. 01:10:31
Gabby, I just have a couple questions. 01:10:39
So who owns the fencing? 01:10:45
At Hopkins, is that a? 01:10:49
Owned fence, so we'd have to get permission from them were we to mount signs on that. 01:10:52
Perhaps Miss Akin would like to address them? 01:10:57
It's just a yes or no. It's my stand up there. 01:11:01
But we do have to get approval from them. So whatever they come up with, they can contact Chris at Stanford. 01:11:08
And everything would be worked through them. All the signs that we put up on the fence during the pumping season were approved by 01:11:17
Stanford, OK? 01:11:21
Great. Thank you. I'd like to comment on that. Can I further comment on that? I did receive actually an e-mail from Chris, the 01:11:26
Hopkins station Manager and they seem quite amenable to. 01:11:33
Putting up the signs, they basically said, you know, check with the city because. 01:11:41
You know, those signs will be facing out, so I think they're going to be. 01:11:46
Working with us, I think. I think they really are behind this SO and I. 01:11:50
Just to follow up on that, I thought I think it was Marty that mentioned that we don't want to obscure the. 01:11:56
View. 01:12:02
I was wondering, I had another question about the harbor. 01:12:05
In general, and that is, do we? 01:12:09
What the reproductive success was for other rookeries compared to PG. 01:12:14
During the same time period. 01:12:20
Last year when? 01:12:23
Reproductive success declined. 01:12:25
Now we don't have to answer that right now. 01:12:28
But that would be something I would be interested in knowing. 01:12:31
And another question I had was. 01:12:37
I know that the presentation. 01:12:41
At our last meeting. 01:12:44
Was excellent and talked about the spec. 01:12:46
Noise disturbance that we had here and I was wondering if we know there's, if there's research in other areas where there may have 01:12:52
been. 01:12:56
Noise, disturbance and to. 01:13:02
And the other question I had is how would we measure whether signage is successful in? 01:13:07
Controlling the disturbances. 01:13:14
Is there, you know? 01:13:16
Objective way to measure. 01:13:19
And then the other question I had. 01:13:22
Do we need Coastal Commission approval for all this signage? 01:13:25
Or do we as as the city? 01:13:29
Have the ability to. 01:13:32
Put up all these signs. 01:13:36
Coastal. 01:13:38
Permission. 01:13:39
I don't have an answer for your first questions about comparables or measurables, but it is our interpretation that this level of 01:13:41
signage would not require a permit and we could move ahead. 01:13:45
So the only approval that would be needed would be Hopkins and that's that's only if we put it on the signs on the fence. 01:13:53
I believe so, yes. OK. 01:14:02
And may I ask a question, Marty, you suggested that we not put it on the fence. Why? 01:14:06
Well going. 01:14:14
Kim's listing of Excuse me for days listing. 01:14:15
How important? 01:14:20
The viewing of the seals is to the local economy. That's why they come and if and if the view and and think that. 01:14:22
You've got not. 01:14:30
3 foot high children, but you've got 5 foot people and you've got 6 foot people. And if you put up signs, it's counterintuitive if 01:14:32
they if the sign is telling you to be quiet, that you can't see what you're trying to look at. 01:14:39
So you don't want, you want to make sure they're not block of block the view. Absolutely, absolutely. And I think there's 100% and 01:14:48
I think there's plenty of. 01:14:52
Leeway, given that it you know that you have to walk up that little bank. 01:14:58
On both sides of the I was envisioning. 01:15:05
That the signs would not be right right in front of the beach. It would be kind of more towards the, you know, on each side of it. 01:15:09
As people are coming towards it so that they start being quiet before they reach it. 01:15:19
But regardless, I mean, I think that the details of whether we put the signs on this on the fence or we erect something from the 01:15:26
ground. 01:15:31
I think the city could decide that what whatever's is. 01:15:37
Andre, do you have an opinion? Yeah, my opinion was that being RC, work with the city on that for both design and placement. 01:15:43
And I think. 01:15:52
Your motion was, was, was, was perfect and your recommendations of two to three signs. 01:15:56
And the general location. 01:16:04
I think after that, typically when we make recommendations, then the details for the most part. 01:16:07
Are are finalized by. 01:16:16
Again, I think we, the NRC can work on design and placement with the city. I think it behooves all of us to to do that. 01:16:22
I see a motion here. I'd also like to add when. 01:16:33
Did have Hopkins Coastal trail area that we do? 01:16:37
Add Ocean View Ave. to that as well like the bicycles coming in from either side so. 01:16:41
So I'd like to add that in there. 01:16:52
I have a question. 01:16:59
Would it? I guess just the editor in me, But it wouldn't make any sense to stay say, in the last part of that last sentence. 01:17:01
For final style, placement and wording of signs. 01:17:10
I like the editor in you. 01:17:17
I like the editor in you. 01:17:22
I do as well, especially because we keep hearing about the simplicity of the signs, and I really like the silhouette of the seal. 01:17:28
I think that's genius. It's going to be extremely noticeable whether you're on. 01:17:33
Am I? 01:17:42
Yep. OK. 01:17:45
You know because again whether you're on a bicycle even the car if we were to make anything visible, I just think that's super 01:17:48
important simple is better for sure whether it's quiet please daytime quiet you know they're sleeping whatever. But minimum you 01:17:54
know wordage as we know. Thank you for your example as well I know that's extremely important and then I know we had and then the 01:18:00
no drone. I know we don't I don't know if that's explicit in this motion so and I know too whether they say just per no per city 01:18:06
ordinance or per permit. 01:18:12
PG police permit whatever so that they so it was clear, maybe not even listing the ordinance per SE and putting all that fine 01:18:19
print writing, which is something very simple so they know wow, I need a permit from the Police Department. 01:18:25
That might be just. 01:18:32
I don't know if that's a nice add-on or not. And then I know with the two interpretive signs that Mister First shared in the 01:18:33
presentation where there are already along the trail and I want to say it may have been. 01:18:39
In a public comment. 01:18:45
About relocating one of them. 01:18:47
Umm, maybe. And I don't know, I would need to look at it again in person myself as well. Or or all of us. But maybe it's reversing 01:18:50
the two signs, the two newer ones that appear to be there. Maybe it's just shifting. 01:18:56
The signs replacement. 01:19:03
OK. Well, I think, I think the motion that you have here, do you want to to restate it with the additions? 01:19:11
And yeah, the edits as well. 01:19:22
So a motion then recommending the city place permanent year round signs on the Hopkins Coastal Trail area. I'm adding this, 01:19:26
