El Agrimensor. President s Message

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1 Channel Islands Chapter of the California Land Surveyors Association July 2014 Table of Contents Chapter News 2 Calendar of Events 3 NSPS Update 4 Caltrans Liaison Report COC Fall Semester Begins 4 4 Jobs for Hire Chapter Membership Application Article: A Costly Mistake Annual Chapter Picnic Contacts 16 President s Message World Cup fever is here a lot of exciting moments. Hope you all had a fun and safe Fourth of July. The OPUS Projects Manager s Training, hosted by NGS, was well received and very informative. The state CLSA is working on scheduling more dates for this two-day seminar in California hopefully later this year. I would HIGHLY recommend this instruction for all those surveyors using GPS. It provides an easy way to tie our surveys to the NSRS (National Spatial Reference System) at the current Epoch making our boundaries more useful and easier to retrace by future surveyors. Upcoming Local Events please invite a fellow surveyor (member or not): Joint Meeting with Los Angeles Chapter (July 10th) and Channel Islands Picnic (August 2nd). Next Channel Islands Chapter Meeting is on August 21 in Ventura come learn about the ambitious CIRGIS (Channel Islands Regional GIS) aerial imagery project planned for Bill Hurdle, PLS bhurdle@jdscivil.com Introducing Our Guest Speakers, Ric Moore & Ray Mathe Ric Moore, PLS, Executive Officer, BPELSG began his Surveying career over 30 years ago working in the private sector in Colorado, Arizona, and New England before moving to California in While working in the Ventura / Santa Barbara areas, he began assisting with state Land Surveyor exam grading and development. In 2007, Ric became the Land Surveyor Consultant to what was then BPELS. When the Senior Registrar Land Surveyor position was created, he applied, and was hired to that position. After managing the internal licensing examination operations of the Board, Ric was appointed by the Board to be the BPELSG Executive Officer in July Raymond Mathe, PLS, is the Senior Registrar Land Surveyor, BPELSG. Prior to his appointment in February of 2012, he served as County Surveyor of the County of Orange. His experience includes project management in private practice and he also served as the Deputy County Surveyor for the County of Riverside. Since he was licensed in 1989, he has been active in CLSA and WFPS serving as local chapter and state CLSA president; chairman WFPS; past education chairman; all facets of LS exam development; and an instructor in engineering and land surveying. Ray obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1995.

2 Page 2 Newsletter Yearly Advertisement Rates Business Card $100 1/4 Page $200 1/2 Page $300 Full Page $400 Mid-year commitments can be prorated as necessary. Chapter News The Ventura County Surveyors Office is selling DVD s 1, 2, & 3! DVD Set: $16.09 Shipping: $9.50 Reserve yours by calling the Surveyor s Office at (805) SPC Zone for Channel Islands As of May 2012, NGS has corrected the NAD83 State Plane Coordinates for the southern Channel Islands to be Zone 6, whereas they used to be NAD27 Zone 5. The islands impacted are: San Clemente, Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara & San Nicholas. Chapter Website Shant Ohannessian has teamed up with our newsletter team to create a new and improved Chapter website. Visit the link below and check it out! Caltrans Update Do you have an interesting STORY, EXPERIENCE, or OPINION? Please share it with us! jesse@opdahl.cc On November 27, 2012 Caltrans updated their survey manual and made the following changes: All projects on the state highway system must use the Construction Surveys Chapter for construction staking. You may purchase bound paperback copies of this chapter for $6.00 from the Caltrans DPAC Warehouse Publications Unit by calling: (916) or by visiting: National Geodetic Survey Releases 10-Year Strategic Plan In their efforts to continually improve their service to the nation, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) periodically undergoes a reevaluation and planning process. As NGS approached the halfway point with their existing Ten-Year Plan ( ), NGS leadership decided it was time to reevaluate priorities. With changing technological developments and revised NGS priorities, it became clear that an updated plan was needed. To represent their goals now and into the future, NGS is pleased present their new Ten-Year Strategic Plan To improve business operations, in the new plan NGS has focused their efforts and resources on four main goals and one enterprise goal. We invite you to review the updated plan at your convenience:

