Agenda Item Wording:
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A request by Sequoia Riverlands Trust to be certified as an entity for the purposes of holding agricultural conservation easements in accordance with the City of Visalia Agricultural Preservation Ordinance.
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Deadline for Action: 10/16/2023
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Paul Bernal, Community Development Director, paul.bernal@visalia.city, (559) 713-4025
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council confirm Sequioa Riverlands Trust as a qualified entity for the purposes of holding agricultural conservation easements in accordance with the provisions as defined in Article 4 of the City of Visalia Agricultural Preservation Ordinance.
Summary:
Article 4 of the Agricultural Preservation Ordinance addresses how the city proceeds with certifying qualified entities. Under Article 4, qualifications for entities to be considered include:
1. The entity must be a nonprofit public benefit corporation operating within the state of California, and
2. The entity is qualified to hold conservation easements under California Civil Code section 815.3, and
3. The entity must be approved by the City Council for the purpose of holding and managing agricultural conservation easements in accordance with the APO.
Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) is the first organization that has submitted the necessary information to staff seeking approval by the City Council as a qualified entity for the purpose of holding agricultural conservation easements in accordance with the Agricultural Preservation Ordinance. Staff has reviewed the information submitted by SRT and concludes that they can be certified as an entity for the purposes of holding agricultural conservation easements in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Preservation Ordinance as follows:
In considering whether to approve an entity as a qualified entity for purposes of this chapter, the City Council shall consider th...
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