HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 06/18/2001 (28) •
JUN 182001 1 5 A
• CITY.OF PETALUMA,'CALIFORNIA
AGENDA BILL
eda Title: Meeting Date:
solution authorizing the submission of an application and
supporting the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open
Space District's Acquisition of the, Development Rights on-the -
- Lafferty Ranch.Property in order to Protect the Land Forever from 18 June 2001
Development and Aid the City in Covering Expenses Associated
with Securing Access to the Property and Opening the Park per the
City's Plan.
Department: Director: Contact'Person: Phone Number:
General Plan Pamela Tuft, AICP
Administration— Office Director of Pamela Tuft,. Y ',(707) 778-4345
of the City Manager; General Plan, .t/ S
and Administration; Jim C. `• (707) 778-4380
Parks &Recreation Jim Can, Director /
Cost of Proposal: Account Number:
Approximately $500 for grant proppsaLand'staff report preparation 001-400-2001
and preparation of presentation graphics,approximately$2,000 for -
grant administration and project monitoring. Name of Fund:
Amount Budgeted: Department of General Plan
WIand support services for Director of General Plan Administration
• stration
Attachment to Agenda Packet Item:
Resolution Authorizing City Manager's Office to Submit Application for Purchase of Development
Rights of Lafferty RanchlPark and Supporting SCAPOSD and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
in approving the grant application.
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Summary Statement: i
The City Council has, in the past, indicated an interest; in requesting financial participation by the
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District• (SCAPOSD) in the public review
process and development of public improvements required to open Lafferty Ranch Park as a passive
recreational amenity to southern Sonoma County. The adoption of the SCAPOSD Acquisition Plan in
2000, in which Lafferty Ranch property is illustrated within a "Priority Greenbelts" area, as containing
"Priority Riparian Corridors" and including Natural Resources "Fish Survey — Steelhead", supports
participation by the SCAPOSD.
The 2001 Application Process has begun. If directed by the City Council a grant application will be
prepared for submission to the SCAPOSD. • At Council direction, the application will be submitted for
consideration by the SCAPOSD istaff, Advisory Committee, Open Space Authority and the Board of
Directors (the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors).
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Council Priority: THIS AGENDA ITEM IS CONSIDERED To BE PART OF, OR NECESSARY TO, ONE OR
MORE OF THE 1999-2000 PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 27, 2001.
Priority(s): Open Lafferty
Recommended City Council Action/Suggested1MIotion:
Adopt Resolution authorizing the submission of an application and supporting the Sonoma County
Agricultural Preservation. and Open Space District's Acquisition of the Development Rights on. the
Lafferty Ranch Property in order to protect the land forever from development and aid the City in
covering expenses associated with securing access to the property and opening the Park per the City's
Plan.
Reviewed by Finance Director:. Reviewed by City Attorney: Approved by City.Manager:
Date:
Date: . Date:
td -�
day's Date:/ Revision# and Date Revised: File Code:
H:ptimydocs/Lafferty/reports\
13 June 2001 CC SCAPOSDAppt Lafferty 2001
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MCITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
18 JUNE 2001
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AGENDA REPORT
FOR
Resolution authorizing,the submission of an application and supporting
the Sonoma County, Agricultural Preservation:'and Open Space District's
Acquisition of the,Development Rights on the Lafferty Ranch Property
in order to Protect the,Land Forever from Development and
;Aid the City in Covering Expenses Associated with
Securing Access d cess to the Property and Opening the'Park.per the City's Plan. .
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council has, in the past, indicated an interest in requesting financial
' participation by the Sonodia County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
(SCAPOSD) in the public'review process and development of public improvements
required to open Lafferty Ranch Park as a passive recreational amenity to southern
fl Sonoma County. The adoption of the SCAPOSD Acquisition Plan in 2000, in which
Lafferty Ranch property is illustrated within a "Priority Greenbelts" area, as containing
"Priority Riparian Corridors" and including Natural Resources "Fish Survey — Steelhead",
supports participation by the SCAPOSD.
The 2001 .Application Process;has begun: If so directed 'by the City Council, a grant
application will be prepared for submission to the SCAPOSD. At Council direction, the
application will be submitted for consideration by the SCAPOSD staff, Advisory
Committee, Open Space Authority and the Board of Directors (the Sonoma County
Board of Supervisors).
The formal application, to. be forwarded through the Open Space District process,
requires a formal Resolution by the City Council (see attached). Should the Open Space
and the Board,of Directors approve the application, the City will enter into an agreement
with the Open Space District to receive the funds.
