COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

November 7, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 27, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

A 10-Year Open Space Easement Agreement between the County of San Mateo and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution approving the execution of a 10-Year Open Space Easement Agreement between the County of San Mateo and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for 23 acres of the Driscoll Ranch property in the Harrington Creek Watershed, accepting the Easement and directing that it and a Certificate of Acceptance be recorded with the County Recorder, and authorizing the Director of the Department of Parks to pay, upon receipt of State funds, $114,365 of 2000 State Park Bond Act funds to Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal: 15. Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

The 10-Year Open Space Easement Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal in that it provides for the use of 2000 Bond Act funds toward the purchase acquisition of the Driscoll Ranch property in the Harrington Creek Watershed by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) for the enhancement of parks and recreation, agricultural preservation and open space purposes including public trail opportunities within the County’s coast side.

BACKGROUND:

In 2000, Proposition 12, the “Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act, a $2.1 billion dollar Bond Act, provided funds for local assistance and competitive grants. The County was awarded $1,955,000 from the Per Capita (PC) Grant Program and $854,305 from the Roberti-Z’berg Harris Urban Open Space and Recreation (RZH) Grant Program for the acquisition, development and improvement of high priority local park and recreational lands and facilities.

PC and RZH Grant funds were allocated to cities, counties and park and recreation districts on a population-based formula using the 2000 U.S. Census as its basis. Some park district boundaries overlapped those of cities or counties, thus State Parks, the administrator of the grant funds, asked local jurisdictions to mutually determine the correct population levels assigned and corresponding funding amount. County Parks determined and the District agreed that an allocation of $80,320 from PC and $34,045 from RZH to the District was appropriate. County Parks and the District agreed that a joint project, the Driscoll Ranch acquisition, was the best use of these funds. County Parks and the District approached State Parks to determine the best way for the PC and RZH grant funds to be transferred for this use. State Parks advised County Parks to adopt an Open Space Easement Agreement to meet site control and land tenure grant requirements and for inclusion in the grant completion packet submitted for funding.

In December 2006, the District acquired the Driscoll Ranch property with the understanding that the County would assist with the $9,000,000 purchase price. Our approximately 1% of the purchase price would cover a 23-acre parcel of this property through a 10-Year Open Space Easement Agreement (Agreement).

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of the Agreement is to ensure that the Easement Property will be retained in its scenic, agricultural and open space condition. Accordingly, the Easement restricts the use of the Easement Property to allow only activities involving agricultural grazing, low-intensity public recreational use, open space, resources management, natural habitat and environmental protection and other consistent uses. The term of the Easement will run for a period of ten years and will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date the Easement is signed by the County. Upon expiration of the Agreement, County Parks agrees to prepare a quitclaim of the Easement for recordation, quitclaiming all of the County’s rights and interest in the Easement.

With this Agreement, there are no operations or maintenance costs to be borne by the County. The County and District acknowledge that the primary purpose and intended use of the State funds is for the purchase of the 23-acre parcel within Driscoll Ranch for the enhancement of parks and recreation, agricultural preservation and open space purposes including public trail opportunities within the County’s coast side.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There will be no financial impact to the General Fund. The expenditure of grant funds is a one-time cost with no further expenses required as part of the Agreement.