including Ocean View. 01:19:31
Consider additional signage at Hopkins and 5th St. during popping season and finally consult with BNRC. 01:19:37
For style, placement and wording of. 01:19:45
Roll calls out for this. 01:19:58
Commissioner Rubin. 01:20:02
Yes, Commissioner. 01:20:05
Yes, Secretary Lee. 01:20:07
Chair Myers. 01:20:10
Yes, Commissioner, walking stick. 01:20:11
Commissioner Wilson. Yes, Commissioner Gorman. 01:20:14
All in. 01:20:18
We all did. 01:20:21
The the other thing I don't. I think maybe we. 01:20:24
Should talk about the no. 01:20:28
Separately. 01:20:31
And make a separate motion for that. 01:20:32
Along the same lines. 01:20:37
Which would be the addition. 01:20:40
Of a no drone sign, similar to what you have at Berwick Park. 01:20:42
And lovers. 01:20:47
Be installed. 01:20:48
Close to. 01:20:51
OK. And I think the one thing to add to that is that we kind of have a standard. 01:20:57
The park sign that includes no drones, I think no dogs. It has a five I believe different icons that it has so there that we would 01:21:01
probably need to take that sign that is the generic kind of public turn out that we use along ocean view and then park no whatever 01:21:08
signage and modify it to match what the rules are for The Walking path. 01:21:16
But I think that's very doable. 01:21:24
Can you repeat? 01:21:28
I don't know drones, I just the location. 01:21:31
Add a No drone sign consistent with what the city has. 01:21:34
At Berwick Park in Lovers Point Mod. 01:21:40
Appropriately for the rec. 01:21:45
Rules. 01:21:49
At. 01:21:51
Is my. 01:21:54
2nd That a motion all in favor. 01:21:56
Any. 01:22:00
Motion carries unanimously. 01:22:02
Chair Myers, May I ask a clarifying question? 01:22:05
Pardon me, May I ask a clarifying question? Of course. So you requested that we work with the BNRC. Would you like us to just make 01:22:08
some mock ups and bring them forward for the January meeting? 01:22:12
That'd be great. Thank. 01:22:18
Thank you. 01:22:20
And then I think that is it. 01:22:31
We are adjourned. Does any we're getting ready to be. The next meeting is January 16th. 01:22:34
And again, if if I could ask everyone to review the the goals and the subcommittees. 01:22:40
And get to me the subcommittees that you'd most like to be on. 01:22:48
Also we can. 01:22:54
Add we can delete, we can modify. So just if you can, you know, send to me anything that you're any of your thoughts. 01:22:56
Any modifications to the goals? 01:23:06
Prior to the January meeting, I'll try to put something together that we can actually discuss and and move forward with. 01:23:09
OK, the next meeting is January 16th and meeting adjourned. 01:23:20
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OK, well, welcome everyone. 00:00:00
This is the final meeting of the year. 00:00:05
And if we can have a motion to approve the agenda? 00:00:08
So moved. 00:00:15
All in favor. 00:00:18
Aye opposed. 00:00:19
OK. Does anybody have any announcements? 00:00:26
I should you want to start first. 00:00:32
I'd be happy to chair Myers, but maybe we could start with A roll call vote and then we'll move into the announcement, if you 00:00:34
don't mind. 00:00:38
Commissioner. 00:00:44
Here, Commissioner. 00:00:46
Commissioner walking stick. 00:00:49
Secretary. 00:00:52
Present, Commissioner. 00:00:53
Vice Chair Dunn. 00:00:57
Chair Myers. 00:01:00
Here. 00:01:02
And now I'll launch into the staff. 00:01:14
Starting. 00:01:18
My staff is happy to announce the dissemination of the proposed. 00:01:20
Revisions to Title 12, Trees and the Urban Forest. 00:01:25
This is available to all the NRC members and the public. The easiest way to find it is to go to cityofpg.org/news. 00:01:28
Or search board on the city's. 00:01:37
And there are There's a tracked changes copy and a clean copy of the proposed revisions to the tree ordinance. 00:01:40
And this was part of the larger effort that is in line with the City Council. 00:01:47
Goals Work plan for 2324 to initiate and complete a Citywide tree Improvement and Management plan and this is the first milestone 00:01:53
to complete. 00:01:58
Comprehensive Title 12 revisions and to ultimately have those revisions reviewed by the BNRC, so we're hoping that this will be 00:02:04
the main agenda item for the January meeting. 00:02:09
And the religion see. 00:02:15
Clarify findings for tree removal and trimming to create a more transparent decision making process. 00:02:18
Enhance the replanting. 00:02:26
Update the fee. 00:02:28
Leave AMP the floor process and hopefully streamline and depoliticize the appeal process and make the code more accessible and 00:02:31
navigatable for the public. 00:02:36
So that is all available online for everyone's review between now. 00:02:42
The January meeting and we hope that any public members with input can submit that to by January 19th. 00:02:47
To be included. 00:02:55
January BNRC. 00:02:57
And then kind of along the same lines in the topic of trees, if you want to give a quick update of the monarch sanctuary. 00:02:59
The numbers with from the weekly counts from the museum staff have hovered around 6000 between 5 and 7000. 00:03:06
For the last few weeks, and the Public Works did make the decision to shut the lower section of The Walking path to the public. 00:03:15
There's a large pine tree. 00:03:20
That was known to suffer from Pitch Canker. It's kind of one of a pair of trees that the other of the pair was removed ahead of 00:03:26
the 22 season. 00:03:30
And we kind of watched this tree decline and just in the last couple months rapidly decline where there's. 00:03:34
No visible green foliage in the crown and the tree is just immediately adjacent to the path as large branches that hangover the 00:03:42
path and has a tilt towards the path. So just in an abundance of caution. 00:03:48
For the visiting public, we have shut that section of the path down South, starting at the lower entrance on Grove Anchor up to 00:03:55
the kind of right where the the kind of open bulb of benches and the beginning of the nectar beds. It's shut to public access. 00:04:03
But you can still access from Ridge Rd. At the upper entrance. The bathrooms are still open and where the bulk of the monarchs are 00:04:12
overwintering. 00:04:15
Is a wide open. 00:04:20
That's that. Thank you. 00:04:22
What's the? What's the count? 00:04:24
I believe. 00:04:27
Close to 6000 And if you hold on one second, I'll give you an exact. 00:04:28
As of December 15th, the last count was 5900 and. 00:04:52
And I think 95% of those are on One Pine Tree. 00:04:58
Very close to the path, so if you haven't had a chance. 00:05:02
Highly recommended. 00:05:05
That's good. 00:05:06
Thank you. Do any commissioners have any comments? 00:05:09
Marty Mythologies Excuse me in advance to Mr. Go. I'm going to bring up a subject that he and I have talked about before. It has 00:05:14
to do with St. sweeping. 00:05:19
I continue to be concerned about the. 00:05:26
What I see is the inadequacy of the number of times our streets are getting cleaned. We are blessed to be a tree city. 00:05:31
