RPVCCA_CC_SR_2014_09_16_E_George_F_Canyon_Tax_Defaulted_PropertyCITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
CAROLYNN PETRU, AICP, ACTING CITY MANAGE ~
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014
REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TO
PREPARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR A
HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLI-
CATION BY THE PALOS VERDES PENINSULA LAND
CONSERVANCY FOR THE GEORGE F CANYON TAX-
DEFAUL TED PROPERTY ACQUISITION (ASSESSOR'S
PARCEL NO. 7568-006-008)
Project Manager: Kit Fox, AICP, Senior Administrative Analys@
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize Staff to prepare the required environmental document for the Palos Verdes
Peninsula Land Conservancy's grant application.
BACKGROUND
On August 19, 2014, the City Council considered acquiring three (3) tax-defaulted
properties in the City. One of these properties is a vacant, 14.63-acre parcel in George
F Canyon (Assessor's Parcel No. 7568-006-008), which the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land
Conservancy (Conservancy) had also expressed interest in acquiring. The City Council
decided not to pursue acquiring the George F Canyon parcel but, seeing the value of
public ownership of the property, indicated that Staff should re-agendize the acquisition
of the parcel for the September 2nd City Council meeting if needed to "assist and facilitate"
the Conservancy's acquisition of the parcel on its own. However, on August 25, 2014,
the Conservancy Board of Directors decided to acquire the George F Canyon parcel on
its own, without the City's assistance. The minimum bid for the property is $237, 189, and
the Conservancy has filed its application with the County to acquire the property.
At the time that Staff was formulating its recommendation to the City Council regarding
the George F Canyon parcel, the City's grant consultant, Blais & Associates, had
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MEMORANDUM: CEQA Document for PVPLC Grant Application
September 16, 2014
Page 2
identified several possible sources of grant funding for the acquisition. Once the
Conservancy decided to pursue the acquisition on its own, Staff passed this information
along to the Conservancy. On September 9, 2014, the Conservancy advised Staff that it
intended to pursue a Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) grant for the acquisition . The
HCF grant application requires documentation of compliance with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Since the City is typically the lead agency for projects
undertaken within its boundaries, the Conservancy asked if the City could prepare the
necessary CEQA document to accompany its grant application. The grant application
deadline is October 1, 2014.
DISCUSSION
The Conservancy proposes to acquire the George F Canyon parcel for wildlife habitat
conservation purposes. No development or improvements are proposed. The property
abuts the George F Canyon Preserve and Nature Center in the City of Rolling Hills
Estates, which the Conservancy currently operates and manages.
Section 15313(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines provide a categorical exemption for
projects that involve the acquisition of lands for fish and wildlife conservation purposes to
preserve access to public lands and waters where the purpose of the acquisition is to
preserve the land in its natural condition (see attachment). Staff believes that the
Conservancy's proposal qualifies for this categorical exemption, which means that it will
only require the preparation of a Notice of Exemption (NOE). The NOE is a one-page
form requiring negligible Staff time to prepare and distribute (i.e., less than an hour).
Therefore, Staff believes that assisting the Conservancy with the CEQA component of its
grant application will not impose an undue burden upon City resources .
CONCLUSION
Staff believes that assisting the Conservancy with its grant application will support the
greater public good of preserving this parcel in perpetuity for open space and habitat
purposes, and will impose only a negligible demand upon City Staff resources. Therefore,
Staff seeks the City Council's authorization to assist the Conservancy by preparing the
required CEQA document.
FISCAL IMPACT
As described above, the preparation of the NOE is expected to consume a negligible
amount of Staff time and resources. The filing of the Notice of Exemption with the County
Clerk requires the payment of a $75 filing fee, but the Conservancy will be directly
responsible for the payment of this fee to the County Clerk.
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MEMORANDUM: CEQA Document for PVPLC Grant Application
September 16, 2014
Page 3
Attachments:
• Aerial photo of George F Canyon parcel
• Section 15313 of State CEQA Guidelines
M :\Grant Administration\HCF (PVPLC -George F Canyon)\20140916_StaffRpt_CC .docx
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Association of Environm ental Professio nals 2014 CEQA Guidelines
(2) The property to be sold would qualify for an exemption under any other class of categorical
exemption in these Guidelines; or
(3) The use of the property and adjacent property has not changed since the time of purchase
by the public agency.
Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Section 21084, Public
Resources Code.
15313. ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PURPOSES
Class 13 consists of the acquisition of lands for fish and wildlife conservation purposes including (a)
preservation of fish and wildlife habitat, (b) establishing ecological reserves under Fish and Game
Code Section 1580, and (c) preserving access to public lands and waters where the purpose of the
acquisition is to preserve the land in its natural condition.
Note: Authority cited: Sections 21083 and 21087 , Public Resources Code ; Reference: Section
21084, Public Resources Code.
15314. MINOR ADDITIONS TO SCHOOLS
Class 14 consists of minor additions to existing schools within existing school grounds where the
addition does not increase original student capacity by more than 25% or ten classrooms ,
whichever is less. The addition of portable classrooms is included in this exemption.
Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Section 21084, Public
Resources Code.
15315. MINOR LAND DIVISIONS
Class 15 consists of the division of property in urbanized areas zoned for residential, commercial,
or industrial use into four or fewer parcels when the division is in conformance with the General
Plan and zoning, no variances or exceptions are required, all services and access to the proposed
parcels to local standards are available, the parcel was not involved in a division of a larger parcel
within the previous 2 years, and the parcel does not have an average slope greater than 20 percent.
Note: Authority cited: Sections Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Section 21084 ,
Public Resources Code.
15316. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF LAND IN ORDER TO CREATE PARKS
Class 16 consists of the acquisition, sale, or other transfer of land in order to establish a park where
the land is in a natural condition or contains historical or archaeological resources and either:
(a) The management plan for the park has not been prepared , or
{b) The management plan proposes to keep the area in a natural condition or preserve the historic
or archaeological resources . CEQA will apply when a management plan is proposed that will
change the area from its natural condition or cause substantial adverse change in the
significance of the historic or archaeological resource .
Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Sections 21084,
21083.2, and 21084.l, Public Resources Code.
15317. OPEN SPACE CONTRACTS OR EASEMENTS
Class 1 7 consists of the establishment of agricultural preserves, the making and renewing of open
space contracts under the Williamson Act, or the acceptance of easements or fee interests in order
to maintain the open space character of the area. The cancellation of such preserves , contracts ,
interests, or easements is not included and will normally be an action subject to the CEQA process .
Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Section 21084, Public
Resources Code.
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