CCC Fires Executive Director

Following a long and inspiring day of compelling public testimony from hundreds of attendees from all over the state in support of retaining Executive Director Charles Lester, CA Coastal Commissioners went into closed session and voted 7-5 to fire him. Commissioners with the most anti-conservation  voting record (Diaz, Howell, Mitchell, Turnbull-Sanders, Vargas, McClure, Uranga) voted to fire Lester, giving no compelling reason to do so. Commissioners with the most pro-conservation voting record (Shallenberger, Groom, chair Kinsey, vice chair Bochco, Luevano) voted to retain Lester.

Commissioner Carole Groom, who is also a San Mateo County Supervisor, spoke in open session saying Lester leads by accomplishment and that the proposal to replace him is absolutely wrong.  She also said Supervisor Don Horsley is very pleased with CCC staff that covers SMC coast and fully supports Lester. SMC Community Development Director Steve Monowitz was among the speakers at the hearing and gave a powerful endorsement of Lester.  State Senator Jerry Hill was a signer on a letter from 16 state legislators in support of Lester.

Senior deputy director Jack Ainsworth will lead the agency until a replacement director is selected.

Prior post: Stand Up for the Coastal Act
LA Times: Feb 10 - Feb 17

Stand Up for the Coastal Act

The integrity and independence of the Coastal Commission are under attack. There is a behind-the-scenes effort by developer-friendly Coastal Commissioners to fire Executive Director Dr. Charles Lester. Rather than quietly resign, Dr. Lester has asked for a public hearing, which will be held February 10 at the Coastal Commission’s meeting in Morro Bay. 

The coast belongs to all the people. All Californians need to speak up for the coast, and defend the Coastal Act and the Coastal Commission’s independent staff. As Peter Douglas, the former Executive Director of the Coastal Commission said, “The Coast is never saved, it is always being saved.”

The MCC supports the continuation of Dr. Charles Lester as the California Coastal Commission’s Executive Director. 

What you can do: 

1. Email the Governor here and send copies to your state senator & assemblymember (find your representatives here)

2. Email the Coastal Commissioners:  (StatusOfExecutiveDirector@coastal.ca.gov)

3. Attend the Coastal Commission meeting Wednesday, Feb. 10, 10am
Agenda item #8 links to comments received & media coverage
Executive Director Charles Lester memo
Group letter from 153 current Coastal Commission staff
Act Coastal has help with logistics in traveling to the meeting

As of Feb 5: over 20,000 letters/emails support retaining executive director. 
Group letter from 35 former Coastal Commissioners 
Group letter from 16 State Legislators
Group letter from 93 environmental organizations
Group letter from 5 marine/estuary sanctuary foundations
Letter from Committee for Green Foothills
OpEd by Huey D. Johnson, former Secretary for Natural Resources
OpEd by Steve Blank, former Coastal Commissioner
Sierra Club page "Don't Let Developers Control The Coastal Commission"

Capitol Weekly Jan 19: CCC executive director under fire
Coastal Commission 2015 Vote Summary

MCC Meeting Jan 27, 2016

Agenda for January 27, 2016, 7:00 PM
GCSD meeting room, 504 Ave Alhambra, 3rd floor, El Granada

Supporting documents:
Consent agenda: Minutes for Jan 13, 2016, Minutes for Jan 23, 2016

MCC Special Meeting (Retreat), Jan 23, 2016

The annual MCC Administrative and Planning Retreat will be held Saturday, January 23, 2016, starting at 10:00 AM at Granada Community Services District, 504 Alhambra, third floor, El Granada.  The public is welcome. Supervisor Horsley will attend during the first hour to discuss his 2016 priorities for the Midcoast.  AGENDA

Supporting documents:
2015 MCC Issues & Projects
Treasurer Procedures 2016 
    Folding chair brochure, quote -- County Parks benches
MCC Policies & Procedures (1/28/15)
Rosenberg's Rules of Order -- Rosenberg Rules at a Glance

UPDATE: 1/23/16 meeting minutes 
2016 Task assignments - Issues & Projects