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Home My WebLink AboutCC AG PKT 2009-12-14 #FDATE: December 14, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council THRU: David N. Carmany, City Manager, FROM: Jill R. Ingram, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR CANCEL THE PROPOSED SALE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS SUMMARY OF REQUEST: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 5944 requesting that the Governor cancel the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds. BACKGROUND: The first Orange County Fair occurred in 1890 and has since thrived as a "Celebration of Orange County's Communities, Interests and Heritage" as is stated in the Orange County Fair and Event Center ( OCFEC) mission statement. The OCFEC, operated by the 32 Agricultural District, has been part of the Costa Mesa community since 1949. OCFEC's mission is to provide educational, entertainment and recreational opportunities for the general public and preserve the heritage of California agriculture. This is achieved by showcasing the talents, interests and accomplishments of the citizens of California, especially Orange County residents. As a result of the State of California's budget deficit of over $26 billion, the largest in the state's history, Governor Schwarzenegger proposed measures to allow the state to take better advantage of its real estate assets in order to balance the state budget and improve government efficiency. The Governor has determined that utilizing state assets, along with reducing the state workforce and making government more efficient through various measures will help achieve savings within state government and reduce the multi - billion dollar budget deficit. The Governor is proposing the sale of seven, state -owned properties to reduce the budget deficit by over $1 billion. The OCFEC is among those earmarked properties listed in the Governor's proposal, with the others being Cal Expo, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Venture County Fairgrounds, Los Angeles Coliseum, San Quentin State Prison, and the Cow Palace. Agenda Item F Page 2 The OCFEC is a major entertainment, recreational, cultural and educational asset to Orange County with over 100 events held there annually supporting cultural and non - profit organizations. The OCFEC and the weekend Orange County Marketplace provide employment to thousands of individuals of all ages, nurture small business development, and promote the transaction of business which, in turn, greatly assists the local and state economy and generates income tax proceeds of over $180 million to the state. Therefore, on June 2, 2009, the Costa Mesa City Council adopted Resolution No. 09 -41 opposing the sale, closure, and /or relocation of the OCFEC by the State of California. On July 28, 2009, the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution #09 -110, in support of the Governor's proposal to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds, only if the sale provided that the Fairgrounds would be sold to a local government agency or local not - for - profit corporation to perpetuate its use as a fairgrounds, event center, and equestrian facility. On October 7, 2009, the California Department of General Services released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the sale of the OCFEC. The RFP does not require the buyer to be a local government agency or local not - for - profit, nor does it require the buyer to perpetuate the utilization of the property as a fairgrounds, event center, and equestrian facility. The OCFEC is the only asset of its kind the state is actually proposing to sell and relinquish control over. The OCFEC is wholly contained within the corporate limits of the City of Costa Mesa, and the City of Costa Mesa's General Plan designates the property as "Fairgrounds," and as such has zoned the property "recreational /institutional." The Costa Mesa City Council has authorized preparation of a Specific Plan for the Fairgrounds property and subsequently directed staff to prepare a ballot initiative for the June 2010 ballot for voter approval of a land use restriction to "Fairgrounds." The Orange County Board of Supervisors believes that it is in the best interests of the public that the Governor immediately cancel the sale of the Fairgrounds property. In that regard, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution #09 -180 on November 24, 2009, requesting that the Governor immediately cancel the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds, and is calling upon all other cities in Orange County to join with the County or Orange and the City of Costa Mesa in formally requesting of the Governor that the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds be cancelled immediately. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to the City regarding this item. Page 3 RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 5944 requesting that the Governor cancel the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds. SUBMITTED BY: 2 . ill . Ingram, sistant to the City Hager NOTED AND APPROVED: c ' - 1 David N. Carmany, City Manager Attachments: A. Resolution No. 5944 RESOLUTION NUMBER 5944 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THAT GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER IMMEDIATELY CANCEL THE SALE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS WHEREAS, the first Orange County Fair occurred in 1890 and has since thrived as a "Celebration of Orange County's Communities, Interests and Heritage" as is stated in the Orange County Fair and Event Center mission statement; and WHEREAS, as a result of the State of California's budget deficit of over $26 billion, the largest in the state's history, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed the sale of surplus or underutilized assets for the purpose of helping to close the budget deficit; and WHEREAS, on July 28, 2009 the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution # 09 -110, in support of Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds, only if the sale provided that the Fairgrounds would be sold to a local government agency or local not - for - profit corporation to perpetuate its use as a fairgrounds, event center, and equestrian facility; and WHEREAS, on October 7, 2009, the California Department of General Services released a Request for Proposals for the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds; and WHEREAS, the Request for Proposals does not require the buyer to be a local government agency or local not - for - profit, nor does it require the buyer to perpetuate the utilization of the property as a fairgrounds, event center, and equestrian facility; and WHEREAS, November 24, 2009, the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution #09 -180, requesting that the Governor immediately cancel the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds, and called upon all other cities. in Orange County to join with the County of Orange and the City of Costa Mesa in formally requesting of the Governor that the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds be cancelled immediately. WHEREAS, the Orange County Fairgrounds is the only asset of its kind the State is actually proposing to sell and relinquish control over; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Fairgrounds are wholly contained within the corporate limits of the City of Costa Mesa; the City of Costa Mesa's General Plan designates the property as "Fairgrounds "; the City of Costa Mesa has zoned the property "recreational /institutional "; and WHEREAS, the Costa Mesa City Council has authorized preparation of a Specific Plan for the Fairgrounds property and subsequently directed staff to prepare a ballot initiative for the June 2010 ballot for voter approval of a land use restriction to "Fairgrounds "; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Supervisors believes that it is the best interests of the public that the Governor immediately cancel the sale of Fairgrounds property; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH does hereby support and join the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the City of Costa Mesa, and all other cities in Orange County in formally requesting of the Governor that the proposed sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds be cancelled immediately. Resolution Number 5944 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Seal Beach, at a meeting held on the 14th day of December , 2009 by the following vote: AYES: Council Members NOES: Council Members ABSENT: Council Members ABSTAIN: Council Members ATTEST: Mayor City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS CITY OF SEAL BEACH } I, Linda Devine, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the original copy of Resolution Number 5944 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting held on the 14th day of December , 2009. City Clerk