Board orders notices of nonrenewal for several ag parcels, carves out disputed parcel after owner objections

County staff recommended issuance of notices of nonrenewal for several properties enrolled under Williamson Act contracts that did not return required surveys or verification of commercial agricultural use. After public comment and board discussion, supervisors approved the recommendation for the listed properties but removed one contested parcel (Baird, contract 72062) from the action and asked staff to continue outreach and bring that parcel back separately.

Bernadette Sisson told the board staff recommended notices of nonrenewal because owners had not returned the county's survey and declaration forms used to verify commercial agricultural uses. The staff report listed multiple properties by owner and acreage (examples in staff report included 685 acres under contract 72030A owned by Flanagan, 160 acres under 72062 owned by Baird, 72.45 acres owned by Key, 161.9 acres owned by Blodgett, and 453.6 acres owned by Jones). The clerk reported two mailed hearing notices had been returned as undeliverable for Jesse Purcell and a Jack A. Jones trust.

Mark Baird appeared online and disputed staff's characterization, saying he had previously filled out surveys and objecting to the county's request for a title report (which he said would cost about $10,000) and an easement requirement. Baird said he was willing to continue agricultural use under a simple reauthorization but would not pay for the title report or grant an easement, and he criticized the survey/notification process and trust/ownership record clarity.

Assistant County Counsel William Carroll and staff explained that older contracts supply a notice address and that recent contract updates direct mailings to the assessor's property address on record; staff also described steps taken to find alternate contact information (phone calls, emails, online searches) before recommending nonrenewal. The board and county administrator discussed options to improve verification and whether to send notices with tax bills or use certified mail.

After discussion the board voted to adopt staff recommendations to issue notices of nonrenewal for the listed properties but directed staff to remove the Baird parcel (contract 72062) from the action and bring it back as a separate hearing with additional outreach. The board recorded aye votes from the supervisors present; the clerk noted a typographical error in the resolution so the chair will not sign the resolution immediately pending correction.

The action initiates the Williamson Act nonrenewal process for the affected parcels; owners may respond to the county's outreach or pursue rezone/cancellation processes where appropriate.