Meeting Overview
The Commission convened in Ventura from July 8-10, where they tackled a varied agenda and built upon a strong Pro-Coast voting trend during the Coastal Act's 50th anniversary year. The Commissioners earned Pro-Coast votes for reopening federal consistency over an offshore kelp forest project that was unable to meet one of its original conditions, an enforcement agreement in Long Beach that corrects decades of denied public access benefits, and a focused LCP update in Capitola dealing with coastal hazards along Cliff Dr. While these were all unanimous votes, Surfrider's objection to ministerial approval of a 3rd extension for emergency armoring in Carlsbad led to the meeting's most unexpectedly lively debate. While it only takes three Commissioners to object to processing a CDP amendment as immaterial, six spoke up in support of the objection request. We count it as a Pro-Coast vote.
The meeting's most urgent news, though, came from Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge, who sounded the alarm on NOAA's reopened review of California's federally certified Coastal Management Program. It's the same federal consistency authority the Commission used to hold the kelp forest project referenced above accountable for equipment developers left behind on the seafloor. If NOAA weakens or strips that certification, California loses its voice over federal offshore drilling and other coastal projects, right as the administration pushes new drilling most Californians oppose. And Commissioners are right to be worried: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in ordering the review, called California's oversight "environmental extremism." This is a direct attack on our ability to protect the coast we love. Your voice is critical; check out Surfrider's page on how to fight back.
In a more hopeful turnaround, the Commission also voted unanimously to support AB 1740 (Zbur), the same bill that began the year as one of the most sweeping attacks on the Coastal Act in decades. The bill's attacks on the Coastal Act were reworked into something worth supporting, thanks to a tremendous full-court press in both Sacramento and Santa Monica by coastal advocates, including engaged Santa Monicans, Commission staff, Commissioners, and the ActCoastal coalition. It's proof that sustained pressure pays off.
The Commission also approved almost 100 new informational signs at coastal access points near marine protected areas across the state, a meaningful win for MPA awareness and compliance.
Keep reading for our full analysis of key votes, 50th anniversary highlights, and how to fight back against the Trump administration's unprecedented attack on California's authority to weigh in on federal coastal projects.
Issues voted on at this meeting:
The Commission approved the first phase of the City of Capitola's coastal hazards planning, an LCP amendment focused on the Cliff Drive corridor. Surfrider submitted a comment letter in support, with several recommended refinements. Staff worked through each point with the City and Surfrider and issued an addendum adopting two changes.
Surfrider objected to processing a 7-year armoring extension along a hazardous stretch of Carlsbad Blvd. as an immaterial amendment. After a lively debate, enough Commissioners objected to the immaterial designation to send it back for a full hearing.
For over forty years, the Bay Harbour Homeowners Association in Long Beach blocked a public access easement required by its own coastal development permit. Staff brought a Consent Cease and Desist Order and Consent Administrative Penalty to resolve the violations. Rather than a cash penalty alone, the HOA agreed to an in-kind package valued at over $2.5 million: more than two dozen new public access signs, ADA accessibility improvements, a five-year native habitat restoration program linking three important coastal habitats, and new public restrooms with five years of maintenance funding.
In 2021, the Commission conditionally approved Ocean Rainforest, Inc.'s pilot kelp farm in federal waters off Santa Barbara, on the condition that all equipment, including seafloor anchors, be fully removed once the project ended. Because the company failed to remove two bloch-anchor sets, the certification was reopened so that the Commission could require remedial action.