3 Page 3 Calendar For Chapter Meetings, we usually meet on the third Thursday of every month. Social hour begins at 6pm followed by dinner and meeting at 7pm. The cost to attend is $25 and we also raffle off prizes, so bring a few extra bucks. Everyone is welcome. We work hard to bring you interesting, relevant topics of discussion led by speakers with diverse experience in the land surveying field. Please join us at the next Chapter Meeting and other events going on in our area. We value your participation and input! Date: Event: Location: 7/10/14 Joint Meeting with LA Chapter BJ s Restaurant & Brewhouse 6pm Social Hour, 7pm dinner, 7:30pm Speaker 6242 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills Speakers: Ric Moore & Ray Mathe Topic: Retired exam questions & the latest investigation statistics from enforcement 8/2/14 CLSA Chapter Picnic (see Page 11) 8/21/14 Chapter Meeting Speaker: Zach Hunt (CIRGIS) Bob Kildee Park, Camarillo 9/17/14 & 9/19/14 Seminar by Richard Snay Topic: Evolution of the North American Datum of 1983 TBD TBD Surveyors are included in VC Star s efforts to promote jobs! Thanks for giving visibility to the profession! Effective July 1, 2012, the State Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board may share taxpayer information with the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. You are obligated to pay your state tax obligation and your license may be suspended if the state tax obligation is not paid. CLSA Professional Development Program (PDP) encourages and supports the continued professional growth and competency of land surveyors and recognizes their continuing education activities. This voluntary program also provides members a means to meet out-ofstate licensure requirements. Visit californiasurveyors.org/profdev.html for more information.

4 Page 4 Did you know? Since 2009, CLSA s use of social media has grown to over 1590 connections on LinkedIn and nearly 1400 likes on Facebook! PUBLICATIONS The Subdivision Map Act, PLS Act, PE Act, & Board Rules have been updated Publications are now available. NSPS Update NSPS seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. The organization now has 9000 members 4 ½ times as many as a year ago. 41 state societies have signed MOUs with NSPS. That is 11 more since October For 2014, NSPS will continue to fight for clarification as to why the Bacon Davis Act was expanded to include members of survey crews. The organization will also keep a close eye on changes to the Biggert-Waters Reform Act (part of the 2012 MAP-21 Act to combat the losses experienced by Hurricane Katrina, (Palatiello)) and other proposed legislation such as the Map it Once, Use it Many Times Act (reintroduced as H.R.1604, to establish the National Geospatial Technology Administration within the U.S. Geological Survey to enhance the use, efficiency, and economy of geospatial data, (Lamborn)), and the FLAIR Act (Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform Act, which aims to manage federal real property, (Federal)). To remain up-to date with NSPS, please visit nsps.us.com Caltrans Liaison Report Sea Level Rise Specifications: Curt Burfield of the Office of Land Surveys will be presenting at the Fresno Conference on the relationship between tidal and geodetic datums, with an overview of the draft specifications on Sea Level Rise that are currently being developed by the Coastal Commission. Any surveyor working on projects within the coastal zone will need to be familiar with the new specifications. The draft is available online at: Caltrans Surveyors TV Segment: Caltrans Surveyors were featured in a Sacramento TV segment on mobile laser scanning. Check it out at: index.html Caltrans Survey Manual: The Caltrans Survey Manual is available to the public at : WEBINARS Previous CLSA Webinars are archived on the Members Only Website for complimentary download by CLSA members. The fall semester at College of the Canyons begins on August 25, Applications were already due, but please contact COC to inquire about applying now. Due to low student count, this wonderful program is in jeopardy of closing down. So if you re considering improving your skills, or you know of someone who is studying for their LS or LSIT, please refer them to College of the Canyons.

