Board advances Fiscalini Ranch plan; ad hoc to review Director’s written corrections and budget work

The Cambria Community Services District board continued its months‑long review of an update to the Fiscalini Ranch public‑access and resource management plan, a document intended to clarify maintenance responsibilities and preserve conservation values on the preserve.

Director Scott, co‑chair of the board’s ad hoc committee, said the updated plan sought to strengthen relations between the district and the Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (FFRP) and to clarify roles for staff, volunteers and contractors. "The core responsibilities and the conservation easement terms remain unchanged," Scott said. He said FFRP’s board voted unanimously to concur with the draft and the Coastal Conservancy has also signaled concurrence.

Vice President Dean, who also served on the ad hoc committee, thanked FFRP representatives and staff for months of negotiated changes and said the committee had worked to achieve consensus. "It was a long process," she said, adding that attorneys on both sides reviewed the draft.

Director Thomas, however, told the board he had a roughly 10‑page list of substantive and technical corrections that he believed were necessary before final adoption. He said the plan is the first substantive amendment in more than two decades and that volunteers and the community rely on accurate language. He offered to provide his edits in writing and asked that the ad hoc committee review them before the board takes a final vote.

Tom Loganville, speaking for FFRP as vice chair of its board, said FFRP had reviewed the revisions and submitted written concurrence May 26. Other public commenters urged careful attention to the preservation obligations and to the division of long‑term costs.

After discussion the board agreed to continue the ad hoc committee’s work and expand its scope to include budgeting collaboration with FFRP; Directors Scott and Vice President Dean were asked to continue in that role. The committee will review Director Thomas’ written comments, discuss any proposed edits with FFRP and the Coastal Conservancy, and return to the board.

The board did not vote to adopt the plan at this meeting; directors said the next steps are to incorporate agreed edits and bring a final document for consideration in July.