Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/07/26 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Community Services
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5684) DOC ID: 5684 A
Updated: 6/30/2026 12:58 PM by Alberto Quintanilla A Page 1 Five-Year License Agreement with Tri-City Ecology for use of the California Nursery Historical Park - Authorize the City Manager or her Designee to execute a five-year license agreement, with two five-year renewal options, with Tri-City Ecology for the use of the California Nursery Historical Park and find this action is exempt from CEQA review.
Contact Persons:
Name: Irene Jordahl Michael Sa
Title: Recreation Superintendent II Deputy Director of Community Services
Div/Dept: Community Services Community Services
Phone: 510-494-4322 510-494-4372
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this item is to recommend that the City Council authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a five-year license agreement, with two five-year renewal options, with Tri-City Ecology Center for revitalization of the historic test orchard at California Nursery Historical Park (Park) to reflect its historical significance and restore the test orchard of the California Nursery Company by growing a wide range of fruit trees, and to create a place for education, community outreach and volunteerism.
BACKGROUND: In December 2017, the City Council adopted a Master Plan for the Park. The Master Plan outlines the many purposes of the Park, including to provide a place for passive recreation use for the community; telling the story of the California Nursery Company to current and future generations through the sharing of the historic buildings, arboricultural resources, and display of the preserved artifacts and documents; and chronicling the history and operations as a supplier of fruit and nut trees, hybridized plant varieties, and ornamental shrubs and hundreds of varieties of roses.
Tri-City Ecology Center submitted a proposal to the City for revitalization of the historic orchard in California Nursery Historical Park to reflect its historical significance, restore the test orchard of the California Nursery Company by growing a wide range of fruit trees developed and introduced during the independent plant development era of the 1900s to the 1960s, and to create a place for education, community outreach and volunteerism.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5684) Meeting of July 7, 2026 Updated: 6/30/2026 12:58 PM by Alberto Quintanilla A Page 2 Tri-City Ecology Center is a local leader in advocating sound environmental policies that preserve and maintain unique natural resources and considers environmental education as essential for the success of future generations.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The City previously granted Tri-City Ecology Center use of the Park through an agreement to facilitate use of the historic orchard area for a one-year term on July 11, 2025. The City and Tri-City Ecology Center have enjoyed a positive working relationship during the initial year in partnership.
During the one-year term, California Orchard Restoration Experiment (CORE), the branch of Tri-City Ecology Center focused on this project, began pruning the existing apricot trees, purchased and grafted historic Albert Etter (an American plant breeder best known for his work on strawberry and apple varieties) varieties, planted over 100 trees, planned out rows based on the original orchard layout, began planting perimeter hedgerows of beneficial plants as habitat area for birds and insects, amended the soil, and planted cover crops to enrich soil. CORE provides weekly volunteer opportunities to the community.
Tri-City Ecology Center implements organic and sustainable practices for the community to participate and experience, provides a place of learning about how to help mend our food production systems for the least and greatest benefit to the community, shares the historical significance and story of the orchard, and provides volunteer opportunities in a shared effort for historical preservation.
Tri-City Ecology Center has been a valuable partner throughout this first- year and staff supports the organization’s desire to continue its activities in the Park and is recommending a license agreement between Tri-City Ecology Center and the City for a five-year term with two five-year renewal options that may extend the relationship through 2041.
Tri-City Ecology Center will continue to provide volunteer opportunities to preserve, maintain and restore the test orchard, and preserve the cultural heritage of the nursery so generations to come will have an authentic visual connection to a historic orchard and an understanding of how this nursery landscape was made. Tri-City Ecology Center will expand the current orchard with historically significant trees to preserve critical genetics and species.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5684) Meeting of July 7, 2026 Updated: 6/30/2026 12:58 PM by Alberto Quintanilla A Page 3 The five-year term specified in the proposed agreement - and two, five-year renewal options - will begin a long-term partnership between the City and Tri-City Ecology Center to enhance community outreach and understanding of the historical significance of the Park, create a space of learning for all visitors while implementing organic and sustainable practices for the community to participate, and continue in support of the benefits provided by the volunteers of Tri-City Ecology Center.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The approval of a license agreement with Tri-City Ecology Center is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to, without limitation, each on a separate and independent basis, CEQA Guidelines:
1. Section 15061 (Review for Exemption) in that the activity is covered by the common-sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Here, the license agreement is for revitalizing the historic orchard and adding trees which will have no possibility of significant adverse effect on the environment and will only have a positive impact.
2. Section 15183 (Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning) in that the proposed project is consistent with the land use envisioned for the site as established by the General Plan for which an Environmental Impact Report (SCH#2010082060) was previously prepared and certified. The work on the test orchard to be done by Tri- City Ecology Center is also consistent with the California Nursery Historical Park Master Plan, for which Environmental Impact Report (SCH#2015062024) was prepared and certified. Per CEQA Guidelines §15162 and §15163, none of the circumstances requiring calling for the preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR have occurred. Here, the license agreement contemplates using the Park for the same uses designated in the General Plan and the California Nursery Historical Park Master Plan.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5684) Meeting of July 7, 2026 Updated: 6/30/2026 12:58 PM by Alberto Quintanilla A Page 4
3. Section 15378 (Project) in that the requested license agreement with Tri- City Ecology Center will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment as the use of the Park by Tri-City Ecology Center will only have positive impacts on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a license agreement with Tri-City Ecology Center providing for use of the California Nursery Historical Park for a five-year period through 2031, with the option to renew for two additional five-year periods that could extend the agreement through 2041.
2. Find that the license agreement is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061, 15183, and 15378.