Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 17.41 Coastal Sage Scrub Conservation and Management

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rancho Palos Verdes Coastal Sage Scrub Conservation Ordinance."

(Code 1981, § 17.41.010; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

This chapter establishes policies, regulations, and standards necessary to ensure that the city will continue to realize the benefits provided by its natural environment. The city council finds and declares that it is necessary to adopt this chapter to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by providing requirements and procedures that reduce adverse impacts on threatened or endangered species, which could be directly created or indirectly induced by the unregulated removal of CSS habitat and other vegetation that is occupied by threatened or endangered species, regardless of whether such removal occurs in connection with proposed and existing developments. Coastal sage scrub habitat has been designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat essential for the continued survival of, among other species, the coastal California gnatcatcher. Therefore, this chapter establishes a regulatory process for approval of weed abatement and other activities undertaken on properties that are greater than two acres in size and contain CSS habitat to ensure that such activity does not jeopardize the continued viability of any endangered or threatened species due to the removal of, or impact to, occupied habitat.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.020; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

This chapter shall apply to all properties in the city that contain CSS habitat, as depicted on the city's most current NCCP map, including any areas subsequently annexed by the city, unless state or federal law prescribes otherwise. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the removal of any plant, including, without limitation, CSS, which would constitute a violation of any other applicable state or federal law or regulation, including without limitation, the Endangered Species Act.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the removal of any plant, including, without limitation, CSS, which would constitute a violation of any other applicable state or federal law or regulation, including without limitation, the Endangered Species Act.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.030; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

A. City means the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.

B. City council means the city council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.

C. Coastal sage scrub or coastal sage scrub plant community (CSS) means a vegetation community composed of relatively low-growing summer deciduous and succulent plants. Coastal sage scrub is the more general name for vegetation communities known as maritime succulent scrub, Diegan (or Riversidian) sage scrub, southern coastal bluff scrub, inland sage scrub, alluvial fan scrub, and mixtures of vegetation communities containing coastal sage elements and providing suitable gnatcatcher habitat. Characteristic plants of this community include, but are not limited to, California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), ashy-leaf buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum), California sunflower (Encelia californica), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), purple sage (Salvia leucophylla), black sage (Salvia mellifera), prickly pear and cholla cactus.

D. Department of Fish and Game means the California Department of Fish and Game.

E. Director means the director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.

F. Exotic woodland vegetation means a vegetation category identified in the city's NCCP that consists of nonnative trees and shrubs. Some of the introduced species may exist as ornamental vegetation that is used in landscaping and some are invasive and have dispersed into grassland and native habitats. Exotic species include everblooming acacia (Acacia longifolia), Sydney golden wattle (Acacia cyclops), Peruvian pepper tree (Schinus molle), Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebenthifolia), black locust, (Robinia pseudoacacia), myoporum (Myoporum laetum), gum tree (Eucalyptus spp.) and pines (pinus spp.).

G. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

H. Gnatcatcher means the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica), a small insectivorous songbird that inhabits almost exclusively the coastal sage scrub plant community, although it is found in other plant communities. The gnatcatcher has been listed as a threatened species under the federal endangered species act. The continued existence of the gnatcatcher is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation occurring in conjunction with urban and agricultural development.

I. Habitat modification means altering, clearing, cutting, destroying, relocating, or removing any coastal sage scrub, or any other act, which causes, or may be reasonably expected to cause the reduction in habitat value of a plant that makes up the coastal sage scrub plant community, including weed abatement activities. The term "habitat modification or removal" includes, but is not limited to, damaging the plant or root systems by machinery, storage of materials, or soil compaction, excessive pruning, weed abatement, paving with concrete, asphalt, or other impervious material, in the immediate vicinity of the coastal sage scrub, or in a manner which may reasonably be expected to kill a coastal sage scrub plant community, using herbicides to control or kill coastal sage scrub vegetation, or excessive or inadequate irrigation.

J. Natural communities conservation plan or NCCP means a plan for the conservation of natural communities using an ecosystem approach prepared pursuant to the state's Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Fish and Game Code § 2800 et seq.).

K. Weed abatement means, for the purposes of this chapter only, the removal of vegetation by any means, on any property in the city that is greater than two acres in size and contains CSS habitat, as depicted on the city's most current NCCP map, but excluding tree trimming and removal or maintenance of exotic woodland vegetation that does not constitute or contain CSS and is not occupied by an endangered or threatened species.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.040; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

It is unlawful for any person, firm, business, corporation, or any other entity to perform habitat modification work on any CSS habitat or perform weed abatement on any property greater than two acres in size that is within the geographical limits of the city and contains CSS habitat, as depicted on the city's most current NCCP map, without first complying with the provisions of this chapter.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.050; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any of the following activities, provided that the requirements of this chapter are satisfied:

A. Removal of CSS or any other form of habitat modification or weed abatement for the purpose of fire protection, such as the establishment of fuel modification zones and fire breaks, thinning or brush clearing, provided:

1. Such actions follow a regulation, a written plan or a written order that is issued or required by the county fire department or by another governmental entity; or

2. Such actions have been taken on a regular basis (at least once every three years) since June 23, 1997, within an area no larger than what is depicted on the city's official aerial maps on file with the city dated June 23, 1997, as having been cleared previously.