Other Discussions
Executive Director’s Report
Federal threat to California's coastal management plan
Director Kate Huckelbridge used her report to sound the alarm on NOAA's reopened review of California's federally certified coastal management program, calling it unprecedented. The program, certified in 1978, has cleared every prior review, including a 2024 evaluation that found it successful, though NOAA never finalized that report. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ordered this new review instead, calling the state's oversight "environmental extremism" and pointing to spaceport, offshore drilling, and desalination decisions. Huckelbridge warned that decertification would strip California and the public of their voice over federal coastal projects, just as the administration pushes new offshore drilling most Californians oppose. The Commission is coordinating closely with the California Natural Resources Agency and Governor's Office on a response. Commenters, including ActCoastal members EAC West Marin, Azul, and Surfrider, among others, urged the public to get involved. NOAA will be holding three public comment sessions: an in-person session in Santa Monica on Monday, Aug. 10 from 2-6pm, and back-to-back virtual sessions on Tuesday, Aug. 11 and Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 2-5pm. Surfrider has posted information and talking points on their website to help. Please sign up in advance to speak, submit an email comment to NOAA, or both. Your voice matters here.
50th Anniversary highlights
The ED report also highlighted the Commission's new 50th anniversary storymap, as well as a presentation from Public Access Manager Linda Locklin on the California Coastal Trail. Locklin traced the trail's roots back to Proposition 20 and decades of walled-off beach access. The ambitious trail, slated to run California’s entire 1,238 mile coastline, is now about 70 percent complete, with a new map helping local agencies spot gaps to bridge. We've included video of this presentation below, for those interested in learning more about this monumental public access project.
Huckelbridge closed by announcing a public celebration in Long Beach scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, commemorating the Coastal Act's 50th anniversary. Mark your calendars. More info to come.
Leg Report: Commission reverses course, now supports AB 1740
In a remarkable success story, the Commission voted unanimously to support AB 1740 (Zbur) in its current form. This is the same bill that began the year as one of the most sweeping attacks on the Coastal Act in decades. That shift is a testament to months of sustained advocacy in both Sacramento and Santa Monica. Commission staff pushed hard to rework the bill's most damaging provisions. Commissioners, especially Commissioner Jackson, showed up to meeting after meeting and spoke forcefully against the original language. And credit is due to the City of Santa Monica, which sponsored the bill, but ultimately worked with the Commission on an MOU prioritizing completion of its Local Coastal Program — a deal that helped pave the way for the bill's dramatic rework. The ActCoastal coalition, including Surfrider and the California Coastal Protection Network, made this fight a top priority all year, and it paid off.
Commissioner Jackson's comments are worth a watch!
Almost 100 new informational signs at coastal access points near MPAs
On Wednesday, the Commission approved a proposal from the California Ocean Protection Council and California Marine Sanctuary Foundation to install 98 new and replacement informational signs at coastal access points near marine protected areas (MPAs) across twelve counties, from Del Norte to San Diego.
Signage is often the only tool available to tell beachgoers where MPA boundaries are and what's allowed, especially at high-visitation sites where compliance has historically been a concern. About 60 percent of the signs will go on existing posts and structures, avoiding new ground disturbance, and the project avoids environmentally sensitive habitat entirely. Substantial tribal consultation led to a special condition protecting against inadvertent discovery of cultural resources during installation. The Commission approved the project as conditioned, consistent with staff's recommendation.
Laguna Beach blufftop remodel appeal & de novo
Vice Chair Hart and Commissioner Jackson appealed the City's approval of additions and a remodel to an oceanfront duplex at 154 Thalia Street. The core issue was the bluff edge: the City placed it at 34 feet, but the Commission's geologist put it at 62 feet, a 28-foot difference that had turned bluff face into buildable blufftop and allowed an addition, spa, and patio seaward of the required setbacks. On de novo review, the applicant removed all development seaward of the correct bluff edge, and the Commission approved the revised project as staff recommended.
Surfrider supported the appeal and the corrected setback. They flagged a broader issue for monitoring: the Commission only performs this kind of cumulative redevelopment analysis when a project comes before it on appeal. Cities typically do not track or tally alterations against a fixed baseline, so incremental remodels can approach full reconstruction over time while each individual project stays under the 50 percent threshold. Without local tracking, no one is keeping count, and nonconforming blufftop structures can be rebuilt piece by piece without ever triggering the redevelopment standards that would bring them into conformance.