HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - PRESERVATION SOLEDAD CYN AREA (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
January 13, 2009
Rick Gould
PRESERVATION OF 263 +/- ACRES OF REAL PROPERTY,
SOLEDAD CANYON AREA, ASSESSOR'S PARCELS
3210-016-032, 3210-002-012, 3210-003-007,008 AND 009.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. City Council approve the purchase of 263 +/- acres of real property located in the Soledad
Canyon area within unincorporated Los Angeles County, Assessor's Parcels 3210-016-032,
3210-002-012, 3210-003-007,008 and 009.
2. Appropriate $886,135 from Open Space Preservation District Fund Balance (Fund 358) to
Open Space Preservation District Expenditure Account 12592-5201.004.
3. Approve the expenditure of $886,135 from Open Space Preservation District Account
12592-5201.004.
4. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney
approval.
BACKGROUND
As part of a multi -agency collaboration, the Soledad Canyon Conservation Area Protection Plan
(CAPP) acquisition project endeavors to preserve critical habitat in the upper Santa Clara
Watershed, and conserve lands considered important to maintaining wildlife connectivity. The
CAPP recommends establishing linkage from the Angeles National Forest south of Soledad
Canyon Road to the Forest north of Sierra Highway. This linkage is important to sustaining the
viability of threatened and endangered species in the region.
APPROWED
Riverside Land Conservancy (RLC) is a nonprofit land trust that works with landowners to
facilitate the transfer of land from willing private landowners to public ownership to ensure that
natural lands and wildlife habitat are preserved for future generations. RLC initiated contact with
several property owners within the Soledad Canyon Conservation Area. RLC successfully
negotiated with three of those property owners for five parcels totaling approximately 263 acres.
The combined appraised value of the five parcels is $1,606,135.
In October 2008, RLC obtained acquisition funds in the form of a grant from the Rivers and
Mountains Conservancy for $750,000. This left a funding shortfall of $856,135 to purchase the
five parcels. There are additional acquisition costs for escrow, title, and other related transaction
fees, including due diligence, consultants, and attorney fees of approximately $30,000.
Staff has negotiated with RLC and has offered to meet the shortfall in funding using Open Space
Preservation District funds, in exchange for fee title to the parcels. This transaction will meet the
goals of the CAPP by putting private land into protected public holdings. The subject parcels are
contiguous to existing City -owned property, and will further compliment the City's eastern open
space greenbelt. This acquisition is consistent with the goals and policies of the Open Space
Preservation District, the City's General Plan, and the proposed One Valley One Vision plan.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Direct staff to cease purchase of the subject property.
2. Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action by the City Council, funds in the amount of $886,135
to pay for the property acquisition and all related transaction fees will be appropriated to the
Open Space Preservation District Account 12592-5201.004.
ATTACHMENTS
Soledad 263, Acre Map