B. Removal of CSS or any other form of habitat modification required by any written local, county, state, or federally mandated health and safety order; provided such removal or clearing of vegetation follows a regulation, written plan or written order approved and required by the applicable city, state or federal government.

C. Removal of CSS or any other form of habitat modification performed by the city or by another governmental entity or by a utility in response to an emergency, in order to protect the public health and safety.

D. Loss of CSS that is the result of a natural event, such as landslide, fire or flood.

E. Removal of CSS or other non-CSS vegetation pursuant to a validly issued 4(d) permit or 10(a) permit, which shall be provided to the director prior to the commencement of the proposed habitat removal or modification.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.060; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

A. An owner of a property within the city that is greater than two acres in size and contains CSS habitat, as depicted on the city's most current NCCP map, who wishes to perform the following weed abatement of non-CSS vegetation, which is not exempt from the provisions of this chapter pursuant to section 17.41.060 (Exemptions) of this chapter, first must apply to the director for approval. The party seeking approval pursuant to this section shall submit an application to the director along with the following:

1. A plot plan generally depicting the subject property and the areas where the non-CSS vegetation is proposed to be removed, identifying all property lines and the location of any and all CSS on the property and its habitat value;

2. Evidence and documentation establishing whether any vegetation on the site is occupied by endangered or threatened species; and

3. A current biological survey identifying those areas of the property that contain CSS and those areas that contain no CSS. The biological survey shall demonstrate to the city's satisfaction that the areas of the property where the work is to be performed are not occupied by threatened or endangered species and that the proposed weed abatement will not take a protected species under either the federal or state endangered species acts and will not have an adverse impact on threatened or endangered species located elsewhere on the property or on adjacent properties. The biological survey shall be prepared by a qualified biologist, who has been certified by either the state department of fish and game or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to perform gnatcatcher surveys and shall be prepared during the six month period preceding the date when the proposed vegetation removal is to commence.

4. A payment as determined by the city council resolution to establish a trust deposit to pay for the city's review of the submitted biological survey by the city's consulting biologist.

B. Upon receipt of an application to perform weed abatement on non-CSS vegetation pursuant to subsection A of this section, the director shall forward the submitted biological survey to the city's consulting biologist for review. The director shall review the application, the biological survey, the city's consulting biologist's report on the submitted biological study and the accompanying material. Within 30 calendar days after receiving the application, the director shall take one of the following actions:

1. If the information provided to the director is incomplete, the director shall so notify the property owner and shall not continue processing the request until a complete request is submitted;

2. If the information provided by the property owner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that the proposed weed abatement complies with the provisions of this section, the director shall prepare environmental review documents pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.). If any interested party submits substantial evidence that the project may cause a significant effect on the environment, the director shall require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the requirements of CEQA. If there is no substantial evidence of a potential significant effect on the environment, then the director shall prepare a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration, unless the director determines that the proposed action is exempt from the provisions of CEQA. The director shall obtain public comments and comments from other agencies (including DFG and FWS) as required by CEQA. If the EIR, mitigated negative declaration, or negative declaration determines that the proposed action would not cause a significant effect on the environment, or if the certified EIR is accompanied by the approval of a statement of overriding considerations, the director shall issue a written notice to proceed to the property owner and impose any conditions necessary to ensure that the weed abatement is carried out in compliance with this chapter; or

3. If the director determines that the proposed activity does not comply with the provisions of this section, no weed abatement activities shall be conducted unless and until a 4(d) or 10(a) permit is obtained.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.070; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

The applicant or any interested person (as defined in section 17.96.990 of this Code) may appeal a decision issued by the director pursuant to section 17.41.070 (Application to the Director) of this chapter to the city council, pursuant to chapter 17.80 (Hearing notice and appeal procedures) of this title. The property owner shall not take action to perform any weed abatement activities authorized by the director's decision until the appeal period has been exhausted.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.080; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)

A violation of any provision of this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a separate and distinct offense for each day, or portion thereof, during which such violation continues, and shall be punishable accordingly. In addition to the foregoing, the city may require revegetation work be performed by the violator, at a ratio to be determined by the director, and may assess a fine in an amount necessary to ensure that the CSS that was improperly removed can be replaced and maintained for a minimum period of five years or until the CSS is reestablished and sufficient to cover any other costs incurred by the city in achieving compliance with this chapter. Further, the city shall not accept for processing, or grant approval of, any application for development, use, permit, or other entitlement pursuant to title 15, 16 or 17 of this Code until such time that the property owner has complied with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable provisions of this Code.

(Code 1981, § 17.41.090; Ord. No. 419U, § 2(part), 2005; Ord. No. 420, § 2(part), 2005)