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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12201988 - T.1 r THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 20, 1988 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Torlakson, Schroder NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor McPeak ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: East County Agricultural Park Proposal Alfred Courchesne, P.O. Box 872, Brentwood 94513 , representing farmers and landowners in the Brentwood/Byron area, presented the attached draft proposal for the establishment of an "agricultural park" consisting of approximately 17,000 acres in the Brentwood area. Mr. Courchesne urged the Board to endorse the proposed concept and to provide funding for further study of. the proposal. Ken Dwelley, Rt. 1, Box 126 , Brentwood 94513 , noted that in the fifty years he has been in farming he has seen many prime agricultural areas lost to urban development. He expressed support for the ag park proposal. Rick Knoll, Rt. 1, Box 65H, Brentwood 94513 , advised that his 10 acre scientifically based farm is proof that farming a small parcel is a viable option. He expressed support for the ag park proposal. Jerry Tennant, Rt. 1, Box 61F, Byron 94514, expressed support for the ag park proposal and urged the Board to support the concept. Lorrie Nail-Visher of Brentwood, member of a three generation farming family, expressed support for the proposal and encouraged the Board to endorse the concept. Board members discussed the proposal and expressed support for the concept. Therefore, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the following actions are APPROVED: 1. ENDORSED the concept of an agricultural park in East Contra Costa County; 2. REFERRED the draft proposal to the Community Development Director for review; 3 . AUTHORIZED the Community Development Director to send letters to the Cowell Foundation, the Discovery Bay Homeowners ' Association and environmental organizations soliciting contributions to fund a study on this proposal; 4. REFERRED the matter to the Finance Committee to identify funding sources within the County; and 5 . AUTHORIZED Community Development Director to .send letter to the East Bay Regional Park District advising of the Board' s support of the concept and encouraging the Park District to assist in implementing the program. hereby certify that this is a true and corroct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. cc: Community Development Director County Administrator ATTESTED: �`�� '��' X981' PHIL BATCHELOR, Clonic cf the Board Finance Committee of Supervisors and County Administrator i By �� , Deputy • 'OD R P F T CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AG PARK I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION A. Approximately 17, 000 acres South and East of Brentwood. B. Consisting of prime soils (Class I & II) presently serviced by BBID and ECCID irrigation districts. C. Programs to benefit both farmers and the general public. II. RATIONALE FOR AG PARK COSTS A. Ag lands require minimal community services and infra- structure; are cost effective use of lands. 1. By creating an Ag Park, the. citizens of Contra Costa will be saving billions of dollars in taxes that otherwise would be needed (e.g. for major highway construction) were urban development allowed to take place in the area of the Ag Park. III. AG PARK PROGRAMS A. Educational and recreational programs to be administered by East Bay Regional Park District. 1. Field trips to farms for schools, grades 1-12 . 2 . Museum on "History of Agriculture in California. " 3 . Farm trails for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. a. Trails to be located around peripheral areas of . Ag Park. b. Trails to be maintained, posted and patrolled by East Bay Regional Park District rangers. C. Parking and picnic grounds in designated areas only. d. All recreational use to be managed in manner agreed upon by Ag Park farmers in order to eliminate conflicts between the public and the farm community. 4. Burden of liability and cost of insurance to be assumed by East Bay Regional Park District for all public uses of Ag Park. B. Economic and promotional programs benefiting the Ag Ag Park community to be administered by the Ag Park "Board. " 1. Cooperation with UC Berkeley on agricultural research projects. 1 2 . Coordination with UC Coop Extension Service. 3 . Cooperative processing facilities for ag products. 4. Promotional campaigns for "Contra Costa Grown" products. 5. Continue "Harvest Time" program. 6. Develop purchase program with county institutions (e.g. schools, hospitals, prisons, etc. ) . 