HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-06; Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Committee Ad Hoc; ; Committee Discussion on Renewal of the Committee’s TermJuly 6, 2009
Agenda Item #4
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CITY OF CARLSBAD
AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION
FEE AD HOC CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Subject: Committee Discussion on Renewal of the Committee’s Term
Meeting Date: July 6, 2009
On August 2, 2009, the term of the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Ad Hoc Citizens’
Advisory Committee (Committee) will expire. The purpose of this report is to provide the
Committee with information related to the potential renewal of the Committee’s term.
Background:
On August 2, 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution 2005-242 (Exhibit 4-1), which achieved
the following:
As required by the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Local Coastal Program, the Agricultural
Conversion Mitigation Fee Ad Hoc Citizens’ Advisory Committee was created for a four
year term (ending on August 2, 2009), or until all Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee
(ACMF) funds are allocated, whichever occurs first. Note: Since not all coastal
agricultural land has converted to urban uses, additional Agricultural Conversion
Mitigation Fees (estimated between $1 and $1.5 million) will continue to be collected,
and thus the ACMF funds have not been completely allocated.
Seven members were appointed to the Committee. Additionally, staff from the
California Coastal Conservancy and the City of Carlsbad were established as ex-officio,
non-voting members of the Committee to provide support and advice as appropriate.
A budget not to exceed $5,000 for the first year and $3,000 for subsequent years was
appropriated from the fund to support the work of the Committee (staff/consultant
support). Note: This budget equates to $14,000 for the four years of the Committee’s
term. Over the past four years, the Committee has utilized $3,354.67 of the $14,000
budget. City Council Resolution 2006-132 established an additional budget of $10,000
for grant solicitation activities (notices, advertising, etc.).
Renewal of Committee’s term:
The following information describes two primary reasons to renew the Committee’s term:
1. Remaining work associated with the grants awarded in 2008. Two grants awarded in
2008 require additional review and recommendations by the Committee (awarded grant
project (AGP) 06-12 - Batiquitos Lagoon Monitoring and Management Plan and AGP 06-
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16 - La Posada Farm Worker Housing. The Committee recommended that the full
amount requested for both projects be encumbered, but only a portion of the
encumbered amounts be funded to enable the grantees to conduct additional research
and design work. After completion of the research and design work, the projects are
required (pursuant to City Council Resolution 2008-050) to return to the Committee for
review and reevaluation of the requested funds. Based on the additional research and
design work provided for each project, the Committee will make recommendations to
the City Council on funding the remaining encumbered grant balances. In addition to
City Council Resolution 2008-050, Committee recommendation on the remaining grant
balances for AGP 06-12 and AGP 06-16 is required pursuant to Zoning Ordinance Section
21.202.060. Section 21.202.060 states that expenditure of the ACMF funds is subject to
the recommendation of the Committee, therefore, the remaining grant balances for
AGP 06-12 and AGP 06-16 cannot be funded without the recommendation of the
Committee.
2. Potential for a future grant application process to allocate additional funds from the
ACMF account. If grants are awarded by the City Council on July 28, 2009 consistent
with the Committee’s recommendation, the remaining balance in the ACMF fund will be
approximately $44,150. Over time, the fund will grow as interest accrues and as fees
are paid when existing coastal agricultural land converts to urban uses (there is also the
potential for previously awarded grant funds to be reprogrammed back into the fund).
Staff believes that the $44,150, which would likely be available after 2009 grants are
awarded, is not sufficient to justify another grant application process. A larger balance
will provide more options and flexibility when considering funding of projects. Staff is
not able to determine when the fund balance will increase; therefore, it is not possible
to assess when another grant application process might occur.
If the Committee chooses to recommend renewal of their term, the following are a couple
options to consider:
At a minimum, renew the Committee’s term for a period of time that is sufficient to
complete the Committee’s remaining responsibilities associated with the release of
funds for AGP 06-12 and AGP 06-16. It is possible that the grantees of AGP 06-12 and
AGP 06-16 may request funding of the remaining grant balances within the next six
months to one year; however, that time may be longer.
Renew the Committee’s term for another four years, or until all ACMF funds are
allocated (same as the original term). This option would provide sufficient time for the
Committee to make final funding recommendations for AGP 06-12 and AGP 06-16, and,
as the ACMF fund grows, would provide time to allocate additional or all ACMF funds.
If the Committee recommends City Council renewal of their term, the Committee may wish to
recommend that the Committee be required to meet a minimum of once annually instead of
twice annually (as currently required). The Committee could meet more than once annually if
there is a need to, but at a minimum the annual meeting would serve to provide the Committee
with: 1) an update on the status of awarded grant projects; 2) an update on the available fund
balance; and 3) an opportunity to consider solicitation of grant applications to allocate the
available fund balance. Additionally, if the Committee requests a renewal of their term, the
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support budget will need to be reestablished. The $14,000 support budget is based on the
Committee’s four year term. Staff would recommend a new support budget be established in
the same annual amount approved for the four year term ($3,000 per each year of the term).
The funds for the support budget are appropriated from the ACMF fund. Should the
Committee’s term be renewed, at the end of that renewed term, the Committee may consider
recommending to City Council either: 1) extending the Committee’s term again; or 2) allowing
the Committee to “sunset”, to be reconstituted at a later time when the need arises.
Staff requests that members of the Committee indicate whether they are interested in serving
continued terms. Each Committee member’s interest in reappointment will be forwarded to the
City Council for consideration.
Respectfully Submitted,
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Exhibits:
4-1. Resolution 2005-242