HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 384-09City of Palo Alto
City Manager's Report
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 9
FROM: CITY MANAGER
DATE: October 5, 2009
TYPE OF REPORT: CONSENT
DEPARTMENTS: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
AND THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CMR: 384:09
SUBJECT: Approval of Annual Report of Williamson Act Contracts within the City
of Palo Alto
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council review the Williamson Act Properties Report for Calendar
Year 2009 (Attachment A), approve the renewal of 19 contracts, and direct staff to file the current
list of Williamson Act properties with the appropriate agencies.
BACKGROUND
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, commonly known as the Williamson Act, is a state
program to discourage agricultural lands from being converted urban uses. The program provides
property tax relief to owners of agricultural land who agree to limit the use of their property to
agricultural or other approved compatible uses.
On July 24, 1974, the City of Palo Alto adopted Ordinance No. 2663 to establish rules for both
establishing and administering Williamson Act contracts for Palo Alto properties. Highlights of the
rules regarding administration of established contracts include: '",(
• Contracts limit the allowable uses of the property to what is described in the contract.
• Contracts remain in place when a property is sold and new owners are subject to the same
use restrictions.
• Contracts are for 10-year terms and have a renewal date of January 1.
• Each year-at least 80 days prior to that renewal date-the Council reviews the contracts
and, at that time, may initiate a notice of nonrenewal for any contract or approve a notice of
nonrenewal submitted by a landowner. If the Council takes such action then that contract
dot;fs not renew on January 1 and terminates nine years later.
• Under certain conditions, the Council may also approve a landowner's request to cancel a
contract.
• Contracts, for which the Council has not approved a notice of nonrenewal or a cancellation,
automatically renew for another I O-year term each January 1.
CMR: 384:09 Page 1 of3
DISCUSSION:
The attached report and map (Attachments A & B), describe the parcels that were under contract
during calendar year,~009. Changes since calendar year 2008 are as follows: .
1. There is o~14ss parcel under contract. The contract for APN 3 51 ~05~006, (a privately owned
parcel at 39'SJ Page Mill Rd) terminated on December 31,2008. A notice of nonrenewal was
filed on September 28, 1999-more than 80 days before the renewal date of January 1,2000
and the contract terminated 9 years later on December 31, 2008.
2. A contract termination date of December 31,2017, has been established for APNs 351-04~
031,351-06-017,351-12-043,351-25-014 (four public open space parcels located mostly
within or adjacent to open-space preserves). The property owner, Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District, initiated the notices ofnonrenewal on December 13,2007 which was
too late to be processed and recorded before the renewal date of January 1,2008. Therefore,
those contracts renewed for another 10 years. The notices were presented to the City Council
the following year and the Council approved them on October 6, 2008-more than 80 days
before the renewal date of January I, 2009. These four contracts will terminate nine years
from that date or on December 31, 2017.
3. The contract information has been remodeled into database that is compatible with and
reconciled to the City'S Geographic Information System (GIS). This is a step towards fully·
integrating the information into the City's GIS. As a result, of this remodeling, the parcel
acreage is now derived from the City's GIS and is slightly different than in previous reports.
The Department of Planning and Community Environment considers the GIS to be the most
reliable source for this information.
4. The annual report is now generated from that database and, as a result, has a new format. The
Department of Planning and Community Environment considers the new format to be more
user-friendly. For example, the old version listed contracts by Assessor Parcel Numbers
(APNs). The new report lists contracts by address and where there is no address, provides a
brief description of the property-this better communicates the location of the property and
makes it easier to associate the contract information with the appropriate parcel on the
accompanying map. Also, in the old version, contract attributes such as expiration dates, one-
acre deductions for home sites, and non-assessed status were reported as footnotes. In the
new report, these contract details are more fully explained and more clearly associated with
the appropriate contracts.
Council Action and Next Steps:
No notices of nonrenewal have been received since the last report. At this time, the Council may
initiate a notice of nonrenewal for any contract and have that notice take effect this year. If the
Council does not initiate any notices of nonrenewal at this time, and approves the attached list, then
this list will be filed in the City Clerk's Office and the information will be forwarded to the
appropriate agencies. For example, under the California Open Space Subvention Act (OSSA), the
City is entitled to partial replacement of local property tax revenue foregone by participating in the
Williamson Act. Planning staff will therefore file the information with the State Department of
Conservation, Division of Land Resource Protection. The City receives approximately $1,000
annually as a result of this filing. Then, on January 1, 2010, nineteen contracts (all but the ones
described in Item No. 2 above) will renew for another 10-year term.
CMR: 384:09 Page 2 of3
POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
The recommended action implements Ordinance 2663 regarding the administration of the
Williamson Act for Palo Alto properties. The Williamson Act in general complies with the land use
policies of the Comprehensive Plan and specifically supports Goal L-1 regarding growth
management as well as Policy L-1 regarding the extent of urban development.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The recommended action is ministerial and pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of
Regulations, Section 15061 (b )(3), is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQ A) in that this action of approving the attached report does not have the potential
for causing a significant effect on the environment.
