HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-26; Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Committee Ad Hoc; ; Status Reports on Remaining Projects Awarded with ACMF FundingAGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE (ACMF)
AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Staff Contact:
Pam Drew, Associate Planner, Community & Economic Development
760-602-4644 pam.drew@carlsbadca.gov
Agenda Item: #5
Subject: Status Reports on Remaining Projects Awarded with ACMF
Funding
Meeting Date: October 26, 2017
Status reports from individual grantees are attached as Exhibits 5.1 through 5.5.
Exhibits:
5.1 Status Summary for Awarded Projects
5.2 - 5.5 Status Reports
REV: 09-30-2017 - Balanced with IFAS
Agenda Bill No.Resolution Date Project No.Total Funding
Awarded
Funding Approved
for Disbursement/
Appropriation
Awarded Funding
Remaining to be
Disbursed
Awarded Funding
Remaining to be
Appropriated
Disbursed to-Date Appropriated Funding
Remaining to be Disbursed
18,898 2007-029 02/13/2007 $2,609,560.00 $2,609,560.00 $58,000.00 $0.00 $2,551,560.00 $58,000.00
Applicant
Buena Vista Audubon Society AGP 06-02 $15,000.00 $15,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $15,000.00 $0.00
Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation AGP 06-04 $164,000.00 $164,000.00 $58,000.00 $0.00 $106,000.00 $58,000.00
CB Ranch Enterprises AGP 06-05 $316,500.00 $316,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $316,500.00 $0.00
CB Ranch Enterprises AGP 06-06 $233,000.00 $233,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $233,000.00 $0.00
CB Ranch Enterprises AGP 06-07 $297,000.00 $297,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $297,000.00 $0.00
CB Ranch Enterprises AGP 06-08 $230,000.00 $230,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $230,000.00 $0.00
CB Ranch Enterprises AGP 06-09 $84,000.00 $84,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $84,000.00 $0.00
SANDAG AGP 06-10 $884,060.00 $884,060.00 $0.00 $0.00 $884,060.00 $0.00
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation AGP 06-15 386,000.00$ 386,000.00$ -$ -$ 386,000.00$ -$
19,327 2008-050 02/19/2008 $3,267,071.00 $2,661,477.00 $688,594.00 $605,594.00 $2,578,477.00 $83,000.00
Applicant
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation AGP 06-03 $180,732.00 $180,732.00 $0.00 $0.00 $180,732.00 $0.00
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation AGP 06-12 $780,589.00 $174,995.00 $688,594.00 $605,594.00 $91,995.00 $83,000.00
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation AGP 06-13 305,750.00$ 305,750.00$ -$ -$ 305,750.00$ -$
Catholic Charities AGP 06-16 $2,000,000.00 $2,000,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000,000.00 $0.00
20,003 2009-260 10/20/2009 $922,822.00 $922,822.00 $113,818.00 $0.00 $884,004.00 $38,818.00
Applicant
CB Ranch AGP 09-01 $188,107.00 $188,107.00 $75,000.00 $0.00 $188,107.00 $0.00
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute AGP 09-02 $249,313.00 $249,313.00 $0.00 $0.00 $249,313.00 $0.00
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation AGP 09-03 $98,572.00 $98,572.00 $38,818.00 $0.00 $59,754.00 $38,818.00
Aqua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation AGP 09-09 $52,000.00 $52,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $52,000.00 $0.00
California State Parks AGP 09-10 $234,830.00 $234,830.00 $0.00 $0.00 $234,830.00 $0.00
Buena Vista Audubon Society AGP 09-11 $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $50,000.00 $0.00
Buena Vista Audubon Society AGP 09-12 $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $50,000.00 $0.00
21,368 2013-230 09/10/2013 $1,127,608.53 $1,127,608.53 $217,833.53 $0.00 $909,775.00 $217,833.53
Applicant
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation AGP 13-01 $49,542.00 $49,542.00 $0.00 $0.00 $49,542.00 $0.00
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation AGP-13-02 $20,733.00 $20,733.00 $0.00 $0.00 $20,733.00 $0.00
CB Ranch Company, LP AGP 13-03 $600,000.00 $600,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $600,000.00 $0.00
