MBNMS Business and Tourism Activity Panel (BTAP) Minutes September 12, 2001

Meeting Date: September 12, 2001

Time: 9:30-11:30 AM

Location: Santa Cruz Harbor Public Meeting Room

Attendance:
Dave Ebert, US Abalone, BTAP Chair; SAC member
Joe Cavanaugh, Monterey Abalone Company
Dan Haifley, O’Neill Sea Odyssey, SAC member
Holly Price, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Karen Grimmer, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Stephanie Harlan, AMBAG, SAC Chair
Steve Scheiblauer, City of Monterey
Maggie Ivy, Santa Cruz Conference & Visitors Center
Rita Law, Aptos Chamber of Commerce
Marc Monte, Monte Foundation
David Clayton, SAC member
John Hibble, Aptos Chamber of Commerce
Charles Mier, Crow’s Nest, Shadow Brook
Brian Foss, Santa Cruz Port District
Linda Horning, Moss Landing Harbor District

Draft Meeting Notes - a Summary of the Meeting’s Proceedings.

Welcome and Introductions
Dave Ebert, BTAP Chair gave welcoming comments. Individual introductions commenced. Dave gave an introduction to new members about the BTAP and its relationship to the Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC), the SAC’s role, and its other three related working groups (Sanctuary Education Panel, Research Activity Panel, and Conservation Working Group), the SAC meeting schedule and listserv access. Comments were added in regard to NOAA’s role, public officials role, and the advisory role of the SAC.

Dave E. introduced the main topic for the day as the discussion of issues relative to the MBNMS management plan review. He explained that the Sanctuary is getting ready to update it’s existing management plan, and is requesting input from the BTAP on issues of concern. At the October 5, 2001 Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting, all four working groups of the SAC will present their issues to the Council. This will give the Council input prior to their upcoming public scoping meeting, tentatively scheduled for December 7th.

BTAP Issues Relative to the MBNMS Management Plan Review (MPR) Process
Dave Ebert passed out a document "Draft BTAP Recommendations" that was the product of a subcommittee meeting in August at the Monterey Harbor District office. The subcommittee included Dave Ebert, Maggie Ivy, Steve Scheiblauer, John Robinson, and Joe Cavanaugh.

The draft document included a list of issues, associated problem statements and solutions that addressed thirteen issues: Program Accomplishments; Respect Original Consensus-Building that Created the Sanctuary; Sanctuary Advisory Council; Fishing; Human Impacts; Public Events; Sanctuary Boundary; Large Vessel (cruise line); Dredging; Permit Authority; Aquaculture; Fiber Optic Cables; and Kelp.

Dave requested input for new issues and comments on the existing document. Dan Haifley requested clarification on the document and the process, specifically in regard to if the BTAP would be putting forward the subcommittee’s draft document or developing a new document. Steve Scheiblauer explained that the draft had originated from a prior document developed for a Monterey City Council meeting. The group decided to review each of the 13 items included in the draft, and then re-craft a new document that incorporated the comments from today’s meeting.

Comments were offered on the following issues:

1. Expand Water Quality Issues - This item included concerns about sewage spills, unknown spills, local, state and federal funding, and getting more current information to the community such as posting county health department phone to BTAP.
   
   
2. Public Events & Human Impacts - These were two separate but related items. The group requested that the new management plan add in new language regarding firework shows and other public events. Streamlining the firework permitting process and consolidating the application process was recommended. Holly Price briefed the group on the current status in regard to the potential MOU with NMFS and USFWS. Marc Monte suggested that the Sanctuary consider utilizing a non-biased party to collect monitoring data such as students from UCSC or Cabrillo College. Others concurred, and commented that we need to develop "indicators" for monitoring human impact criteria.
   
   
3. Respect Original Consensus-Building that Created the Sanctuary - There was a general discussion around the need to "codify" the original agreements made with local entities (i.e. agriculture, fishing, the Harbors)
   
   
4. Fishing - This was tied into the above discussion, and agreed that clearer language should be included that the Sanctuary will not regulate fishing. Steve Scheiblauer gave some background on current efforts with the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries (a group that includes fishermen, scientists and managers).
   
   
5. Marketing Plan – Stephanie Harlan recommended that such a plan would allow us to better identify and support collaborative efforts between the Sanctuary and local businesses. Others supported the idea.
   
   
6. Sanctuary Boundary – This item suggested difficulties with the current boundary abutting the coast and highly urbanized areas. Some commented that a boundary change is not a issue that should be addressed by the BTAP. (Note: The issue is being approached from a biogeographic analysis, and data will be collected and submitted by a number of agencies.) The group decided to omit this item.
   
   
7. Large Vessel (cruise liners) – There was discussion on the potential economic benefits and conservation issues around this topic. A suggestion was made to emphasize the educational opportunities that would be available if liners were utilizing the harbors. It was decided to redefine the problem statement and solution.
   
   
8. Dredging – Steve Scheiblauer and Brian Foss described the current language, and expressed some frustration with the permitting process. Holly Price offered some background from the Sanctuary’s perspective. Stephanie Harlan commented that she was concerned about this group addressing complex issues such as dredging (and other issues) without having more background information and understanding of the issues involved. Karen Grimmer clarified that this is preliminary input to the SAC, and there will be additional opportunities next year for the BTAP to give more detailed input on the management plan review process, and suggested that dredging issues could be addressed after the group has a presentation at a future BTAP meeting. Stephanie stressed the importance of having full community involvement in the MPR process, and she encouraged the group to motivate their friends and colleagues to go to the upcoming public scoping meetings and give their input.
   
   
9. Permit Authority – this had been somewhat addressed in a prior item, but it was reiterated that the Sanctuary should be required to work through existing agencies "permit authority".
   
   
10. Aquaculture – there was concern with the existing language allowing for regulation, and consistent with fishing – clarify the language that the Sanctuary will not regulate this activity.
    
    
11. Fiber Optic Cables – consistent with the dredging item, this will be omitted and added later after further background study and investigation.
    
    
12. Kelp – no action needed if the Sanctuary reaffirms its policy that this issue has been dealt with in the CFG process.
    
    
13. Sanctuary Advisory Council – David Clayton and Steve Scheiblauer expressed concerns with the SAC appointment process being controlled by NOAA, control of SAC correspondence and meeting agendas, and a limited oversight of the program. Dan Haifley expressed that he cannot support all the language in the draft. The SAC is subject to federal law, as the Sanctuary is a federal agency, and cannot be organized under State or local law as a separate entity. Karen Grimmer expressed that to her knowledge (and the previous SAC coordinator’s) there has been no control of agendas or correspondence, and that these concerns are no longer an issue. Concern was expressed that if a change in administration were to occur, such issues could resurface. This topic was carried to the next subcommittee meeting scheduled for September 19th in Monterey.

The next meeting date November 14, 2001. Location TBA
Main topic: MBNMS Management Plan Review process

Meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM
Notes submitted by Karen Grimmer, MBNMS Advisory Council Coordinator