City of Morgan Hill Adopted Budget FY 2016-17 and FY 2017-18

CITY OF MORGAN HILL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Project

Project No.

140016

Agricultural Preservation

Category

Parks & Recreation

Department

CSD & CDD

Council Priorities Planning Our Community

Location

Citywide

Project Description The City-wide Agricultural Lands Preservation Program provides for the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements. In March of 2016, the City Council renamed the existing Open Space Fund to the "Agriculture and Open Space Preservation Fund" and dedicated $6,000,000 in funding for the acquisition of these easements. The City will be engaging a consultant to implement the program and support acquisition efforts. City staff will continue to work with the County of Santa Clara and the Open Space Authority to coordinate efforts on the regional "Sustainable Agricultural Lands Policy Framework for Southern Santa Clara County. This project accounts for the City spending $1,000,000 per year over the next six years on agricultural conservation easements. This allocation would also include funding for any required mitigation for City facilities developed on agricultural lands. Project Justification This project has been identified in the City's Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. The City has identified the preservation of agricultural lands within the City's Sphere of Influence ("SOI") as an important City objective. The acquisition of agricultural conservation easements is an important element of this program.

2017-2022 Six-Year Capital Improvement Program

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