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HomeMy WebLinkAboutlogue letterBOARD OF SUPERVISORS l3iLLCONNELLY First District February 10, 201.1. ADMINISTRATION CENTER LARRY WAHL 25 GOUNTY CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 2t]0 - OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965 Second District TELEPHONE: (530) 538.7831 MAUREEN KIRK Third District STEVE LAMI3ERT, Chair Fourth District KIM K. YAMAGUCHI bFg~ Fifth District The Honorable Dan Lague ~~~ ~~oRs California State Assembly ~ .f 2®f, Sactramenta,lCAo 95814 8 oR~v~L~~' O~4CIFpR NJq RE: Transfer of State Property to the County of Butte -Harts Mill Forest Fire Station {Old) Dear Assemblyman Logue: On behalf of Butte County,l am requesting that you re-introduce last year's legislation that would allow the California Department of General Services to transfer ownership of the property known as Harts Mill Forest Fire Station (Old) to the Feather River Recreation and Park District for local uses. The property was vacated by CalFire in the fall of 20p8 and has been standing empty since. The County will provide amended language within xequixed timelines, per discussions between your office and Paul Yoder, to transfer the property to Butte County instead of the District. The County's preference would be for the language to be modeled after the language that transferred property to Ventura County and is contained in Government Cade § 11011.25. Attached are key points to support why it would be good public policy to transfer the property to Butte County in lieu of trying to sell the property at auction. Butte County appreciates your consideration of our request and will work with you, your staff and Paul Yoder to bring this request to fYUitian. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Shari McCracken, Deputy Administrative Qffiicer, at (530) 538-2863 or smccracken~?a,buttecounty.net. Sincerely, Steve Lambe Chair Butte County oard of Supervisors CC: embers, Butte County Baazd of Supervisors Don Remley, Feather River Recreation and Park District Request from Butte County for Donation of the facility known as Harts Mill Fire Station To the County February 2011 proposed Use of Facility The community of Berry Creek does not currently have any park or recreation facilities and residents of the area are actively advocating for amulti-use community center and park. There are multiple needs in the community of Berry Creek that range from a facility that can host community events, recreational opportunities, classes and meetings - to a facility for displaying local art and historical materials - to an additional staging and storage area during disasters - to a SherifYs substation where the local Deputy could do paperwork and make phone calls instead of driving 25 miles to Oroville for adequate office space. All of these uses are proposed by the community, the County, and Feather River Recreation and Park District, if the old Harts Mill Forest Fire Station is donated to the County. • Community groups that would benefit from such a facility include, but are not limited to, the Berry Creek Citizen's Association, the Sierra Foothill Artist Association, the Berry Creek Fire Safe Council, and the Berry Creek Community Council. • The Feather River Recreation and Park District could use the facility far recreational programming for Berry Creek residents. Currently residents must drive 25+ miles one- way to participate in recreational activities. • The old Captain's quarters could be used by the local Deputy as a Sheriff's substation, providing office space in the community instead of 25 miles away in Oroville. Having a substation locally would provide an additional law enforcement presence for the new Cai Fire Harts Mill station located just down the road. • The property could be used as a staging area, Incident Command Post (ICP}, and water source by both Cal Fire and the volunteer firefighting company during disasters and emergencies. There is a 10,000 gallon water tank that gravity feeds two fire hydrants that would remain available to fire crews as needed, as well as access to a weir. Why is it good public policy and a benefit to the State to donate the property instead of selling it on the private market? Berry Creek is a community of approximately 1,276 residents situated in the foothills above Lake Oroville in Butte County. It is an area with a diverse population. Census information from 2000 indicates that the median household income was $29,883 per year, 18.9% of the residents live below the poverty level, and 25.5% of the residents indicate a disability status. The mean travel time to work is 47 minutes, with a distance 1~Page Request from Butte County-Harts Mill of 25 miles to the closest community with public services and recreational opportunities. There may not be a private market for this type of property in Serry Creek. The building has been vacant since 2008 and is in need of repairs and maintenance so it does not become a nuisance property. If the State does not donate the property to a local entity, it will most likely sit empty and continue deteriorating, increasing the State's liability should vagrants or criminal activity take over the facility. Donating the property to the County will shift all kiability and on-going maintenance from the State to the County. • There is a community need, as well as focal public safety needs for the property. lJtilization of the facility for community and recreational functions, as well as a Sheriff's substation, will reduce the number of 50+ mile roundtrip vehicle trips that currently take place on a daily basis for residents to access recreational opportunities and for the local Sheriff's Deputy to do office work. This will provide an economic benefit to the local community, as well as reduce wear and tear on local and State roads and highways and reduce impact on air quality. • No local entity has sufficient funding to purchase the facility at this time. • The Legislature has the ability to donate the property to a local governmental entity or non-profit, per Government Code, Section 11015.1 (b)(1), which states "The department (General Services) may dispose of surplus state real property by sale, lease, exchange, a sale combined with an exchange, or other manner of disposition of property, as authorized by the Legislature. • Sale of this property at auction will not put a dent in the State's debt. • if the property is sold to a private party, the State and County may lose access to the 10,000 gallon water tank and related fire hydrants, as well as the adjacent weir, which are cruciak to fighting localized fires in that area. 2~Page Request from Butte County --Harts Miff