BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 495
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 18, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                      AB 495 (Logue) - As Amended:  May 5, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Business and 
          Professions  Vote:                            8-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill authorizes the Director of General Services (DGS) to 
          transfer to Butte County a 2.76-acre state property previously 
          declared surplus to the state's needs and authorized for sale or 
          transfer pursuant to current law. Specifically, this bill:

          1)Authorizes DGS to transfer the Harts Mill Forest Fire Station 
            (HMFFS), located in Berry Creek, to Butte County.

          2)Requires the county to reimburse DGS for reasonable 
            administrative costs of the transfer.

          3)Requires the county to maintain the property in perpetuity for 
            parks or open space purposes.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Transferring the property to the county in lieu of selling the 
          property could result in a one-time General Fund revenue loss of 
          around $130,000, based on the appraised value of the property.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background  . SB 136 (Huff)/Chapter 166 of 2009, authorized DGS 
            to dispose all or any portion of the HMFFS. Current law 
            requires DGS, if surplus property is not needed by any other 
            state, and prior to being offered for sale to private entities 
            or individuals, to offer the property to the appropriate local 
            governments for local government facilities, parks and 
            recreation, open-space, or low or moderate income housing. 









                                                                  AB 495
                                                                  Page  2

            Butte County notified DGS of its interest in HMFFS and entered 
            into negotiations, but declined to purchase the property after 
            receiving this right of first refusal. Several private parties 
            have expressed interest in purchasing HMFFS, which DGS is 
            putting out to bid. This bill may thus be moot if DGS sells 
            the property to a private party.

           2)Purpose  . According to the author's office, the property is 
            blighted, including a contaminated well and asbestos on site. 
            The author believes it is highly unlikely that the state could 
            make a profit on a private sale. Despite its detriments, the 
            site is a historical landmark for the community of Berry Creek 
            in Butte County and residents have actively advocated for a 
            multi-use community center and park on its location.
            
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081