2. BACKGROUND:
The Revised Draft Environmental Impact•Report (Revised DEIR) for the Lafferty Ranch
Park identifies a development potential of three to four housing, sites.. Identified as
Alternative IC within the Revised DEIR document, the site could "allow the
development of as many as 4 single-family residences The site is zoned Land
N Extensive Agriculture, — allowable density of 1 unit per 60 acres). Both the Sonoma
County General Plan,and the.Sonoma Mountain!Specific Plan allow residential clustering
in the Land Extensive Agriculture designation; up to 3'dwelling units can be clustered.
The SCAPOSD Acquisition Plan 2000 (page 8) provides a_ summary of acquisition w
categories that are applicable to Lafferty Ranch as follows:
"Greenbelts: Community Separators and Scenic Landscape Units, as identified in •
the Expenditure Plan, including areas around and between communities that
contribute to the open space character of the region. "
"Natural Resources: Forestlands, oak woodlands, wetlands, areas containing
threatened and endangered species..fish spawning streams and other areas of
biotic,significance identified in the Expenditure Plan, including lands with high
concentrations of individual or multiple natural resources. "
- - .._ "Recreation: • Sites. with multiple natural resource feature:-suitable for
acquisition as parks, preserves or public access projects can include lands
identified in adopted city and County recreational plans, 'where consistent with
the Expenditure Plan. "
City management net with representatives, of the SCAPOSD to discuss potential
assumptions for calculating values associated with three potential'building sites: If so
directed by the City Council, continued discussions will be held with .SCAPOSD
management to arrive at an appropriate sum.: Assuming that $250,000 is a conservative
amount per potential housing site, the Application ,could provide for a request for N'
$750,000. Receiving a grant of this amount from the SCAPOSD mould allow the City-to
proceed with the completion of Priority 1 and 2 improvements for the Park and could _
allow City participation in future off-site road improvements for Sonoma Mountain Road
when agreement is obtained between the City and County regarding priority
improvements.
3. ALTERNATIVES:.
• Adopt Resolution directing City Management to submit an application for &grant.
from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for
the residential development rights to Lafferty Ranch Park property. Amount of
grant application to be discussed with SCAPOSD management. .
• Adopt Resolution directing City Management to submit application fora specific
project amount other than suggested in this report.
•
• Decline to submit application for this funding program; discuss project ideas for
submission for possible future funding cycles
4. FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
Preparation of this Agenda Bill and the SCAPOSD application packet is estimated to Op
have taken approximately 1 day: If the grant' is awarded contract execution and
administration of the grant is anticipated to take approximately 40 person hours by City
N General Plan Administration, Parks,and Recreation and Finance management. Total in-
house expenditure of employee time is estimated at $2,500. Grant funds could be utilized
to pay for any outside contract services for such tasks as preparation of bids and
specifications,,constructiop, construction supervision/inspection.
5. CONCLUSION:
Participation, by the SCAPOSD, in the development of LaffertyRanch Park as-a passive
open space area is appropriate given the severe shortage of public access open space
lands in southern Sonoma County. For the amount of this grant much can be
accomplished.toward financing the physical improvements that could benefit not only the
citizens•of Petaluma but also all residents and visitors to the County. The public
educational opportunities and future potential for biotic 'habitat enhancement, through
public volunteer and school programs, is unique on Lafferty Ranch. Combining the
political strength and will of both the.County and the City could accomplish the project to
the benefit of the community and the natural environment of the project site.
6. OUTCOMES OR PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS TRAT WILL IDENTIFY SUCCESS OR
COMPLETION:
Success could be measured,by the completion of the environmental review effort for the
gill 270+-acre open space park followed by commencement and completion of public
improvements and provision of public access to the Park in accordance with the
Management Plan and Mitigation Monitoring Plan.
7. RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution authorizing the submission of an application and supporting the
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open:Space District's Acquisition of the
Development Rights on the Lafferty Ranch Property in_order to protect the land forever
from development and aid the City in covering expenses associated with securing access
to the properly and opening the Park per the City's Plan.
Attachment: Resolution Authorizing City Manager's Office to Submit Application for
Purchase of Development Rights of Lafferty Ranch Park and Supporting
SCAPOSD in approving the grant application.
