During the development of LCP Volumes I and II and the LCCPs, the Stewardship Council implemented a public outreach program to ensure local communities, elected representatives, neighboring property owners, Native American tribes and groups, and other key stakeholders had many opportunities to engage in the Stewardship Council’s effort to preserve and enhance the Watershed Lands. To solicit additional input from the public on potential fee title recipients or conservation easement holders (referred to as donees), the Stewardship Council hosted a series of public information meetings. These meetings were designed to 

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• provide an overview and update on the Stewardship Council’s Land Conservation Program

• outline next steps, timeline, and opportunities for additional public input

• solicit public input on the desired qualifications of potential donees and the future stewardship of the planning units. 

 

The Stewardship Council also made a concerted effort to extend the benefits of PG&E’s Land Conservation Commitment to Native American tribes and groups, including meeting in person with representatives of Native American entities and conducting special outreach to best ensure Native American entities were aware of, and provided full access to participate in the opportunities presented by PG&E’s Land Conservation Commitment.  

 

Public input that the Stewardship Council received as a result of the public outreach process, including comments on Volume II of the LCP, comments from public information meetings on the selection of donees and other issues, and correspondence received by the Stewardship Council were considered by the Stewardship Council in its evaluation of the potential donees and their land stewardship proposals. In addition to public meetings, the public was given the opportunity to participate in all of the Stewardship Council’s public board meetings where decisions were made on fee title and conservation easement donees. Prior to making a decision regarding the disposition of any parcel, the Stewardship Council provided notice to the Board of Supervisors of the affected county, each affected city, town, and water supply entity, each affected Tribe and/or co-licensee, and each landowner located within one mile of the exterior boundary of the parcel, by mail or other effective manner.

 

WATERSHED PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS OF FEE TITLE AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT DONEES 

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Staff recommendations for prospective fee title donees and conservation easement holders that were endorsed by the Watershed Planning Committee were posted on the Stewardship Council’s website for public review and comment and publicly noticed.

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All public comments received by staff were provided to the board for consideration at the relevant public board meetings.    

 

PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE LAND CONSERVATION AND CONVEYANCE PLANS  

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The public was provided an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Land Conservation and Conveyance Plans (LCCPs), and the comments received were shared with board members prior to the Watershed Planning Committee’s forwarding the proposed LCCP to the board for its review and approval. The 30-day public review and comment periods were announced via an e-mail sent to contacts in the Stewardship Council’s database, a posting on the Stewardship Council’s web site, and an advertisement placed in local newspapers in communities that may have an interest in a particular planning unit. A notice inviting review and comment on the proposed LCCP was sent to all landowners on record located within one mile of the subject PG&E parcels and to PG&E leaseholders. In addition, a notice was mailed to the board of supervisors of the affected county; each affected city, town, and water supply entity; and each affected tribe and/or co-licensee. After receiving public comment, the Watershed Planning Committee could make revisions to a proposed LCCP prior to forwarding a recommendation to the board. 

 

STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS  

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Proposed LCCPs endorsed by the Watershed Planning Committee were posted on the Stewardship Council’s website for additional public review and comment approximately 30 days prior to being considered by the board at a public board meeting. The posting of proposed LCCPs was advertised via an e-mail sent to contacts in the Stewardship Council’s database. In addition, public board meetings are advertised via an e-mail sent to contacts in the Stewardship Council’s database, an announcement posted on the Stewardship Council’s web site, a press release issued to local papers, and an advertisement placed in local newspapers in the area where a board or public meeting is taking place or in communities that may have an interest in a particular topic on an upcoming meeting agenda. The board action taken is noted in the meeting minutes that are posted on the Stewardship Council’s website following each meeting.  

 

All public comments received were provided to the board. There was also an additional opportunity for public comment at the public board meeting when the board considered approval of the proposed LCCP. Adoption of an LCCP by the board was the final step in the Stewardship Council’s process for selecting donees. The prospective donees are responsible for securing its own internal approvals prior to the transaction being completed. LCCPs approved by the board were subject to the California Public Utilities Commission review and approval process, which included an additional opportunity for public review and comment. Transactions will be finalized upon LCCP review and transaction approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. 

 

While all LCCPs have now been approved by the board, we continue to encourage public involvement in the Stewardship Council process and encourage public comments. Staff is available to accept comments and answer your questions at info@stewardshipcouncil.org or 916-297-6660.

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