HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-28; City Council; 17803; Flower Fields grant allocations & fundsCITY OF CARLSBAD -AGENDA BILL
Project Name
Fumigation Alternatives for
Methyl Bromide
Seed Selection Project
City Administration Fee
.. 2
Project Proposal
* Methyl Bromide fumigation is an effective field treatment for Flower Field ranunculas, but timeline
to ban use in CNUSA is in place. The need to develop alternatives is necessary for
long-term crop survival in this area. Four-acre site at the Flower Fields used in the past for this effort and this request is for a focused set of experiments. On-going project until 2005.
Proposes 2-acre plot to focus on multiple petal
expression with specific colors.
10% of grant request for City’s administration of the Flower Field fund and related grant requests.
.
* Continues successful on-going project. .
.
FLOWER FIELDS GRANT ALLOCATIONS AND
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council ADOPT Resolution No. , APPROVING two grant requests
by the Carltas Company and City administrative charges for a total of $67,100 to provide aid to the
flower growing operations on the Carlsbad Ranch and AUTHORIZING the appropriation of Flower
Field grant funds.
2004-307
ITEM EXPLANATION:
On June 30, 1997, the City entered into an agreement with the California Coastal Conservancy to
administer grants supporting floriculture research for the preservation of the “Flower Fields” located
on the Carlsbad Ranch. On August 29, 1997, the City received a $935,000 grant from the
Conservancy and deposited it into an interest accruing special revenue account.
The agreement with the Conservancy stipulates which research projects may be funded. These
include: species vitality, multiple cropping opportunities, soil variables, climate, seed promulgation
and marketing research. The agreement also stipulates that the amount of funds disbursed be
limited to the amount of accrued interest to date not previously expended or encumbered.
The City approved previous Flower Field grant requests on January 4, 2000, May 8, 2001 and
December 16,2003.
At this time, the amount of accrued interest in the account is approximately $138,000. This current
request is for $61,000, plus 10% ($6,100) for administration costs totaling $67,100 as outlined in the
table below.
Grant Amount
$32,000
$29,000
$6,100
$67,100
Grant requests have been reviewed and found consistent with the objectives of the Coastal
Conservancy/City of Carlsbad agreement regarding the Flower Field funds. Project budgets were
reviewed and found to be reasonable for equipment, supplies, services performed, etc. The City
maintains financial accounts relating to the projects and receives written reports outlining how
projects met intended objectives.
I
PAGE 2 OF AGENDA BILL NO. 17i803
ENVIRONMENTAL:
The Planning Director has determined that these projects are minor alterations to existing facilities
and/or operations, and therefore, are categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to
Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
FISCAL IMPACT:
These projects are requesting $61,000 from the Flower Fields fund. Given the interest accrual of the
Flower Fields fund at this time (approximately $138,000), there are sufficient funds to cover the
combined grant requests ($61,000) as well as City of Carlsbad administrative costs (10% of grant, or
$6,100) for a total of $67,100.
EXHIBITS:
1. City Council Resolution No. 2004-307
2. Flower Field Grant Request Letter, dated July 20, 2004.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Eric Munoz, (760) 602-4608, emuno@ci.carlsbad.ca.us
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RESOLUTION NO. 2004-307
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING GRANT REQUESTS
FROM THE CARLTAS COMPANY FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS
FLOWER FIELDS AT CARLSBAD RANCH.
CASE NAME: FLOWER FIELDS GRANT ALLOCATIONS
The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, does hereby resolve as
INTENDED TO ENSURE LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY OF THE
follows:
WHEREAS, Carltas Company, as property owner and on behalf of the Flower
Fields grower, has filed a request for two grants; and
WHEREAS, Grant No. 1 requests $32,000 to research alternatives to Methyl
Bromide fumigation; and
WHEREAS, Grant No. 2 requests $29,000 to continue seed selection research;
and
WHEREAS, staff has reviewed and recommends that each grant is consistent
with the purpose stipulated in the agreement between the City of Carlsbad and the California
Coastal Conservancy and with reasonable and customary costs associated with the scope of
work covered in each grant request; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Director has determined that the projects covered by
the grant requests are categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section
15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, there are sufficient funds in the Flower Fields special revenue
account to cover the two grant requests for $61,000, plus the City’s administrative costs of
$6,100 based on 10% of the combined grant requests, since the amount of accrued interest
currently is approximately $1 38,000; and
WHEREAS, the Finance Director is authorized to disburse the $61,000 in grant
requests from the Flower Field fund, and to transfer the administrative fee of $6,100 from the
Flower Field fund into the City’s General Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 3
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
1. That the foregoing recitations are true and correct.
2. That the Flower Fields Grants are approved and appropriations in the amount
of $61,000, plus an additional $6,100 for administrative charges, are hereby authorized subject
to the following:
Conditions:
1. Upon each project's completion, the grant recipient shall submit a report to the Planning
Director, detailing and/or summarizing how the project met the intended objectives, as well
as disclosure of all related actual project costs.
2. The Planning Director, or designee, will review the submitted accounting and project detail
submittals to determine validity of the costs. If the actual grant is determined to be more
than the validated costs, the applicant shall refund the said difference to the City within 30
days of written City notification.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 28th day of September 2004, by the following vote,
to wit:
AYES: Council Members Lewis, F'imilla, Kulchin, Hall and Packard.
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST: fl
LORRAINPM. WOOD, City Clerk
(SEAL)
-2- 4
July 20, 2004
Community Development
City of Carlsbad
163 5 Faraday Avenue
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Attn: Eric Munoz
RE: 2003-2004 Flower Field Grant Request
Dear Eric:
The purpose of this letter is to request support of $61,000 for two projects for the 2003-04
growing season just completed. All projects were initiated in July 2003 and results of the
projects are being evaluated with the bulb harvest now in progress.
1. Fumigation Alternatives. A continuing project is the testing and comparative work for
the Methyl Bromide alternatives as a soil fumigant. This work is being done in
conjunction with the California Cut Flower Commission and the University of
California. We began the project in 2001-02 and will continue it for a four year period.
The repetition and experience over an extended period is important because significant
differences in the impact on the soil and the plants show up over time more clearly than
in a single year test.
2. Seed Selection. Continuing support is also requested for the seed selection area.
While total costs exceeded $61,000, the projects were undertaken with an objective of $61,000
in support from the fund. Accordingly, the enclosed request is for an aggregate of $6 1,000.
Costs were generally consistent with prior years, although supplies utilized in the projects were
significantly higher as inventories utilized in prior years were restocked at current market
prices.
A third project initiated in the prior year for tissue culture as a basis for reproduction has been
continued but did not require additional funding in 2003-04.
We also envisioned an additional project in focused marketing but have deferred considering
such a program until the 2004-05 season.
5600 AVENIDA ENCINAS SUITE 100 CARLSBAD, CA 92008
TELEPHONE 760 930-9 123 FAX 760 43 1-9020 www.theflowerfields.com