CB Ranch Company, LP AGP 13-04 $162,833.53 $162,833.53 $162,833.53 $0.00 $0.00 $162,833.53
CB Ranch Company, LP AGP 13-05 $271,000.00 $271,000.00 $55,000.00 $0.00 $216,000.00 $55,000.00
Buena Vista Audubon Society AGP 13-06 $23,500.00 $23,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $23,500.00 $0.00
$7,927,061.53 $7,321,467.53 $1,078,245.53 $605,594.00 $6,923,816.00 $397,651.53
Open Projects
Administrative fee 2,946.00
TOTALS:
Orchards and Field Crop Installation and Dev
Carlsbad Flower Fields Enhanced Acceess
Aquaculture Enhancement
Batiquitos Lagoon North Shore Trail
Aqua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center Interior
Improvements
Coastal Bluff Resoration - Tamarack and Frazee
Lagoon Ecological Reserve N. Shore Phase 2
BV Creek Watershed Information MGT System
BVA Nature Center Improvements
Orchard, Fields and Floral Trade Center Access
Floral Trade Center Improvements
Proposal Name
ACMF Fund: Grant Awards for Project Implementation
Proposal Name
Audubon Nature Center
Bunea Vista Lagoon Boardwalk
Cymbidium Project
As of: 9/30/2017
Multi-use Barn
Permeable Paving Project
Drainage Project
Soil Amendment Project
Carlsbad Beach Nourishment
Discovery Center Improvements
BLF Nature Center Improvements
Kiosk Refurbishment and Interpretive Signage Install
Proposal Name
Proposal Name
Bat Lagoon Mon'g/Mgmt Plan
AH Lagoon Trails
La Posada Farmworker Housing
Nature Center Improvements Augmentation
Exhibit 5.1
Exhibit 5.2
1
October 10, 2017
Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Grant Project Status Summary 9
Lagoon Monitoring and Management Plan Program (BLF Grant Class G-8) which
is now divided into 3 sub-classes for accounting purposes within BLF Grant Class G-8: BLF Grant Sub-Class G-8A - ongoing trail restoration and maintenance including invasive plant removal and restoration along the North
Shore Trail (Including establishment and maintenance of a Native Plant
Demonstration Garden adjacent to the Park Hyatt – Aviara trailhead); BLF Grant
Sub-class G-8B – Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve Management and Monitoring Plan Development; and BLF Grant Sub-class G- 8C – the new Batiquitos Lagoon Resiliency Plan (BLRP) all under Grant Proposal No. AGP-06-
12, April 29, 2008
Grant Summary
Project Award: $780,589 (Total award for BLF Grant Class G-8). Grant Agreement
Signed by Mayor Lewis: March 3, 2008. First funding installment: $23,995 (City of
Carlsbad Ck# 175684 dated June 5, 2008). Second funding installment: $18,000,
July 30, 2013, and third funding authorization for the new BLRP project of $100,000 approved on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, with the first BLFP funding disbursement request of $50,000 by the BLF on June 11, 2017. The $50,000
disbursement check was issued by the City of Carlsbad on June 22, 2017 and
received and deposited by the BLF on June 30, 2017. Total grant disbursed plus additional income to date: $92,189.33. Project expenses to date: $34,795.62. Total Grant funding (Total Award) remaining: $699,597.95. Note that the BLRP
project will have a second disbursement of $50,000 expected to be requested for
release in 2018 which will reduce the remaining funds by an additional $50,000
and a remaining Trail and Restoration approved funding available for disbursement of $14,195.43. The total remaining fund balance for this grant is therefore $635,402.52. During the BLRP presentation to the City of Carlsbad City
Council on April 11, 2017, we indicated that additional funding may be requested
based on a Gap Analysis to be performed during the early phases of the BLRP
project. The additional funding would be to cover work to fill in identified gaps in existing lagoon data and information. At this time, we estimate that we may need an additional $200,000 in late 2018 or early 2019.
The City Council requested that the AG Committee review the remaining funding
balance associated with this grant for possible re-allocation so that another grant
Exhibit 5.3
2
opportunity might be conducted. The BLF requests that if re-allocation is deemed appropriate, at least $200,000 be retained so that the BLRP project can
be successfully completed.
