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Home My WebLink About09-03-2019 Item 16 - Sustainable AG Lands Conservation Grant - Miossi La Cuesta Ranch Department Name: City Administration Cost Center: 1005 For Agenda of: September 3, 2019 Placement: Consent Estimated Time: N/A FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager Prepared By: Robert Hill, Interim Deputy Director SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS CONSERVATION GRANT APPLICATION FOR OPEN SPACE PROTECTION RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to prepare and submit a grant application to the California Department of Conservation’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute any other required grant administration related documentation (Attachment A). DISCUSSION At this time, a grant opportunity promulgated by the California Department of Conservation known as the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program is accepting applications. This grant requires City Council approval of their standard resolution terms in order to submit the grant application, due September 13, 2019. Staff has closely evaluated the published grant guidelines and finds this grant facility to be a strong match for the Miossi Brothers La Cuesta Ranch conservation easement project. This project follows the successful purchase of 266 acres of the ranch for open space purposes in November 2018. The City’s Financial Management Manual, Section 740, requires City Council authorization to submit grant applications in excess of $5,000. In particular, section 3(d) states: For grants in excess of $5,000, prepare a Council agenda report requesting authorization to seek grant funding. This report should describe the grant program's conformance with this policy, including the results of the cost/benefit analysis. Staff recommends that the Council authorize the submittal of this grant application for acquisition of a conservation easement and find that it meets the City’s Grant Management Policy outlined in Section 740 because there is an opportunity to significantly leverage City funds on balance with only modest staff time required to prepare the grant application; the proposed grant application would support capital costs associated with real property interest acquisition; and, all grant administration, tracking, and reporting will be conducted in accordance with applicable City policy and any requirements specified in an awarded grant contract. Packet Pg. 153 Item 16 Policy Context The recommended action is consistent with the City of San Luis Obispo’s General Plan, which demonstrates a long-term commitment to agricultural land conservation. This commitment is reflected in the goals, objectives, policies, and implementation measures of the Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan, as they relate to the Greenbelt area surrounding the City where the easement acquisition is proposed. Public Engagement This project is consistent with the stakeholder outreach process conducted in 2017 known as the Natural Resources Roundtable that identified ongoing action to complete and sustain the San Luis Obispo Greenbelt. CONCURRENCE The City’s Assistant City Manager for Community Services concurs with this application in furtherance of the City’s efforts to accomplish ongoing open space protection. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW There is no environmental review required for grant submittals. If successful, acquisition of land interests for open space protection is typically considered Categorically Exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (§15313 and 15317). FISCAL IMPACT Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2019-20 Funding Identified: Yes Fiscal Analysis: Funding Sources Current FY Cost Annualized On-going Cost Total Project Cost General Fund N/A N/A State Federal Fees Other: Total N/A N/A The staff time necessary to prepare and submit the grant application is supported b y the Natural Resources Program operating budget, as well as through the City’s existing contract for grant writing services with the firm Adrienne Harris Consulting. If the funding is awarded, the subject grant funds would be matched with the City’s Open Space Protection funds to complete the project. Packet Pg. 154 Item 16 ALTERNATIVES The City Council could: 1. Request additional information or analysis from staff. 2. Deny the request to submit the SALC grant application. These alternatives are not recommended as the project is consistent with City’s long-standing open space protection goals and the resolution needs to be adopted timely for the submittal due date on September 13, 2019. Attachments: a - Resolution Packet Pg. 155 Item 16 R ______ RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2019 SERIES) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPOSAL TO THE CALIFORNIA STRATEGIC GROWTH COUNCIL’S SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS PROGRAM, ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION FOR THE MIOSSI BROTHERS LA CUESTA RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECT WHEREAS, the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) is a component of the Strategic Growth Council’s Affordable Housing and Sustainability Program and is administered by the Department of Conservation (the Department) in conjunction with the Natural Resources Agency, and through a grant 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 enter into a conservation easement for the Miossi Brothers La Cuesta Ranch in furtherance of the City’s Greenbelt Protection goals and for the purpose of conserving priority agricultural land and natural resources; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the easement proposal meets the following eligibility criteria: 1) The parcel proposed for conservation is expected to continue to be used for, and is large enough to sustain, commercial agricultural production. The land is also in an area that possesses the necessary market, infrastructure, and agricultural support services, and the surrounding parcel sizes and land uses will support long- term commercial agricultural production. 2) The City of San Luis Obispo has a General Plan which demonstrates a long-term commitment to agricultural land conservation. This commitment is reflected in the goals, objectives, policies, and implementation measures of the Conservation and Open Space Element of the General Plan, as they relate to the Greenbelt area surrounding the City where the easement acquisition is proposed. 3) Without conservation, the land proposed for protection is likely to be converted to nonagricultural use in the foreseeable future. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. Action. The City Council authorizes the following actions: 1) Staff is authorized to submit an easement acquisition grant application to the SALC Program; 2) Staff is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Department for the project and agree to accept the template terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement if the project is awarded funding; Packet Pg. 156 Item 16 Resolution No. _____ (2019 Series) Page 2 R ______ 3) Certify that no conflict of interest or appearance of conflict of interest exists for any member of the City Council as relates to the project; and, 4) The City Manager or designee is authorized 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 project, if the project is awarded funding. SECTION 2. Environmental Determination. The City Council has determined that the above actions do not constitute a project, as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject to environmental review. Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________, and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2019. ____________________________________ Mayor Heidi Harmon ATTEST: ____________________________________ Teresa Purrington City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: _____________________________________ J. Christine Dietrick City Attorney Packet Pg. 157 Item 16 Resolution No. _____ (2019 Series) Page 3 R ______ IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, this ______ day of ______________, 2019. ____________________________________ Teresa Purrington City Clerk Packet Pg. 158 Item 16