DATE:
May 24, 2023
07
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION FOR THE CLIMATE SMART LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; FIND THE ACTIONS ARE EXEMPT UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On August 3, 2011 (1), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the development of the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements (PACE) Program as part of the comprehensive update to the County of San Diego's (County) General Plan. The PACE Program promotes the long-term preservation of agricultural land in the unincorporated area. Voluntary property owners are compensated for placing permanent easements on their agricultural property, limiting future uses to only agricultural operations, and ending future development potential. As a result, the agricultural land is preserved, and the property owner receives compensation making the land's continued use for agriculture more viable. Additionally, on August 31, 2022 (6) the Board directed the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a Pilot Carbon Farming Program to encourage adoption and local scalability of carbon farming practices that account for greenhouse gas emissions reductions and promote soil health. The direction also included a return to the Board with options for program implementation, including a list of identified pilot projects. As directed, Planning & Development Services (PDS) staff are in the program development process for the Pilot Carbon Farming Program. Both programs are key components of the County's sustainability efforts.
Staff have identified the California Department of Conservation Climate Smart Land Management (CSLM) Program: Capacity Building and Technical Assistance as a funding source for the PACE and Pilot Carbon Farming Program. The funds may be used to streamline and automate the existing PACE Program, whic...
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