ACQUISITION PLAN INTRODUCTION This Acquisition Plan provides guidance to Sonoma County's Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (the District) to carry out a voter approved ordinance for agricultural land preservation and open space acquisition. It establishes certain planning and implementation policies and identifies several categories of lands to be considered by the District when acquiring interests in lands and conducting related activities. Background on the District The formation of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District is the result of the public's concern over the urbanization and the displacement of agriculture in Sonoma County. Agriculture is of significant economic importance to the county and contributes to its rural character. Sonoma County is recognized for its natural landscape and rich plant and animal communities. The primary purpose for creating the District was to further the state policy on the preservation of open space expressed in California Government Code 65562 and to implement the Open Space and Agricultural Resources Elements of the 1989 Sonoma County General Plan. Program 4 in the Open Space Element calls for consideration of a ballot measure to establish a District to acquire and administer open space lands, including an appropriate funding source. In February 1990, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors sponsored AB 3630, the enabling legislation for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. In August 1990, the Board created the Open Space Authority to finance the acquisition of interests in agricultural and open space lands through a 1/4 percent sales tax. The Open Space Authority requested that the Board call a special election on a measure approving the imposition of the sales tax. In November 1990, Sonoma County voters approved Measures A and C. The purpose of Measure A was to establish the District while Measure C called for the sales tax to fund agricultural preservation and open space acquisition over a 20-year period. Structure The District's Acquisition Program involves coordination among the Board of Directors, the Open Space Authority, the Advisory Committee and staff. The organizational structure of the District is illustrated on Exhibit A and described below. The boundaries of the District are the same as those of Sonoma County. The 5-member Sonoma County Board of Supervisors serves as the District Board of Directors and is the final decisionmaking body for the District. The Open Space Authority is responsible for collecting the sales tax revenues and has entered into an agreement with the District for the use of those funds. In accordance with the agreement, the Open Space Authority shall review and approve the District's budget and may conduct periodic audits of the District's management practices or financial affairs. The agreement further stipulates that the District adopt an Acquisition Program. The Authority is also required to determine general plan and Expenditure Plan consistency for proposed acquisitions. The 17-member Citizens' Advisory Committee, appointed by the District Board of Directors, is comprised of representatives from various interest groups and the cities. Responsibilities of the committee include advising the District Board and staff on policy matters and making recommendations for proposed land and easement acquisitions. Four subcommittees concentrate on specific topics: Policies and Procedures, Acquisition, Public Outreach and Stewardship. Interim Acquisition Plan The agreement between the District and the Open Space Authority stipulates that an Acquisition Plan be prepared prior to acquisition of rights in land or easements by the District. The Acquisition Program was developed in two phases: 1) the Interim Acquisition Plan and 2) this Acquisition Plan. The Interim Acquisition Plan, approved by the Board of Directors in October 1991, enabled the District to respond to special property offers which occurred prior to adoption of this Acquisition Plan. For purposes of the Interim Plan, a special project was defined as:
The Interim Acquisition Plan process included an evaluation checklist to identify specific characteristics of the property and opportunities for open space and/or agricultural preservation. The following material pertains to the District Acquisition Plan which incorporates elements of, yet supercedes, the Interim Acquisition Plan. For purposes of the Acquisition Plan, the following definitions are in effect:
CONFORMITY WITH EXISTING PLANS AND REGULATIONS Expenditure Plan The purpose of the Expenditure Plan, approved by the Open Space Authority and incorporated into Measure C, is to "implement the 1989 Sonoma County General Plan by preserving agricultural land use and open space." The Expenditure Plan is generally based on the County's Open Space and Agricultural Resources Elements and provides for other open space projects within the cities. The District's acquisitions will primarily involve purchase of conservation easements from willing sellers; however, lands may be acquired in fee for public recreation where compatible with open space designations described in the Expenditure Plan. The Open Space Authority must ensure that the District's Acquisition Plan is consistent with the adopted Expenditure Plan and with applicable general plans. The Open Space Authority also must determine that District acquisitions would reduce public highway and transportation costs. Relationship to the 1989 Sonoma County General Plan Several elements of the 1989 Sonoma County General Plan are relevant to the District's Acquisition Program. The Open Space Element establishes policies and programs to preserve the scenic and natural resources of the county. Open space designations adopted as part of the General Plan include, but are not limited to, community separators, scenic landscape units, scenic corridors, critical habitat areas and riparian corridors. The Agricultural Resources, Land Use and Resource Conservation Elements include policies to protect agricultural lands and other sensitive areas. The general plan establishes three categories of agricultural lands to enhance and protect land for continued agricultural production and to provide for a full range of agricultural uses. These categories are: Land Extensive Agriculture, Land Intensive Agriculture and Diverse Agriculture. District acquisitions generally will be focused on lands designated in the Open Space Element and other significant agricultural and resource areas. Enabling Legislation The District was formed under Section 5500 et. seq. of the Public Resources Code. Acquisition and management of lands by the District will conform to the provisions of the enabling