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