City Council Agenda Report
April 16, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Rebecca Bridgeford, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 24-19 - FINDING PARK LANDS AS EXEMPT SURPLUS
LAND AND APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF PARKS LAND FROM THE CITY
OF NORWALK AS SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE SOUTHEAST
RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT TO THE CITY OF NORWALK
Background:
Before July 1, 1980, the parks outlined in Attachment 1 ("Park Lands") to the accompanying resolution ("Resolution") were under the ownership and maintenance of the Southeast Recreation and Parks District ("SRPD"). In 1980, SRPD was dissolved, and the City of Norwalk ("City") entered into an agreement with the County of Los Angeles ("County") to assume ownership of and responsibility for the park lands that were within the City’s boundaries. As part of the agreement, the County would allocate a portion of the tax revenue from these areas to the City.
However, a complication emerged regarding some Park Land parcels. Certain title reports indicate that SRPD still holds ownership of some Park Lands, preventing the City from executing necessary transactions like leasing or granting easements. To address this, it is recommended that the City Council issue quitclaim deeds transferring ownership of the Park Lands from the City, acting as the successor-in-interest to SRPD, to the City in its regular capacity.
To preempt any issues with the Surplus Land Act (Government Code Sections 54220 et seq.), it is advised that the City declare the Park Lands as "exempt surplus land" under the agency-to- agency transfer exemption outlined in Government Code Sections 54221(f)(1)(D). This exemption applies to surplus land transfers between local agencies for the receiving agency's use. Once the Park Lands are declared exempt, the City can transfer ownership to another local agency without needing to solicit interest from developers or nonprofits for affordable housing development.
City Council April 16, 2024
Resolution 24-19 - Park Deed Transfers Page No. 2
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6 The proposed Resolution fulfills the necessary findings under the Surplus Land Act and designates the Park Lands as "exempt surplus land." It also facilitates the transfer and acceptance of the Park Lands, in the City’s capacity as both the transferring and receiving local agency.
California Environmental Quality Act Exemption
The actions taken pursuant to the Resolution are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under a Class 12 categorical exemption for Surplus Government Property Sales (CEQA Guidelines Section 15312) and is not a project as it is an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
Fiscal Impact:
The recommended actions will have no fiscal impact, but will allow the City to make productive use of the Park Lands.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-19, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK MAKING FINDINGS UNDER THE SURPLUS LAND
ACT AND APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF PARK LANDS FROM THE CITY OF NORWALK
AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO THE SOUTHEAST RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT TO THE CITY OF NORWALK.
Attachments:
Resolution No. 24-19