Total project funding of $780,589 was approved, with the stipulation that $74,995 of that total be approved for funding now to allow some data collection and reporting, and lagoon maintenance in areas surrounding the lagoon-proper to proceed. Of the total of
$74,995 initial approved funding, $20,995 is to be used to support data collection and
reporting as follows: (1) Task 1.1 – Physical Monitoring: Bathymetric and Beach
Monitoring and Tidal Monitoring: $18,713; and (2) Task 1.3 – Reporting: $2,282. The remaining $54,000 is distributed over 6 years for ongoing trail maintenance, and invasive plant removal and restoration along the North Shore Trail (Including
establishment and maintenance of a Native Plant Demonstration Garden adjacent to the
Park Hyatt – Aviara trailhead).
On November 29, 2016 the City Council appropriated $100,000 for data collection for the preparation of a resiliency plan for the lagoon. The remaining $605,594 of the funds
are held pending review of the data collected. An initial disbursement of $50,000 has
been made.
Project Status
Batiquitos Lagoon Resiliency Plan Project Status
• Following a series of meeting with City of Carlsbad Staff, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Climate Science Alliance – South Coast, and the BLF, we formulated a strategy, plan of action and milestones that
will lead to preparation of a Batiquitos Lagoon Management Plan that will
ensure the health of the Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve and
associated watershed into the future. This management plan will include global climate change, sea level rise, and other environmental variables to ensure sustainability. The first effort is a four phase project leading to
completion of a Batiquitos Lagoon Resiliency Plan (BLRP).
• Made formal presentations to the Ag Committee which approved it for presentation to the Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday, November 29, 2016.
• Made a formal presentation to the Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, which approved release of $100,000 for the project with the understanding that additional funding may be required following
completion of a gap analysis.
•
• Following the first $50,000 disbursement, negotiated and executed a
contract with the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
(TRNERR) who will be do the work on this project.
• Had a series of team meetings with TRNERR, City of Carlsbad staff, and
California Department of Fish and Wildlife to further define the project,
3
establish a timeline, and to work on the first Stakeholder Workshop scheduled to be held at the Park Hyatt – Aviara Resort and SPA on October
19, 2017. This workshop is by invitation only and the team identified the
attendees (e.g., Batiquitos Lagoon area major property owners (e.g., Park
Hyatt – Aviara, Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, Leucadia Wastewater District, HOA’s (including Lake San Marcos), CDFW, City of Carlsbad, City of Encinitas, and the BLF.
• No expenses have been made to date.
Other Grant Status
• Through careful project management, the BLF has leveraged the maintenance funding portion of the grant. This translates into more years of support for
invasive plant removal, restoration, trail maintenance, and associated
maintenance activities
• Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation volunteers continued work including: invasive plant removal; restoration; trail maintenance; and various maintenance activities
in support of California Department of Fish and Wildlife associated with the
Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve.
• Replaced frayed rope fencing along the North Shore Trail.
• Removed invasive plant material (e.g., Tamarisk, Arundo Donax, Castor Bean,
Fennel, Tree Tobacco, and Wild Radish).
• Continued the expansion of our public volunteer base for invasive plant removal,
restoration and trail maintenance by offering regular work opportunities on the 1st
and 3rd Saturday’s of every month, 12 months per year. Our program is very well attended by families, high school students and students from local colleges and universities.
• Significant work by volunteers resulted in a number of trail improvements,
invasive plant removal, brush removal, and trail drainage improvements. Over a mile of rope fencing was replaced.
• Project funding is being effectively managed and leveraged with our large base
of volunteers. A number of local businesses and church groups also routinely have helped with needed equipment and materials. As a result, grant funding for
maintenance activities is expected to be available for use for additional years,
now projected to be through 2020.
1
October 10, 2017
Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Grant Project Status Summary 9
Batiquitos Lagoon North Shore Trail, Property Acquisition, and Restoration
Project Grant No. AGP 09-03, September 3, 2008 (BLF Grant Class G-11)
Funding
Total Grant Award: $98,572. Grant Agreement Signed by Mayor Lewis: April 29,
2008. First funding installment: $59,754. Grant expenses to date: $45,446.70.
Grant balance remaining (from first installment): $14,307.30. Total grant award
funding remaining: $38,818.
Budget and Disbursement Schedule
Project Status
Due to careful management and available volunteers, the grant period and funding is now planned to run through November 2018. This is viewed as a good trend to
extend the use of the grant funds.
The Murphy By-pass property acquisition has been a long process! The draft acquisition agreement has been prepared and submitted to property owner Michael
Murphy, but was again rejected! and is being finalized for submission to the property
owner. The BLF is reviewing our acquisition strategy for dealing with Michael
Murphy, hopefully leading to a better approach.
