Charlie Hall, a former director of the Granada Sanitary District, has announced he is running as a write-in candidate for the district’s board.

Hall served on board from 1992 to 1999.

Police are looking for two men who intentionally drove into a group of raccoons behind the Safeway, killing two, reports the Mercury News:

A large group of raccoons — a "gaze" — congregates at the Safeway at night and in the early morning, he said. They are attracted to the grocery store’s dumpsters, he said, and some employees apparently feed the animals.

"It seems to be a raccoon haven there," O’Malley said. "It’s their version of a McDonald’s."

The car left two dead raccoons behind. O’Malley said other animals may have been injured before retreating.

Witnesses got the car’s license plate numbers and the complaint has been referred to another agency.

There has been a report of a mountain lion sighting by a single observer in the creek area south of Cañada Cove mobile home park at 8am Sunday.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) is holding its second annual digital photography contest. Photographers of all levels are invited to participate. The contest is open to photographers at all levels creating digital images taken on District preserves that "capture the diversity of wildlife, plants, natural landscapes, weather, or people interacting with nature".

The deadline is November 15. Winners will be announced before March 1, 2010.

NOTE: This is largely the Coastal Commission’s press release, and is not an objective account.

In a well-known suit by two Malibu property owners’ suit against the California Coastal Commission, a judge has ruled in favor of the commission on all counts [pdf of ruling]. The action by Superior Court Judge Luis Lavin today granted the commission’s request for summary judgment, ruling that the issues raised in the case did not warrant further review. The ruling exonerates the agency, as well as two Commission employees named in the suit. 

This is the case that inspired Richard Oshen’s as-yet-unreleased documentary entitled "Sins of Commission."

The case involved illegal roads, grading and tree removal on property owned by Dan Norris and Peggy Gilder. Because the property is located in the coastal zone, these activities required coastal development permit. A site visit in October, 2005, was authorized by a court order. After verifying illegal development on site, the Commission issued a "Notice of Violation" on the property and told the owners to apply for a permit. The owners refused, and sued the Commission. Last year, a superior court upheld the Commission’s action and threw out five of their 8 claims. Today’s action eliminated all remaining claims. 

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass has appointed Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone and Oceanside City Councilmember Esther Sanchez to California’s Coastal Commission.

The San Diego Union Tribune has a short profile of Esther Sanchez:

Sanchez, an attorney, has served on the Oceanside City Council since 2000. She also has worked on the planning group for a major regional habitat conservation plan and supported other environmental protection efforts.

"In ensuring development projects are consistent with the vision Californians have for their beloved coastline, the Coastal Commission should listen closely to, and be reflective of, the communities it serves," Sanchez said. "I will do my best to be a voice for all Californians in guiding responsible planning of our coast."

The Mercury News profiles Stone:

Stone, a resident of Scotts Valley, has served on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors since 2003. Previously, he was a trustee for the Scotts Valley Unified School District and maintained a private law practice. He is married with two children.

As a supervisor, Stone has always been cautious of new development and supportive of environmental programs. He was one of the leading proponents of the county’s new Commission on the Environment, a panel that has begun to address such issues as climate change and water conservation.

Stone says he sees these global issues becoming an increasing priority for the state, citing a demand for energy projects and desalination plants along the coastline.

"California is taking some different directions in respect to planning, and the Coastal Commission needs to be a part of that," he said. ...

Stone replaces 12-year incumbent Dave Potter, a Monterey County supervisor, whose last re-appointment was strongly opposed by the environmental community.

Potter’s 2007 commission vote in support of the Pebble Beach Co.‘s expansion plans are held up by environmentalists as evidence of his pro-development agenda. Potter has also received low marks in the Sierra Club’s annual scorecard.

Potter, though, says he leaves behind a legacy of fair and balanced judgment on coastal issues.

There is more about Stone and Potter at the Monterey County Herald.