Meeting facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. If you require special assistance to participate in the meeting, notify the Conservancy’s office at (916) 649-3331 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Executive Session (Closed to the Public)
1. Executive Session
Executive Session is scheduled for real estate matters pursuant to Government Code 54956.8.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors (Open to the Public)
2. Call to Order of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
The Board Chair will call the meeting to order if a quorum is present. Announcements by the Board Chair or Executive Director may be made at this time. Board members may make announcements at this time as well.
3. Public Comments
Opportunity for members of the public to address the Conservancy’s Board of Directors.
4. Approval of minutes
The Board Chair will request approval of the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting on October 6, 2021.
Download the Conservancy’s signed October 6, 2021 Board meeting minutes (PDF, 8 MB)
5. Proposed changes to the Internal Financial Controls Policy
The Conservancy’s Internal Financial Controls Policy is presented for Board review. The Board recently changed the Executive Director’s check signing authority from $10,000 to $25,000. There was one other place in this policy with the same $10,000 limit with regards to contract signing authority. Staff sought clarification from the Compensation and Governance Committee as to the Board’s intention on this issue.
This item requests the Board’s authorization to include in the Executive Director’s new contract signing authority (limit to $25,000) to conform with the Board’s action at its October 6, 2021 Board meeting with regards to the check signing authority of $25,000. Other clean up proposed changes are included in this action.
The proposed changes to the Conservancy’s Internal Financial Controls Policy are available upon request.
Please email your inquiry to: Email [email protected]
6. 2022 NBHCP Finance Model and 2022 budget
The proposed 2022 Conservancy budget is presented to the Board for adoption. A draft of the 2022 Conservancy budget was shared with the Board at the October 6, 2021 Board of Directors meetings for review and discussion.
The Conservancy’s proposed 2022 budget is integrated with the NBHCP Finance Model, so that the document submitted for action is one document. The consolidation of the two documents was introduced in 2007 with the intention of reducing the chance of differing budget numbers and because of the consistency it afforded.
The matter of reserves for property taxes has been a substantial issue for the NBHCP Finance Model calculation over the last several years. This year, the Conservancy made no change in the following assumptions with respect to the Williamson Act’s impact on Conservancy-held property:
- The State of California’s Williamson Act subventions to counties remains unfunded or largely unfunded in this and future State budgets.
- Counties with which the Conservancy has Williamson Act contracts (Sacramento and Sutter) make no additional change to existing contracts.
- Counties permit no newly-acquired properties to be enrolled in Williamson Act contracts and to enjoy the property tax benefits such participation affords.
- All new properties acquired by the Conservancy for HCP mitigation purposes enjoy no Williamson Act property tax protection and are assessed at their full value at the time of acquisition.
- Sutter County’s Williamson Act contracts are reduced by 10 percent.
The fee is substantially influenced by land prices. The recommended fee, as proposed by Conservancy staff, is supported by work done by Stephen Harrington, MAI, updated for 2022. Harrington estimates the range for mitigation land acquisition in 2022 is $30,000 to $33,000 per acre. The NBHCP Finance Model presented assumes mitigation land acquisition at $32,500.
The price estimate for future-acquired mitigation land is based on an assumption contained in the NBHCP Finance Model. The NBHCP requires that the Conservancy purchase mitigation land within 12 months of demand. There are no exceptions or extensions provided for. So, the Conservancy’s estimate for mitigation land acquisition costs are based on a “looking forward” methodology, while appraisal valuations are typically based on recent historical valuations.
The 2022 Conservancy Budget and NBHCP Finance Model are now submitted for Board acceptance, as is a request to the City of Sacramento to adopt the Finance Model’s indicated fee as follows:
- The NBHCP mitigation fee for 2022 is recommended to increase from $40,032 per developed acre in 2021 to $43,968 per developed acre.
- The NBHCP mitigation fee with land dedication for 2022 is recommended to increase from $25,032 per developed acre in 2021 to $27,718 per developed acre.
The Board is asked to:
- approve the proposed 2022 Conservancy Budget;
- accept the 2022 NBHCP Finance Model recalculation;
- adoption of a resolution to be submitted to the City of Sacramento requesting the above noted NBHCP fee adjustments (see attached resolution); and
- should County of Sutter express an interest in initiating its use of the NBHCP’s Incidental Take Permit acres, an identical resolution is approved for the County of Sutter as well, changing out only the City of Sacramento references to County of Sutter references.
The NBHCP Finance Model for 2022 is available upon request.
Please email your inquiry to: Email [email protected]
If you would like a copy of the document included in this item, please contact the Conservancy office.
7. City of Sacramento report
Report from the City of Sacramento regarding HCP-related activity and other topics.
8. County of Sutter report
Report from the County of Sutter regarding HCP-related activity and other topics.
9. Financial statement review
A financial statement will be provided for the period ended October 31, 2021 (unaudited). Additional financial information will be provided.
Download the Conservancy’s December 31, 2021 audited financial statements (PDF, 12 MB)
10. Executive Director’s Report
Various matters for Board members’ general information will be presented by the Conservancy’s Executive Director.
11. Adjournment of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Official adjournment of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Upcoming Regular Meetings
- February 2, 2022
- April 6, 2022
- June 1, 2022