Through discussions with the California Coastal Conservancy (CCC), the Batiquitos
Lagoon Foundation (BLF) has indicated their willingness, if offered, to accept fee-
Date Funding
Requested
Requested
Amount
Date Funded Amount
Funded
Expenses
to Date
Disbursed
Balance
Remaining
Total
Grant
Balance
Remaining
Grant Award
Amount
$98,572
April 29, 2008 $59,754 June 5, 2008 $59,754 $45,446.70 $14,307.30 $38,818
2
title to the Ayers Property, ~7.2 acres. Due to California’s budgetary problems, the CCC was forced to place this project on hold. We are now continuing the process of
restarting the property acquisition project and hope to complete the property transfer
to the BLF sometime in 2018. Because this is a property deed transfer, project costs
are expected to be less than originally estimated. Trail design issue discussions have already begun with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for completing the North Shore Trail through the BLF’s Cholla Point Property (Former
Mitsuuchi Family Trust Property) through to El Camino Real across from Omni La
Costa Resort and Spa. We are working with SANDAG’s Environmental Mitigation
staff to explore getting additional funding to complete the trail. An estimated 1,700+ foot boardwalk will be required to cross a wetland area when completing a trail, which will add to the trail construction costs. CDFW and the City of Carlsbad’s
Parks & Recreation staff have been informally contacted and have examples of how
to construct a boardwalk. Permitting once the trail project starts is expected to be
lengthly!
Restoration of the BLF’s Cholla Point Property is going slow and methodological.
We continue to explore our engineering strategy to address bluff erosion control
measures. This has resulted in extending our invasive plant removal and restoration
work to include additional seasons.
Grant funding remains sufficient for planned activities.
1
October 10, 2017 Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Grant Project Status Summary 4
Batiquitos Lagoon North Shore Trail Restoration Phase 2 Project Grant No. AGP
13-02, March 9, 2016 (BLF Grant Class G-24)
Funding
Total Grant Award: $20,733. Grant Agreement AGP 13-02. First funding
installment [Full]: $20,733. Grant funding expenses to date: $41.77. Grant balance remaining: $20,691.23. Total grant award funding remaining: $20,691.23.
Budget and Disbursement Schedule
Updated Project Schedule
Task Estimated Start Actual Start Estimated Completion Actual Completion Completion Milestones
1. Project Start-up
and team
organization, and
detailed project planning.
April 2016
April 2,
2016
May 2016
May 28,
2016
Project planning
was completed
and the project
was made an integral part of
our regular
Weed-whacking
/ Trail Maintenance
volunteer
program.
Date Funding
Requested
Requested
Amount
Date Funded Amount
Funded
Expenses
to Date
Disbursed
Balance Remaining
Total
Grant Balance
Remaining
Grant Award Amount
March 8, 2016 $20,733 03/16/2016 $20,733 $1,198.83 $19,534.17 $19,534.83
2
2nd year planning
effort.
March 2017 April 2017
2. Site
assessment, initial
site clean-up, implementation and advanced
equipment /
materials
purchases.
April 2016 April 2,
2016
June 2016
May 21,
2016
Our initial site
assessment
was completed and invasive plants and trees
were identified.
The site
boundary was staked out and the recycled
water access
system was
surveyed.
3. Restoration area
preparation
including invasive plant
and tree
trimming /
removal, and
area clean-up.
2nd effort.
April 2,
2016
March 2017
April 2,
2016
December
2017
May 2017
Extended due to
volunteer
availability. Removed
significant
amount of
Broom grass
regrowth from rain last year.
Made significant
area soil prep
progress.
4. Restoration area
planting
2nd Planting
December
2017
September
2018
January
2018
November
2018
5. Maintenance / weeding /
watering.
December 2017 December 2018
6. Project monitoring, data
collection and
reporting.
January 2017 Jan 2019
Project Status
• Full funding disbursement was requested in May 29, 2016, the check issued by the City of Carlsbad on March 29, 2016 to the BLF.
3
• Site preparation work began on April 2, 2016 using our weed-
whacking/Trail Maintenance volunteer work crew. The work consisted of
clearing invasive plants, eucalyptus trees, as well as identifying invasive
palm trees for eventual removal. Accumulated ground debris was removed. Removed eucalyptus tree limbs and trunks were cut into manageable lengths for off-site removal. Chipping of branches and limbs
was also accomplished, with the chips used throughout the trail system.
