CC 2014-06-10_11.b. Funding Request for Pismo PreserveMEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: STEVEN ADAMS, CITY MANAGER~
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING REQUEST FROM THE LAND
CONSERVANCY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FOR THE PISMO
PRESERVE .
DATE: JUNE 10, 2014
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council not approve the funding request from the Land
Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County for the Pismo Preserve.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
The funding request received is for $40,000, which would need to be paid from the
City's General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
At the May 13, 2014 meeting, representatives from the Land Conservancy made a
presentation to the City Council on the proposed acquisition of the Pismo Preserve.
The Land Conservancy is currently working to purchase this approximately 900 acre
property from a private owner, PB Coast View LLC, with the intent to own and
operate the site as a public preserve with dawn-to-dusk access for passive outdoor
recreation. The Land Conservancy is currently raising funds for the acquisition. As
part of that effort, they are submitting a request this month to the California State
Coastal Conservancy for funding. At the Council meeting, the Land Conservancy
requested a letter of support to assist with these efforts. The letter of support was
approved by the Council at the May 27, 2014 meeting.
The Land Conservancy also submitted a funding request to the City Council on May
22, 2014. At the May 27, 2014 meeting, Council Member Barneich requested, and
the Council concurred, that the request be placed on the agenda for June 10, 2014
meeting.
Item 11.b. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING REQUEST FROM THE LAND CONSERVANCY
OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FOR THE PISMO PRESERVE
JUNE 10, 2014
PAGE2
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
Staff believes the project will benefit residents of Arroyo Grande and recommended
the Council approve the letter of support. New hiking, mountain biking, and horse-
back riding opportunities will make an extremely valuable resource conveniently
accessible for both residents and visitors of our community. It will support
opportunities to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. In addition, the project will
protect prime wildlife corridors and habitat for several sensitive species, such as the
South-central California coast steel head, among others. However, staff has two
concerns with regard to the funding request.
First, while revenues have increased, the City has not yet reached the ability to fully
fund areas that have been identified as major priorities. Therefore, staff believes
established priorities within the City limits should take priority over expenditures on
projects outside the City.
Second, the City receives funding requests from outside agencies on a regular basis
that it does not consider because there are no funds appropriated for these types of
requests. A couple exceptions have been made for items that were determined to
have a direct benefit to City operations. While this request will benefit the
community, it will have only an indirect benefit to City operations. Therefore, treating
this application differently will likely set precedent and make consideration of future
requests from community organizations on a consistent basis more difficult.
Based upon direction from Council during consideration of this year's Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding recommendations, staff is developing a
Community Services Grant Program. Given funding availability, staff is
recommending increasing it to $20,000 annually from the original $10,000 identified.
Staff believes it would be most appropriate for the Land Conservancy to submit their
request through that program so it can be considered along with other funding
requests. However, it is also our understanding they have a deadline of July 151
. If
that is the case, there are special circumstances that would make consideration of
the request at this time necessary.
If the Council identifies the request as a priority to approve funding at this time, staff
recommends that the amount not exceed $10,000 to minimize impacts on other
funding priorities. In addition, it is recommended Council delay consideration of any
appropriation to deliberation of the year-end budget agenda item in order to consider
the expenditure along with other priorities and budget recommendations. An
appropriation of this amount could be funded from an increase in projected revenues
in the current fiscal year. The City of Grover Beach recently approved an
appropriation of $5,000.
Item 11.b. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING REQUEST FROM THE LAND CONSERVANCY
OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FOR THE PISMO PRESERVE
JUNE 10, 2014
PAGE 3
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for City Council consideration:
1. Do not approve the funding request;
2. Direct the Land Conservancy to submit an application for the new Community
Services Grant Program when it is implemented in October 2014;
3. Defer consideration of funding to deliberation of the year-end budget agenda
item;
4. Approve a funding amount of $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000;
5. Approve the funding request for $40,000; or
6. Provide staff other direction.
ADVANTAGES:
Advantages of the recommendation are that: 1) it would avoid an expenditure on a
new, discretionary item that would consume funds that could otherwise be used on a
high priority item within the City limits; and 2) it would avoid setting new precedent for
consideration of a funding request from an outside agency.
DISADVANTAGES:
The recommendation will not address the funding need identified by the Land
Conservancy for this worthwhile project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted in front of City Hall on Thursday, June 5, 2014 and on the
City's website on Friday, June 6, 2014. No public comments were received.
Attachment:
1. Land Conservancy Funding Request
Item 11.b. - Page 3
Th d ATTACHMENT1 e Lan Conservancy ·
OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY --------------------------------------~.. ~RECEIVED
, •. f r O;-;~RROVQ 0p ~ lJOE
May 22, 2014
Arroyo Grande City Council
215 E. Branch St.
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
PO Box 12206 • SAN Lms OBISPO, CA • 93406
(805)544-9096 • WWW.LCSLO.ORG
' · \ • l:a \J4,j.
14 MAY 23 PH ~: Oi
RE: Request for City Funding Support for Pismo Preserve Acquisition
Dear Council Members,
I am writing you today to formally request funding from the City of Arroyo Grande toward the
acquisition of the proposed Pismo Preserve, a 900-acre private ranch that we aim to transform
into a public open space. The Pismo Preserve is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to address
the regional need for permanently protected conservation lands that serve both people and
wildlife.
Specifically, the proposed Pismo Preserve will create access to a new open space with over ten
miles of unparalleled hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. The Preserve will
enhance the quality of life for local residents, provide a new attraction for our region's tourism
industry, and safeguard essential natural resources that ensure clean air and water. These
benefits will be shared by all future generations.
The Five Cities-Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Shell Beach, Grover Beach, and Oceano-all have
population densities much higher than the state average and represent the densest region in all
of San Luis Obispo County. In addition, this region currently has limited upland recreation trails
or open space areas, leading to congestion at the beaches. The successful acquisition of the
Pismo Preserve by The Land Conservancy would forever protect a stunning coastal property in
the Five Cities Region. This remarkable landscape will provide outdoor experiences for these
underserved communities, and offer exceptional recreation opportunities for all county
residents and visitors.
Over 100 residents of Arroyo Grande have recognized what a tremendous asset the Pismo
Preserve would be and have generously supported the project. The Land Conservancy is asking
the Arroyo Grande City council to consider matching your constituents dollar for dollar with a
contribution of at least $40,000. This up-front investment will be leveraged three hundred-fold
with matching funds from the State Coastal Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Board,
private corporations and foundations, and from overwhelming public support. Said another
way, Arroyo Grande is being asked to contribute less than 1% of the total project cost yet would
directly benefit from the project's many positive impacts.
Local People. Local Lan4·
~~30~~ Item 11.b. - Page 4
While the initial investment by all our funders is significant, The Land Conservancy has
committed to the ownership and operation of the Preserve as a free public park with no
ongoing maintenance or management costs to our local government agencies.
We have the opportunity right now to create an outstanding public open space preserve that
will serve our entire County and help shape the future of the Five Cities area. I strongly urge
the City of Arroyo Grande to step up as a major funding partner of the proposed Pismo
Preserve.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you
have any questions or concerns regarding this request or the Pismo Preserve project.
Sincerely, · ~
Ka1 a Dettman
Executive Director
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