HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.4 Tri-Valley Conservancy Presentation
CITY CLERK
File # D[[]~lOJ-W
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: February 20, 2007
SUBJECT:
Presentation by the Tri- Valley Conservancy on Recent Activities
Report Prepared by Joni Pattillo, Assistant City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
Tri- Valley Conservancy History and Mission Statement
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
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DESCRIPTION: In 2003, the South Livermore Valley Agricultural Land Trust
became the Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC) with an expanded geographic area covering the cities of
Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon and the SUllol area. The Conservancy's mission is to
permanently protect the fertile soils, rangelands, open space and biological resources, and to support a
viable agricultural economy in the Tri- Valley area.
The Tri-Valley Conservancy held a strategic planning retreat in 2004 and, at that time, expanded its
geographic area. Because of that expansion, there was a need for a conservation plan. A committee was
formed to begin the planning process. After a year of research and discussion, the TVC Board made a
decision about what lands were priorities to try and preserve within the Tri-Valley. Sharon Burnham, the
TVC's Executive Director, will make a presentation regarding the recently adopted Land Conservation
Plan.
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COPY TO: Sharon Burnham, TVC
ITEM NO.
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Tri-Valley Conservancy
History and Mission
Historv: The Livermore Valley has long been a premiere wine region. Beginning in the 19th century,
vintners recognized the region's climate and soils as highly suitable for wine-grape cultivation. By the turn of
the century, the Valley was home to more than 5,000 acres of vineyards and over 50 wineries. Pioneering
wine families had succeeded fabulously in cultivating high-quality wine operations. With award-winning
wines and a fertile agricultural base, the Livermore Valley's success was akin to that of the Napa and
Sonoma Valleys to the north.
However, the next era in the Valley's winemaking history ushered in an unfortunate sequence of grape
surpluses, root louse, and Prohibition. By 1933, only 12 wineries remained, and by the late 1960's the
Valley's viticulture production had dwindled to only 1,500 vine-planted acres and six wineries.
The following decade saw a California wine renaissance that bypassed Livermore. With the rapid growth in
Bay Area population and economy and increasingly strong development pressures, both the Valley's
remaining agricultural lands and its potential to revitalize agriculture were threatened.
In response, the South Livermore Valley Steering Committee was formed in 1987 and by 1993 had created
a comprehensive South Livennore Valley Area Plan ( Plan) to provide strong economic incentives and
equitable development regulations to promote investment in viticulture and ensure that development limits
be placed on agricultural lands.
Following the County's adoption of the Plan the South Livermore Valley Agricultural Land Trust was
established in 1994 as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, public benefit corporation to preserve and protect important
agricultural and open space lands. The Land Trust's original purpose was to permanently protect and
steward a minimum of 5,000 acres of land within the Plan.
The land trust began as a seven member board with five members being appointed by local governments
and vineyard advocacy groups. The original five members elected two other members as Directors-at-Iarge.
In 2002, the board added two additional at-large-directors for a total of nine directors. During this period, the
land trust staff grew to a full-tlme Executive Director, Stewardship Director and Office Administrator.
In early 2003, a strategic planning process was initiated and the land trust board recognized the need to
have a greater conservation presence in the region. The South Livermore Valley Agricultural Land Trust
became the Tri Valley Conservancy with an expanded geographic area covering the cities of Livermore,
Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon and the Sunol area.
Mission Statement: The Conservancy's mission is "to permanently protect the fertile soils, rangelands,
open space and biological resources, and to support a viable agricultural economy, in the Tri Valley area.
The Conservancy accomplishes this mission by providing landowners with a flexible, voluntary altemative to
subdividing or developing their property.
One facet of the Conservancy's work is acquisition. Working with willing landowners, the Conservancy
acquires property development rights through the legal arrangement of a conservation easement. In doing
so, the Conservancy ensures that a property will be protected from future development.
Another facet of the Conservancy's work is the ongoing stewardship associated with each easement,
including annual property visits and consultation with property owners about the terms of their easement.
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