Agricultural Land & Avian Foraging Habitat Mitigation Fee
An Optional Mitigation Strategy for Impacts to Agricultural & Foraging Habitat Lands General Plan Policies require mitigation / protection of resources Impacts determined through the environmental review process. Analysis of impacts at each development site. Consultation with affected agencies. General Plan policy also provides for an in-lieu fee program. An alternative to standard mitigation procedures. In partnership with the Solano Land Trust.
Analysis of Program Feasibility BAE Urban Economics – Fee Study for Potential Program Evaluated land potentially subject to avian foraging & agricultural impacts Identified supplies of mitigation land in Solano County Evaluated potential costs of conservation easements or acquisitions Costs for City and SLT administration of a program Implementation Plan for City & SLT
Proposed Program & Implementation Agreement Ordinance establishes program Impact analysis & fee collection Details for adequate conservation easements & protections Evaluation of program success Option to use the in-lieu fee Agriculture ($4,687) / Avian Foraging ($7,832) / Combined ($12,832) Tri-annual evaluation of fees Agreement between City & SLT Types & locations of conservation lands Use of mitigation fees Monitoring & enforcement Reporting on effectiveness of the program
Program Implementation City of Vacaville / Solano Land Trust agreement SLT to identify suitable lands City & SLT consult & review of easements or acquisitions Annual reporting On-going monitoring of easements Tri-annual evaluation of fee
Conclusion & Recommendation Program is a feasible & useful option for mitigation strategies Evaluation and monitoring procedures ensure implementation RECOMMENDATION Introduce the proposed Ordinance Adopt the Resolution