Public Will Be Heard on Coastal Commission Move to Fire Director

Behind closed doors last December, the California Coastal Commission offered Executive Director Charles Lester a choice: he could tender his resignation, or place his future in the hands of a public hearing.

Lester opted for the public hearing, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Morro Bay, the venue changed from an inn to the Community Center auditorium to accommodate the hundreds expected at the showdown.

The Coastal Commission is the guardian of California's 1,100 miles of coastline, responsible for making sure development does not violate the environmental and public access protections embedded four decades ago in the Coastal Act of 1976, signed into law by Jerry Brown, the governor then as well as now.

The governor appoints four of the commission's 12 voting members.

In recent weeks, by its count, the Commission office has received more than 20,000 letters and emails supporting Lester and imploring commissioners not to remove him.

"Your decision is not just about Mr. Lester, nor his management style," reads a letter to commissioners from State Senator Fran Pavley, D-Calabasas, who served on the coastal commission a decade ago during an unsuccessful effort to oust a previous executive director.

"I know firsthand of the intense pressure from well-funded special interests on commissioners and staff with applications pending before the commission. I am concerned that a change of directors, at this time, may undercut the staff's ability to make independent recommendations consistent with the Coastal Act."

Commission President Steve Kinsey has said commissioners have concerns about management and leadership issues. 

"It was a surprise to me to hear there was such a large performance issue it had to come to this point," said Sarah Sikich, vice president of the Santa Monica-based nonprofit advocacy group Heal the Bay. Sikich praised Lester not only for his commitment to upholding the Coastal Act, but also for skill at engendering collaboration to work out issues so that some development can proceed.

Sikich believes Lester deserves credit for seeing the long-delayed and debated Santa Monica Mountains plan to completion. When Heal the Bay raised concerns about sand replenishment at Broad Beach harming tide pools and kelp forest, Lester brought together the parties and a resolution was found, Sikich said.

At times, Lester's staff has recommended denying long-standing proposals that have been years in the consideration pipeline.

In the case of a 10-acre Seal Beach site, commission staff noted it had been designated for a hotel, and recommended against a revised proposal to build instead 32 homes. Last March, the commission nevertheless approved it.

Another clash became apparent in October, when the commission considered the proposal to develop a planned community on the 400-acre Banning Ranch in Newport Beach. Opponents contend the project would intrude on sensitive habitat entitled to protection under the Coastal Act.

"Banning Ranch is the largest parcel of unprotected coastal space left in Orange County," said Dr. Terry Welsh, president of the Banning Ranch Conservancy. "Everybody who loves the coast needs to know that."

The developers contend the project would benefit the environment by cleaning up the oil field, restoring habitat, and dedicating three-quarters of the site as open space — open to the public for the first time in more than a century.

The staff report contended the developers did not provide needed information, and recommended against approving the project. Commissioners instead directed staff to meet further with the development team to work something out.

The development company "has been working diligently with the Coastal Commission staff for the last three years," Senior Project Manager Mike Mohler said in an email.

Mohler declined to comment on the Lester issue, writing " ... it appears to be an internal Coastal Commission personnel matter ... we are not involved."

Welsh said he does not know what led to the move to fire Lester. "We hope there's no effort to make the commission more developer-friendly. It would be mistake."

Lester has declined to talk publicly about it, but Friday submitted a memo to the commission and "Interested Parties," citing accomplishments and also acknowledging areas in need of improvement.

"I recognize, as does every member of my senior management team, that we need to keep working on issues related to the effective functioning of the agency including: improving communication and fostering increased trust between the staff and the Commission; organizational concerns such as improving efficiency and customer service; and increasing workforce diversity. When confronted with situations such as this, my nature is to seek a constructive path forward," reads a portion of Lester's memo.

Wednesday's commission agenda includes an item to discuss a new executive director, or interim, depending on the decision on Lester.