• Conducted a number of volunteer events from area and regional businesses and organizations (e.g. REI, EI Lilly, Solana Beach Presbyterian
Church, Anderson Doors, and Intuit – San Diego).
• More work is needed to further remove remaining eucalyptus limbs and saplings. We also will be performing more green-waste removals over the
next few months.
• We are now finalizing our planting pallet for restoration planting of native trees and plants. We expect to place our first tree and plant order in late
December 2017.
• We are behind schedule, but are now picking up the pace. A significant amount of non-native grasses were removed in September and October
2017, with major portions of the restoration site now having soil suitable
for planting. We will be working with the Park Hyatt – Aviara Golf Course maintenance staff to install our backbone recycled watering system in the October – December 2017 timeframe.
Exhibit 5.4
Carltas Company
Grant Update- Floral trade Center and Marketplace Project
October 5, 2017
Pursuant to the recommendation of the advisory committee, the Carlsbad City Council approved a series
of grants, directed at enhancing the long term sustainability of agriculture in the area designated for
agriculture proximate to Cannon road. Carlsbad Ranch Company, the original grantee and a subsidiary of
Carltas Company, has been merged with Carltas so this report and subsequent reports will be from
Carltas.
This is the fourth report submitted to the advisory committee on the project status
Our project envisioned the addition of specialty food crops to the existing floral production, coupled
with a series of facilities for distribution of onsite production, as well as the translation from farm to
table products, in an environment analogous to the Flower Fields. In doing so, the project is intended to
increase the value of the production, to enhance the access of the Carlsbad community and its visitors
Exhibit 5.5
to the agricultural areas and experience, and to create a lively place for engagement with agricultural
production.
The project, now named North 40 Urban Farm, was introduced on our website
at http://www.carlsbadnorth40.com.
The complexity of the project required multiple initiatives, 3 of which were supported by the grants
from the mitigation fund.
• AGP 13-03—Orchard, Fields and Floral Trade Center Access
As reflected in the last report, this project has been completed and entry improvements are in place
with associated landscaping substantially matured ($600,000).
The completed work has made a significant difference in field operations.
• AGP 13-04—Floral Trade Center Improvements
As we reported last year, we held up proceeding with construction of the project as we worked to better
align the mix of tenants and costs of infrastructure and operation. The issues presented are difficult and
require some major redesign. Given the extended delay and uncertainty, we are requesting ( in an
accompanying letter) modification and redirection of this funding ($165,833.53) to direct farming
operations which are ongoing and will benefit immediately from the proposed investment in water
management, heat impact management and a container cooler system for field cut and harvested crops.
This redirection is consistent with a purpose of the original grant to benefit floral production and
distribution.
• AGP 13-05—Orchards and Field Crop Installation and Development
As noted in the last report, crop installation and related field preparation and infrastructure began
shortly after the grant ($271,000) was confirmed.
• As noted last year, the blueberry crop reached maturity early and we had significant
production, a portion of which was sold through farm stand distribution. We have
determined that some of the varieties will not be successful in Carlsbad for commercial
production. The remaining crop was very productive and we expect material commercial
production continuing and we are exploring vehicles for sale and distribution. We have
tested both direct sales and brokered wholesale.
• A small harvest of hops was again distributed to the prospective brewer tenants who
produced a limited run of North 40 beer, including one flavored with blueberries. We
continue to select for varieties that will succeed best in this location.
• The 600 olive trees (seen here with protective emulsified kaolin clay) planted to date are
thriving and a significant harvest of fruit and milling to olive oil is underway. The sample of
oil produced will be large enough to determine the appropriate distribution vehicle (either
direct retail or wholesale to the milling company
• The coffee plants (seen here also with protective emulsified kaolin clay) are doing well and
some harvestable fruit should be available in 2018. California Bountiful just issued an article
and video with Jay Ruskey who is the source for our young plants, and our associate in post-
harvest treatment. Here is a link to the article and video. The video also illustrates the kind
of opportunity for the community to be engaged with the crop.
http://californiabountiful.com/features/article.aspx?arID=1493
..
.
Additional Funding
Cultural and installation costs continue to be incurred and final distribution of grant funds for 2017-18
($55,000) required for the project will be requested to support the operation.
The grant support has been critical to the initiation of the project and we continue to be appreciative for
this funding.
Please let us know if you require further information.