Cambria board hears updated Fiscalini Ranch management plan; ad hoc committee to continue work on budgeting

The Cambria Community Services District board reviewed an updated Fiscalini Ranch public-access and resource management plan on June 24 after months of work by a board ad hoc committee and staff with input from the Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch (FFRP) and the State Coastal Conservancy.

Director Scott, who served on the ad hoc committee, told the board the process improved working relationships with FFRP and resulted in clearer roles between the district and the volunteer organization. "When we started this process, the relationship between FFRP and CCSD was not always positive," she said, and credited committee members and staff for reaching an agreement the FFRP and the Conservancy have already endorsed.

Vice President Dean, the other board ad hoc member, said the document reflects long negotiations, legal review and staff work and that the FFRP board had unanimously concurred with the updated draft. Both directors urged continued collaboration with the Friends and conservancy as the board moves toward a July decision.

Concerns and next steps: Director Thomas described what he called significant errors introduced in the amendment and said volunteers and the community depend on an accurate plan. He offered to submit a roughly 10-page list of suggested corrections and asked that the ad hoc committee review those changes rather than rushing to adoption. He said he would prefer the ad hoc committee incorporate substantive edits and return a revised document for board consideration.

Public input: Tom Loganville, vice chair of the FFRP board, told the board the FFRP had unanimously approved the changes and looked forward to continuing joint stewardship. Ted Siegler, a long-time user of the ranch and former FFRP board member, urged caution and said the document needed additional scrutiny on preambles and finance language; he called on the district not to assume perpetual volunteer support.

Budgeting follow-up: At a related agenda item the board voted to appoint (or continue) the board ad hoc committee to work with FFRP on budgeting tied to the plan; Vice President Dean and Director Scott were designated to carry that work forward and report back with any recommended policy for how CCSD and FFRP might align on funding and maintenance responsibilities.

What happens next: Director Thomas said he will provide his written comments to the ad hoc committee; staff said any subsequent significant changes would likely require additional committee review and another public meeting before final adoption. The board emphasized that any edits should have concurrence from all three parties (CCSD, FFRP and the Coastal Conservancy) before being returned for approval.

The hearing portion of the agenda closed with the board endorsing continued ad hoc work on budgeting and promising to post any received written comments online so the public can review them before the next meeting.