RESOURCE IMPACTS:
No resource impacts would result from the rec
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
. City Clerk
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Williamson Act Properties Report for Calendar Year 2009
B. Map of Williamson Act Parcels in 2009
COURTESY COPIES:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022
Richard G. and Barbara A. Geiger Trustee, 714 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Frank Giordano, Santa Clara County Office of the Assessor, Frank.Giordano@asr.sccgov.org.
CMR: 384:09 Page 3 of3
"
Williamson Act Properties Report for Calendar Year 2009 -<
About the Williamson Act
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965, commonly known as the Williamson Act is a
state program to discourage agricultural lands from being converted urban uses. The program
provides property tax relief to owners of agricultural land who agree to limit the use of their
property to agricultural or other approved compatible uses.
On July 24, 1974, the City of Palo Alto adopted Ordinance No. 2663 to establish rules for both
establishing and administering Williamson Act contracts for Palo Alto properties. Highlights of
the rules regarding administration of established contracts include:
• Contracts limit the allowable uses ofthe property to what is described in the contract.
• Contracts remain in place when a property is sold and new owners are subject to the same use
restrictions.
• Contracts are for 10-year terms and have a renewal date of January 1.
• Each year-at least 80 days prior to that renewal date-the Council reviews the contracts and,
at that time, may initiate a notice on nonrenewal for any contract or approve a notice of
nonrenewal submitted by a landowner. If the Council takes such action then that contract does
not renew on January 1 and terminates 9 years later.
• Under certain conditions, the Council may also approve a landowner's request to cancel a
contract.
• Contracts, for which the Council has not approved a notice of nonrenewal or a cancellation,
automatically renew for another lO-year term each January!.
About this List/Report
On the following pages is a list of the 23 Palo Alto properties that were enrolled in the
Williamson Act during the calendar year of 2009.
• 4 contracts will not renew because Notices ofNonrenewal have been approved. See
individual records for termination dates.
• 19 contracts will renew on January 1,2010 if the Council approves this report
9/23/2009
f I
Page 1 of7
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Will Renew on January 1, 2010
II Palo Alto Golf and Country Club at 3000 Alexis Drive
APN: 182-35-035
Owner: Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, Inc., 3000 Alexis Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
2007 $1,260,337.00 2008: $1,285,543.00 2009: $1,311,253.00
Prime
119.92
5/1/1973 Resolution No: 4279
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
lEI No address; adjacent to Country Club at 3000 Alexis Drive
APN: 182-35-008
Owner: Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, Inc., 3000 Alexis Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
2007 $45,735.00 2008: $46,649.00 2009: $47,581.00
Prime
5.52
51111973 Resolution No: 4279
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
lEI Open Space land adjacent to the Arastradero Preserve
APN: 182-33-014
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
City of Palo Alto, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301
2007 $0.00 2008: $0.00 2009: $0.00
Value not assessed because owned by public/quasi public agency
Prime
11.42
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
.. EI Camino Park (east of Palo Alto Ave to University Ave)
APN: 120-31-009
Owner: Leland Stanford Jr., Univ. Board of Trustees, P.O.Box 10250, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
9/23/2009
2007 $118,153.00 2008: $118,153.00 2009: $118,153.00
The City of Palo Alto leases this land for public use; however, it is privately owned.
Prime
10.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
Page 2 of7
II EI Camino Park (west of Palo Alto Ave to the creek)
APN: 12031001
Owner: Leland Stanford Jr., Univ. Board of Trustees, P.O.Box 10250, Palo Alto, CA 94303
2007 $8,492.00 2008: $8,492.00 2009: $8,492.00 Assessed Value
Value Notes: The City of Palo Alto leases this land for public use; however, it is privately owned.
Land Class: Prime
Acreage: 0.72
Contract Start: Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
iii 3837 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN: 351-05-042
Owner: David P. and Cynthia Lautzenheiser Trustee, 3837 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94022
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
2007 $350,581.00 2008: $357,584.00 2009: $364,727.00
Non Prime
10.00 minus 1 acre for Homesite 9.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
II 3845 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN:
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
351-05-024
Judith A. Block Trustee, 412 Webster St., Palo Alto, CA 94301
2007 $46,091.00 2008: $47,005.00 2009: $47,937.00
Non Prime
8.72 minus 1 acre for Homesite 7.72
2116/1976 Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
Il 3849 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94306
APN: 351-05-050
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status: r General Notes:
9/23/2009
Jeffrey A. and Mary L. Thomas, 3849 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94022
2007 $1,323,168.00 2008: $1,349,631.00 2009: $1,376,623.00
Non Prime
10.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
Page 3 of?
lEI 3855 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94306
APN:
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
351-05-049
Patrick K. Suppes, 599 College A venue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
2007 $457,604.00 2008: $466,756.00 2009: $476,091.00
Non Prime
10.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
iii 3865 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN: 351-05-048
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
Grace Carland Trustee, 3865 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94022
2007 $31,665.00 2008: $32,289.00 2009: $32,925.00
Non Prime
10.00 minus 1 acre for Homesite == 9.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
m 3875 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN: 351-05-047
Owner: Richard D. Kniss Trustee & Et AI, 1985 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Assessed Value. 2007 $461.00 2008: $461.00 2009: $461.00
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Non Prime
10.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
m 3885 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN: 351-05-046
Owner: William W. and Sharon T. Luciw Trustee, 3885 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94022
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
9/23/2009
2007 $918,092.00 2008: $936,447.00 2009: $955,168.00
Non Prime
8.45 minus 1 acre for Homesite = 7.45
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue far at least another 10 years.
