CC SR 20210420 G - PVPLC 2019 Annual Report
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 04/20/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive and file the 2019 Annual Report for the
Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file the 2019 Annual Report for the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Katie Lozano, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Recreation and Parks Director
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. 2019 Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Annual Report
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City’s Natural Communities Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan
(NCCP/HCP) requires the City and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
(PVPLC) to submit an Annual Report each year and a Comprehensive Monitoring and
Management Report every three years. The NCCP/HCP also establishes the PVPLC as
the City’s Preserve Habitat Manager, and in this role the PVPLC monitors and manages
the biological objectives of the NCCP/HCP. These objectives include:
• Maintaining or increasing populations of covered species to ensure long-term
viability and sustainability of native ecosystem function. Documenting changes in
the population of covered species through monitoring covered species within
conserved habitats.
• Maintaining or increasing the acreage of habitat for covered species within the
Preserve through enhancing and restoring wildlife connections to adjoining
habitat.
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• Documenting the loss of and protection of covered species and their habitats in
the annual Habitat Tracking Report and Covered Species Report (reported in
Annual Report).
• Managing populations of non-native invasive plant species in the Preserve
through the Targeted Exotic Removal Plan for Plants (TERPP).
• Describing any new biological data collected, though not the primary focus of the
monitoring program.
• Applying Adaptive Management to adjust conservation actions where needed .
Per the Management Agreement between the City and the PVPLC, below are some of
the tasks the PVPLC conducts to manage and implement the NCCP/HCP:
• Create the three-year Comprehensive Monitoring and Management Report
• Create the Annual Report
• Conduct wildlife and botanical surveys for covered species
• Meet monthly, and as needed, with City Staff to coordinate Preserve
management
• Conduct new habitat restoration (5 acres annually)
• Conduct Targeted Exotic Plant Control (5 acres annually)
The PVPLC prepares the Annual Report based on the calendar year to evaluate the
implementation of the NCCP/HCP during the preceding year, and to evaluate the overall
process being made toward reaching the NCCP/HCP conservation goals. Required
elements of the Annual Report are:
• Documentation of habitat restoration efforts
• Documentation of habitat gains and losses
• Description of invasive plant species management
• Biological monitoring of the Preserve
• Impacts of public use and recommendations, if necessary, for minimizing impacts
to the Preserve
• Summary of nighttime use
Per the NCCP/HCP, during the first five years of management, there will also be an
annual evaluation of management activities, enforcement activities, funding needs, and
the ability to accomplish resource management goals. Additionally, a separate Fiscal
Report prepared jointly by the City and PVPLC will be provided to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife annually, as part of the
annual report. Because the NCCP/HCP was approved in late 2019, the City and PVPLC
will begin these additional reporting requirements in the 2020 Annual Report.
The PVPLC also prepares the Comprehensive Monitoring and Management Report
every three years. The next report will cover 2019-2021 and will be presented to the
City Council in May 2022. Comprehensive Monitoring and Management Reports include
a synthesis of all data collected in the preceding three years and an analysis of trends in
biological resources. These reports include the following components:
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• Updated Covered Species Surveys
• Updated Predator Control Plan
• Updated Habitat Restoration Plan
• Management Recommendations based on species monitoring and management
to minimize loss or negative impacts to natural resources
2019 Annual Report
The 2019 Annual Report for consideration this evening includes the following sub
reports:
• Restoration Plans for the NCCP/HCP and Other Projects
• NCCP/HCP Restoration Monitoring Report
• Targeted Exotic Removal Program for Plants (TERPP) Report
• Trail Maintenance Activities and Project List
• Volunteer Involvement and Support
• Community Science and Education Programs
• City Projects and Tracking of Habitat Impact
• Report on nighttime use
PVPLC management recommendations pertaining to habitat restoration areas for this
reporting period include controlling weeds, infill planting, and continued monitoring to
optimize habitat restoration areas at Alta Vicente and Portuguese Bend Reserve s. They
recommend the assessment of a new restoration project site in 2020 so that planning
and funding can begin. PVPLC also recommends the evaluation of areas where more
acacia can be removed to enhance native habitats to support the natural recovery of
covered species.
PVPLC also expresses management concerns regarding the ability to successfully
close unauthorized trails and prevent new trails from being created. This is partly
because closing unauthorized trails is time consuming and expensive because of
continuous vandalism, drought, and increasing use of the Preserve. PVPLC
recommends continued coordination between PVPLC staff and volunteers, City Staff,
and enforcement personnel.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Timeline on Pending Document Submittals
The PVPLC will submit the 2020 Annual Report in summer 2021, and the next three-
year Comprehensive Monitoring and Management Report will be created for 2019 -2021,
and presented to the City Council in May 2022. Per the NCCP/HCP, the PVPLC
completes the Annual Reports and Comprehensive Monitoring and Management
Reports in March of the year following the reported upon period and submits the reports
to the wildlife agencies for review. Once the wildlife agencies review and make
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recommendations, the PVPLC makes the changes, and submits the reports to the City
Council in May. The 2019 and 2020 Annual Reports are late because the City, PVPLC,
and wildlife agencies focused energies in 2019 on the NCCP/HCP completion and
presentation to City Council. The NCCP/HCP was approved by the City Council in
November 2019. All four agencies also experienced operational delays and changes in
priority due to the pandemic. It is important to note that this annual report covers activity
prior to the increased use experienced during the pandemic, and the pending 2020
Annual Report will provide information reflective of that period.
Public Notification
On March 30, 2021, an email was sent to the subscribers of the Palos Verdes Nature
Preserve, Trails Network Plan, and Equestrian listserv groups, announcing the
availability of the 2019 Annual Report (with a link to view the document) and of the April
20, 2021, City Council meeting at which it would be presented. On March 30, 2021, the
document became available on the City’s website. Notices of the April 20, 2021, City
Council meeting were also posted at several major trailheads. Hard copies are also
available at City Hall and Hesse Park for public review upon request. To date, no public
comments have been submitted to the City.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Identify additional information to be included in the 2019 Annual Report and
direct staff to return at a later date with an updated annual report.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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