HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-25; Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Committee Ad Hoc; ; Discussion on Renewal of the Committee’s TermAgenda Item #6
CITY OF CARLSBAD
AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE
(ACMF) AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Subject: Discussion on Renewal of the Committee’s Term
Meeting Date: June 25, 2013
On August 2, 2013, 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 June 28, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution 2009-199 (Exhibit 6.1), 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 recreated for a four
year term (ending on August 2, 2013), 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 $900,000 and $1.4 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 are established as ex-officio,
non-voting members of the Committee to provide support and advice as appropriate.
A budget not to exceed $3,000 for each year of the Committee’s term was appropriated
from the fund to support the work of the Committee (staff/consultant support). Note:
This budget equates to $3,000 for the four years of the Committee’s term. Over the past
four years, the Committee has utilized $515.50 from its budget to support grant
solicitation. Unused portions of funds appropriated to support the Committee’s work are
returned on an annual basis into the available fund balance.
Renewal of Committee’s term:
The following information describes two primary reasons to renew the Committee’s term:
1. Remaining work associated with an awarded grant. One grant awarded in 2008 requires
additional review and recommendations by the Committee AGP 06-12—Batiquitos
Lagoon Monitoring and Management Plan. The Committee recommended that the full
amount requested for this project be encumbered, but only a portion of the
encumbered amount be funded to enable the grantee to conduct additional research.
After completion of the research, the project is required (pursuant to City Council
Agenda Item #6
Resolution 2008-050) to be returned to the Committee for review and reevaluation of
the requested funds. Based on the additional research to be completed for this project,
the Committee will need to make recommendations to the City Council on whether to
fund the remaining encumbered grant balance.
2. Potential for a future grant application process to allocate additional funds from the
ACMF account. Over time, the ACMF fund will grow as interest accrues and as fees are
paid when existing coastal agricultural land converts to urban uses. Once a larger
balance accrues within the fund, the Committee will be responsible for providing
recommendations to the City Council on additional expenditures from the fund.
The Committee may recommend renewal of its term consistent with its current method of
carrying out the Committee’s directive (See Exhibit 5.2), which among other things, will require
the Committee to meet a minimum of once annually. Additionally, if the Committee
recommends renewal of their term, the 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 if it is needed during that year). The funds for the support
budget are appropriated from the ACMF fund; however they are only utilized when necessary.
Unused portions of the $3,000 appropriated annually would be returned to the available fund
balance. 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 DIVISION
Exhibits:
6.1 Resolution 2009-199