AGENDA TITLE:
title
Adopt a Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Execute Agricultural Leases for White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility (PW)
end
MEETING DATE:
July 17, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Public Works Director
recommendation
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing City Manager to execute agricultural leases for White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility.
body
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City has two agricultural lease areas at White Slough Water Pollution Control Facility ("WSWPCF"), which total approximately 819 acres ("Agricultural Land"). Both existing Agricultural Land lease agreements expired on December 31, 2023, and continued on a month-to-month term. The Agricultural Land current tenants are Kirschenman Farms (593+ acres) and Lima Ranch (226 + acres) (collectively "Lessees").
Farming the agricultural reuse areas at WSWPCF comes with significant regulatory constraints, which restricts the farmer's ability to maximize profits. The primary function of the farming operations is to distribute treated municipal effluent and industrial discharges, primarily from Pacific Coast Producers, to the reuse areas during the summer months (irrigation season) and application of dewatered biosolids as a fertilizer for the crops at various intervals. All irrigation and nitrogen applications are not allowed to exceed agronomic rates in accordance with the City's land application permit.
In addition, portions of the Agricultural Land has recently been reserved for the proposed Lodi Police Training Facility, Lodi Hydrogen Conversion Project, and the PG&E Hydrogen Infinity Project. The proposed hydrogen projects remain dependent on State and Federal funding yet to be secured. The timing uncertainty of future project construction impacts the Lessee's crop planning cycle(s) because the acreage associated with both projects (roughly 200 acres) currently remain in production. Both Lessees acknowledge the projects noted above (if construc...
Click here for full text