Title
Consider approving proposed grazing lease forms and a public bid notice for grazing lands located around San Antonio and Nacimiento Reservoirs; recommend that the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency approve grazing lease forms and a public bid notice; direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to advertise for bids
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
a. Approve proposed grazing lease forms and a public bid notice for grazing lands located around San Antonio and Nacimiento Reservoirs;
b. Recommend that the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency approve grazing lease forms and a public bid notice; and
c. Direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to advertise for bids.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Agency management seeks authority to begin and conduct the grazing lease bid process using the recommended forms (Attachments 1 and 2), and according to the attached schedule (Attachment 3). Management also requests that the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the Agency be authorized and directed to advertise for grazing lease bids (Attachment 4). The Agency owns approximately 8,800 acres at Nacimiento Reservoir and 7,600 acres at San Antonio Reservoir that are not used for County recreational purposes or maintenance of the dams. (Attachments 6 and 6.) In the past, this land has been leased out for grazing purposes under certain terms and conditions. It is proposed to again lease this land, as the present leases expire October 31, 2017. There will be a minimum lease fee bid requirement.
The open land that the Agency owns around Nacimiento Reservoir and San Antonio Reservoir has historically been divided into eight pieces that have been leased out for stock grazing in the past. Based on the Agency’s experience in administering these leases, including safety concerns, staff plans to adjust the boundaries of these parcels. While the parcel boundaries are being refined, the overall acreage and Agency land in question to be leased remains the same.
A working group of staff, management, and an ad hoc res ops advisory subcommittee developed the attached grazing lease forms, bid schedule, and proposed fees. The forms and schedules are still being refined and formatted, but they will not be significantly different from those attached when they are submitted to the Agency Board of Supervisors. In particular, staff and counsel will review and seek recommendation from the Board as to the fee schedule and certain lease provisions that require determination.
The leasing program is statutorily and categorically exempt from CEQA (14 Cal. Code Regs. 15301 (existing facility (including leases)) and 15261 (ongoing project).)
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and commented on the grazing lease forms.
FINANCING:
The Agency will receive rental fees for all leases. In addition, new lease administration fees are proposed to defray certain costs of contract compliance monitoring and enforcement.
Prepared by: Brent Buche, Deputy General Manager, (831) 755-5860
Approved by: ________________________________________________
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Grazing Lease Forms (with attachments and schedule of fees)
2. Proposed Bid Schedule
3. Proposed notice calling for bids (Advertisement)
4. Diagram of grazing leases (San Antonio Reservoir)
5. Diagram of grazing leases (Nacimiento Reservoir)