Huh?
Why are Merced taxpayers footing the bill for a study "to analyze the economic impact of a recent ruling by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that listed thousands of acres of both city and county land as 'critical habitat'"?
Isn't that basically an economic issue for developers and landowners?
How would somebody living in central or south Merced expect to benefit by the City of Merced spending $23,000 on the study and the Board of Supervisors presumably putting in $20,000?
Hasn't the economic impact from the critical habitat designation for vernal pools and their associated endangered species been studied, argued in court, and ruled on several times in the last decade?
Hasn't Rep. Dennis Cardoza, Shrimp Slayer-Merced spent his best years in Congress pushing bills to eliminate the critical habitat designation?
Hasn't the US Fish and Wildlife Service provided extensive economic analyses?
Isn't the "$10-million analysis" one of the reasons that Department of Interior official Julia MacDonald is under investigation right now? Will this city consultant produce MacDonald II?
If the study is focused on one development, why isn't the developer paying for it?
What is the involvement of the Old Shrimp Slayer in this expenditure of public funds for the benefit of his special interest contributors?
Is the study -- paid half by the city, maybe half by the county -- a part of some deal between the city, the county and the developer that one party is unhappy with, now that the speculative housing boom is over? Did somebody plan for something that did not happen?
Whatever the story is, the article raises more questions than it answers. Ordinarily, we'd blame the newspaper, but city department heads, like their county colleagues, know how to give a report that confuses the public, mystifies the reporter, and provides no answers for questions the public might ask, while leaving no problem the public doesn't care about unexplained. It looks like government, it sounds like communication, but the performance leaves a big hole.
Badlands editorial staff
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6-5-07
Merced Sun-Star
Council hires firm to analyze critical habitat ruling
Law that protects species in thousands of acres of both city and county land could stall or permanently halt developments like Bellevue Ranch, which could cost the city money
by Leslie Albrecht
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/local/story/13655960p-14249106c.html
A consultant will aim to put a price tag on the impact of possible fairy shrimp habitat in North Merced, following a City Council vote Monday night.
The council approved a plan to enter a $43,000 contract with Berkeley-based Environmental & Planning Services. The city will pay for $23,000 of the proposed contract. The county Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote next week on whether the county will pay for the remainder.
The firm will analyze the economic impact of a recent ruling by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that listed thousands of acres of both city and county land as "critical habitat."
That means the land could be home to fairy shrimp and other protected species. If it is, development of the land could be stalled or permanently halted, which could cost both the city and county development-related revenue.
A 2005 report by the federal government found that the critical habitat listing could cost county landowners $10 million in lost development opportunities.
In the city, 260 acres of the critical habitat land is inside Bellevue Ranch, the largest development planned within the city limit. The community could one day hold as many as 6,600 houses and apartments, as well as shopping centers and schools.
In March, Bellevue Ranch master developer Crosswinds Communities asked the city for permission to skip over the critical habitat acreage during Bellevue Ranch's next phase of development.
Instead, Crosswinds wants to build its next 1,300 houses in two areas surrounding the critical habitat land just south of Old Lake Road.
The city is still negotiating the request with Crosswinds, said Director of Development Services Jack Lesch.