Sierra Conservancy bill moves to governor's desk

Ag Alert ^ | September 1, 2004 | Christine Souza

[hedgetrimmer]

California Farm Bureau Federation vigorously opposes a measure approved by the Legislature last week that calls for the creation of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an added layer of government that could impact members in 22 counties throughout the Sierra Nevada region.

"We are extremely disappointed," said Bill Pauli, California Farm Bureau Federation president. "This legislation is contrary to the governor's California Performance Review and deserves to be vetoed."

For almost four years, Farm Bureau and other business groups have worked to oppose legislation that would create a Sierra Nevada Conservancy and further increase government ownership of private lands. The government currently owns 72 percent of the land area in the Sierra Nevada.

The stated purpose of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is to serve as a central forum for coordination and planning of conservation efforts throughout the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy would fund grants and projects across the region. Proponents say, the agency's goals are to protect sensitive areas, reduce the risk of natural disaster, including fire, and increase recreational and tourism opportunities.

"This conservancy represents a fresh approach to addressing its unique needs and challenges," said Assemblyman Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City, a co-author of the bill. "Rather than the typical Sacramento-knows-best paradigm, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy will empower local communities to identify needs and set priorities for a future we can all be proud of."

Farm Bureau disagrees.

"When is enough, enough? Isn't nearly three-quarters of the land area enough for conservation purposes? Seventy-two percent of the land in this region is already owned by the government," said John Gamper, CFBF director of taxation and land use. "If the state continues buying more land and taking it off of the tax rolls, then there isn't going to be a tax base to provide essential services needed by the citizens of the region."

The Sierra Nevada bill, Assembly Bill 2600, by Leslie and Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, could be detrimental to the livelihoods of landowners in the rural counties of the Sierra Nevada, the Farm Bureau contends. Impacted counties include: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne and Yuba.

Valerie Zentner, El Dorado County Farm Bureau executive director, has fought conservancy legislation for a number of years and said that it will adversely affect the people of the state.

"The creation of a Sierra Nevada Conservancy is bad for farmers and ranchers, bad for business, bad for local governments and bad for the state's taxpayers," Zentner said. "It ensures that government continues to grow and yet provides no assurances that the conservancy will actually accomplish anything of value in the Sierra."

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Gamper said, has the authority to provide grants to other state agencies, local governments and non-profit groups to acquire land. If the land is acquired and not managed properly, he said, it could impact the neighboring operations.

Opponents of AB 2600 have expressed concern about the loss of local control because the conservancy is not bound by local general plans or zoning ordinances.

"Our fundamental concern is increased government ownership of private land, especially in El Dorado County where over 60 percent of the land area is already owned by the government," Zentner said. "The county's struggling local government and our members simply cannot afford the loss of any more land from property tax-paying status and the accompanying reduction in services."

As a "remedy," in the last set of amendments to the bill, it stated that the Sierra Nevada Conservancy shall coordinate with local governments and consider their general plans, but Gamper noted that the conservancy will remain as the overarching authority.

The conservancy's board will be comprised of 13 members and of those, six will be locally elected county supervisors. The governor will appoint five other members and the Legislature will appoint two public members to represent statewide interests.

"Timber-dependent counties such as El Dorado simply cannot accept further government restrictions on our largest agricultural commodity. Existing regulations have reduced the number of sawmills to one. Any further intrusion could be the final blow to an historic industry that provides quality wood products and employment in El Dorado County," said Norman Krizl, El Dorado County Farm Bureau president. "Governor Schwarzenegger has been supportive of agriculture in California. We can only hope that he hears our message that timber is an agricultural commodity and deserves the same support as all other agricultural pursuits."

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy bill was forwarded to Schwarzenegger, who has 30 days to sign the legislation. Since Schwarzenegger's Resources Agency played a key role in crafting the bill, it is expected that the governor will sign the measure into law.

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item. (Top)

[Seadog Bytes]

Have you folks seen this already...???

