Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-26; City Council; 21141; Agricultural Mitigation Fee Ad Hoc CommitteeCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# 21,141 AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION IVIITIGATION FEE AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE DEPT. DIRECTOR (^1^ MTG. 2/26/13 AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION IVIITIGATION FEE AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY ATTORNEY DEPT. CED AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION IVIITIGATION FEE AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE CITY MANAGER ]Ki RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council ADOPT Resolution No. 2013-047 AUTHORIZING the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee to solicit and evaluate proposals for funding consideration and provide recommendations to award the available funding within the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Fund. ITEM EXPLANATION: Request for Authorization to Solicit Grant Applications The Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee (Committee), at its meeting of November 28, 2012, recommended that the City Council authorize the solicitation of applications for grant requests based on the available balance within the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Fund (Fund). Of the balance currently within the Fund, $488,488 remains available for award to additional agricultural conversion mitigation projects. In addition, the available balance is expected to increase during the second quarter of 2013 due to the reprogramming of funds from a previously awarded grant project that is expected to be completed under budget. A total of $1.5 million was originally awarded for AGP 06- 10—Carlsbad Beach Nourishment, which includes the placement of sand on Carlsbad's beaches. However, as a result of partnering with SANDAG as part of a region-wide beach sand replenishment project, the work is anticipated to be completed below budget (project cost savings are estimated between $615,940 and $865,940). SANDAG is expected to determine the total project cost during the first quarter of 2013. It is anticipated that with the Council's consent, grant applications will be accepted between March and April 2013, and the Committee will evaluate the applications in May and June 2013. Accordingly, staff is expected to return to Council in early August 2013 with the Committee's recommendations to encumber and grant the available funding, which will include the unspent portions remaining from the Carlsbad Beach Nourishment project. Background The Municipal Code regulates the conversion of coastal agricultural lands to urban uses. Among other requirements, development of coastal agricultural land requires payment of the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee for the loss of agricultural use. The fees that are collected may be used to fund the following types of projects: 1) restoration ofthe coastal and lagoon environment including but not limited to acquisition, management and/or restoration involving wildlife habitat or open space preservation; 2) purchase and improvement of agricultural lands for continued agricultural production, or for the provision DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Kevin Pointer 760-602-4620 kevin.pointer@carlsbadca.qov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC • DENIED CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN • CONTINUED • RETURNED TO STAFF • WITHDRAWN • OTHER - SEE MINUTES • AMENDED • Page 2 of research activities or ancillary uses necessary for the continued production of agriculture and/or aquaculture in the city's coastal zone, including, but not limited to, farm worker housing; 3) restoration of beaches for public use including, but not limited to local and regional sand replenishment programs, vertical and lateral beach access improvements, trails, and other beach-related improvements that enhance accessibility and/or public use of beaches; and 4) improvements to existing or proposed lagoon nature centers. The Gity Council awards funds through a competitive grant process upon recommendations by the Committee. Grants were awarded in 2007, 2008, and 2009 totaling more than $7.4 million, $4.1 million of which has been disbursed to date. Of the 20 projects awarded with grants: o Eleven grantees have received full funding disbursement; o Eight grantees have received partial funding disbursement; and o One grantee has yet to receive any funding disbursement. Exhibit 3 provides an update on the status of all grants awarded through the Fund by the City Council from 2007 to date. FISCAL IMPACT: Agricultural Conversion Mitigation fees are collected as lands subject to the fee are developed. These fees have been set-aside in a special city fund dedicated to providing the types of grants the Committee will consider during the project solicitation/evaluation process. The unencumbered fund balance of $488,488 is available to award for additional agricultural mitigation projects. Staff anticipates an additional $615,940 to $865,940 of funds currently encumbered for AGP 06-10 will become available for other projects during the second quarter of 2013 with SANDAG's close-out of the Carlsbad Beach Nourishment project (AGP 06-10). The only direct cost to the city resulting from the recommended action will be the staff time associated with the on-going operations of the Committee. