CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 21, 2016
PREPARED BY: Steve Rymer, City Manager
Title
AGRICULTURAL LANDS PRESERVATION REPORT
END
RECOMMENDATION(S)
RECOMMENDATION
Receive verbal report from Santa Clara County and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority representatives on the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Policy Framework.
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Protecting the environment
2016 Focus Areas
Planning Our Community
Participate in Regional Issues
REPORT NARRATIVE:
The purpose of this item is to receive a verbal update from Santa Clara County and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority representatives on the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Policy Framework.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Collaborate
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
N/A
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
The Planning Commission and City Council have discussed the City's preservation of agricultural lands and related topics at over 40 meetings. Notable action dates include the following:
• On November 5, 2014, the City Council certified the project EIR and adopted the Agricultural Lands Preservation Program (Program).
• On February 4, 2015, the City Council considered the SEQ General Plan land use diagram amendments and approved amendments to the General Plan to establish an Urban Limit Line ("ULL"), to expand the Urban Growth Boundary ("UGB") within the SEQ, and to establish a SRL use district as well as support a future high school use.
• On March 18, 2015, the City Council directed staff to participate in the development of the Southern Santa Clara County Sustainable Agricultural Lands Policy Framework, should such an effort proceed, with the goal of maintaining compatibility between the Framework and the City of Morgan Hill General Plan, Southeast Quadrant Land Use Plan, and Agricultural Lands Preservation Program.
• On July 15, 2015, the City Council adopted the Ordinance to codify as requirements the mitigation policies included in the Program. The City Council also adopted the SRL Zoning District, gave direction to forward the SEQ USA Expansion request to LAFCO, and adopted a pre-zoning for the SRL properties and a private high school.
• On March 3, 2016, the City Council gave direction to staff to undertake specific actions to begin implementation of the Citywide Agricultural Lands Preservation Program.
• On April 6, 2016, the City Council received a report on Agricultural Lands Preservations- Next Steps from Kirk Gerard with Santa Clara County and Alex Kennett with the Open Space Authority.
• On September 7, 2016, the City Council approved an agreement with Scharffenberger Land Planning & Design for agricultural preservation consulting services.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
N/A
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Not a Project
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
None