The downside of that is that we have a lot of needles and leaves in the gutters. 00:05:40
And a lot of that. 00:05:46
Snagging the. 00:05:48
The the sewer drains. 00:05:52
Some of it ends up in the Bay. You can see a clumped at lovers point and then plastic residue catches in it. 00:05:55
And it all ends up in the ocean. And I went by today one of my favorite watering holes. 00:06:02
At the corner of 17 Mile Drive and. 00:06:09
And somebody continues to scoop that out by hand. 00:06:13
Otherwise it would be incredibly backed up. As it was last year. I took a picture. 00:06:18
But as I understand it, we have a the city does not own the street cleaning equipment. It's a contract job out. 00:06:23
But I I really believe that if we were able. 00:06:31
The same old story. Find some. 00:06:36
To increase the number of the sweeps this our streets get that it would improve the the health of the Bay. Thank you. 00:06:38
A few critics? Anyone else? 00:06:49
Yeah, we just wrapped up the Sea Watch Seabird Census and now we're upon Audubon Christmas bird count reminder, I don't know if 00:06:56
you all. 00:07:01
Know about that, but it is a bird census across the country. 00:07:07
In this area we have a few. The one closest is. 00:07:12
The Monterey Bay on December 27th, and for new birders, Amanda Priest will be doing. 00:07:18
Beginners. 00:07:25
Christmas bird count at a sale, Lamar. That morning. So good citizen science. 00:07:27
I'm sorry, what was the second one? 00:07:34
The the Audubon. 00:07:36
Audubon Christmas Bird. 00:07:38
27th of December. 00:07:41
Yeah. 00:07:43
OK, moving on. 00:07:51
This Council. 00:07:54
Yeah. Thank you. 00:07:59
I want to look so forget about. 00:08:00
I don't know if it's appropriate, but I wanted to invite Jennifer Gorman to be on the Tree subcommittee. 00:08:03
We're going to be talking about that later. This is the end because this is the end of the year. We're going to be re establishing 00:08:12
the subcommittees. In fact, I I wanted to say a few words about that so we can get a jump on it. 00:08:19
And then I attended a online relief RLRELEAF meeting. 00:08:28
And the topic was. 00:08:36
Schools being involved and I thought that was so appropriate because the city manager at the last council meeting. 00:08:38
Said he was reaching out to the schools to establish a relationship. 00:08:46
The city and and the school district and the first part of the meeting I'm happy to forward to anyone who's interested was. 00:08:51
Videotape for the first time. And that was an excellent presentation, but it was that was a presentation. And when you got down to 00:08:59
the nitty gritty of what's it like to go before a school board, well, what's it like to go into a teacher's classroom? And how do 00:09:05
you advocate for funding? 00:09:10
And. 00:09:16
Each specific games and things you can do with the children. 00:09:20
All that part they didn't want to intimidate people from discussing, so they didn't record it, but hopefully they will next time. 00:09:26
Really, really good ideas I took. 00:09:30
Really good notes and it was for all ages, everything from first grade through high school and there are so many resources out 00:09:35
there. 00:09:41
It would be such a wonderful thing to invol. 00:09:47
Our school children in what we. 00:09:51
And like I noticed that our arborists involved Trinity High School recently in a tree planting and that would be so excellent to 00:09:54
actually involve our. 00:09:59
Our residents. 00:10:05
And then the second announcement I had was. 00:10:07
About it issues here. 00:10:13
I had a. 00:10:16
First, I noticed it was just getting more and more difficult to access like our videos on our page. Like you had to go through. I 00:10:19
wouldn't say difficult, but more steps to get there. And so I had a discussion with Dara Sanders and she said, Oh yeah, a lot of 00:10:24
the cities that I work. 00:10:29
With when they start expanding their IT program and trying to to to. 00:10:35
Better their. 00:10:42
They layer it and I wasn't familiar with this concept of layering and when you layer it to make it effective for the the 00:10:45
programmers and the people during the work, a lot of times that public access aspect is made a little more challenging and so I 00:10:51
just wanted to put it out there. 00:10:57
Maybe as a potential agenda item to recommend to council to. 00:11:04
Ask the IT people to. 00:11:11
Make it. 00:11:14
For the public, because we want to encourage people to get involved, we want to encourage people to become part of the city 00:11:16
government. We don't want to do anything to discourage that and. 00:11:21
I'm not sure I'd be able to really readily figure out how to go listen to a video of our meeting today. 00:11:27
If I if I if I started with how it is? 00:11:34
OK. And then. 00:11:39
I did. I did want to see. George, thank you so much for that announcement about the. 00:11:42
Title 12 revisions. Those revisions sound excellent. I haven't had time to look at them yet, but. 00:11:47
What you said sounds spot on to me about what needs to be revised and. 00:11:52
You know, with that in mind, I did want to announce that. 00:12:03
At 675 pine, there are three trees being taken. 00:12:08
Or. 00:12:12
And with regards to the revisions of the Title 12, I think they provide a lot of food. 00:12:17
For thought about those revisions. So one thing is that the money's coming from the owner. 00:12:26
Another thing is just native versus non-native. 00:12:34
Supposedly they're given the OK to come down because they're non-native, but they're also over 6 inches and that's protected by 00:12:38
Muni code. 00:12:42
There's the issue of what do you do when a sidewalk cracks? How do you prevent sidewalks from cracking? 00:12:48
There's so much here additionally. 00:12:55
Again, this going back to this IT issue of public access to information. 00:13:02
How do we, how how could we have accessed online immediately the Arborist report? So all of this I I hope we will certainly be 00:13:10
recommending using this as an example to recommend for the title 12 revisions, but. 00:13:17
I I hope people will start thinking about it now. 00:13:25
Because that's in January and it's only one meeting, Secretary Lee. Perhaps these thoughts are best held and kind of pondered by 00:13:28
everyone and then on a discussed as an agendaized item in January as opposed to at this venue as an announcement. 00:13:37
Is that the January meeting is really going to get in depth with with the the report that's coming, the changes that are being 00:13:46
made. 00:13:49
And I would suggest that we talk about it. OK, just one more sentence. And that sentence is? 00:13:53
I'd like you to walk through the streets and encourage envisioning how you want it to look. Because when you start looking at the 00:14:00
Title 12 for Visions, you get in your head, you get intellectual, you start. You know all that. And just to like, what do I want 00:14:05
my town to look like as best? 00:14:10
Thank you. 00:14:18
Wonderful. 00:14:21
I just wanted to, I kind of made a reference to it. So this is the final meeting of the year at the beginning. Next month we will 00:14:23
