City Council

9.\nUTILIZATION OF STATE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF\n670 +/- ACRES - This item considers the acquisition of 670 +/- acres utilizing grant\nfunds, supporting the City's commitment to preserve open space in an effort to complete\nthe open space greenbelt surrounding the Santa Clarita Valley.\nRECOMMENDED ACTION:\nCity Council:\n1. Approve the purchase of 180 +/- acres of real property northwest of the City of Santa\nClarita, LaBelle Property, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 2865-004-007, 2865-004-018,\n2865-004-022, and 3244-023-011, at a total cost of $1,391,822, which includes\nproperty purchase price, escrow, title, due diligence costs, and payment of annual\nproperty taxes.\n2. Approve the purchase of 145 +/- acres of real property northeast of the City of Santa\nClarita, Vartanian Property, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 2813-019-011, 2813-019012, 2813-019-013, and 2813-020-014, at a total cost of $1,047,722 which includes\nproperty purchase price, escrow, title, due diligence costs, and payment of annual\nproperty taxes.\n3. Approve the purchase of 49 +/- acres of real property northeast of the City of Santa\nClarita, Chaleff & English Property, Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 2813-016-010, 2813017-001, and 2813-017-004, at a total cost of $264,422, which includes property\npurchase price, escrow, title, due diligence costs, and payment of annual property\ntaxes.\n4. Approve the purchase of 13 +/- acres of real property and an easement in the City of\nSanta Clarita, Forum Engineering Property, portions of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers\n2827-032-001 and 2827-032-002, at a total cost of $2,656,383, which includes\nproperty purchase price, escrow, title, due diligence costs, and maintenance fees.\n5. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $5,267,849 from the Miscellaneous\nGrants Fund (Fund 259) to Acquisition Expenditure Account 2597503-520104 for the\nreal property purchase price, escrow, title, and due diligence costs; and appropriate\none-time funds in the amount of $92,500 from the Open Space Preservation District\nFund (Fund 358) to Open Space Expenditure Accounts 3587501-518503 ($52,500)\nand 3587501-511101 ($40,000) for property taxes and maintenance fees.\n6. Appropriate ongoing funds in the amount of $67,500 from Open Space Preservation\nDistrict Fund (Fund 358) to Open Space Expenditure Accounts 3587501-518503\n($52,500) and 3587501-511101 ($15,000) for annual property taxes and ongoing\nmaintenance beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-2027, contingent upon Council approval\nof the annual budget for such fiscal years.\n7. Increase transfers out from Miscellaneous Grants Fund (Fund 259) account 2599500710358 and increase transfers in to Open Space Preservation District Fund (Fund\n358) account 358-600259 in the amount of $1,246,525 to reimburse the Open Space\nPreservation District for its acquisition of the Regan property (41 +/- acres) that\noccurred August 2024 and the Ayres property (242 +/- acres) that occurred January\n2025.\n8. Increase Miscellaneous Grant Revenue Account 259-462101 in the amount of\n$6,514,374 for the California Department of Parks and Recreation Grant.\n9. Find these acquisitions exempt from review under the California Environmental\nQuality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Article 19, Section 15313 (Class 13); Section 15317\n(Class 17); and Section 15325 (Class 25).\n10. Authorize the City Manager or designee, to execute all documents, subject to City\nAttorney approval.