legislation. Specifically, Section 6 states that the District shall not exercise the power of eminent domain. Further, the District may not validly convey any interest in real property actually dedicated and used for park or open space purposes, or both, without the consent of a majority of the voters of the District in a special election called by the Board and held for that purpose (Section 5540). Environnmental Regulations Environmental laws which are pertinent to the District's program include the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The District adopted guidelines for implementation of CEQA in October 1991. Adoption of the Acquisition Plan, individual property acquisitions and other District activities will conform to CEQA, where necessary. District projects which may involve federal funding will require conformance with NEPA. ACQUISITION PLAN Inventory of Protected Lands The process of delineating areas of focus for the Acquisition Plan involved research and mapping of lands in the County which are presently subject to some means of open space or resource protection. This included, but was not limited to, an inventory of land interests held by the following organizations and agencies:
These lands have been classified according to the existing level of protection into one of two categories: I) Public Ownership, and 2) Other Protected lands (easements, CDFG managed areas, etc.). Public and Agency Involvement Between December 1991 and March 1992, the District held a series of six noticed workshops throughout the County to solicit public input into the Acquisition Plan. Participants were asked to identify areas which they felt the District should acquire or otherwise protect. Areas of interest as well as issues of concern were expressed in written, verbal and graphic form, resulting in approximately 50 maps and 150 written responses. In addition to individual comments, the District received input from public agencies and various citizens', agricultural and environmental organizations. The District further invited input into the plan through presentations to over fifty (50) groups, including City Councils and civic, business and other community associations. Material compiled through public involvement was reviewed and documented for consideration in the plan. Objectives and Policies The following objective and policies were developed to direct the District's Acquisition Program. The policies are intended to prescribe and prioritize areas within the Acquisition Plan and to provide for the preservation of those lands. Objective Over a 20-year period, the District shall seek to acquire interests in Sonoma County's agricultural, natural resource and open space lands in a manner which will encourage and promote their perpetual preservation. Policies The Acquisition Plan shall:
The Acquisition Plan map shown as Exhibit B was prepared by an ad hoc committee comprised of District staff and Citizens' Advisory Committee representatives. In order to identify lands within the three (3) categories, the ad hoc group evaluated each of the nine (9) county planning areas with respect to the above policies. This analysis included, but was not limited to, consideration of land use and open space designations, public input, State important farmlands (Department of Conservation), mapped biotic resource areas, Cities' general plan policies and existing protected land inventories. Key considerations for the Acquisition Plan are distinguished by planning area in Appendix A on file at the District office. Acquisition Plan Map - Key The District's level of interest in acquiring interests in real property described in the following categories:
Administrative Guidelines In order to direct its acquisition efforts, the District will develop administrative guidelines. These guidelines will describe the methodology for pursuing acquisition of interests in lands within the various categories established by the Plan (e.g. consideration of bidding process vs. market solicitation of landowners in those categories). The guidelines also should include consideration of an opportunity purchase reserve fund which will allocate a specific amount for emergency purchases requiring immediate action. The District shall coordinate with the Open Space Authority to establish procedures for operation of this fund as well as an appropriate amount. The administrative guidelines will outline the District's procedures for individual acquisitions as follows:
Action Plan In accordance with the Administrative Guidelines, the District shall adopt an annual Action Plan which is consistent with the Acquisition Plan. The Action Plan will outline particular priorities and areas of critical concern to focus the District's acquisition efforts and funding for the ensuing fiscal year. The District shall consult with the Cities on a regular basis regarding the Acquisition Program and the annual Action Plan. As a part of the Acquisition Program, the Action Plan will be reviewed and approved by the Open Space Authority. Development of the Action Plan should occur at approximately the same time as the annual budget (June). Stewardship Implementation of the Acquisition Program will require proper and effective management for all District holdings (easements and fee title). Management provisions must be identified for individual acquisitions. For example, the District is required to prepare baseline documentation which spells out the provisions of the easement which the District will monitor. This information will consist of photographs, maps and timetables to ensure appropriate management of the District's interests. Where feasible, the District should encourage land or easement management by other agencies and through volunteer and peer programs. The District should maximize the assistance of existing park or other agency staff to manage its lands acquired in fee. Following the initial five (5) years of the District, consideration should be given to the long-range funding of necessary stewardship for District land holdings. Public Outreach An integral component of the District's Acquisition Program is public outreach. For individual acquisitions, publicity should be tailored to the landowner's needs. The District will emphasize that acquisition of easements on private property does not imply that public access is permitted. The District will encourage public involvement to further the Acquisition Program and related activities. Within the first three (3) years, a landowner's handbook will bedeveloped to explain the District's policies and procedures regarding land acquisition. Revised 11/15/94 ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE OF THE
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