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The recommended action (authorization for the Committee to proceed with the solicitation of applications for grant requests) does not constitute a "project" pursuant to Section 15378(b)(4) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and no environmental review is required. Individual project grants/expenditure proposals may, however require environmental review based upon the nature of the individual proposals. Any projects that receive grant funds will be required to comply with any applicable CEQA requirements. EXHIBITS: 1. City Council Resolution No. 2013-047 2. Committee Roster 3. Project Status z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, does hereby resolve as EXHIBIT 1 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-047 2 AUTHORIZING THE AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 3 TO SOLICIT AND EVALUATE PROPOSALS FOR FUNDING CONSIDERATION AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO 4 AWARD THE AVAILABLE FUNDING WITHIN AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE FUND. 5 CASE NAME: AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 6 " 7 follows: 8 WHEREAS, on August 2, 2005 the Carlsbad City Council created the Agricultural 9 Conversion Mitigation Fee Ad Hoc Citizens Advisory Committee (Committee); and 10 WHEREAS, the principal charge of the Committee is to make recommendations 11 to the City Council for proposed expenditures (Grants) from the Agricultural Conversion 12 Mitigation Fee fund (Fund) in keeping with the directives established by Municipal Code Section 13 21.202.060; and WHEREAS, on May 16, 2006 the Carlsbad City Council adopted Resolution 15 2006-132 approving the Committee's "method of carrying out its directive" (Method) and 1^ authorizing the Committee to proceed with solicitation of applications for grant requests, and 1^ authorized a budget for the application solicitation process; and WHEREAS, the Committee considered and recommended approval of grant requests submitted in 2006 and 2009; and WHEREAS, the City Council did on February 13, 2007, February 19, 2008 and July 28, 2009 approve a total of 20 grant proposals with funding from the Fund; and WHEREAS, approximately $488,000 remains available within the Fund for expenditure on meritorious projects; and WHEREAS, the Committee anticipates that additional funding between $615,940 and $865,940 will be made available for award to additional agricultural conversion mitigation fee prior to the Committee's evaluation of grant applications, which is expected to take place in May and June 2013. 3 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 NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council ofthe City of Carlsbad, California does hereby resolve as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the City Council authorizes the Committee to solicit and evaluate proposals for funding consideration and provide recommendations to award the available funding within the Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Fund. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting ofthe City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 26*^ day of February 2013, by the following vote to wit: AYES: NOES: Council Members Hall, Packard, Wood, Blackburn, Douglas. None. ABSENT: None. MATT HALL, Mayor ATTEST: BARBARA ENGLESON, (SEAL) V/, M Exhibit 2 CITY OF CARLSBAD AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE AD HOC CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ROSTER VOTING MEMBERS: Eric Larson, Chairperson Hope Wrisley (Vice-Chairperson) Ken Alfrey Craig Elliott Richard Erhardt Michael Schumacher Jackie Stone NON-VOTING MEMBERS/STAFF: Deborah Ruddock, California Coastal Conservancy Kevin Pointer, Associate Planner Revised: 1/14/09 3 AGRICULTURAL CONVERSION MITIGATION FEE PROGRAM PROJECT STATUS Exhibit 3 PROJECT NUMBER EUGIBIUTY CATEGORY PROJECT NAME PROJECT DESCRIPTION GRANTEE FUNDING APPROVED DISBURSED TO DATE SPENT TO DATE PROJECT STATUS COMPLETED PROJECTS AGP 06-02 D Audubon Nature Center Interior improvements to Nature Center classroom. Buena Vista Audubon Society $15,000 $15,000 Dec 2007 $15,000 Completed May 2009. AGP 06-06 B Multi-Use Barn Barn for off-season equipment storage and seasonal displays and presentations. CB Ranch Enterprises $233,000 $233,000 Oct. 2007 $233,000 Completed April 2009. AGP 06-07 B Permeable Paving Project Permanent semi-permeable road surface for Flower Fields circulation. CB Ranch Enterprises $297,000 $297,000 July 2007 $297,000 Completed August 2008. AGP 06-08 B Drainage Improvements Project Permanent drainage system to reduce erosion and soil loss. CB Ranch Enterprises $230,000 $230,000 Aug. 2007 $230,000 Completed August 2008. AGP 06-09 B Soil Amendment Project 5-year program of soil amendment to improve soil structure and long-term productivity of Flower Fields. CB Ranch Enterprises $84,000 $84,000 July 2007; March 2008; & Feb. 2010 $84,000 Completed November 2011. AGP 09-01 B Carlsbad Flower Fields Enhanced Access Second access point to the Flower Fields through a right-in only entry on Palomar Airport Road, associated deceleration lane and signage. CB Ranch Enterprises $188,107 $188,107 Sept. 2009 $188,107 Completed February 2010. AGP 06-05 B Cymbidium Project Greenhouse, shade structure, and related infrastructure for orchid production. CB Ranch Enterprises $316,500 $316,500 Aug. 2007 & Oct. 2011 $316,500 Completed October 2011. AGP 09-02 B Aquaculture Enhancement at Carlsbad Hatchery Modifying two flow-through raceway units into one re- circulating unit for propagation of white sea bass. Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute $249,313 $249,313 Nov. 2009 $249,313 Completed November 2011. I? REVISED: 2/5/13 Exhibit 3 PROJECT NUMBER ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY PROJECT NAME PROJECT DESCRIPTION FUNDING APPROVED DISBURSED TO DATE SPENT TO DATE PROJECT STATUS PROJECTS UNDERWAY AGP 09-11 A& D Buena Vista Creek Watershed Information Management System Development of informational management system (database) for existing studies/conditions. Buena Vista Audubon Society $50,000 $50,000 Dec. 2009 $45,000 Database compiled; web portal established; user manual and summary report prepared. AGP 09-12 D Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center Improvements ADA Accessibility at existing Audubon Nature Center. Buena Vista Audubon Society $50,000 $50,000 Dec. 2009 $37,075 Improvements underway; anticipate completion February 2013. AGP 09-09 D Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center Improvements Remodel of existing meeting room to create classroom, meeting room and nature lab. Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation $52,000 $52,000 $33,305.46 Interior improvements underway. Anticipate completion May 2013. AGP 06-03 D BLF Nature Center Improvements Nature Center replacement and improvements. Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation $180,732 $88,000 May 2008 $28,294.40 Permits in process; anticipated completion June 2013. AGP 06-04 C& D Buena Vista Lagoon Boardwalk Engineering design and environmental studies for a boardwalk. Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation $164,000 $68,000 Oct. 2008 $61,442 Preliminary engineering design completed; project on hold pending completion of BV Lagoon Enhancement EIR. AGP 06-10 c Carlsbad Beach Nourishment Nourishment of two stretches of beaches in north and south central Carlsbad. City of Carlsbad Beach Preservation Committee $1,500,000 $884,060 June 2008, Aug. 2009, Dec. 2011 &Oct. 2012 $884,060 Replenishment operations completed in December 2012; anticipate return of unspent contingency. REVISED: 2/5/13 Exhibit 3 PROJECT NUMBER ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY PROJEa NAME PROJECT DESCRIPTION GRANTEE FUNDING APPROVED DISBURSED TO DATE SPENT TO PROJECT STATUS AGP 06-12 A Batiquitos Lagoon Monitoring/ Management Plan Monitor and develop management plan for lagoon. Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation $780,589 $23,995 April 2008 $23,995 Council authorized only $74,995 at this time for data collection, reporting and maintenance. Bathymetric study complete; maintenance and reporting activities ongoing. AGP 06-13 c Agua Hedionda Lagoon Trails Maintenance and construction of trails around Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation $305,750 $35,000 Nov. 2009 30,138.87 Multi-year project. Hubbs Trail easement acquired; trail maintenance activities on-going. AGP 06-15 D Discovery Center Interior Improvements Interior and exterior improvements to existing Discovery Center. Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation $386,000 $157,721.99 Dec. 2008, Dec. 2010 & Nov. 2012 $114,009.54 Design and permitting underway; anticipated completion July 2013. AGP 06-16 B La Posada de Guadalupe Farm Worker Housing Construction of farm worker/homeless housing at Casa de Guadalupe. Catholic Charities $2,000,000 $1,023,055 June 2009, Nov. 2012 & Jan. 2013 $1,023,055 Under construction; anticipated completion August 2013. AGP 09-03 A Batiquitos Lagoon North Shore Trail Planning and design of Murphy Trail Bypass Boardwalk and Rosalena Trail. Ayers property acquisition. Mitsuuchi property wetland restoration and trail building. Invasive species removal at Rosalena/San Pacific/Highway 101 areas. Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation $98,572 $59,754 Dec. 2009 $43,556.70 Property acquisition in process; trail design underway; invasives removal and restoration activities on-going. AGP 09-10 c Coastal Bluff Restoration— Tamarack and Frazee Coastal bluff restoration and rehabilitation; fencing, and trail construction. California State Parks $234,830 $0 $0 State Parks is seeking partnership (possibly with a local lagoon foundation) to implement project. REVISED: 2/5/13 Exhibit 3 PROJECT NUMBER ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY PROJECT " NAME' PROJECT DESCRIPTION I^RANfEE-:^-FUNDING APPROVED DISBURSED TO DATE SPENT TO DATE PROJECT STATUS TOTAL $7,415,393 $4,104,506 $3,946,030 KEY ELIGIBtUTV CATEGORY A Restoration ofthe coastal and lagoon environment including but not limited to acquisition, management and/or restoration involving wildlife habitat or open space preservation. B Purchase and improvement of agricultural lands for continued agricultural production, or for the provision of research activities or ancillary uses necessary for the continued production of agriculture and/or aquaculture in the city's coastal zone, including, but not limited to, farm worker housing. c Restoration of beaches for public use including, but not limited to local and regional sand replenishment programs, vertical and lateral beach access improvements, trails, and other beach-related improvements that enhance accessibility and/or public use of beaches. D Improvements to existing or proposed lagoon nature centers. REVISED: 2/5/13