P-0155 - A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County 04-04-2000

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POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL MEETING DATE: Apri14, 2000 NUMBER: P:O155 EFFECTIVE DATE: Apri14, 2000 REVISIONS: POLICY: A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County PURPOSE: To consider adopting, as policy, a program for natural and cultural resource land acquisitions entitled "A Lands Legacy Program for Orange County." BACKGROUND: In June 1998, the Board called for the development of a comprehensive land acquisition program to protect and acquire (whether fee-simple or via easement) prioritized natural and cultural resources in the County. This concept, along with the creation of a new Environment and Resource Conservation Department, was presented at public hearing in November, 1998. ERCD staff developed a program outline in the spring and summer of 1999, and all relevant advisory boards developed proposed criteria for evaluation of resource land acquisition in the fall of 1999. A draft report was presented to the Board at the October 12, 1999 work session. Comments and direction from the Board were incorporated into a • revised version of the document, which was provided for Board review in February. Advisory boards reviewed the proposal in March, and any comments received are attached. The proposed program contains a number of sections that address the rationale for the program, inventory existing resources, and review GIS data (both current and needed) that is being used to create a Comprehensive Resource Database. Other similar programs around the nation and the state are noted, along with the criteria for evaluating land acquisitions suggested from each advisor board, and ways that the GIS resource database could be used to identify priority acquisition areas. Potential tools for land acquisition, ranging from donations to easements to fee-simple, are explained in the document. Possible funding sources and land management options are also addressed. •