HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 135-08RESOLUTION NO. 13 5 - ~ 8
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD REGARDING THE ANNEXATION OF
AGRICULTURAL LAND AND OPPOSING PROPOSED
LAFCO POLICY CHANGES
WHEREAS, the Agricultural Advisory Committee ("Committee") of the Kern
County Local Agency Formation Commission ("LAFCo") has proposed certain policy
recommendations ("recommendations") to LAFCo regarding the annexation of
agricultural land to cities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the recommendations, the Committee is requesting
LAFCo require cities to: (a) provide housing needs assessments; (b) use the Land
Evaluation & Site Assessments ("LESA") model for assessment of conversion of
agricultural land to urban uses; and (c) obtain a Notice of Tentative Cancellation of
Williamson Act contracts from the County of Kern; and
WHEREAS, these Committee recommendations are not consistent with the
Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan ("General Plan") policies, and
WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and LAFCo's own
policies emphasize the need for consistency with local general plans; and
WHEREAS, a housing needs assessment is already provided in the Housing
Element of the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the General Plan uses criteria to determine the appropriateness of
conversion of agricultural land that is different than the LESA model; and
WHEREAS, much of the property that is immediately adjacent to the city limits of
the City of Bakersfield and within the City's Sphere of Influence is subject to Williamson
Act Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the California Government Code establishes the mandatory
procedures that a city must follow in cancelling a Williamson Act Contract, and the City
of Bakersfield follows those procedures; and
WHEREAS, infrastructure and services are planned for and funded based on a
City's General Plan: and
WHEREAS, the policy recommendations have the potential to impact
Bakersfield's ability to grow in an orderly manner and to negatively impact the citizens of
the City of Bakersfield.
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ORIGINAL
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Bakersfield
as follows:
1. That the above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein
by reference.
2. That the City's General Plan, which provides policies for the conservation
of agricultural lands, should be the guiding document for growth.
3. That LAFCo policies should not be inconsistent with the General Plan.
4. That the City of Bakersfield should be able to annex and cancel
Williamson Act contracts in accordance with state law and General Plan
policies.
5. That the proposed Committee requirements could negatively impact
orderly growth patterns and plans for service and infrastructure within the
City's Sphere of Influence.
6. That this Council recommends that LAFCo not approve the policy changes
recommended by the LAFCo Agricultural Advisory Committee.
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ORIGINAL
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted, by
the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
AUG 2 0 2008 by the following vote:
YES:. COUNCILMEMBER l~~ (~ ,y~ hr~ m ~ ~Q~ `/' D ~ T[-.41c,¢Syt~ A.l,~l ifn,N ,(~'~~~
COUNCILMEMBER .nPrk o
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER I~LIIY~.Q.
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER w-r-r~
PAMELA A. McCART CMC
CITY CLERK and Ex icio Clerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
By: ~~.
ROBERT M. SHERFY
Deputy City Attorney
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S:\COUNCIL\Resos\08-09\AgLandAnnexation.doc ~~
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ORIGINAL
APPROVED: AUG 2 0 Cana