...Yes, it DID come with all those names...oops?
(...entitled 'Increasing Clarity')

---

-----Original Message-----
From: Medefind, Jedd [mailto:Jedd.Medefind@asm.ca.gov]
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 13:52
To: 'Virgil Welch'; 'Allan Lind--Allan Lind & Assoc'; 'Ann Eckert'; 'Bill George'; 'Bob Roberts'; 'Brenda Fotos--SMUD Gov Affairs'; 'Brent Harrington--RCRC'; 'Bruce Kranz'; 'Chuck Peck'; 'Dam Tomascheski'; 'Dan Macon'; 'Darrel Sweet'; 'Dave Solaro'; 'David Breniger'; 'David Jones--Lobbyist for Truckee'; 'David Sutton'; 'Dolores Garcia--Mike's Friend'; 'Don Amador'; 'Doug Houston'; 'Ed Horton'; 'Ed Rich--Calaveras County Rep Chair'; 'Elizabeth Martin'; 'Erik Stern--Mod Bee'; 'Hank White--Georgetown PUD'; 'Jamie Bate of the Sierra Sun'; 'Jim Chatigny--Exec Dir of MCWRA'; 'John Faulk--Tahoe Realtors'; 'John Fraser'; 'John Hofman'; 'Karen Douglas--PCL'; 'Kathleen Gilman--Shasta Land Trust'; 'Katie Dokken--With ACWA'; 'Kerri Timmer--Contract w/ Sierra-Cascade Land Trust Council'; 'Kurt Reed--Placer Co. Rep on Assoc of Special Districts'; 'Laurel Brent-Blum'; 'Laurie Elliot--Pres of Sierra County Chamber'; 'Linda Arcularius'; 'Lisa Rudnick--Associated with Conserv. Talk Radio'; 'Mark Pawlicki, lobbyist, helps CA Forestry Assoc'; 'Mark Rentz of CA Forestry Assoc'; 'Mary Herdegen--Placer County Sups'; 'Melva Bigelow--TNC'; 'Natasha Hagaman'; 'Nita Vail--CA Rangeland Trust'; 'Pascale--Reporter'; 'Pat Davison'; 'Patricia Magason'; 'Paul Stein'; 'Rachel Dinno'; 'Robert Weygandt'; 'Robert Weygandt Assistant--Jennifer Pereira'; 'Robert Weygandt--2'; 'Roberta Long'; 'Stephani Neff'; 'Steve Frisch'; 'Susan of the Cattlemen'; 'Susan Rohan--Placer Co. Realtors'; 'Tom Conovales--Lobbyist for El Dor Irrigation Dist'

Subject: Increasing Clarity

Sierra Friends,

The plans still aren’t set in stone, but I wanted to give you the latest in regards to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy signing ceremony.

It appears that Thursday the 23rd will indeed be the big day. The latest tentative plan calls for the ceremony to begin at 10:30 AM.

The official location is in the Colfax area. Parking will be at the Colfax Train Station, and attendees will be shuttled from there.

I will let you know as more information comes in.

Jedd Medefind
__________________________________
Jedd Medefind
Chief of Staff
Assemblyman Tim Leslie (AD 04)
916/ 319-2004

[NormsRevenge]

Some legacy Arnold the 'Republican' is building.

[SierraWasp]

I know about a dozen of those names quite well! Too bad I have to be in a business meeting in Sacramento that morning as I will be in mourning!!!

I still think the boundaries of this phony GovernMental body would make an excellent 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!

[NormsRevenge]

I'll be far out to sea, but I have a feeeling the odor of manure from this legislative effort will reach even there. ;-)

[SierraWasp]

Valerie Zentner, El Dorado County Farm Bureau executive director, has fought conservancy legislation for a number of years and said that it will adversely affect the people of the state.

"The creation of a Sierra Nevada Conservancy is bad for farmers and ranchers, bad for business, bad for local governments and bad for the state's taxpayers," Zentner said. "It ensures that government continues to grow and yet provides no assurances that the conservancy will actually accomplish anything of value in the Sierra."

I had an intensely interesting conversation with this brilliant young woman today and she agreed with me that the map at the beginning of this thread, as provided in the article, would make an excellent 51^st state named SIERRA REPUBLIC!!!

Too bad for you, Siskayou... You'll have to stay with liberal GANG-GREEN dominated old Cauliforneeah!!! We'll find a Governor with some sense!!!

[farmfriend]

How do we start this separatist movement?

[SierraWasp]

Pacific Legal Foundation and gathering petitions to submit to CONgress for a Statehood Act, plus lots and lots of group meetings looking for endorsement and support as well a benefactors...

[marsh2]

I did scream to my CAO about the last minute insertion of "Cascade" into the funding mechanism. Note that Siskiyou is not one of the 22 counties. I sigh a sigh of relief.

[Seadog Bytes]

Update: ...(...FReepertunity?)
(In the interests of time, I did not attach the map to the Colfax Train Station - Colfax isn't that big - but I can post it later if necessary.

