2002/04/23 City Council Resolution (11)RESOLUTION N0.2002- 75
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park
Urging
The Petaluma City Council, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and the
Open Space District to proceed with the Purchase of the Development Rights on the
Lafferty Ranch Property to Benefit Sonoma County Residents
WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District have a stated
objective to "assist Local, Regional, State, and Federal agencies and non - profit partners in establishing
parks and preserves which protect Sonoma County's unique natural habitats, scenic areas and other open
space resources of regional importance," and a policy to "give priority to public recreation projects that are
included within adopted agency plans, that are consistent with the 1989 Sonoma County General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the current County General Plan and previous county plans since 1964 have
proposed a nature park at or near the site of Lafferty Ranch; and
WHEREAS, county studies presented in the Draft Outdoor Recreation Plan show the Southwest
County area with the county's largest deficit in open space park acreage (1,782 acres needed by the year
2010, out of a total countywide deficit of 4,843 acres); and
WHEREAS, scientific opinion surveys conducted on behalf of the County show the public's
highest priorities for outdoor recreation are hiking and nature study in parks and natural open space; and
WHEREAS, Petaluma is seeking to develop an open space park with trails on its Lafferty Ranch
property, and make it available to all the residents of Sonoma County; and
WHEREAS, the Open Space District, through purchase of the development rights on the Lafferty
property would prevent the sale and development of this highly visible and recreationally valuable land,
preserving it for public use as an open space park; and
WHEREAS, Sonoma residents would enjoy Lafferty Park with it's perennial Adobe Creek, deep
canyons, woodlands, broad rolling meadows, and panoramic vistas of the Petaluma Valley, the Bay Area,
the North Coast, and the Pacific Ocean.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park
does hereby urge the Petaluma City Council, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and the Open
Space District to proceed with the purchase of the development rights on the Lafferty Ranch property to
benefit all residents of Sonoma County.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 23rd day of April, 2002.
CITY
CITY OF ROHNERT)PARK
Mayor