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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11281989 - S.2 S. 2 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on November 28, 1989_, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: Supervisor Fanden ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Preservation of Prime Agricultural Soils in Contra Costa County The Board considered the three recommendations of Supervisors McPeak and Torlakson relative to preservation of prime agricultural soils in Contra Costa County. (A copy of the recommendations are attached and included as a part of this document. ) The following persons spoke: Leslie Davis, 741 McClarren Road, Brentwood;. Mike Souza, Citizens Land Alliance, East County Farmer, P.O. Box 553 , Byron; Jack Bloomfield, 4955 Discovery Point, Byron; Alfred Courchesne, P.O. Box 872 , Brentwood; Eugene Harrison, P. O. Box 16, Knightsen 94548; and Don Christian, Executive Director, Contra Costa County Taxpayers Association. Following discussion, the Board APPROVED the following ac- tions: 1. REQUESTED the Director, Community Development Department, to schedule a workshop inviting the Board, members of the Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Task Force, and other interested parties to discuss preservation of prime agricultural areas in the County; 2. REQUESTED the Director, Community Development Department, to meet with representatives of the East Bay Regional Park District to discuss the concept of establishing an Agricultural Soils Bank Trust Fund from Measure AA proceeds; and 3 . REQUESTED the Internal Operations Committee and Director, Community Development Department, to review status, structure, and memberhip of the Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Task Force. I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: " �� y PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Admitdstrator cc: Internal Operations Cte. eV �" ----�Deputv Director, CDD County Administrator _ _ s.a TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Sunne Wright McPeak Colra Tom Torlakson @ C Costa DATE: November 28, 1989 SUBJECT: Preservation of Prime Agricultural Soils in Contra Costa County SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AAD JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION• To bolster Contra Costa' s efforts to preserve and protect the prime agricultural soils in Contra Costa County, the Board of Supervisors should take the following .actions: 1. Request East Bay Regional Park District ( "EBRPD" ) to consider establishing a $1 million Agricultural Soils Bank Trust Fund from Measure AA proceeds to purchase development rights on properties comprised of prime agricultural soils. 2. Submit to the Contra Costa voters in 1990 a general obligation bond measure for the purpose of also purchasing development rights on properties comprised of prime agricultural soils. This effort would augment the Agricultural Soils Bank Trust Fund established by EBRPD and could be jointly sponsored by EBRPD. This matter should be referred to the Finance Committee and to the Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee to work out the details if adopted in principal by the Board of Supervisors. 3 . Refer these concepts and policy proposals to the Agricultural Resources Advisory Committee and to the Agricultural Task Force for input and suggestion. BACKGROUND: It is important to preserve prime agricultural soils and protect those lands in Contra Costa from being urbanized. However, it is also clear that farming and other agricultural activities in Contra Costa are subject to economic forces outside of our county, and it is tough for the farmers to make ends meet. Therefore, we have got to be creative and find viable ways to not only protect viable prime agricultural soils through General Plan policies and zoning, but also to establish mechanisms to address the economic realities and hardships faced by farmers. The Agricultural Soils Bank Trust Funds and the general obligation land proceeds would provide the funding to buy development rights in the Agricultural Core and help recapitalize the farming economy. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER c��w:er�i�aGre