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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/23/1996, A1 - OPEN SPACE FINANCING TASK FORCE APPOINTMENTSMEETING DATE: IIIN�I�i����llllll�l llllllll 1/23/96 u CI O� SaT� �r.�S OBISp� ITEM NUMBER: COUNCIL AGI�NDA REPORT Al FROM: Dodie WilliainsBill Roalman Council Subcommittee to Open Space Finance Task Force PREPARED BY: Sherry Stendahl, Council Secretary SUBJECT: OPEN SPACE FINANCING TASK FORCE APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDATION: By motion, appoint nominees as represented in Attachment 1 to the Open Space Financing Task Force ( OSFTF). DISCUSSION: The City Council adopted the Open Space Element in 1994. In September 1995 they received a report prepared by the Land Conservancy entitled, "Saving Special Places: A Study of Open Space Values in the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt." At a September 12, 1995 study session , the City Council reviewed this report and set priorities for open space acquisition. City funds are available to begin this program, but future ongoing funding will be necessary to realize the vision contained in the City's Open Space and Land Use Elements. Open space can be preserved in a variety of ways, including through easements, Williamson Act contracts, and dedications. However, to obtain a substantial amount of open space, for purchase into public ownership, long -term financing mechanisms will need to be developed. The City Council has authorized the establishment of an ad hoc task force to develop these financing options. At their meeting of November 7, 1995, the Council agreed to the following composition of a 17 member Open Space Financing Task Force: • One member from Planning Commission • One member from Parks & Recreation Commission • Five members representing environmental organizations • Five members representing the business community • Five members representing neighborhood/other organizations Letters were sent to more than 30 organizations in San Luis Obispo asking for nominees from the above categories. After reviewing many suggestions from those responses, the Council Subcommittee is pleased to recommend the candidates listed on Attachment 1. While some candidates do not reside in San Luis Obispo, since the OSFTF is an ad hoc group, the City residency requirement for appointment is not applicable, The Planning Commission representative recommendation will be confirmed at the January 24, 1996 meeting of the Planning Commission. No specific "sunset" has been established for the task force at this time. However, one of the first responsibilities of the task force will be to establish a schedule for its work which considers whether or not a November 1996 "ballot goal" is feasible. If this goal can be reached, then the Task Force would sunset shortly thereafter. Additional nominee information is available in the Council Office. ATTACHMENT: List of OSFTF Nominees (Attachment 1) Proposed OSFTF Mission (Attachment 2) I a ,4 -/"v2 ATTACHMENT 1 RECOMMENDED NOMINEES FOR OPEN SPACE FINANCING TASK FORCE ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS NEIGHBORHOOD /OTHER David Smith Carol Florence Dan Williamson Pat Veesart Lauren Brown Marty Tangeman Jan Clucas Joe Delucia Penny Rappa Gary Felsman Jack Robisciotti Alan McVay Amy Shore Bill Coy GlennaDeane Dovey PLANNING COMMISSION Representative to be named at the 1/24/96 Planning Commission meeting. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION Sally Stoner A�'3 Attachment 2 PROPOSED COMMITTEE "MISSION" The Committee is more likely to be successful in developing a recommended funding program if its purpose and goals are clearly established by the Council before the Committee begins its work. The following Committee "mission statement" is proposed for Council consideration in providing the Committee with policy direction: Committee Purpose The purpose of the Committee is to recommend to the Council the best strategy for long- term financing of open space purchases. Goals In developing this strategy, the Committee should achieve the following goals: ■ Broad funding base. Ensure that the recommended funding program is a broad -based one, and that no one sector of the community is singled -out in funding this program. ■ Revenue requirements. Identify the amount of new revenue that should be generated annually for this purpose, and ensure that the proposed funding program is reasonably capable of generating this amount. (This goal recognizes that there are many other strategies for preserving open space besides direct purchase of property by the City, and that purchase of open space, given the City's limited fiscal resources, should only be used as a preservation strategy when all other alternatives are unlikely to achieve the City's preservation goals. The proposed financing program should be scoped with this in mind). ■ Clear, simple program. Place a higher priority on those funding sources that can be most clearly communicated to the public and easily administered by the City. In short, a simple funding program is preferable to a complicated one. ■ Fiscal independence. Focus on funding sources that are within the City's existing authority to implement without approval by other governmental agencies. This goal recognizes that the funding program must be "doable ", and this means that the City must be able to independently control its future to the maximum extent possible. ■ Timely. Complete the work by [whenever) so that any proposed strategy that requires voter approval (or where an advisory vote would be desirable) can be placed on the November 1996 ballot. ■ Eventual Support of the Ballot Measure. Committee members should be willing to actively support any future ballot measure that they recommend, independent of the City. This is because the City cannot actively campaign, pursuant to state law. W- MI ENVIRONMENTAL David Smith Pat Veesart John Robison* Gary Felsman Amy Shore MEETING AGENDA Q SATE ITEM # REVISED RECOMMENDED NOMINEES FOR OPEN SPACE FINANCING TASK FORCE ATTACHMENT 1 BUSINESS NEIGHBORHOOD /OTHER Carol Florence Dan Williamson Lauren Brown Marty Tangeman Joe Delucia Penny Rappa Charlie Fruit Alan McVay Bill Coy IBIREC DIR PLANNING COMMISSION Representative to be named at the 1/24/96 Planning Commission meeting. PARKS S RECREATION COMMISSION Sally Stoner I *To be confirmed. Yd'WUNUIL ❑ CDD DIR SAO D'AN DIR 0 -KC-A0 O FIRE CHIEF "ATTORNEY VIM DIR V'UMWORIG O POLICE CHF ❑ MGMT TEAM IBIREC DIR ❑ C FILE ❑ UTIL DIR O PERS DIR