5 Page 5 Jobs For Hire The City of Ventura will open recruitment beginning June 23 for a Survey Specialist position in the Public Works Department with the posting of a job flyer. If you have an interest, or know of someone with interest in this position, please visit for more information and to view the job description (see sidebar on webpage). Applicants can register and fill out a job application online in advance of the job posting. A supplemental questionnaire will become available when the job is posted and must be completed along with submission of the application on-line before the July 13, 2014 filing deadline. GIT Technical Specialist III Camarillo, Irvine or Ontario, CA RBF Consulting, a Company of Michael Baker International, has an exciting opportunity for a GIT Technical Specialist III to join our Surveying Geomatics team in our Camarillo, Ontario or Irvine, CA office. The GIT Technical Specialist s responsibilities will include: Assist in managing mapping projects in the private land development and public/municipal sectors. Accept professional responsibility for some specific Land Survey assignments. Develop and mentor technical staff. Ensure project goals/objectives are met within prescribed timeframe and funding parameters. Develop and maintain work plans, budgets, schedules and staffing for all project phases. Assist in developing and writing proposals, define scopes of work and cost/bid estimates. Perform mapping related research, boundary analysis, calculations, exhibits, and legal descriptions for a variety of land development and public works related projects from small infill developments to large master-planned communities and public related improvement projects throughout Southern CA. Perform mission planning and post processing for GPS surveys. Prepare flight plans, control schemes and coordination for aerial mapping projects. Review construction plans and perform calculations for layout staking and prepare exhibits. Perform survey data processing and prepare reports for spatial monitoring. Compile topographic information, compute and manipulate digital terrain models for topographic mapping. Prepare and/or oversee the preparation of final maps, parcel maps, record of survey and ALTA maps; and prepare and/or oversee preparation of legal descriptions and associated plats, and boundary analysis, as well as work closely with engineers to ensure coordination of technical surveying and engineering aspects of a project. Direct staff in preparation of various survey/mapping related projects. Requirements: Professional Land Surveyor License in California Bachelor s degree in Surveying Geomatics, Engineering or related field, or equivalent in experience. Minimum of ten (10) years of Surveying Geomatics experience with increasing levels of responsibility Knowledge of California Subdivision Map Act and Land Surveyors Act, and a thorough knowledge of drafting standards and processing project requirements. Baker, founded in 1940, provides professional engineering and consulting services for its clients worldwide. With nearly 3,000 employees in over 100 U.S. offices, Engineering News-Record consistently ranks Baker in the top 8 percent of the 500 largest U.S. engineering design firms and in the top 25 of numerous individual markets. The firm's primary business areas are architecture, aviation, defense, environmental, geospatial, homeland security, municipal & civil, oil & gas, rail & transit, telecommunications & utilities, transportation, urban development and water. Baker s headquarters is located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Baker recently became part of Michael Baker International, LLC, a leading provider of end-to-end engineering, development, intelligence and technology solutions with global reach and mobility. Baker offers excellent benefit packages that includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Additional Paid Time Off, Flex-Time, 401-K Retirement Plan, Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Credit Union. To learn more, please visit us on the web at To apply for this position, please log on to select Job Search and reference IRC47214 in Keywords. (Note: if you are unable to apply online, please contact the Systems Administrator at BAKERHRMS@mbakercorp.com ) Baker is an EEO/AAP (M/F/V/H) e-verify Employer

6 Page 6 Become a Member of Our Chapter Today! The success of an association is dependent on the membership. Financial support through annual dues is important, but even more critical is participation by members. If you are not already a member of your state or local association, join today and get involved!

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8 Page 8 Join CLSA at the State Level. Check out the Perks!