be starting all over with 2024 goals. 00:14:30
New subcommittees, new subcommittee assignments. 00:14:37
So if everybody can be thinking about how they'd like to change the goals, add, add some goals, delete some goals, modify them. 00:14:41
And and same with the subcommittees. Do we want to increase the number of subcommittees? Do we want to change, you know, change 00:14:50
them, delete them? 00:14:55
If you. 00:15:02
Send your thoughts and preferences as to also to which subcommittees you'd like to be on. 00:15:03
To me in the next month. 00:15:10
Then we'll get a, we'll get a head start and hopefully we can get those wrapped up and finalized in the January meeting. 00:15:12
So it may take a little bit longer, but hopefully not like to hit the ground running. 00:15:21
OK, council liaison announce. 00:15:27
Council Member Co. 00:15:32
Good afternoon, Chair Myers and members of the BNRC. 00:15:34
I like you. 00:15:38
We're kind of at our last meeting, which will be tomorrow. 00:15:41
But things are winding down. 00:15:45
But there are a couple of things worth mentioning on tomorrow night's agenda. 00:15:47
One of them being consideration of the proposed Chinese pavilion project in Elmira **** Park. 00:15:52
And then also. 00:16:00
A special shout out regarding Rocky Pinero's retirement The mayor will be having a proclamation honoring Rocky. 00:16:02
And as many contributions to the city. 00:16:13
He certainly participated in a supporting local events. 00:16:15
Keeping our downtown and the rest of the. 00:16:21
In shape and he will be sorely missed. I've known him since I was a child, so. 00:16:24
Goodman and he will be missed. 00:16:30
Also, just a reminder that the Mayor and the City Clerk are accepting applications for our city boards, committees and 00:16:33
commissions. 00:16:37
So if you have anyone or know of anyone that might be interested. 00:16:42
Please direct them to the city. 00:16:46
For the mayor, have a good meeting. Thank you. 00:16:48
Thank you. 00:16:52
OK, now we'll open it up to general public. 00:16:55
We have two hands raised in the virtual audience. 00:17:05
We'll start with Inga, Lawrence and D. 00:17:09
Thank you. I'm going to first say Chair Myers, if you turn your head and don't speak directly into your mic, I really can't hear 00:17:14
you. So I would appreciate it because they are unidirectional mics. Thank you. And then I wanted to speak to Commissioner Dunn's. 00:17:24
Comment about the street sweeping because I find it incredibly useless. 00:17:34
And what it actually does is they go barreling down the middle of the street in our narrow streets and cars of course there, but 00:17:42
they don't ever clean the gutters. They just push anything that might be leftover from the wind in the middle of the street into 00:17:50
the gutters and yes, into our storm drains. And I don't think it's really a matter of. 00:17:58
Pushing more money at them because their contract is huge already. 00:18:06
It's just the way they go about it and what seems to be considered OK and I don't think it's OK. 00:18:11
So thank you very much. 00:18:20
Thank you. 00:18:24
And we also have a hand raised from Lisa. 00:18:27
Thank you. I wrote to you a few hours ago about lack of transparency and neglect of stewardship regarding PG's natural resources, 00:18:32
specifically regarding tree removal. The plan to remove three city trees, including beautiful red flowering eucalyptus on Pine 00:18:40
Ave. at Congress is a huge concern. This species can bloom profusely throughout the year. It's not native, but a marvelous 00:18:47
pollinator species that's planted on both sides of the street along pine. 00:18:55
We need more of them, not fewer. We need increased canopy, not reduced canopy. 00:19:03
I don't live on pine and I didn't see the notice driving by. It would have cost a citizen $225.00 to appeal Public Works plan. 00:19:09
Checking Public Works free permit website, I learned that Public Works didn't provide a permit application documenting any 00:19:16
justification for removing the trees. Posting the permit application has been standard practice. Proper notice was not provided. 00:19:24
Apparently the trees are being removed due to damage to the sidewalk. 00:19:31
There appear to be far better alternatives than removing 3 trees. 00:19:39
I've only just had a chance to read quickly the arborist report. It does not address potential alternatives. 00:19:43
Did Public Works or the Arborist read the city's 2012 Urban Forestry Standards document? It can be found on the Public Works 00:19:50
website, although it requires A convoluted series of steps for the public to find it. The document explains how to deal with 00:19:56
sidewalk damage without removing trees. 00:20:02
Rebecca Lee provided additional recommendations from experts for responding to tree root conflicts with sidewalks when the Elm 00:20:08
Tree and Jewell Park was under discussion. 00:20:12
Preserving our tree canopy is more important than ever as we experience the impacts of climate change. I request that you consider 00:20:17
a policy or ordinance that adds a step in the tree permit process for Public Works to submit to the BNRC all tree removal permits, 00:20:25
including supporting information prior to public posting, giving BNRC the authority to call up permits that raise concerns. Any 00:20:33
BNRC member or subcommittee could place the item on the BNRC agenda following public posting. 00:20:41
Or there should be a requirement that the posted notice provide electronic access information to the permit application and any 00:20:50
supporting documents about the permit. The notice in question refers a person to call or e-mail Albert Weisface, the very busy 00:20:57
City Arborist. An appeal fee should be eliminated for public trees and for any tree removal called up by BNRC. My suggestion is 00:21:04
conceptual and details would need to be worked out of course. 00:21:11
And I assume you will. 00:21:19
But well, you'll be obviously talking about the tree. 00:21:21
I'm sorry, ordinance updates. 00:21:28
Next month, but please agenda, Agenda is this topic. 00:21:31
Thank you. 00:21:36
We have no further int. 00:21:40
Thank you. 00:21:45
OK, so we have a motion to approve the minutes. 00:21:49
2nd. 00:21:59
All in favor. 00:22:01
Any opposed? 00:22:03
Motion passes. 00:22:06
OK, next for our regular agenda. 00:22:16
The BNRC has representatives on the Climate Action Adaptation Planning Subcommittee. 00:22:20
We have three slots, two of which now are vacant with the departure of Megan McKenna and Claudia Tibbs. 00:22:28
So I. 00:22:37
We need, we need to nominate. 00:22:40
Did you? I don't know if you had anything that you wanted. 00:22:42
Chair Myers I do not have a presentation. 00:22:47
That sums it up nicely. 00:22:51
This meeting is scheduled for the middle of February. 00:22:55
It meets. 00:22:59
Generally. 00:23:00
I would. 00:23:03
To nom. 00:23:06
Kathy Wooten, because this is an agenda as item, perhaps we could open it to public comment. OK, before we move to that set. 00:23:08
That's good. 00:23:12
