REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Feather River Land Trust for the Loyalton Property.
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara (City) owns and maintains approximately 10,270 rural acres of undeveloped land (Property or Loyalton Property) in Lassen and Sierra Counties near the California-Nevada border. More specifically, the Property is located in northeastern California, about 30 miles north of Truckee, CA, 110 miles northeast of Sacramento, CA, and about 20 miles northwest of Reno, NV. The Property is referred to locally as the Trosi Ranch, and within the City as the Loyalton Ranch Property. The City purchased the Property with electric utility funds in 1977 for $1,613,850 or $157/acre. The City's Electrical Department, Silicon Valley Power (SVP), is responsible for the maintenance of the Property. The following Council reports provide additional background and detail on the Loyalton Property:
* August 17, 2021- RTC 21-715
* December 14, 2021 - RTC 21-1577
* March 8, 2022 - RTC 22-316
The property has historically been used as seasonal grazing land and continues to be used as grazing land since the City's purchase in 1977. Since the property was purchased, grazing leases have been issued to various ranchers to graze cattle. Currently SVP leases the property for cattle grazing
According to City records, the property was acquired with the intent to develop a geothermal power plant. After studies were performed in the early 1980's, it was discovered that the geothermal potential for the land was much lower than anticipated. The anticipated geothermal plant was never developed. Though the geothermal plant was not deemed feasible, many other uses for the land were investigated, such as quarrying, wind, and solar power. None of the proposed projects considered were productive enough to be economica...
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