Santa Ysabel Casino Agreement, Trails Plan Adoptions Among Supervisors Highlights

By Joe Naiman

An off-reservation mitigation agreement between the county and the Santa Ysabel tribe and the adoption of a community trails master plan were among the highlights of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors meetings in January.

Other highlights included adoption of a solid waste plan, an application to subsidize rubberized road pavement, the continuance of the proposed traffic infrastructure fee, and an appointment to fill the Wynola Water District board vacancy.

The supervisors opened their 2005 session Jan. 4 with a swearing-in ceremony for the three re-elected supervisors, including Dianne Jacob, and the election of board officers with Pam Slater-Price chosen as board chairwoman for 2005. After approving appointments to various assignments, the supervisors adjourned until Jan. 5.

The Integrated Waste Management Summary Plan adopted Jan. 5 includes regional goals and policies, summarizes programs to meet the state-required 50 percent landfill diversion rate, and suggests steps to implement and administer specific programs. A siting element adopted as part of the measure describes existing facilities and strategies for the region to meet 15 years of disposal capacity. The siting element serves as a guide rather than a specific development program. It discusses new landfills and landfill expansions but does not advocate or guarantee approval of facilities by any agency or jurisdiction. The siting element update includes updated criteria to be used in the siting process for new solid waste disposal facilities or expansions of existing facilities.

Also Jan. 5, supervisors approved a grant application for rubberized asphalt concrete for paving on county roads. In addition to the benefit of less rubber ending up in landfills, rubberized asphalt concrete —which uses recycled tire material — also has roadway benefits. Although it is about 10 percent more expensive than ordinary asphalt concrete, it has proven to be more durable.

San Diego County has used some rubberized asphalt concrete paving in recent years on a trial basis. Results showed that the rubberized paving was feasible not only in terms of maintenance but also for sound reduction.

The competitive grant would offset $2.50 per ton, if awarded. The maximum amount of the grant is $50,000, or partial reimbursement for 20,000 tons. Staff members from the county’s Department of Public Works are identifying road segments where the use of the product will provide the most benefit. A list of roads and details the contract process are expected in the spring.

On Jan. 11, supervisors ratified appointments to several vacant seats, including the Wynola Water District board of directors. Board member Robert Gans did not seek re-election, and no other citizen filed for the seat in the November election. After recommendation from the district and because of a lack of candidates, supervisors filled the vacancy. The district recommended that former director Franklin Miller be returned to the board. His term will expire in December 2008.

The Jan. 12 meeting included an hearing to approve the agreement between the county and the Santa Ysabel tribe. In addition to providing revenue to the county to cover impacts from a proposed casino, the agreement also waives sovereign immunity from personal-injury lawsuits because of traffic accidents involving the casino. Payments from the tribe also will include contributions to combat gambling addiction or other gambling problems, and a trust fund will ensure that the money is used for that cause.

The transportation impact fees that were to be implemented Jan. 12 were delayed because of concerns about expanding the pilot program countywide. The continuance will allow other communities to offer their input. During development of the Fallbrook and Ramona pilot programs, county staff members said a countywide impact fee program could aid communities other than Ramona and Fallbrook, as well as address the impacts of regional roads. However, proposed countywide implementation created has opposition to the amount of the commercial fees in other communities.

During the Jan. 12 meeting, the community trails master plan was adopted. The plan, which will implement goals for a county trails network linking regional and community trails. The supervisors also adopted a general plan amendment that incorporates a regional trails map into the general plan, describes countywide goals and policies related to trails, and establishes a baseline level of service of 0.8 miles of trails per 1,000 people. The plan adoption does not include the approval or construction of any specific trail. Community trails maps included in the master plan show proposed trails as general alignments for future development. The alignment allows a trail location to avoid topographical obstacles, sensitive habitat and other site-specific constraints, and the location of a proposed trail within the alignment will be based on a route study that will use trail design criteria included in the master plan.