Page 4 of7
lEI 3895 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN: 351-05-045
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
Lawrence Markosian, 635 Wildwood Lane, Palo Alto, CA 94303
2007 $223,370.00 2008: $227,828.00 2009: $232,376.00
Non Prime
10.00 minus I acre for Homesite = 9.00
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
III 3905 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN: 351-05-044
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
Arthur Michelson Trustee, 3492 Murdoch Court, Palo Alto, CA 94022
2007 $992,375.00 2008: $1,012,222.00 2009: $1,032,466.00
Non Prime
6.43 minus 1 acre for Homesite = 5.43
. Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
III 3981 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN:
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
351-05-043
Richard D. Guhse Trustee, 37 Babras Court, Hollister, CA 95023
2007 $923.00 2008: $923.00 2009: $923.00
Non Prime
20.01
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
III 4201 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, 94304
APN:
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
9/2312009
351-25-015
Bruce A Leak, 4201 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94022
2007 $1,405,998.00 2008: $1,434,081.00 2009: $1,462,726.00
Non Prime
11.31 minus 1 acre for Homesite = 10.31
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
Page 50f7
II 5061, 5065, 22601 Skyline Blvd
APN:
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
351-12-006
Irene V. Fogarty Trustee & Et AI, 1009 Rosewood Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070
2007 $33,529.00 2008: $34,041.00 2009: $34,563.00
Non Prime
139.59 minus 1 acre for Homesite 138.59
3/611973 Resolution No: 4707
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
lEI 22601 Skyline Blvd, Palo Alto, 94306
APN: 351-12-062
Owner: Harvey O. Jr. and Pamela K: Loucks Trustee, Rt 2 Box 332, La Honda, CA 94020
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
2007 $509.00 2008: $509.00 2009: $509.00
Non Prime
10.39
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Contract Status: Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
General Notes:
III No address; adjacent to 22601 Skyline Blvd
APN: 351-12-063
Owner: Harvey D. Jr. and Pamela K. Loucks Trustee, Rt 2 Box 332, La Honda, CA 94020
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
2007 $279,964.00 2008: $285,549.00 2009: $291,245.00
Non Prime
12.35 minus 1 acre for Homesite = 11.35
Unknown Resolution No: Unknown
Unchanged; contract will continue for at least another 10 years.
Will Not Renew on January 1, 2010 because a Notice of Nonrenewal has been approved
II Open Space within Foothill Open Space Preserve
APN: 351-04-031
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022
2007 $0.00 2008: $0.00 2009: $0.00
Value not assessed because owned by public/quasi public agency
Non Prime
27.34
2/2711979 Resolution No: 5657 and 5658
Notice ofNonrenewal approved on 10/6/2008; contract will tenninate on 12/31/2017
~.--...... -~--~--------------------~-----------
9/23/2009 Page 6 of7
lEI Open Space within the Montebello Open Space Preserve
APN: 351-12-043
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022
2007 $402.00 2008: $0.00 2009: $0.00
Value not assessed because owned by public/quasi public agency
Non Prime
8.74
2/2811973 Resolution No: 4706
Notice ofNonrenewal approved on 10/6/2008; contract will tenninate on 12/31/2017
lEI Open Space within the Montebello Open Space Preserve
APN: 351-25-014
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022
2007 $0.00 2008: $0.00 2009: $0.00
Value not assessed because owned by public/quasi public agency
Non Prime
10.72
212611975 Resolution No: 5067
Notice ofNonrenewal approved on 10/6/2008; contract will tenninate on 12/3112017
.. Open Space within the Montebello Open Space Preserve
APN: 351-06-017
Owner:
Assessed Value
Value Notes:
Land Class:
Acreage:
Contract Start:
Contract Status:
General Notes:
912312009
!'
I
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, 330 Distel Circle,Los Altos, CA 94022
2007 $0.00 2008: $0.00 2009: $0.00
Value not assessed because owned by public/quasi public agency
Non Prime
24.00 minus 1 acre for Homesite = 23.00
2/2811973 Resolution No: 4708
Notice ofNonrenewal approved on 10/612008; contract will tenninate on 12/3112017
Page? of?
Park or Conservation Lund
The 19 parcel, whose contract'
will automatically renew for
a').91her IO-yenr tem on 1/112010
j
Williamson Act Parcels
in Palo Alto
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