9 Page 9 A Costly Mistake Written by Jesse Kendall In 2010, Robert Lamoureux and his company, Four Twenty Corp. purchased and built a 2400-square foot home in Narragansett, Rhode Island (Koch). Following a recent boundary survey on behalf of prospective buyers, Lamoureux learned that his $1.8 million home must be demolished or removed due to it being found entirely on the land controlled by the trustees of the Rose Nulman Park Corporation (Koch). A beautiful, three-story water front house, complete with a rooftop cabana with spa tub and wet bar, was built on land intended to be preserved as parkland (Srikrishnan). The terms of said trust were established when the property was bought in 1993 by New York businessman, Saul Nulman, and passed down to his children, Carol and Joel (Koch). Violations of Nulman s public access policy cost $1.5 million, payable to the New York Presbyterian Hospital (Koch). Waterman Engineering Company was the surveying company responsible for finding this mistake (Koch). President of Waterman Engineering Company, Secretary for the state Board of Registration for Professional Land Surveyors, and 30-year industry veteran, Richard Lipsitz warned the community how avoidable such a mistake could be (Koch). He credits the faults to Carrigan Engineering, the original surveyor on the project, who is said not to be a professional licensed surveyor (Koch). He also discredits the state Department of Environmental Management and the state Coastal Resources Management Council for granting the special use permits and residential assent (Koch). According to Narragansett Building Official, Anthony L. Santilli Jr. however, only Robert Lamoureux is liable (Koch). According to Santilli, Lamoureux s initial application was denied due to the house s proximity to the coastline, but a revised application located at the lot next door Ocean Road, worked its way through the Planning Board, Zoning Board, CRMC, and finally to Santilli who issued a building permit (Koch). The City later discovered that the Lamoureux property was not located at 1444 Ocean Road, for which the approved building permit was issued (Koch). Reports state that a shocked Robert Lamoureux contacted one of the trustees, Carol Nulman to reach an agreement, but was told the land was not for sale (Srikrishnan). Although the foundation s lawyer, Mark Freel, admits that the size, slopes, and vegetation of the land prevented his clients from even noticing the encroachment until notified, the Rose Nulman Park Corporation filed a lawsuit against the developer for trespassing in March 2011 (Srikrishnan). Lamoureux has been given approval from the town, the State Department of Environmental Management, and the Coastal Resources Management Council to move the house in its entirety to the neighboring lot for a hefty $300,000.00, but has since been the receiver of another lawsuit (Srikrishnan). Save the Bay, a Rhode Island environmental group, is seeking to block the move, arguing that it would have a negative impact on the sensitive coastal area (Srikrishnan). Having avoided a burdensome lawsuit, relieved prospective buyers and faultfinding surveyors Waterman Engineering Company, urge property owners seeking to build in the future to heed this costly mistake. Works Cited Koch, Bill. "Town Not Liable in Nulman Case, Town Officials Said."IndependentRI.com. BLOX Content Management System, 27 Sept Web. 20 Jan Srikrishnan, Maya. "A $1.8-million Oops: Rhode Island Court Tells Developer to Move House." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 18 June Web. 20 June 2014.

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12 Channel Islands CLSA Mission Statement Recognizing that the true merit of a profession is determined by its service to society, the Channel Islands Chapter of the California Land Surveyor s Association does hereby dedicate itself to advancing the profession of land surveying because of its social and economic contributions to the welfare of the community, state, and nation. CLSA Channel Islands P.O. BOX 6572 Ventura, CA Contacts Chapter Officers President: Bill Hurdle, PLS (805) bhurdle@jdscivil.com Vice President: Shant Ohannessian, PLS (805) shant.ohannessian@ventura.org Secretary: Gene Rosecrans (818) gene.rosecrans@yahoo.com Treasurer: Dan Walsh, PLS (805) dan.walsh@ventura.org Chapter Kurt Lehnhardt, PLS (805) kurt.lehnhardt@dot.ca.gov Directors: Steve Opdahl, PLS (805) steve@opdahl.cc We re on the web! Alternate Directors: Michael McGee, PLS (805) michael@mcgee.cnc.net Matt Vernon, PLS (805) mvernon@rbf.com Debbie Naves, PLS (805) debbien@hpengr.com Newsletter Steve Opdahl, PLS (805) steve@opdahl.cc Editors: Jesse Kendall (805) jesse@opdahl.cc Committees CLSA Central Office 526 South East St. Santa Rosa, CA Phone: (707) clsa@californiasurveyors.org Website: californiasurveyors.org Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors & Geologists Phone: (866) Website: bpelsg.ca.gov JPPC Channel Islands Joint Professional Practices Committee P.O. BOX 6572 Ventura, CA jppc.clsa@gmail.com Website: /~clsacior/professional-practice/ A Message from the Board About Unlicensed Activity It is a violation of state law for an unlicensed individual to offer and/or practice civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering, land surveying, geology, and geophysics unless he/she is appropriately licensed by the Board. Our Board takes this unlicensed offering and/or practice of professional services seriously. Since the Enforcement Unit is limited in its resources and cannot proactively search for unlicensed activities, we rely on others to inform staff when unlicensed work is being offered and/or performed. The Board is asking that any listing of these services by an individual not licensed to perform those services be sent to our office for review. Licenses can be verified on our websites, and or by calling the Board Office. If you become aware of unlicensed and/or practiced activities, please provide us with documentary evidence of the alleged unlicensed activity. This may include copies of the advertisement, the written contract, a business card, or other documents that may support the allegation. You may choose to submit the complaint anonymously, if you wish. The goal of the Board is to ensure understanding of and compliance with the laws through education to prevent future violations and enforcement actions, when necessary. Any questions or concerns you may have regarding possible unlicensed practice should be directed to Enforcement Analyst Larry Kereszt of The Board For Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists by at Larry.Kereszt@dca.ca.gov or telephone at (916)