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RPVCCA_CC_SR_2013_12_03_K_PVNP_PVPLC_2010-2012_Cumulative_Report_&_2012_Annual_ReportOF RANCHO fALOS VERDES MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: DATE: . SUBJECT: REVIEWED: Project Manager: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS JOEL ROJAS, AICP, DIRECTOR DECEMBER 3, 2013 DEVELOPMENT PALOS VERDES NATURE PRESERVE-PALOS VERDES PENINSULA LAND CONSERVANCY 2010-2012 CUMULATIVE REPORT AND 2012 ANNUAL REPORT (SUPPORTS 2013 CITY COUNCIL GOAL -TRAIL SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT) CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGER G9.- Ara Mihranian, AICP, Deputy Community Development Directo# RECOMMENDATION Receive and file the 2010-2012 Cumulative Report and the 2012 Annual Report submitted by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy on its management activities for the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. BACKGROUND The City's Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) calls for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PVPLC) to serve as the City's management agency for the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. In this capacity, the PVPLC is required by the NCCP to submit certain annual reports to the City and Wildlife Agencies (the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Specifically, the PVPLC is required to submit a monitoring report on its habitat restoration areas in the Preserve and on its exotic plant removal efforts. Additionally, the PVPLC is required to submit a comprehensive cumulative report, prepared every three years, on its habitat restoration efforts. Pursuant to the NCCP approved by the City in 2004 and the formal management agreement authorizing the PVPLC to manage the Preserve on behalf of the City, the PVPLC has submitted, for the City Council's acceptance, the 2010-2012 Cumulative K-1 PALOS VERDES NATURE PRESERVE -CUMULATIVE AND ANNUAL REPORTS DECEMBER 3, 2013 PAGE2 Report and the 2012 Annual Report summarizing the PVPLC's management activities in the Preserve. An electronic copy of both the Cumulative Report and the Annual Report were transmitted to the Council on November 13, 2013 under separate cover. DISCUSSION 2010-2012 PVPLC Cumulative Report The PVPLC submitted Cun:iulative Report provides a comprehensive report for the period between 2010 and 2012 on the following: • Detail surveys and data analysis regarding vegetation mapping, covered plants and wildlife; and, • A three year Habitat Restoration Plan 2012 PVPLC Annual Report A component of the Cumulative Report (Section 7) is the required Annual Report, which covers the period between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. The Annual Report describes the PVPLC's management activities relating to habitat enhancement and restoration, property maintenance and monitoring, vegetation and wildlife monitoring, trail management and monitoring, and volunteer involvement during the 2012 calendar year. The 2012 PVPLC Annual Report includes the following sub-reports (see Annual Report): • Fires in the Preserve • Habitat Restoration Monitoring • Research and Monitoring • Targeted Exotic Removal Program for Plans (TERPP) • Brush Clearance • Scientific Research and Wildlife Monitoring • Trail Management and Monitoring o Future Trails Projects List (2014) • Volunteer Involvement Of particular public interest is the trail project list of the Annual Report. Based on comments from the public and on site monitoring, the PVPLC develops an annual list of potential trail projects to be completed by the PVPLC within the Preserve based on available volunteer time and funding opportunities, such as grants and volunteer events. The trail projects completed in 2012 are listed on Page 16 of the 2012 Annual Report and include erosion repair, trail delineation, and fence removal projects to name a few. Projects on the list that are not completed during the calendar year are carried over to the following year's list of projects. The Preserve Trail Project List for 2013 is located in Appendix E of the 2012 Annual Report. According to the attached letter from PVPLC Executive Director Andrea Vona (see attachment), the Annual Report is consistent with the reporting requirements of the NCCP and raises no significant issues or concerns with regards to the management of the Preserve. Staff has reviewed the Annual Report and agrees that it is consistent with K-2 PALOS VERDES NATURE PRESERVE -CUMULATIVE AND ANNUAL REPORTS DECEMBER 3, 2013 PAGE3 PVPLC's preserve management responsibilities as required by the City Council approved 2004 NCCP and the current management agreement between the City and the PVPLC. