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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-24; City Council; 20551; RESEARCH AGRICULTURAL USE CANNON RD OPEN SPACECITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# MTG. DEPT. 20,551 .5/24/11 CED AUTHORIZE STAFF TO RESEARCH AND ISSUE A REPORT ON POTENTIAL USE OF AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE REVENUES AND OTHER OUTSIDE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED AGRICULTURAL USE ON THE CANNON ROAD AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE LANDS DEPT. DIRECTOR CITY ATTORNEY CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2011-097, authorizing staff to investigate the feasibility of creating a dedicated fund from the city's Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee revenues to support continued agricultural use on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands, and to prepare an informational report regarding the availability of various other public and/or private agricultural grant funding opportunities. ITEM EXPLANATION: On August 11, 2009, as part of the public hearing on the approval of new water rates, the City Council (acting as the Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors) directed staff to research and report back to the Council on possible financial mechanisms and other incentives to assist in supporting the continuation of agricultural use on the Flower Fields® and on certain agricultural lands located on the north and south sides of Cannon Road immediately east of the Interstate 5 freeway. The specific properties - collectively described as the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands - are shown on the map attached to proposed City Council Resolution (Exhibit 1 of this Agenda Bill). In part, this direction was given in response to the citizens' approval of Proposition D in November of 2006. Through the approval of Proposition D and the comprehensive public planning process conducted to implement it, the Carlsbad community expressed its strong support for promoting, encouraging and considering potential incentives for the continuation of agricultural uses in the area surrounding Cannon Road east of Interstate 5 including the existing Flower Fields® and the existing strawberry growing operations. Community & Economic Development Department staff initially met with staff from other affected departments to brainstorm ideas for possible incentives and strategies for supporting the continuation of agricultural uses on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands. On September 14, 2009, Community & Economic Development Department staff met with the property owners and the farmers of the Flower Fields® and other flower and strawberry-growing lands, as well as the Executive Director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, to share ideas and obtain their input. Two potential program areas in support of the existing agricultural uses surfaced during these discussions among staff and the property owners and farmers: 1. A feasibility analysis of creating a specific fund from the city's Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee (ACMF) program dedicated to supporting the continued agricultural use of the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands. This program applies to coastal agricultural lands in the Mello I and Mello II segments of the City's Local Coastal Program. The mitigation fees are collected from these properties as a condition of conversion to non-agricultural uses, and placed in a special fund. Use of this fund is limited by ordinance to four categories: restoration of the coastal and lagoon environments; purchase and improvement of agricultural lands for continued agricultural production; restoration of beaches for public use, and; improvements to DEPARTMENT CONTACT: David de Cordova 760-602-4604 david.decordova@carlsbadca.gov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED DENIED CONTINUED WITHDRAWN AMENDED * D D PC CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN RETURNED TO STAFF SEE MINUTES D D * existing or proposed lagoon nature centers. The suggested feasibility analysis would estimate revenue potential and whether it could meaningfully contribute to the continuation of agricultural uses on the subject properties on an on-going basis, and would assess the policy and equity implications associated with dedicating a portion of the funds to these specific properties. Staff would present the findings to the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Committee for review and a recommendation to the City Council. 2. A report on the availability of various other private and/or public agricultural grant opportunities. Besides the City's ACMF fund, there are a number of existing non-city public and private grant funding sources that could potentially assist the agricultural uses on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands. Under this proposal, staff would research the issues, determining potential funding sources, uses of funds, general grant procedures and funding cycles, partnering opportunities, and so forth. Staff would share their findings with the agricultural property owners and farmers, and prepare and issue a report summarizing the findings. Consistent with previous City Council direction, the ACMF feasibility analysis and outside funding study would be focused on the areas affected by Proposition D: the Flower Fields® located north of Palomar Airport Road, south of Cannon Road and east of Paseo del Norte, as well as the existing farming operations where flowers and strawberries are presently grown located on both the north and south sides of Cannon Road immediately east of the Interstate 5 freeway. It should be noted that while these research tasks are intended to promote continued agricultural use on these lands, they are in no way intended to preclude their future development with other uses consistent with Proposition D, the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Local Coastal Program, and any other land use documents applicable to the lands affected by this policy. FISCAL IMPACT: The work associated with these one-time research tasks would be completed by city staff without the need for consulting services or additional budget appropriations. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The proposed feasibility study and informational report are exempt from environmental review per Section 15262 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. EXHIBITS: 1. City Council Resolution No with Exhibit A - Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands Location Map. 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2011-097 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING STAFF TO 3 RESEARCH AND ISSUE A REPORT ON POTENTIAL USE OF AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE REVENUES 4 AND OTHER OUTSIDE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT CONTINUED AGRICULTURAL USE 5 ON THE CANNON ROAD AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE LANDS. 6 WHEREAS, in its approval of Proposition D in November 2006 and the 7 comprehensive public planning process conducted to implement it, the Carlsbad community 8 indicated their support for promoting, encouraging and considering potential incentives for the 9 continuation of agricultural uses in the area surrounding Cannon Road east of the Interstate 5 10 freeway, generally described as the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands, and 11 shown on the map attached as Exhibit "A" to this Resolution; and 12 WHEREAS, on August 11, 2009, the City Council directed staff to research and 13 report back to the City Council on possible financial mechanisms and other incentives to assist 14 in supporting continued agricultural use on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space 15 Lands; and 16 WHEREAS, staff has researched the matter, received input from the property 17 owners and farmers of the subject agricultural areas and recommends further investigation into 18 the feasibility of dedicating a portion of the city's Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee funds 19 and the availability of other non-city public and private funding sources to support continued 20 agriculture on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands. 21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of 22 Carlsbad, California, as follows: 23 1. That the above recitations are true and correct.24 2. That the City Council directs staff to investigate the feasibility of creating a £*J specific fund from the city's Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Program dedicated to26 supporting continued agriculture on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands. Staff 28 1 is also directed to prepare and issue an informational report summarizing their findings 2 regarding the availability of various other private and/or public agricultural grant opportunities. 3 3. That any such above-described fund as may be created does not apply to 4 the approximately 48-acre parcel adjacent to Interstate 5 and Cannon Road (APN: 211-010- 5 2400) and owned by San Diego Gas & Electric Company, unless the property owner petitions 6 the City Council to be included in the future. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2! '" 22 '" 23 "' 24 "' 25 '" 26 '" 27 '" 28 -2- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 24th day of May , 2011, by the following vote to wit: AYES: Council Members Hall, Kulchin, Blackburn, Douglas, Packard. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. i a MATT HALL, Mayor ATTEST: LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk (SEAL) Exhibit "A" to City Council Resolution No. 2011-097 Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands i 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28