7. Develop harvest "festivals" for local crops: a. cherries, apricots, walnuts, sweet corn; b. patterned after Gilroy's "Garlic Festival" or Sonoma's "Apple Festival. " IV. TECHNIQUES TO CREATE THE AG PARK A. Initial program to study formation and funding of Ag Park. 1. Apply to American Farmlands Trust. 2 . Apply to East Bay Regional Parks Foundation. B. Purchase of Development Rights Program. 1. County would purchase development rights from land- owner. Parcel would then become part of the Ag Park: a. Subject to the rules, limitations and require- ments for land use within the Ag Park. b. Eligible for participation in all Ag Park programs. 2 . PDR program is voluntary. 3 . Standardized formula (including appraisal system) will be used to determine value of development rights for each parcel. 4 . PDR program sets criteria for eligibility and selection of parcels for inclusion in Ag Park. C. Fee simple sale or donation of lands to Ag Park. D. Special District -crated by county for Ag Park. E. Other techniques consistent with county general plan. V. FUNDING A. The funds to create the Ag Park land would be generated from broad-based county-wide sources: 1. East Bay Regional Park District General Obligation Bond. 2 2. Mitigation fees from developments. 3 . Special Grants from foundations; other private sources. B. Funds to operate will come from East Bay Regional Park District. VI. STRUCTURE OF THE AG PARK A. Development rights to be held by the Ag Park Land Trust. B. Land uses and Ag Park economic programs will be regulated and administered by Ag Park Landowners Association with a Board of Directors. 1. Board of Directors to be made up of members from the Ag Park community. 2 . Board of Directors to be elected by the Ag Park community. 3 . "Board" gets operational funds from the Ag Park Land Trust. a. "Board" has power to appoint committees or hire firms to carry out programs. b. "Board" establishes criteria and set standards for programs and projects. C. Ag Park Community Center 1. Conducts social events. 2 . Coordinates and facilitates farm/farm worker activities. 3. Develop and administer work/study programs for entry level farmers, students and farm workers. 4 . Conducts language classes in English and Spanish. 5. Conducts classes for home canning, food processing, cooking, etc. - VII. TAXATION A. Ag Park lands to be taxed on basis of agricultural values. B. Williamson Act could apply. VIII. ISSUES RELATED TO THE AG PARK A. The Ag Park Community. 1. The Ag Park community is defined as all people living or working in the Ag Park. 3 a. landowners farming their own land; b. farmers farming rented lands in Ag Park; C. residents living within Ag Park boundaries; d. farm workers; e. businesses located in Ag Park. B. One purpose of the Ag Park is to enhance, protect and sustain the Ag Park community. C. Another purpose of the Ag Park is educational: 1. Teach young people of Contra Costa where food comes from. 2 . Create greater understanding and respect for agriculture by urban dwellers. 3 . Develop ways to make agriculture sustainable. 4 . Fresher, healthier food produced locally. D. Another purpose of the Ag Park is to preserve a large area of our most basic resource - land for food production. IX. QUESTIONS RELATED TO AG PARK A. How to maintain healthy competition within Ag Park economy? B. How to prohibit non-agricultural uses? C. How to encourage entry-level young farmers to get started farming with eventual ability to buy land? D. How to assure that serious family farmers (or serious potential farmers) will be able to buy Ag Park lands? E. How to provide for continued irrigation water services at reasonable costs? F. How to eliminate conflicts between farm traffic and high speed traffic on Highway 4? G. How to provide for on-farm housing for farm workers? X. BENEFITS TO COUNTY A. The Ag Park will create an attraction in East Contra Costa similar to the kind now existing in the wine country of Napa Valley, thereby stimulating a diversity of related economies in areas surrounding the Ag Park. 1. Tourism 2 . Restaurants, hotels, inns, etc. 3 . Recreational 4 . Food industries and services. 4 B. The Ag Park will increase property values throughout East Contra Costa: 1. Thereby encouraging development of quality homes in surrounding areas (rather than low cost housing) ; 2 . Thereby reducing population levels; 3 . Thereby reducing costs for services; 4 . Thereby increasing tax base for the area in general. C. Increased tax base coupled with lower costs for the East County region resulting in greater overall revenues for the county as a whole. Ultimately, the Ag Park pays for itself. 5