To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
UC Master Gardener License of Greenhouse Area at County’s Los Guilicos Campus
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Director to execute the proposed 5-year License Agreement with the UC Master Gardeners for the Greenhouse Area, and greenhouse building, at the County’s Los Guilicos campus, for use for garden propagation activities, education, and plant sales to the public.
B) Find that the subject agreement is in the public interest and that the use of the subject Los Guilicos facilities under the agreement will not substantially conflict or interfere with County use.
(First District)
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Executive Summary:
The Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure is requesting Board approval of the proposed License with the UC Master Gardeners for use of the Greenhouse Area on the Los Guilicos Campus, comprised of vacant former garden area and unmaintained greenhouse building, for garden propagation activities, education, and plant sales to the public. Under the License, UC Master Gardener will not be charged rent, accepts the Premises “as is”, and will be solely responsible, including any cost or expense, for Premises’ utilities, maintenance, improvements, repairs, and security. The proposed License will make use of unused space at the Los Guilicos campus and provide benefit to the County and public through UC Master Gardener’s garden renovation, maintenance, and propagation activities, public educational workshops, plant sales to the public, and Licensee’s Master Gardener Program (“MGP”) member meetings.
Discussion:
In September, 2022, in response to UC Master Gardener being informed by the Sheriff’s Office of the pending loss of UC Master Gardener’s hoop house location at the North County Detention Facility, Sonoma County Public Infrastructure and UC Master Gardener began discussing the possibility of UC Master Gardener licensing as a replacement site the Greenhouse Area at the County’s Los Guilicos campus for UC Master Gardener’s hoop houses, garden propagation activities, education and plant sales to the public. The Greenhouse Area totals approximately 36,000 square feet of vacant former garden area that includes an unmaintained greenhouse building located on Pythian Road at the southeast portion of the County’s Los Guilicos. Discussions between Sonoma County Public Infrastructure and UC Master Gardener continued into January 2023 when license terms were tentatively agreed to. The proposed License will make use of unused space at the Los Guilicos campus and provide benefit to the County and public through UC Master Gardener’s garden renovation, maintenance, propagation activities, public educational workshops, plant sales to the public, and Licensee’s Master Gardener Program (“MGP”) member meetings.
License. The proposed License between the County, as Licensor, and the UC Master Gardener as Licensee, would contain the following key provisions:
1. Five (5) year license commencing March 1, 2023, with an automatic 5-year term renewal unless terminated
2. No rent or other license charges
3. Premises consist of approximately 36,000 square feet of land area that includes an unmaintained greenhouse located on Pythian Road at the southeast portion of the County’s Los Guilicos
4. UC Master Gardener accepts the Premises “as is”, and will be solely responsible, including any cost or expense, for Premises’ utilities, maintenance, improvements, repairs, and security
5. County, including County’s Valley of the Moon Children’s Center staff, clients, contractors, and volunteers, will be allowed continued use of the children’s garden area that will be part of the Greenhouse Area
6. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason whatsoever upon one hundred eighty (180) days prior written notice to the other party
Project Costs and Construction Schedule.
None
Procedural Authority. If in the public interest and if the use will not interfere with County’s use of the subject property, Government Code section 25526.6 allows the County to license, license, or allow use of County real property by any public agency, on terms and conditions as determined by the County. Here, the license with UC Master Gardener will make available unused space at the Los Guilicos campus that is not needed for County purposes and provide benefit to the County and public through UC Master Gardener’s improvements, garden propagation activities, and educational programs. In addition, the County’s Valley of the Moon Children’s Center staff, clients, contractors and volunteers will be allowed continued use of the children’s garden area that will be part of the Greenhouse Area being licensed and may benefit from collaborating with UC Master Gardener on gardening projects.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 1: Strengthen operational effectiveness, fiscal reliability, and accountability
Objective: Objective 1: Align the Board of Supervisor’s strategic priorities, policy, and operational goals with funding and resources.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY 23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
UC Master Gardener will not be charged rent or any license fee and will be solely responsible, including any cost or expense, for Premises’ utilities, maintenance, improvements, repairs, and security. Sonoma County Public Infrastructure will track costs over the next several months, both to see if reimbursement is required from UC Master Gardener for utility, maintenance, or other expenses, and to work with the County Administrator to make sure there is adequate budget appropriations in the coming fiscal years.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
License between County of Sonoma as Licensor and the UC Master Gardener as Licensee
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None