North Coast MLPA Decision Ahead Oct. 25-26 in Fortuna

[Noyo Jim]

The MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force is meeting in Fortuna on Monday, Oct. 25 and Tuesday Oct. 26 in Fortuna to decide on the MPAs in the north coast.

The stakeholders agreed to one proposal - and it is supported by the following local governments, agencies and community groups:

The Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino
The Cities of Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Ukiah, Willits, Arcata, Fortuna, Eureka, Crescent City and Monterey
The Recreational Fishing Alliance
Partnership for Sustainable Oceans
Salmon Trollers Marketing Association
Humboldt Baykeepers

Even with this widespread support, we are worried that the BRTF may be interested in coming up with its own alternative. So we need lots of bodies in the room when the Task Force meets in Fortuna Oct. 25-26. You can also visit CV Starr Center in Fort Bragg or Flynn Center in Crescent City and provide public comment from the remote location. We need people will to cede their time on their speaker cards so your presence is important even if you do not want to speak.

Here are the details:


Who: MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force

What: Eighth meeting (draft agenda attached)

When: Monday, October 25, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. and Tuesday, October 26 at 8:00 a.m.

Where: River Lodge Conference Center
1800 Riverwalk Drive
Fortuna, CA 95540
and on the day of the meeting (for viewing or listening only) via
simultaneous webcast at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_n.asp

Note that there will be two public access locations for the public to view the meeting webcast and participate in public comment:

Flynn Center Multipurpose Room
981 H Street
Crescent City, CA 95531

C.V. Starr Community Center
300 South Lincoln Street
Fort Bragg, CA 95437

"Public Comment: The public will be invited to offer general comments on subjects related to the work of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 25. Speaker cards are requested and may be found at the entrance to the room. Time allotted for public comment is determined by the number of requests; submitting written comments that can be easily summarized in one to two minutes is encouraged."

If you cannot make the meeting, help out by submitting written comment and support for the Unified Array...

email: MLPAcomments@resources.ca.gov

[linglover]

For folks who are too busy or lazy to compose their comments offline, there is an online form at this link (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/round3comments_ncform.asp) where you can submit your comments in moments. This form will be available for two more days--through the end of the day tomorrow, Oct. 18.

It doesn't get any easier than this. Just do it!

Joel

[Brandi]

Hi All,

I want to echo what Jim has indicated. Granted, we are all nearing burn out stage however we can't expect that the Fat Lady will sing in our favor. Please write a letter of support TODAY, participate from one of the two remote nodes or attend the meeting. As one of the NCRSG members, I can not stress enough the importance of your support for our North Coast UNIFIED proposal.

Thank you!!!
Brandi

[Brandi]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to remind those who haven't yet however intend to send in your comments to the North Coast Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF), TODAY October 18th is the deadline!! (see below)

Thank you!!
Brandi

WRITTEN COMMENTS

Written comments are encouraged to be submitted by October 18, 2010 so that BRTF members can receive and review them prior to the October 25-26 meeting. Written comments received between October 19 and 21 will be provided to the BRTF at the October meeting; after October 21, written comments must be submitted at the BRTF meeting in Fortuna. Written comments can be submitted via:


Online: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/round3comments_nc.asp (through October 18 only)

Email: MLPAComments@resources.ca.gov

Mail: Marine Life Protection Act Initiative


c/o California Natural Resources Agency

1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311

Sacramento, CA 95814


Fax: 916.653.8102, Attn: MLPA Initiative