DATE: May 17, 2005
SUBJECT: Stowe Trail Acquisition
TO: Board of Supervisors

SUMMARY:
Today's proposal will provide the funding for due diligence necessary before the County can take title to approximately 230 acres of land for the historic Stowe Trail that links the County's Goodan Ranch and Sycamore Canyon preserves and Mission Trails Park. Federal legislation has been drafted to allow the County to acquire the land for Stowe Trail from the Department of the Navy. In addition, the draft legislation requires the County to compensate the Navy for the property by doing a project for the Navy equal to the fair market value of the real property to be conveyed. The legislation requires that, prior to the acquisition, the County pay for items such as an appraisal, boundary survey, environmental documentation and federal government administrative activities related to the acquisition. Funding for these activities will be provided by $182,500 of District 2 Community Projects funds and $182,500 of Land Use and Environment Group Reserves.

Recommendations
SUPERVISOR JACOB:

1. Transfer appropriations of $182,500 from District 2 Community Projects to Contributions to Capital Outlay Fund (Operating Transfer Out), for acquisition costs related to Stowe Trail.
2. Transfer appropriations of $182,500 from Land Use and Environment Group Executive Office Management Reserves to Contributions to Capital Outlay Fund (Operating Transfer Out), for acquisition costs related to Stowe Trail.
3. Establish appropriations of $365,000 in the Capital Outlay Fund for Capital Project 1006952 - Stowe Trail Acquisition, based on an Operating Transfer from the General Fund. (4 VOTES)

Fiscal Impact
Funds for this request are budgeted in District 2 and the Land Use and Environment Group (LUEG). The funding sources are District 2 Community Projects funds and LUEG Reserves. If approved, this action will result in $365,000 current year cost, $0 annual cost, and will require the addition of no staff years.

BACKGROUND:
Stowe Trail was used from the mid 1800s to 1930 to link Santee and Poway and became a popular multi-use trail in recent times. Stowe Trail still exists within the boundaries of Marine Air Station Miramar, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy. Because the property is restricted to military use, any recreational use of the trail is considered trespassing. Acquisition of the land by the County of San Diego will provide for legal trail use and the preservation of the area as a wildlife corridor between Goodan Ranch and Sycamore Canyon preserves on the northern end of the proposed Stowe Trail acquisition, and Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego and Santee Lakes Recreational Area on the southern end.

Today's proposal will provide the funding for due diligence necessary before the County can take title to approximately 230 acres of land for the historic Stowe Trail that links the County's Goodan Ranch and Sycamore Canyon preserves and Mission Trails Park. Federal legislation has been drafted to allow the County to acquire the land for Stowe Trail from the Department of the Navy. In addition, the draft legislation requires the County to compensate the Navy by doing an in-kind project equal to the fair market value of the real property to be conveyed. The legislation requires that, prior to the acquisition, the County pay for items such as an appraisal, boundary survey, environmental documentation, and federal government administrative activities related to the acquisition. Funding for these activities will be provided by $182,500 of District 2 Community Projects funds and $182,500 of Land Use and Environment Group Reserves.

Environmental Statement:
Part of the funding may be used to prepare the biological resource surveys that will be needed for the environmental review for the proposed acquisition of the trail and the in-kind project. The environmental review will be completed before the County gives final approval to acquisition of the property for the trail.

I urge your support.

Respectfully submitted,

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District