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COSF News (June 2009)
New COSTAC members appointed
Conejo Open Space Trails Advisory Committee (COSTAC) welcomes new members and alternates: Richard Koppel, Nancy Taylor, Steve Bacharach, Linda Le, Doug Nickles and Bill Ruch. The new members join continuing members Mark Langton (Chairperson), Ginny Bowers, Jack Dwyer, Steve Forman, Elayne Haggan, Holly LaRue, Dana Ross, Paul Smith, and Nicole Tindell.
COSTAC was formed in 1989. The eleven member committee is composed of hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians who are appointed by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) Board of Directors for a three-year term. Acting in an advisory capacity, COSTAC reviews issues and makes recommendations to the COSCA Board regarding open space and trails. COSTAC also coordinates the COSCA Volunteer Corps, which is responsible for several open space programs including Adopt-a-Trail, Trail Patrol, Trail Watch, Open Space Community Outreach, Trail Work Days, Special Trail Work Days and Trails Education Days.
COSCA adopts ordinance establishing Conejo Open Space rules
This article is adapted and partially excerpted from the Ventura County Star
The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) has adopted a new ordinance establishing open space rules and regulations. Since its creation in 1977, the agency has used open space rules set by one of its parent agencies, the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). The new ordinance is a result of COSCA's decision to officially adopt the rules as its own. The ordinance, which will become effective June 12, applies to open space areas owned or managed by COSCA.
Most of the new COSCA ordinance is copied directly from the formerly-used CRPD open space ordinance, which has been in place for years. However, COSCA did make a few changes to the ordinance when adopting it as its own. One new rule allows people with disabilities to use electric motorized vehicles adapted for recreational use on trails. Another new rule makes it a misdemeanor to kill, harm or remove animals (harming or removing plants, geological features, or archaeological features was already a misdemeanor). In another change, the hours of use of COSCA open space were extended. Public use of the open space will be allowed from sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted, instead of the former policy, which was from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
If you have any questions about the new COSCA ordinance, please contact COSCA Manager Kristin Foord at (805) 449-2505, or COSCA Supervising Ranger Glen Kinney at (805) 381-2741.
Open space resource thefts are on the rise
Protecting the natural resources of the Conejo Valley is a key component of COSCA's mission. As described above, it is a misdemeanor to harm or remove plants, rocks, animals or any other natural resource from COSCA open space. Unfortunately, people do steal natural resources from the open space, with new thefts being reported as recently as last week. These thefts, particularly of large quantities of plants or rocks that may be used as landscaping material, or of plants suitable for collecting, seem to have increased as the economy has worsened. The removal of plants or rocks is not only illegal, but causes degradation to the open space system, its plant communities and geological features.
We need your help us stop these thefts from occurring! If you see anyone removing natural resources from the open space, please immediately call the COSCA Park Rangers at (805) 402-9550, (805) 402-9551, (805) 402-9552 or (805) 402-9553 to report the thefts, or call the Police (911) if you cannot reach the Rangers. Please spread the word to everyone you know and ask them to help stop this degradation of the open space.
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