(Note: From the prior msg, the ceremony w/b Thur 9/23/04)

-----Original Message-----
From: Medefind, Jedd [mailto:Jedd.Medefind@asm.ca.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 17:15
Subject: Sierra Nevada Conservancy Legislation
Signing Ceremony - map attached

Dear Sierra Friends--

Assemblyman Leslie would be honored if you would join him, along with Assemblyman Laird, Secretary Chrisman, and the Governor for the signing of AB 2600.

According to the Resources Agency's invite from Secretary Mike Chrisman, "the festivities will occur between 9:30AM to 1:30PM. Please be at the Colfax Train Station (Colfax, California) for transport to the signing ceremony site by 9:30AM. A short program and lunch will follow the signing
ceremony upon return to the Colfax Train Station. A map to the Colfax Train Station is attached.

"Please confirm your attendance by e-mail (dtmachida@tahoecons.ca.gov or by phone[ (530) 542-5580, dial 0]. We apologize for the short notice. Dress
is outdoor casual."

With sadness I must report that I will not be there to celebrate with you all. After nearly a year of labor on this amazing project, it just so happens that the signing is scheduled for the very same day as the Washington, D.C. release party for my book The Revolutionary Communicator.
Know that my heart will definitely be in the Sierra, celebrating with you in spirit!

If for some reason you need to reach me, please use my cell at (916) 799-2359.

Jedd Medefind

[farmfriend]

FReepertunity?

Can't you see freeping Dan Rather is more important. Sheesh, nobody cares if we lose our property rights. I don't know what has happened to this site. Where are the same people who worked so hard on Klamath? I can count the people who worked against this bill on one friggin hand! If all those people who supported Arnold had just banded together and fought this maybe we could have killed it. Sad.

[SierraWasp]

I had to be at a business meeting in Sacramento this morning and have monitored the news and am now watching the noon news on TV, but nary a word about this stealth signing in Colfax at the "Railroad" station!!!

It sure is fitting this be signed at a RAILROAD station as it's nothing but a powerful special interest "railroading" of the people by the powerful!!!

[calcowgirl]

It sure is fitting this be signed at a RAILROAD station as it's nothing but a powerful special interest "railroading" of the people by the powerful!!!

Eco Robber Barons... getting rich and robbing you of your freedom. A sad day.

[SierraWasp]

I think it is so "telling" that this is looking more and more like a stealth signing!!! I'm wondering if there's been some kind of delay, or they're afraid of what will happen when the people find out... STRANGE!!!

Maybe GANG-GREEN is getting scared of "Catastrophic Success!" One can only hope just a little at this point... I even checked www.SierraCONservancy.org a few minutes ago, but no new news!!!

[DoughtyOne]

Wouldn't it be great if the guy suddenly got religion on this subject and told the eco-nutcases to go hugg a brown bear?

[calcowgirl]

I thought the "signing ceremony" was strange in and of itself. Now reading the email that Seadog posted, it looks stranger:

Please be at the Colfax Train Station (Colfax, California) for transport to the signing ceremony site by 9:30AM.

So, where exactly was this ceremony? First you travel to a little known obscure train station in Colfax... and then get transported to destination unknown? Stealth is right!

It's certainly a way to avoid protesters (and the media).
Just more "open government", I suppose. /s

[SierraWasp]

Oh! I missed the "transport to" part!!!

They're takin the train to Truckee where all the activists for this nonsense are headquartered!!!

The GANG-GREEN, mis-named Sierra Business Alliance!!!

[farmfriend]

Let me know if and when you hear something!

[Arthalion]

Hrm, I own a couple hundred acres in Tuolumne County that's apparently covered by this thing. What, exactly, are the conservancy's powers and how loud are they going to scream when I develop part of it?

[SierraWasp]

You're gonna be so screwed and tattooed!!!

[farmfriend]

The conservancy does not have the power to condemn property or regulate but they have AB2631 one to do that for them. It is the invasive species bill. You thought the ESA was bad wait till you get a load of this one. All you need is some native grass they want to promote and now you can't use your land. So what is left? Sell it to the Conservancy. And 70% of this land is already in Fed hands and the counties don't get all the money from the Feds they are supposed to get to compensate for this. With more land taken off the tax rolls, how are these budget strapped counties going to survive?

I really thought is was disingenuous of Arnold to be promoting a bill to prevent the state from taking the county's money when all the while he was pushing this bill.