Officials to hold Measure Z community outreach meeting on implementation

UPDATE: Community members filled the Agricultural Center Conference room in Salinas on Wednesday to give their input on how Measure Z should be implemented.

“I wanted to be informed as to how it’s going out into the community,” said Kristy Turano of Salinas.

The Monterey County Resource Management Agency said now that the measure has passed, they need help developing procedures to put it into practice when dealing with oil companies and landowners who lease space to them.

“It was a public initiative and so we figured we come out to the public and say what do you want this process to look like,” said Carl Holm, Director of Monterey County Resource Management Agency. “To make sure that what we get to the board of supervisors, we just don’t have another big debate as far as the process.”

Attendees were asked to weigh in on issues like property rights, use of permits and zoning, along with how long companies have to come into compliance with new regulations.

“Measure Z allows the county to grant exemptions for projects that because of the measure constitute an illegal taking of property,” said Kathy Miller, Public Affairs Communications Coordinator for Aera. “For our company, that is definitely the case and so we’re really interested to see this process unfold.”

“I think it was really good,” said Mary Hsia-Coron of Aromas. “Sounds like the county, they’re pretty open to hearing from everyone, how the process should be set up.’

County officials said the next step is to develop a draft ordinance in the next few months for public review.

ORIGINAL: Officials in Monterey County will hold a community meeting to discuss plans on implementing Monterey County’s anti-fracking bill, Measure Z, which passed back in November.

The meeting is set for Wednesday at 1428 Abbott Street in Salinas at the Agricultural Center Conference Room and will run from 4 to 6:00 p.m.

According to officials, the purpose is to obtain public input in regards to the development of procedures in implementing Measure Z.

Officials said Measure Z authorizes the Board of Supervisors to adopt implementing ordinances, guidelines, rules and regulations to further the purpose of the initiative.

County staff will draft procedures to present to the Board of Supervisors at a noticed public hearing. To start this process, staff is seeking public input on the development of procedures to implement Measure Z, including procedures to implement mandated.