HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - PRESERVATION 1030 ACRES (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item: 11
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
June 12, 2012
Rick Gould
PRESERVATION OF 1,030 +/- ACRES OF REAL PROPERTY,
SOLEDAD CANYON AREA, ASSESSOR'S PARCELS
3210-001-004, 3210-002-007, 3210-004-004, 005, 008, 009, 010,
011, 013, 014, 3210-005-006, 007, 008, 027, 035, 040, 3210-006-005,
3210-008-021 AND 022, AND 3210-010-001.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve participation in the purchase of 1,030 +/- acres of real property located
in the Soledad Canyon area within unincorporated Los Angeles County, Assessor's Parcels
3210-001-004, 3210-002-007, 3210-004-004, 005, 008, 009, 010, 011, 013, 014,
3210-005-006, 007, 008, 027, 035, 040, 3210-006-005, 3210-008-021 and 022, and
3210-010-001.
2. Appropriate $1,285,000 from Open Space Preservation District Fund Balance (Fund 358) to
Open Space Preservation District Expenditure Account 12592-5201.004.'
3. Appropriate $715,000 to Miscellaneous Grants (Fund 259) Expenditure Account
15501-5201.004 and appropriate $715,000 to Miscellaneous Grants Revenue Account
259-4621.001.
Appropriate $200,000 from the Open Space Preservation District Fund Balance (Fund 358) to
Open Space Preservation District Expenditure Account 12592-5201.004 for acquisition costs
for escrow, title, and other transaction -related costs, including due diligence, attorney and
professional services fees not to exceed $200,000.
5. Approve the expenditure of $1,485,000 from Open Space Preservation District Account
12592-5201.004 and $715,000 from Miscellaneous Grants Account 15501-5201.004.
6. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney
approval.
Aro)l
IrPHOWED
BACKGROUND
As part of a multi -agency collaboration, the Department of Fish and Game Soledad Canyon
Conceptual 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. Acquisition of these parcels is consistent with the goals and policies of the Open Space
Preservation District.
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. In the early 1990s the
subject property was known as the Rio Dulce Ranch development and had a proposed 616
residential lot subdivision. The current owner was interested in continuing these development
plans. RLC successfully negotiated with the subject property owner for 20 parcels totaling
approximately 1,030 +/- acres. The combined appraised value of the 20 parcels is $4,470,000, or
$4,340 per acre.
In May 2012, City staff and RLC obtained $2,470,000 in acquisition funds in the form of a grant
from the State of California Natural Resources Agency's Wildlife Conservation Board. The
City's participation in the purchase through the Open Space Preservation District (OSPD) would
be $1,285,000. The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and Los
Angeles County (Prop A) are participants in this acquisition and have committed $715,000 to the
acquisition.
Additionally, City staff is requesting that the City authorize $715,000 to complete the purchase,
with reimbursement expected in approximately 90 days. This interim funding measure and the
subsequent reimbursement are necessary due to a timing issue, as the County Board of
Supervisors is expected to approve the grant to MRCA in late August, after the expected close of
the escrow. There are additional acquisition costs for escrow, title, and other related transaction
fees, including due diligence, attorney and professional services fees, not to exceed $200,000.
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 multi -agency efforts of preserving and expanding the eastern open space
greenbelt. To date, the City has acquired over 6,114 acres of open space and the addition of this
1,030 acres will increase the acreage to approximately 7,144. 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 not participate in the purchase of the subject property.
2. Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action by11he City Council, funds in the amount of
$2,200,000 to pay for the property acquisition and all related transaction fees will be appropriated
to the Open Space Preservation District Account 12592-5201.004 and Miscellaneous Grants
Account 15501-5201.004.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
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