Williamson Act

AB 2530 (Nielsen) – Request for Comments
As Amended on August 25, 2010

AB 2530, by Assembly Member Jim Nielsen, was amended this week to include the Farm Bureau’s new alternative subvention funding source language. The proposal would provide counties with an alternative funding source option if if the states open-space subventions are less than half of a county’s actual foregone general fund property tax revenue. Specifically, this bill would allow counties to shorten their Williamson Act contracts to nine years in the case of 10-year contracts and 18 years in the case of 20-year contracts in exchange for the landowners forfeit no more than 10% of their tax benefit. In any year this happens, the county is required to record a notice that states the affected parcel number(s).

The increased revenues generated by the revaluations must be allocated exclusively to the county, either in proportion to the percentage of the statewide average of general property tax dollars received by county governments that fiscal year or a maximum of 20 percent, whichever is greater. The landowners can also non-renew their Williamson Act contracts instead of accepting a shorter contract. In that case, the county assessor will not revalue the contracted land. The bill includes a January 2015 sunset date. 
The Senate Local Government Committee heard the bill as proposed to be amended on Tuesday. CSAC, along with RCRC, is in the process of evaluating this proposal’s impact on counties and has not taken an official position on the bill. If you have comments on the proposal, please send them to kkeene@counties.org as soon as possible.

Fire Safety

SB 1207 (Kehoe) – Oppose Unless Amended
Enrolled on August 26, 2010

Senate Bill 1207, by Senator Christine Kehoe, bill was passed in the Senate on concurrence and is headed to the Governor’s desk. As noted in previous bulletins, CSAC remains opposed to this bill, which would amend the general plan safety element requirements for state responsibility areas (SRA) and very high fire hazard severity zones. It would also attempt to strengthen the development review process under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by expanding the initial study checklist to address fire hazard impacts of projects. CSAC’s opposition is based on the cost implications of this bill, which many counties have indicated could cost them thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. If your county is opposed to SB 1207, please send your letters of opposition to the Governor, urging his veto of this bill. 

U.S. Forest Service Travel Management Planning – Webinar/Conference Call Announcement 

Forest Service Travel Management Rule, Subpart A – Administration of the Forest Transportation System

The Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service invites County elected officials and relevant staff to hear a presentation on the Travel Management Rule, Subpart A - Administration of the Forest Transportation System. This forum is scheduled for Wednesday, September 15, 2010 (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT).

The intent of this webinar/conference call is to provide an overview of Subpart A, its requirements, and the process by which the Forest Service will engage with interested parties during the planning effort. The Forest Service will discuss the effort and facilitate a discussion to identify concerns and ideas that county officials and staff may have regarding how best to undertake necessary work on the various forests in California to comply with Subpart A.

To register for the webinar, visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/329873408 
or contact Austin McInerny at amcinerny@ccp.csus.edu or 510-981-1124

Conference call instructions will be sent out to those that register.