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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2003, C7 - AUTHORIZATION OF AMENDED APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE FARMLAND CONSERVANCY PROGRAM Meetiry Detc council to ZI hIS j acEnaa aEpont Item Number CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Wendy George,Assistant City Administrative Officer Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF AMENDED APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE FARMLAND CONSERVANCY PROGRAM CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution authorizing submittal of an amended grant application to the State Farmland Conservancy Program in the amount of$160,000 in support of the acquisition of an agricultural conservation easement on an 80 acre portion of the 391 acre Brughelli Ranch on Buckley Road south of the Airport Area. DISCUSSION The Brughelli property is one of the largest single properties south of the Airport Area. It consists of prime soils, about 50 acres of which is currently farmed, and non-prime soils on rolling HIS used for livestock grazing. Much of the land now used for grazing was dry-farmed in the past, as was the case on many properties in that area. In 1996 the State Legislature established the Agricultural Land Stewardship Program as the State's primary farmland protection program. This program makes State funds available to local governments and nonprofit organizations to acquire conservation easements on prime, unique or other important agricultural soils for the purpose of limiting or preventing the conversion of such sites to nonagricultural uses. The program was recently renamed the Farmland Conservancy Program(FCP)and has enjoyed increased funding in the last several years.. In 2002 the Congress passed a new Farm Bill, which provided funding to the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Farmland Protection Program (FPP) for five years. Earlier this year, the City of San Luis Obispo applied to both agencies for grant support in the amount of$700,000 for a conservation easement on 160 acres of the Brughelli Ranch on Buckley Road. Unfortunately, the City was unsuccessful with the Federal application, and the State program was unable to pick up the difference. Staff at the State, however, basically invited City staff to make an amended application for the 80 acres which includes the currently row-cropped area of the ranch and a portion of East Fork Creek. As an easement purchase for conservation purposes,this project is exempt from CEQA. C�� J Council Agenda Report—Farmland Conservancy Program Grant Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT The grant, if successful, will have a beneficial fiscal effect by providing outside funding support for this City-initiated project. It is anticipated that it will take between four and six months to complete the transaction. Staff anticipates the commitment of$105,000 from the City's Airport Open Space Impact Fee fund and $55,000 of General Fund monies to the project. This will exceed the requirements of the State's program for a 25% minimum local match. Assuming that the application is successful, staff will return to the Council as soon as possible for consideration of a formal transaction. ALTERNATIVE The Council could decide to not authorize the application. This is not recommended as the application does not constitute a commitment on the part of the City or of the landowners, and would constitute a reversal of previous direction from the Council. Attachments 1. Project Location Map 2. Grant Program Summary' 3. 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Li n — 1l� ♦ ` \�� , sewage D, P( ' p II 4 11 U IIS a 596 O 4 l> J \ ✓ �� i , - � CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO GREENBELT PROTECTION PROGRAM Brughe/li Property Conservation Easement Acquisition" Scale 1"=2,000' 9-7 r ATTACHMENT 2 Chapter 1: The CFCP Grant Program Chapter 1: Grants Program Purpose and Authority The Department of Conservation's The CFCP is authorized to work throughout California Farmland Conservancy Program California. Within the coastal zone (as provides grants to local governments and defined in Section 30103 of the Public qualified nonprofit organizations for: Resources Code) the CFCP works in consultation with the State Coastal • voluntary acquisition of conservation Conservancy (Public Resources Code easements on agricultural lands that are Section 10225).. under pressure of being converted to non-agricultural uses; • temporary purchase of agricultural lands This Request for Grant Applications details that are under pressure of being requirements and guidelines for grant converted to non-agricultural uses, as a application submission. All applications for phase in the process of placing an funding submitted as of the date of this agricultural conservation easement; publication should conform to the format of • restoration of and improvements to this edition of the Request for Grant agricultural land already under Applications until a subsequent edition of easement; and the Request for Grant Applications is • agricultural land conservation planning published. and policy projects. The CFCP is designed to work in concert with local planning and zoning strategies to conserve agricultural land. The Program was created by the California Farmland Conservancy Program Act of 1995, contained within Division 10.2 of the Public Resources Code (Sections 10200 to 10277) and the Revenue and Taxation Code (Sections 421.5 and 422.5). Related regulations are located in the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 2, Chapter 6, Sections 3000 through 3015:2 The Codes are available on the internet at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html, or upon request to the Department of Conservation. .2 Available on the CFCP website: www.consrv.ca.gov/dirp/cfcp 1-1 ATTACHMENT 3 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION'S FARMLAND CONSERVANCY PROGRAM FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS BRUGHELLI EASEMENT ACQUISITION WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of California has established the Farmland Conservancy Program within the Department of Conservation,and through said program is providing assistance to conserve important agricultural land resources that are subject to conversion pressures;and WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo intends to acquire agricultural conservation easements on one or more areas surrounding the City in cooperation with landowners for the purpose of conserving important agricultural resources;and WHEREAS, the City Council certifies that any easements obtained will meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Public Resources Code Section 10251 and incorporated herein by reference;and WHEREAS, an earlier application by the City of San Luis Obispo to the Farmland Conservancy Program and the Federal Farmland Protection Program was unsuccessful, but Farmland Conservancy Protection program staff have invited an amended application that the program could consider. NOW, THEREFORE, BE Fr RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby: 1. Authorizes the filing of an application for grant assistance from the State Farland Conservancy Program for the above project;and 2. Appoints the City Administrative Officer as agent of the City to conduct all negotiations,execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on,which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. Approved and adopted this 21st day of October,2003. On motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 2003. David F.Romero,Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Lee Price,City Clerk Jc6adYmor Lowell,City Attorney 07-