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Consent to the disbursement of $200,000 from the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District Fund to the Solano Land Trust to fund a portion of the acquisition of the Souza-Azevedo Ranch
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board consent to the disbursement of $200,000 from the Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District Fund (GVOSMD) to the Solano Land Trust (SLT) to fund a portion of the acquisition of the Souza-Azevedo Ranch.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The SLT is requesting the County’s consent to use $200,000 from the GVOSMD to fund a portion of the purchase of the Souza-Azevedo Ranch (APN 180-050-03) consistent with the 1990 Open Space Agreement (attached).
In October 1990, the Board created the GVOSMD following a majority vote of property owners in favor of the formation. At the same time, the Board entered into an agreement with the City of Fairfield and the Solano Land Trust which provides that:
1. The Board will levy an annual assessment in the District in an amount which increases by $2.50 each year from the 1989-90 base year of $80. The FY 2019/20 assessment is $155.00 per parcel.
2. The City of Fairfield will levy a special tax annually on property in the North Cordelia Community Facilities District No. 2 in the same amount per parcel as the County district assessment.
3. The monies raised from both districts will be used by the SLT to acquire and maintain open space lands within a specific geographic boundary in the Green Valley area.
The conventional process for the SLT to access the funds as needed, is administrative in nature. It submits a letter requesting funds for a particular project. As long as the project location is within the approved boundary and the use is consistent with the Agreement, the SLT can access the funds. However, the current request by SLT is for use outside the approved boundary. For situations such as this, when the project location is outside the agreed upon boundary, the Agreement provides the following direction:
Foundation (SLT) shall use these funds to acquire, own and manage to the extent feasible and appropriate, land in the Green Valley for the preservation of agricultural and open space land, unless consent to acquisition of land outside Green Valley is given by the City, the County, and the Board of Directors of the Green Valley Landowners Association. As used in this Agreement, “Green Valley” means generally that area bounded by Suisun Valley Road on the east, Interstate 80 and State Highway 12 on the south, and a line in the ridgetops to the north and west, which line is to be defined pursuant to the planning process initiated by City Resolution No. 89-89.
The proposed location is adjacent to and west of Lynch Canyon Open Space Park (see attached map) and is approximately 2 miles southwest of the approved boundary (Hwy 12). It is also adjacent to the Solano Open Space boundary. SLT’s request envisions using the property to expand Lynch Canyon park providing increased public access.
The proposed use by SLT is consistent with the Agreement as it will be used toward property acquisition. However, the Agreement requires consent by the County, the City, and the Green Valley Landowners Association (GVLA) to utilize the funds outside the authorized boundary. SLT has submitted a similar request to the City of Fairfield for its consent to use $425,000 from its fund (Community Facilities District #2). The request will be considered by the City Council on October 1. The SLT has also obtained the consent of the GVLA to use the funds for this project at this location (letter attached).
The Agreement does not set forth parameters to consider when reviewing such a request. However, the proposed use is consistent with the Agreement, and the physical expansion of Lynch Canyon Open Space Park will provide a benefit to the public by increasing open space lands available for public access. As such, staff recommends that the Board consent to the SLT utilizing funds from the GVOSMD fund for acquisition of the Souza property.
Public Noticing Requirement: Public notice is not required.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to consent to the SLT’s use of funds from the GVOSMD Fund for the proposed land purchase. This action is not recommended. Though the location of the intended use of the funds lies outside the previously approved boundary, the proposed use of the funds is consistent with the approved uses set forth in the 1989 Agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The City of Fairfield holds the funds collected from the GVOSMD assessments and disperses the funds to the SLT as requested for qualified projects. The County Administrator and County Counsel have reviewed this item and concur with the recommended action.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION