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.
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WHEREAS, in its approval of Proposition D in November 2006 and the
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comprehensive public planning process conducted to implement it, the Carlsbad community
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indicated their support for promoting, encouraging and considering potential incentives for the
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continuation of agricultural uses in the area surrounding Cannon Road east of the Interstate 5
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freeway, generally described as the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands, and
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shown on the map attached as Exhibit "A" to this Resolution; and
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WHEREAS, on August 11, 2009, the City Council directed staff to research and
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report back to the City Council on possible financial mechanisms and other incentives to assist
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in supporting continued agricultural use on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space
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Lands; and
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WHEREAS, staff has researched the matter, received input from the property
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owners and farmers of the subject agricultural areas and recommends further investigation into
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the feasibility of dedicating a portion of the city's Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee funds
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and the availability of other non-city public and private funding sources to support continued
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agriculture on the Cannon Road Agriculture and Open Space Lands.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
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Carlsbad, California, as follows:
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1. That the above recitations are true and correct.24
2. That the City Council directs staff to investigate the feasibility of creating a
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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
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is also directed to prepare and issue an informational report summarizing their findings
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regarding the availability of various other private and/or public agricultural grant opportunities.
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3. That any such above-described fund as may be created does not apply to
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the approximately 48-acre parcel adjacent to Interstate 5 and Cannon Road (APN: 211-010-
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2400) and owned by San Diego Gas & Electric Company, unless the property owner petitions
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the City Council to be included in the future.
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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
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