We had a one hand raised, Miss Lisa. Johnny. 00:23:22
Thank you. So I'm really glad to see this agenda item and I don't know if this is what's been holding things up so that we haven't 00:23:26
had as many meetings as you know the very. 00:23:33
Charged up. 00:23:41
Subcommittee or committee? 00:23:45
Is ready for it. They really wanted to move along and there have been very few meetings so. 00:23:49
I I, I look forward to having new members. 00:23:59
New enthusiastic members on that wonderful sub sub. 00:24:04
Thank you. 00:24:09
No further hands raised. 00:24:12
Thank you. 00:24:14
Does anyone does anyone have anything that they? 00:24:17
ADD I just wanted to say I really appreciated Colleen Ingram's letter and her suggestion to do this like. 00:24:21
Like the wildlife subcommittee was done so that it it is a term and it goes fast and so you you can achieve more in a shorter 00:24:30
period of time. 00:24:35
So, but I'm not going to be on the subcommittee, so someone else is going to have to take that idea up. 00:24:43
So I I. 00:24:56
To recommend. 00:24:58
Jennifer Gordon Foreman and Kathy. 00:25:01
But I'm certainly we can certainly talk about anybody that wants to be on. 00:25:06
Sub. 00:25:13
Be great. 00:25:15
Marty's interested. 00:25:18
We have two two openings. 00:25:25
So. 00:25:27
Well, you nobody's voted on anything, so I just would like to know who's, who's interested. I talked to you. You're not so. 00:25:30
So let's do it. I would move that Kathy wouldn't be. 00:25:42
Nominated to be on the climate action. 00:25:48
Plan. 00:25:51
All in favor. 00:25:55
Any. 00:25:58
Motion passes. 00:26:00
OK, Next I would recommend that Jennifer Gorman be. 00:26:03
Nominated to be on the Climate Action Subcommittee. 00:26:11
All in favor. 00:26:20
Aye, aye. 00:26:21
Any. 00:26:23
Motion passes. 00:26:27
Thank you. 00:26:29
Hey. 00:26:37
Really the last thing to that we have on the agenda tonight is the coastal wildlife protection measures. This is in follow up to. 00:26:39
The presentations that we had last month which were fabulous. 00:26:51
I know. I think, George, you have a PowerPoint and Andre. 00:26:57
A submitted 1. 00:27:01
Yes, if you can bear with me while I. 00:27:06
So a very brief slideshow just to lay out the kind of groundwork of where we're at now as far as coastal signage near Hopkins 00:27:33
Beach. And I know that this agenda item covers a lot more. 00:27:39
Coastal signage at Hopkins Beach, but I know that, but I understand this to be the focus. So I just wanted to kind of get us all 00:27:46
on the same page on where we are now as far as coastal signage and I know that. 00:27:51
Commissioner Person also has prepared a presentation, so I don't know if we want to have a discussion following this or go right 00:27:58
into her presentation, but I'll start with this. 00:28:01
The area in question. 00:28:07
Here is an aerial view Hopkins Beach next to the Hopkins Marine Station. 00:28:10
And kind of working its way over to about 8th St. and Berwick Park. 00:28:14
The semi currently I think that's about 2014 A rec Rex the following signs. 00:28:24
Of two varieties, about 30 signs. 00:28:32
And they go up seasonally. 00:28:34
With the Lattice Fencing. 00:28:36
And so they're installed with approximately 270 feet of temporary lattice fencing. They're erected at the beginning of pumping 00:28:43
season, approximately March, but very varying year to year and they up. 00:28:49
Until May 31st. 00:28:55
And with the 30 signs just under 300 feet, that's about a sign every 10 feet. 00:28:57
A permanent sign that we have. It can be seen right here. 00:29:07
And if you kind of follow the arrow. 00:29:10
Just asked Berwick. So very close to 8th St. at a little turn out to anybody walking on a path could just step aside from the path 00:29:13
and take a look at that sign right there and you can see that sign is all about. 00:29:20
Rubber seals. There's quite a bit of information, very nice interpretive pictures. 00:29:26
Shows kind of their. 00:29:31
And also. 00:29:33
Information on what to do. 00:29:35
Wildlife disturbances or abandoned or sick wildlife and also includes. 00:29:38
Warnings against drone use and. 00:29:43
And here's a view of that same sign from the path, so you can see Hopkins in the distance. 00:29:48
And there's. 00:29:53
All right, walking down the path, here's a smaller sign that is just. 00:29:56
I don't know, 30 or 40 feet down the way and this includes a QR code that links to the cities. 00:30:01
Phone based app. 00:30:08
Walking. 00:30:10
And that walking tour includes a stop all about Hopkins Beach, so it has information about the harbor seals. 00:30:12
And information on what tourists can do to help the harbor. 00:30:17
And here's a view of that. 00:30:23
From the bath, you can see it's right. It's a smaller sign. It's on a post. I think it's one of the whole series of these walking 00:30:25
tour prompts that suggest people scan QR code, bring up The Walking tour on their phones, and then. 00:30:32
Learn about our. 00:30:39
Walking further along towards Hopkins. 00:30:41
Here's another kind of a larger maybe. 00:30:44
The size of four of these approximately. 00:30:47
Sign titled Conserving California's Coastal Treasures. You can see it includes some information on harbor seals. 00:30:50
And also there's mostly focused on the different protected areas. 00:30:57
Of the. 00:31:00
And you can see the arrow, that sign is just a little further down on another turn out with a bench right there near the beginning 00:31:03
of the gated area of Hopkins. 00:31:08
And then just just past that sign you. 00:31:14
Hopkins pronunciation signs to stay off their property and then just a little further down from there. 00:31:18
You have the kind of generic warning that. 00:31:24
Climbing on the rocks and swimming is not safe. 00:31:27
And then looking. This is a ways down, walking towards the aquarium and looking back. 00:31:31
You can see there's not a lot of sign there's not signage up on for the most of the fence line. 00:31:37
Immediately adjacent to the. 00:31:42
Bing Beach and then you can see the Welcome to Pacific Grove sign on the left there. 00:31:46
So that is kind of the summary of signs in this general area. 00:31:54
Thank you. That was. 00:32:00
Do you want to have a? Do you want to have any discussion on that? Or I think maybe we have Andre's presentation 1st and then we 00:32:05
can discuss it all? 00:32:09
Would you like Andres presentation? 00:32:17
Thank you. 00:32:21
That was super. 00:32:23
And much nicer photos on PowerPoint than mine. 00:32:26
I don't know. 00:33:16
That in presentation screen. Oh, maybe it is OK. Thank you so much. OK, so. 00:33:19
We're going to speak about the harbor seal Rookery primarily at Hopkins Beach tonight. I really wanted to. 00:33:27
Kind of summarize what we've heard I think at BNRC for the last year, speakers coming in with concerns, people sending in letters 00:33:35
and summarize that especially for our new people. 00:33:42
At BNRC. 00:33:48
Next slide please. Thank you. 00:33:50
OK, so a bit about our harbor seals. They are resident icons. 00:33:52