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 2012 Habitat Loss Tracking Report As part of the Annual Report, the NCCP requires the City to track and report all of the Coastal Sage Scrub (CSS) habitat loss. Attached is the "Habitat Loss Tracking Report" for the 2012 calendar year. A total of 13.89 acres of CSS were lost for a variety of reasons. Transmittal of the Cumulative and Annual Reports to City Council As previously noted, an electronic copy of the Cumulative and Annual Reports were transmitted to the City Council on November 13, 2013. If a hard copy is desired in advance of the December 3rd meeting, please contact Staff. The Cumulative and Annual Reports are also available on the City's website under the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve homepage. Public Notice On November 14, 2013, an electronic message was sent to the subscribers of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve list-serve announcing the availability of the Cumulative and Annual Reports (with a link to view the documents) and of the December 3, 2013 City Council meeting. To date, no public comments were submitted to the City. In the event public comments are submitted to the City after the transmittal of this Staff Report, Staff will provide those comments letters to the Council at the meeting. Public Notification Staff updated the website and issued a list-serve message announcing tonight's meeting with a link to the Staff Report and PUMP document being considered by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACTS Receiving and filing the 2010-2012 Cumulative Report and the 2012 Annual Report will not result in any fiscal impacts to the City. CONCLUSION Based on the information provided herein and pursuant to the City's NCCP, Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file the PVPLC's 2010-2012 Cumulative Report and the 2012 Annual Report. ATTACHMENTS • 2010-2012 Cumulative Report and 2010 Annual Report (transmitted under separate Cover) • Letter from Andrea Vona, PVPLC Executive Director • 2012 Habitat Loss Tracking Report K-3 PRESERVING LAND AND RESTORING HABITAT FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF ALL November 22, 2013 Joel Rojas Community Development Director City of Rancho Palos Verdes 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275-5391 Re: Comprehensive Management and Monitoring Report 200I0-2012 and Annual Report 2012 for the Rancho Palos Verdes Draft Natural Community Conservation Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan Dear Mr. Rojas, This letter is to confirm that the Comprehensive Management and Monitoring Report 20 I 0- 2012 and Annual Report for 2012 for the Rancho Palos Verdes Draft Natural Community Conservation Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP) were delivered to you as well as the wildlife agencies for your review in September. We have incorporated feedback and comments received from the wildlife agencies and submitted the updated reports to you this month. These reports are part of our commitment under our management agreement with the City as well as the requirements of the Draft NCCP/HCP. We recommend that City also provide the habitat tracking report, which is a portion of the City's requirements under the Draft NCCP/HCP, as additional information to the report. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any questions or clarifications. Sincerely, Andrea Vona Executive Director 916 SILVER SPUR ROAD# 207. ROLLING HILLS ESTATES. CA 90274-3826 T 310.541.7613 WWW.PVPLC.ORG K-4 2012 Habitat Loss Tracking Report Responsible Party Date of CSS Loss Amount of CSS Location of Loss Description of Loss Loss (Acres) Fire Jan-12 12.7 acres Three Sisters Reserve Fire causd by errant mylar balloon hitting electrical lines Cal Water Mar-12 0.1 acres Portuguese Bend Reserve Broken water pipeline Sunshine Apr-12 .01 acres Filiorum Reserve Unauthorized trail work Fire May-12 0.2 acres Portuguese Bend Reserve Fire reportedly caused by SCE power pole Sanitation District Jun-12 .02 acres Alta Vicente Reserve Sanitation district service truck went off- road damaging habitat City of RPV 0.7 acres Ocean Trails Reserve Goats used for fuel modification accidently Jun-12 (Shoreline Park) grazed outside the fuel modification zone Unknown Sep-12 .04 acres Abalone Cove Reserve Unknown and unauthorized vehicle access (Portuguese Point Loop Trail) Unknown September I October Portuguese Bend Reserve Unauthorized construction of a trail .12 acres between the Rim Trail and Fire Station Trail 2012 (Rim Trail) Total Habitat Acreage Loss 13.89 acres K - 5