Agenda Item Wording:
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Westside Farming Operations - Consideration of staff recommendations regarding the City owned orchard properties located at the Water Reclamation Facility.
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Deadline for Action: 12/31/2023 - Current Farm Management Contract Ends
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Leslie Caviglia, City Manager, Leslie.Caviglia@visalia.city, (559) 713-4332
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that City Council receive a report and presentation that provides the current state of the City owned orchards located at the Water Reclamation Facility, generally located east of Road 68 at Avenue 288 west of State Route 99 This report will provide information on the current state of the farmland, and the following recommendations:
1. Stop farming the 131 acres of walnuts, put the land out for a long term lease that would result in no use of the City's GSA water allotments, and would include removal of the trees by the lessee. This lease could be for a farming or other type of operation that would be compatible with the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
2. Continue farming the 443 acres of pecans under the current contract with Jeb Hedrick for 2024, continued to use recycled water on this orchard as appropriate, put out an RFP for a farming manager starting at the conclusion of the 2024 harvest, conduct well and pump assessments to determine what actions may be required, and assess options for long term effective and efficient delivery of the recycled water to this orchard. Because of the water uncertainty, staff does not recommend considering a long-term lease on the pecans at this time. Once more is known about the status of the Mid and Greater GSA's
3. Put the 408 acres of row crop land out for a contract for a use that would result in no use of the City's GSA allotments. This lease could be for a farming or other type of operation that would be compatible with the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
4. Authorize staff to...
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