Open Space District to seek tax renewal

County voters will likely be asked in November to extend a
quarter-cent sales tax to fund the Sonoma County Open-Space
District, which for the past 15 years has used the funds to
preserve nearly 70,000 acres of open space and agricultural
lands.
Included in the request will be a plan to use some of the
district’s tax revenues to fund operations and maintenance of
parks, something that was not included in the original ballot
measure approved by voters in 1990 but has been an issue since the
district’s inception.
In some cases, such as Windsor’s Riverfront Park, the Open Space
District has partnered with other agencies to provide recreational
opportunities on properties, but the majority of the district’s
acquisitions are not accessible to the public.
Maureen Middlebrook, community affairs officer for the district,
said, &#8220We have heard from the community that they want to
get on that land and just don’t always have that capability. There
may be discussions about the possibility of directing some of the
funds … toward maintenance and operations of some land for
parks.”
The Open Space District’s parcel tax runs through 2010, but
district officials want to put it before voters sooner than later
so that creating greater access to public lands can get under
way.
County supervisors, who also act as directors for the Sonoma
County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, are
expected in early April to approve putting a reauthorization of the
sales tax on the Nov. 2006 ballot.
&#8220I expect the board will authorize putting it on the
ballot,” said Board Chairman and Fourth District Supervisor Paul
Kelley. &#8220I’m a big advocate for ag. preservation and open
space, as well as parks. So I am looking forward to seeing a
reauthorizaration for the open space district.”
Kelley said he was optimistic, but cautious, about the chances
of voters approving a tax extension.
&#8220This is a reauthorization, it’s not a new or an added
tax,” he said. &#8220It’s really going to be the voters
deciding on the basis of the activities of the district and their
desire to have agricultural preservation and open space.”
The quarter-center sales tax generates approximately $17 million
per year.
Fifth District Supervisor Mike Reilly said the Open Space
District’s record is unmatched. &#8220Sonoma County is number
one in the United States in terms of protecting open space,” Reilly
said. &#8220We are so lucky to have that district and we are so
lucky that people voted for it …. we’ve been able to preserve
70,000 acres in 15 years and some really special lands, both on the
coast and surrounding the cities.”
North County properties acquired or protected by the district
include the Cooley Ranch, the McCord Ranch east of Healdsburg,
Windsor’s Riverfront Park and an open space easement on the Town
Green, which is an example of the district’s urban projects.
While ownership of Fitch Mountain is being negotiated, the Open
Space District holds a permanent conservation easement that
protects the peak from ever being developed. (A complete list of
the district’s lands can be found at sonomaopenspace.org)
And Reilly said there are &#8220some real jewels out there
ready to acquire,” including a 5,500-acre parcel along the coast
north of the Russian River.
Since last year the district has been able to borrow from the
county on future tax revenues, but can only borrow based on the
duration of the tax measure. Extending the measure now would
increase the district’s ability to make big purchases, such as the
recent Taylor Mountain, Tolay Lake and Saddle Mountain
acquisitions.
&#8220Some of these choice opportunities are not going to
wait four or five years,” Reilly saod. &#8220The difficulty we
are going to have this time is that with the law change, this time
around we will need a two-thirds majority for approval. It’s a
higher bar we will have to jump over in order to get
reauthorized.”
Supporters of a tax extension will also need to address the
concerns of the county’s farmers. Mike Strunk, president of the
Sonoma County Farm Bureau, and a member of the district’s Citizens
Advisory Committee, said, &#8220I think agriculture has
definitely received some benefits from the district. I think it’s a
big question for agriculture as to where we’re going with it … the
Farm Bureau has formed a committee to discuss the possibility of
reauthorization and how we can bring the concerns of agriculture
forward.”
Strunk declined to discuss the specifics, &#8220We do have
questions about how the district has been running, but we are
looking forward to discussing those concerns.”
Healdsburg City Councilmember Kent Mitchell, also a member of
the Citizens Advisory Committee, said the district has been
successful in fulfilling its mission. &#8220I think in terms of
the variety of acquisitions throughout the county, the district has
done a fantastic job of preserving them for open space,” he
said.
The timing of the tax measure, which could be on the same ballot
as the SMART rail plan in November, might become an issue.
&#8220I think there is a good combination for the voters,”
Kelley said. &#8220Not only to preserve our rural character in
Sonoma County, but to provide an alternative transportation mode …
there could be some synergies. It’s a good cohesive message.”
Reilly said the Open Space District is critical to the county’s
quality of life.
&#8220If you want to talk about the quality of life aspect
of Sonoma County, the Open Space District has the capability of
keeping ag. land in agricultural and protecting natural resources
and providing recreational opportunities,” he said. &#8220I
don’t think you can overestimate the importance that open space has
had in its contribution to the qualify of life in Sonoma
County.”