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): Countywide
Title:
Title
License with UC for Continued Research and Educational Activities at Tidelands at Bodega Bay
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure to execute the proposed 25-year License Agreement between the County of Sonoma as Licensor and The Regents of the University of California (“UC”) as Licensee to allow UC research, scientific studies, and educational activities on County-owned tidelands property located adjacent to Gaffney Point at the entrance of Bodega Bay.
B) Find that the proposed license is in the public interest and that the use under license will not substantially conflict or interfere with County use of the subject tidelands.
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Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Department (“SPI”) is requesting Board approval of a 25-year license with The Regents of the University of California (“UC”) to allow the UC to conduct research, scientific studies, and educational activities in the public interest on approximately 56 acres of County-owned tidelands property located adjacent to Gaffney Point at the entrance of Bodega Bay (“Tidelands”). Because of the public benefit provided by UC’s activities at the site no rent will be charged to UC.
Discussion:
UC has been conducting research and educational activities at the County’s Tidelands property since 1965, pursuant to a 50-year use agreement. The proposed 25-year license agreement will allow UC to continue to conduct research, scientific studies, and educational activities in the public interest. All UC use shall be non-invasive, transitory, and non-permanent, and may include: marking plots for continued observation and monitoring; small-scale, temporary deployment of settling plates, cages, and small traps to monitor invertebrate and algal populations; deployment of sensors; and sampling and monitoring of aquatic species in the mudflat sediments. Upon County request, UC shall share with County data collected from its research, scientific studies, and educational activities at the Tidelands.
Because of the public benefit provided by UC’s activities, no rent will be charged to UC. UC shall be responsible for all expenses related to their activities at the Tidelands, including sign maintenance/installation and staff salaries for staff time spent on public outreach related to the research site.
License Agreement. The proposed License Agreement contains the following key provisions:
1. Twenty-five (25) year License Agreement, commencing on March 1, 2023.
2. No rent will be charged to UC
3. UC use shall be limited to research, scientific studies, and educational activities
4. Upon County request, UC shall share with County data collected from its research, scientific studies, and educational activities at the Tidelands
5. Either Party may terminate the Agreement for any reason or no reason upon one hundred eighty (180) days' written notice
Regional Parks has confirmed that UC activities at the Tidelands do not interfere with their operations. The Tidelands are undeveloped, tidal mudflat areas that are not currently used or planned for any County use.
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 lease, 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 will continue to make available to UC unused property that is not needed for County purposes.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 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:
Licensee is responsible for all expenses associated with its research and educational activities at the County’s Tidelands property.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Proposed License between The Regents of the University of California as Licensee and the County of Sonoma as Licensor
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
50-year Use Agreement between the County and UC for Tidelands, dated March, 1965