NORTH COAST, Calif. – During its Wednesday meeting in Ukiah, the Mendocino College Board of Trustees voted to pursue a conservation easement agreement for the Point Arena Field Station property with the Bureau of Land Management.
The board asked staff to work with the Trust for Public Lands and the BLM to secure a conservation easement for the property that will allow for continued educational activities, prevent development and protect the coastal environment.
The proposal was the result of a recent conversation college officials had with the BLM – facilitated by the Trust for Public Lands – in which the BLM communicated that it was open to purchasing the easement.
Under the proposed agreement, the college would retain full ownership of the property and make all decisions regarding use of the property while adhering to the intent and parameters of the accord.
The BLM would agree to pay the college to hold the right to enforce the landowner’s promise not to develop the land or use the facilities for noneducational activities.
In return, the college will receive fair market value for conceding their rights to develop the property in the future and restrict use to research and educational activities.
This option does allow the owners to consider sale of the property in the future, but the restrictions on land use would be passed on to the new property owners. Consequently, such a sale would likely bring a significantly reduced value to the property due to the limitations on the land use.
Conservative estimates suggest over $1 million is needed to bring the building up to acceptable standards and nearly $40,000 a year is required for maintenance.
After learning that BLM would support this option, Mendocino College Superintendent/President Arturo Reyes met with key members of the college community.
Reyes said the BLM is willing to consider this option to accommodate the interest of the college in maintaining control of the property, limiting the restrictions that BLM ownership may have placed on the property, and the fact that the potential income to the college from this conservation easement option and an option presented by the ad hoc committee are very similar.
At the start of Wednesday's meeting, Reyes’ report to the board outlined the general parameters of the conservation easement option for the Point Arena property for the trustees to consider.
After listening to a brief budget update and public comments, the trustees took up the Point Arena matter.
Trustee Paul Ubelhart made a motion to move forward with the option to secure a conservation easement agreement for the Point Arena Field Station property with the BLM. After some discussion, the amended motion was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The board’s action directs staff to consult with the appropriate agencies to secure a conservation easement for the Point Arena Field station.
The motion also calls for a representative group of staff, Point Arena Field Station advocates (Friends of Point Arena), interested faculty members and a college foundation representative to secure financial support in the way of donations and pledges while also designing a fundraising campaign plan for at least the next three years.
Staff will update the board on the progress of these two initiatives at the next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting.
After the decision, Reyes said, “We are very pleased to have found what appears to be an elegant solution to a complex and highly emotional situation. I’m delighted with the decision and appreciative that Board President Joel Clark created such an open and inclusive process that encouraged community members, staff, faculty, students, and Point Arena residents to express their voices. It is clear that our trustees truly listened to everyone involved and made the right choice.”
The college thanked students, faculty and staff, Markley Bavinger of the Trust for Public Lands, Rich Burns of BLM, the board’s ad hoc committee, and the college trustees for working together to do the right thing for the region.