11111
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Resolution No. I N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN'APPLICATION AND
SUPPORTING THE SONOMA.COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND
OPEN SPACE DISTRICT'S ACQUISITION OF THE-DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ON
THE LAFFERTY RANCH PROPERTY IN'ORDER TO PROTECT THE LAND
FOREVER FROM DEVELOPMENT AND AID THE CITY IN COVERING,EXPENSES
ASSOCIATED WITH SECURINGACCESS TO THE PROPERTY AND OPENING THE
PARK PER THE CITY'S PLAN
WHEREAS; the Sonotna'County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
(OSD) has a stated objective (Objective 2 of Acquisition Plan 2000)to "assist local, regional,
State and Federal agencies and non-profit partners in establishing,parks and preserves which
protect Sonoma County's unique natural habitats, scenic areas and other open space resources of
regional importance,",and apolicy(Policy 2e) to "give priority to public recreation projects that
are included within adopted agency plans; that are consistent with the 1989 Sonoma County
General Plan, and where the managing agency or organization can demonstrate its commitment -
Nand ability to accept the property and open it to public use in a timely manner"; and
WHEREAS, the current'(1989)'CountyGeneral Plan and previous county plans since
1964 have proposed anature park'at'or near the site of Lafferty Ranch; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of the South County have paid over $22 million into the OSD
through the sales tax,over $13.5 of which came from Petaluma proper; and
WHEREAS; OSD has spent less than$500,000 for acquisitions with potential for public
access in the vicinity of Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, county studies'presented,in the_Draft'Outdoor Recreation Plan'(ORP) show
the South County/Petaluma area with the''county's largest deficit in open space park.acreage
(1,782 acres needed by the^year 2010, out of a total countywide deficit of 4,843 acres); and
WHEREAS, scientific opinion surveys conducted on behalf of the County show the
Npublic's.highest priorities for outdoor recreation are hiking and nature study within parks/natural
open space, findings which coincide with statewide surveys also'cited in the,Draft ORP; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, OSD'paid $255,000 to the State of California to purchase a forever-:
wild conservation easement over a 290-acre portion of the Sonoma Developmental Center
property, establishing a;precedent of acquiring development rights from a governmental agency;
and
WHEREAS, in 1999, voters in the City of Sonoma had to resort to a referendum to
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prevent the 'sale of their "unused city-owned hillside open space from being sold to.a developer,
establishing a local reminder that public ownership, without the constituency that comes from
public access,.enjoyment, and stewardship of the land, cannot be relied upon to protect scenic
land from development;and •
WHEREAS, Urban Growth Boundary prompted Citycentered,developmentandthe
growth of the high-technology industry in the South County, among other factors, are increasing •
the demand for accessible open space in'the.hills surrounding urban areas; and _
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma has sinc •1959 owned the Lafferty Ranch property,
270 acres of land on Sonoma Mountain, the dominant landform in the South County; which
offers the perennial Adobe Creek,.deep"canyons, oak-bay woodlands, broad rolling meadows,.
and panoramic vistas of the Petaluma Valley, the Bay Area, the North Coast and the Pacific
Ocean, and which has been a designated park site in the City's General.Plan since 1962; and
WHEREAS, the City is seeking to develop an open space park with trails on its Lafferty
Ranch°property, based on a`plan developed jointly'iover a two year period by City residents-and •
Sonoma Mountain residents, and over the years has invested $858,000 in this effort, including •
the completion of an exhaustive Environmental Impact Report on its proposed management plan;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma may be-prevented from opening Lafferty Park to
volunteer efforts of development and general public use by the City's inability to finance ,
protection of its park plans against litigation from park opponents; and
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WHEREAS, the City, if unable to utilize the Lafferty property for a park, may eventually
Nchoose to sell the property for development,,since the current zoning would allow the
construction of four homes, enabling the City to utilize the funds for other City needs, including
outdoor recreation facilities; and
WHEREAS, the OSD, through-purchase of the development rights on the Lafferty
property can protect forever this highly visible and scenic land from development, and aid.the
City in covering the expenses associated with securing access•to the property and opening the
park per the City's plan; .
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Manager is hereby authorized to
submit a grant appliclation to the OSD for funds to cover the purchase of the Lafferty Ranch
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development rights; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Petaluma City Council urges the County Board .
of Supervisors and file OSD to proceed with the purchase of the development rights on the -
Lafferty Ranch property, and for their respective staffs to work cooperatively towards this goal.
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Under the4power and authority,conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing-Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the.Cityof Petaluma ata Regular meeting on, Monday,June 18 ,2001
by the following vote:
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
M ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
Resolution No. NCS
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