They do promote ecotourism. People come from all around the world, all around the country to see these animals. 00:33:57
They bring in a lot of tourist dollars because people do come to the fence to see them. Some have never seen harbor seals. 00:34:07
Some have never seen the Pacific Ocean. 00:34:14
And after watching these sales for hours and learning about them, they do get hungry. And so we do send them off seal monitors and 00:34:17
Bay net over downtown to the restaurants and shops. 00:34:23
So again, they do bring in a lot of tourist dollars. 00:34:30
I would say they are highly educational on. 00:34:34
You can see their annual life cycle. 00:34:38
Right there, which I cannot tell you as a biologist how amazing that is to have this Rookery. So I'm going to go through that a 00:34:41
little bit on the next slide, but I will also say that they're scenic. 00:34:47
We can go back to that side scenic and also very charismatic. I think it would be a very different beach without. 00:34:54
These seals on it. 00:35:01
OK. So we're going to talk a bit about annual energetic demands and their annual cycle. So effectively we're going to talk about a 00:35:06
female harbor. 00:35:11
So right now we're in December, getting into January. Our females are in their last trimester, so a really critical time for them. 00:35:16
They will begin popping. Peak is April, primarily from February, end of February into May, another critical time for them. 00:35:25
There's a lot of maternal care that goes into these pups. Those females stay with them. 00:35:38
Four to six weeks, they. 00:35:44
They're lactating. They're they're feeding these pups four to six weeks. And the pups get bigger, the females get smaller. The 00:35:48
females are basically not eating. 00:35:53
They are out teaching these pups to. 00:35:58
At about four to six weeks, weaning takes place where the. 00:36:02
Uh, moms effectively have to go back to the sea. They need to start eating again. So it's a, it's a it's really survival for them. 00:36:07
So they will wean the pups at that time. 00:36:12
Effectively when they when they wean and go back into the ocean to feed they made. 00:36:19
They have a nine month gestation, but we could say maybe a 10 month gestation period because of delayed implantation and that is 00:36:26
where the egg will be fertilized, but it'll float around and it will not attach. 00:36:33
To the uterine wall. And so basically that gives this female about a month's time to kind of regroup. 00:36:41
And put her fat back on before she starts the process all over again. 00:36:49
So while she is pregnant, she then will molt on the beaches on Hopkins Beach in the summertime. So if you look at these this 00:36:55
photo. 00:36:59
You'll see a pup and you'll see a mom next to it. The mom, of course, being the larger animal on that code, is kind of dingy. 00:37:06
She's been wearing that coat for a year. She is going to have a sparkling, silvery pellage just like that pop next to her, but 00:37:11
that will take. 00:37:17
Energetic demands and she will be on the beach shedding that skin and creating this beautiful. 00:37:24
Silvery. 00:37:32
Next slide please. 00:37:34
So annual energetic needs are really pretty basic. They need food, they need a safe, quiet habitat and they need sleep. So the 00:37:37
seals really must haul out on land to ensure survival and reproduction. 00:37:44
Next slide. 00:37:51
So threats will go through them rather quickly. I've highlighted disturbance and harassment because I think that's really 00:37:55
something that we have some control over in Pacific Grove. 00:38:00
So threats, disturbance, harassment, declining beach sites. So habitat loss. 00:38:06
And they have R1 Beach, Hopkins Beach and Pacific. 00:38:13
Declining fish stocks? That's happening all over the planet. Declining fish stocks, disease, predation are natural threats to 00:38:17
these animals, but threats nonetheless. 00:38:24
Fishing gear. These animals can get caught in fishing gear and drown. 00:38:31
We have seen them at Hopkins with Hook. 00:38:36
In their mouths. Hooks on their faces, hooks on their. 00:38:39
Dragging fishing line climate change of course a global threat to these animals and that will. 00:38:44
Again. 00:38:53
Further decline beach sites and fisheries. 00:38:54
Next slide please. 00:38:59
So disturbance and harassment. Disturbance is direct or indirect. It can come from land, air and sea. It does include noise, 00:39:03
motion and approach. I will say these animals are very skittish, unlike our sea lions. 00:39:10
Our sea lions, you can make noise around them. These animals will flush, They will abandoned sites. They will abandoned pups with 00:39:18
noise. 00:39:23
Also a reminder, seals are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. So I do think it is incumbent upon us to be 00:39:29
doing all that we can for these animals And again, disturbance is a threat we have some control over. 00:39:37
OK, so here's our coastal. 00:39:49
I'm beyond recognition in some spots, so on the left, as George mentioned before, you can see Hopkins there and really no signs. 00:39:51
Along the. 00:40:02
Or really along the path on the right you see. 00:40:04
Probably popping season crowds, heavy crowds. I see blue bayonet jackets in there, which would be. 00:40:09
UMM volunteers advising, educating the public and probably doing some cloud control. 00:40:19
Keeping people quiet. 00:40:25
Again, we really don't have any permanent signs. 00:40:29
Coastal Trail. 00:40:33
Next slide. 00:40:34
OK. So briefly some recent studies of Hopkins that have. 00:40:37
Brought to our attention this year from some grad students, noise does alter seal behavior, increases risk of miscarriage. 00:40:41
Six fold and results in significant reproductive decline. 00:40:50
We did. 00:40:56
Reproductive success rates fall in from 2021 to 2022. 00:40:58
That was attributed to some road construction during puffing season. 00:41:06
And then Ryan, last month, Ryan O'Connor gave a wonderful presentation showing an overall decline in our Rookery. 00:41:11
Next slide please. 00:41:22
OK, so some city responses to students to seal disturbance I think have been really positive. Public Works does put up fencing and 00:41:25
signs at that 5th St. overflow during pupping season and City Council unanimously passed. 00:41:32
Road work restrictions during harbor seal pumping Season following. 00:41:41
The road construction in spring of 2022. 00:41:45
Next slide. 00:41:51
OK, so some recommendations. I would recommend year round signs for a year round Rookery in addition to signs during the pupping 00:41:54
season. I really liked this sign that I found. It is for endangered lung seals in Hawaii. 00:42:02
And I really liked it because it is a nice silhouette. I think especially for bike riders coming down the trail who are passing 00:42:11
very quickly, this kind of gives the brain. 00:42:17
An image and a quiet place, so I think it's a really nice sign that I think we could maybe work from. 00:42:23
Next slide. 00:42:31
OK, so some placement recommendations would be Hopkins area year round? 00:42:32
