HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 - Banning Ranch PropertyCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item 4
February 12, 2008
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Manager's Office
Homer Bludau, City Manager
9491644 -3000 or hbludau@city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Establishment of a City Council Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the
Appraisal Process for the Banning Ranch Property and the
Assessment of Funding Availability for its Purchase as Open Space
ISSUE:
Does the City Council want to proceed to make a fair and impartial determination of the Banning
Ranch's market value through an appraisal and conduct an unbiased assessment of funding
potential for its purchase as open space?
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution 2008 - establishing a City Council Ad Hoc Committee to oversee the
appraisal process for the Banning Ranch Property and the assessment of funding
availability for its purchase as open space.
2. Proceed with the City Council's designated Banning Ranch priority for 2008, by establishing
an ad hoc committee and approving the Mayor's appointments of Council Members Selich,
Rosansky and Gardner to the Committee.
DISCUSSION:
Background: On January 12, 2008, the City Council met to establish its priorities for this
calendar year. Among the twelve that were selected was the priority relating to Banning Ranch
and conducting a process by which to determine its future land use — either open space or
mixed use development.
Mayor Selich has requested an ad hoc committee be established with Mayor Selich,
Councilman Rosansky and Councilwoman Gardner being the Committee members. The
Committee would oversee the appraisal and assessment process and make periodic reports
and recommendations to the City Council as the process proceeds.
The Banning Ranch lies partially within the City (about 53 acres) and mostly (465 acres) in the
County's jurisdiction, although the County's area is within the City's Sphere of Influence. The
City's General Plan designates Banning Ranch as open space, but allows the alternative use for
residential, retail and hotel development, if not acquired for open space. Over the years there
Banning Ranch Ad Hoc Committee
February 12, 2008
Page 2
have been attempts by various owners to proceed with development plans; however, for
numerous reasons, the planning never moved far.
The accompanying resolution establishing the Committee lists the duties of the Committee and
mirrors the process being proposed by staff to the Committee.
Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not require
environmental review.
Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in
advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
Submitted by:
44.— Z. Z--A4�
omerBludau
City Manager
Attachment: Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
ESTABLISHING THE BANNING RANCH APPRAISAL AND ACQUISITION
AD HOC COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, Banning Ranch is a 518 acre parcel, of which approximately 53 acres are
within the City, with the remaining acreage within the City's Sphere of Influence; and
WHEREAS, the City's General Plan designates this land as "open space," but allows
alternative usage for residential, retail and hotel development, if not acquired for open space;
and
WHEREAS, on January 12, 2008, the City Council identified that obtaining an appraisal
of the Banning Ranch property and assessing the feasibility of funding to purchase the property
for open space was a high Council priority for 2008; and
WHEREAS, the owners of the Banning Ranch property desire a determination be made
as to whether the property will eventually become open space or will become available for
potential development.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH HEREBY
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Establishment
An Ad Hoc Committee is hereby established for the purpose of making recommendations to the
City Council on processes and methods to be used to obtain an objective and unbiased
appraisal of the Banning Ranch property, and based upon appraisal results, to objectively
assess the realistic funding potential for purchase of the Banning Ranch property for open
space as a community asset.
Section 2. Duties of the Committee
a) Develop a plan for meeting with and soliciting input from the Banning Ranch stakeholders
(owners, environmental community, adjacent neighborhoods, interested parties) regarding
how the appraisal process will unfold.
b) Develop a recommendation for the City Council on a process to utilize in the hiring of a
professional MBIA appraiser to conduct an appraisal of the Banning Ranch property.
c) Implement the appraiser selection process approved by the City Council, and bring the
Committee's hiring recommendation to Council for approval.
d) Work with the appraiser by providing direction on issues as requested by the appraiser. If
issues arise where the full City Council should be involved in providing direction, bring those
issues to the full City Council for its determination.
e) Once the appraisal value for the property has been established, develop a strategy for
identifying and assessing funding available for the purchase of Banning Ranch as public
open space. Conduct the funding assessment study utilizing consultant assistance if
needed. Provide a report of the Committee's assessment of funding potential to the City
Council in a public meeting.
Section 3. Composition of the Committee
The Committee shall consist of three Council members appointed by the Mayor and ratified by
the Council.
Section 4. Duration of the Committee
The Committee shall expire at such time as the Committee completes its listed responsibilities
but no later than April 30, 2009.
ADOPTED this 12" day of February, 2008.
EDWARD D. SELICH
Mayor of Newport Beach
ATTEST:
LAVONNE HARKLESS
City Clerk