2 quiet sales signs along the bike path from both directions I think would be ideal. They could be somewhat low to the ground. 00:42:38
They don't have to be tall. 00:42:43
Maybe two to three signs on the fence, or potentially 2 signs lower to the ground. 00:42:49
In that vicinity, but a little bit away from the fence, so people are not climbing on the signs onto the fence. 00:42:57
5th St. during pupping season. I also think it'd be great to have some of these quiet still signs along the bike path from both 00:43:04
directions and some on the fence. 00:43:08
Next slide. 00:43:13
OK, so recommendations would be recommending the city place permanent year round signs in the Hopkins Coastal Trail area. Consider 00:43:16
additional signage of Hopkins and 5th St. during popping season and consult with Nic for final style and placement of signs. 00:43:25
Next slide please. I think with that we. 00:43:34
Wrapped up for potential. 00:43:37
Thank you. 00:43:40
That was great. I mean, I agree with everything. 00:43:56
The only thing I would say is, if you don't mind a suggestion to open up, open up the floor for public comment. We have some hands 00:43:59
raised. Sorry. 00:44:04
And also just a gentle reminder to everybody in the public end on the Dyess just to speak directly into the microphone for the 00:44:12
benefit of the virtual audience and the recording. Thank you. 00:44:17
Part of the SEAL team, so I want to thank you for bringing this forward. It is so needed and long overdue. 00:44:33
You know, I've been watching the Seals really since 2010 and my husband for about 20 years, and it didn't used to be such a big 00:44:42
deal in the past. I mean, we did have disturbances here and there and things would happen. And then there's the general. 00:44:50
Construction, which is one of the highest, but we didn't really have the kind of noise that we now have that came during the 00:44:58
pandemic and it never stopped. 00:45:04
And the wreck trail got a lot more rowdy. 00:45:10
And the noise, the sounds of radios just went way up. And that has become a huge problem for the harbor seals. 00:45:12
The racing cars that go up and down that street and revving motorcycles have also caused a huge disturbance. It was the number one 00:45:21
disturbance in November. 00:45:26
We saw 139 disturbances and number one were the cars that were revving their engines going by. 00:45:32
Number two were the human disturbances, So people at the fence line may be talking loud on their cell phones using the speaker 00:45:40
versus putting it to their head. 00:45:45
Or making noises, or ringing the bells from the bikes. Or just screaming at the side of Scene Harbor seals. You know kids can't 00:45:50
control themselves. 00:45:54
Maybe they're climbing the fence, but all of these things have dramatically increased since the pandemic, and it's become a real 00:45:59
problem. 00:46:03
So thank you for bringing this forward. Yes, our harbor seals need to sleep. They are nocturnal. And you know, as docents were out 00:46:08
there telling people this all the time, we do all the educating we can and at some point that is not enough. We need signage. So 00:46:16
people who have told us repeatedly come here to visit or why are there no signs here telling us to be quiet? 00:46:25
Then we can at least point to the. 00:46:33
Doesn't mean they're going to listen to it, but at least it's there and a lot of people will. A lot of people. 00:46:36
You don't want to know that they're not harming the seals, so let's give them that opportunity. 00:46:42
These guys, you know are known worldwide now. We should be proud to have a colony of seals that have a lot of fans. They're over 00:46:48
14,000. On their Facebook page we have people traveling from England, Ireland, Scotland. We've even had people from Russia. People 00:46:55
in England come regularly and we're in contact with them. That's the Cornwall seal people. So we do meet with them online and have 00:47:03
meetings back and forth with England. 00:47:10
So our seals are very popular. We are one of the few places in the Monterey Bay that have this large of a colony that's in a 00:47:19
location that people can see and not disturb. We just need to help them know how not to do that. 00:47:26
I think we owe it to the Seals. They give us a lot. So thank you for bringing this forward. 00:47:35
And any help you need were there to help you guys. 00:47:40
Thank you. 00:47:45
Hello, my name is Tricia Bennett. 00:47:52
Kim asked me to speak today because I'm a docent at Point Lopez. 00:47:56
And I'm the Harbour Seal Pup Watch Advocate at Point Lobos. 00:48:00
Our problems are not nearly as severe as yours, are disturbance problems simply because we are a reserve, a nature reserve, and 00:48:08
there's a certain. 00:48:12
Behaviour that's expected in the reserve and we have a lot of docents out and about keeping an eye on things. 00:48:17
We have 4 rookeries, harbour seal rookeries at Point Lobos. We don't have any signage up. 00:48:24
During the year, except during popping season from mid March to the end of May. 00:48:33
We don't really need signage, as I say, because we have a lot of docents out and about, keeping an eye on things, but the critical 00:48:39
time, as everybody knows, is popping season. 00:48:44
So Kim asked me to just talk about the science that we use during popping season. 00:48:49
In front of the rookeries themselves. I don't know if I should just hold this up or pass it around. 00:48:55
We have eye level signs that say quiet please and with a little bit of exclamation explanation as to why it's important to keep 00:49:01
quiet. 00:49:06
There's fairly effective, not 100% effective, but they do help. 00:49:12
I personally think we should actually reduce the wording on this sign because people don't really stop to read. The whole thing is 00:49:17
the quiet please one. That's the really important and the reason why. 00:49:23
Last popping season, so we introduced some other. 00:49:29
And this really made a huge. 00:49:34
This one right here. 00:49:37
First of all, the color. 00:49:39
Is quite striking. They're not State parks colours, but I got away with this somehow. 00:49:42
And there's a camera from the back of the room, if you don't mind showing the virtual audience. That's that's perfect. Thank you. 00:49:48
That's OK. Yeah. 00:49:52
So as you can see the lettering is an orange and it contrasts with the with the blue and it says you are approaching a harbor seal 00:49:55
birthing site. 00:50:00
And we found this made a huge difference. It really attracted people's attention. 00:50:05
And then by the time they got to the birthing site, they were they understood it was important to keep quiet. 00:50:10
Just a word on education. I do find I do a lot of training and a lot of explaining to the public. We do find that once people 00:50:18
understand why it's so important to keep quiet around the babies. 00:50:24
They really are on your side. 00:50:30
And they have, honestly, whisper quiet. It's absolutely fantastic. 00:50:32
So the signs do work. 00:50:37
Thank you. 00:50:39
Thank you. 00:50:41
Hi, I'm Tom Aikman, as I think most of you know. Andre, thank you. I'll not argue with the thing you said, but I'll. 00:50:47
Try to put a little depth into it. I've been a dozen down at the shoreline for 20 years. 00:50:57
And in that. 00:51:02
And put in a lot of hours. 00:51:04
But I've talked to more than 60,000 people face to. 00:51:06
The conversation has changed dramatically over 20 years. 00:51:10
In the beginning, 20 years ago, I would go down to do a bayonet shift. 00:51:15
And it was fairly slow. 00:51:19
And I would make myself stay until I talked to at least 20 people, and that would be two or three hours usually. And by then I 00:51:22
heard that's enough. 00:51:26
Report on SO I. 00:51:31
These days there will be 3 or 4 docents at the same. 00:51:34
And we'll all click 80 to 100 folks before our legs get out and we go. 00:51:38
It's a mob scene now. It has been growing over the years for a lot of reasons. One of the reasons is M started the Facebook page. 00:51:43
13 years. 00:51:54
And it has 14,000 followers. A lot of them are local, a lot of them are tourists, but it draws a lot of attention and clowns 00:51:56
always draw crowns. 00:52:00
But with the pandemic, we got mobs, we got a different kind of tourist, and we've always had, and we get rowdier and it's noisier, 00:52:04
and the electric bikes zipping down the path and trying to bowl people over haven't added to it. So my conversations these days 00:52:11
usually start off in some way to try to quiet things. 00:52:18
One of the first things I usually say to people that if you don't know, they're sleeping in the daytime and that's why they're not 00:52:26
sick, they're not dead, they're resting and we need to be quiet about. 00:52:32
I would welcome sign. 00:52:39
Over the years I like everybody else. I don't want to over sign the shoreline. I don't want to ruin the view. 00:52:41
But as time has gone by, I. 00:52:48
The text on the signs that the studio uses, we did that, I wrote that some years ago and the Coast Commission approved them and 00:52:51
blah blah blah, but. 00:52:56
We have, I will not divide signs now because when we had a few people going by, they may or may not have been that important when 00:53:01
you have the mobs we have now going. 00:53:07
If 20% of the books passing or approaching, see the signs and follow them. 00:53:13
That's a big. 00:53:20
And I would. I don't want to over. 00:53:22
Overlook the need for assigned to point Pinos or lovers Point, but in the Hopkins area I know and you know. 00:53:25
That we have thousands of people at a time down there during the pumping season. 00:53:32
And anything we can do to help draw attention to the need to be quiet. And it isn't just I don't want a complex sign. I want the 00:53:37
fewest words we can have and maybe just a sign to say quiet please or a quiet zone or, you know. 00:53:45
Sealed, sleeping up, sleeping, whatever, be fine, thank you. 00:53:53
Thank you. 00:53:59
Thank you Day and our three speakers. And we do have 3 Sandra's in the virtual audience. Sorry I gotta look. 00:54:08
True. 00:54:16
Let's start with Miss Ingle Lawrence Dah. 00:54:20
Thank you very much. 00:54:23
I love the signs idea. I like the ones in the letter that was sent to you too. I think it was either Tom or Kim, but the the more. 00:54:26
The. 00:54:36
And big enough and low enough to the ground. I love the seal. Just that seal with a monk seal. And possibly even, you know how you 00:54:37
have a daytime day headlight test section. Let's put daytime quiet zone, because this is the most important thing and they don't 00:54:44
seem to get that. 00:54:51
And then? 00:54:59
The no drones with our code. Those big signs need to be up to and interspaced along with the quiet. 00:55:01
And I agree that it doesn't need a lot and I'm talking about on the way to Hopkins and along there. 00:55:12
Because that really. 00:55:20
Need. 00:55:22
Effective sign. 00:55:25
That nobody has to stop and read a bunch or anything else because they're not going to. 00:55:28
And I don't know what you can do except for more enforcement on the revving their engines and the motorcycles. They'll wake me up 00:55:33
in the middle of the night, even. 00:55:38
But. 00:55:44
Simple. Effective. Large enough. 00:55:46
And definitely the drones. 00:55:50
Thank you very. 00:55:54
And we have a hand raised from Lisa. 00:55:58
Thank you. 00:56:02
We are so fortunate to have this Rookery protected by fencing and. 00:56:05
Amazing dedicated docents. 00:56:12
It's a. 00:56:17
Tony and I moved here from La Jolla. 00:56:18
There is a Rookery on the Coastal Trail, you could say, but it's just continual. 00:56:22
Aggravation. It's really difficult to to manage the people. 00:56:33
The signs are so important because they can be pointed to, whether it's by docents or by by residents or anybody who knows what's 00:56:39
going on, people get it. 00:56:45
Some people need signs they. 00:56:52
Really, pay attention to people. But signs. So the signs, especially the simple ones, The quiet, please. 00:56:56
And maybe a little detail, but not a lot. 00:57:04
Umm, the last. Oh my heavens, last year there were these. Pathetic. 00:57:08
Laminated signs on sandwich boards, you, some people or a frames. 00:57:14
That were there. We had lots of rain right? And and there was so much condensation inside you couldn't even read the signs. 00:57:20
So I there I hadn't thought about the issue. 00:57:29
People can climb on signs, so that would be tricky as far as spacing them, but the lower. 00:57:34
Ones that maybe come up to your thigh somewhere. They have some very nice ones at Moss Landing Marine Labs. 00:57:41
Anyway, that's a nice size where your height where you see them. 00:57:51
But they're not in your view. 00:57:58
So yes, people are more compliant when there's signs, OK, And just so important for our seals, but. 00:58:01
I would just like to add two things that we need signs on the streets. 00:58:11
Coming in to PG, I don't know if that was mentioned here, I didn't hear that and and the street obviously is is a real concern 00:58:16
and. 00:58:22
A neighbor, a wonderful young father on our street, walks his little girl in a stroller. 00:58:29
Almost every morning along the stretch West of Lovers Point, and there's two sets of rocks there on either side of what we call 00:58:36
Oak Rock. The the big one where the egret. 00:58:43
Stands and sometimes and it's covered with cormorants. 00:58:50
Sometimes black oyster catchers nest there. He's so distressed by people who taunt the seals trying to get a response to from 00:58:55
them. 00:58:59
So if there's any way to provide signs there too, that's not. 00:59:04
The huge priority that the Rookery is but but it is. People need to be educated, thank you very much. 00:59:09
Next we have Miss Carmelita Gar. 00:59:21
Thank you very much Andrew. The BNRC Commissioners, I want to thank you for your vacation and your work towards. 00:59:26
Our wildlife and trees. 00:59:35
What have you that make us such a great community? So, so I I agree with signage and I agree with Mr. Aikman's suggestion to keep 00:59:38
it simple. Quiet please. 00:59:44