TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a Real Estate Exchange Agreement, providing overall terms and conditions of an exchange of approximately 12.1 acres of City-owned land for surface rights to approximately 33.77 acres of privately-owned wetlands. (Districts 1,3)
DISCUSSION
The Los Cerritos Wetlands (Wetlands) cover nearly 450 acres at the southeast convergence of the City of Long Beach with the City of Seal Beach. Historically, there have been three separate ownerships included within the Wetlands: the Hellman Property, containing approximately 174 acres, the Bryant Property, containing approximately 87 acres, and the Bixby Property, containing approximately 175 acres. The Wetiands consist of a combination of aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial habitats that result from periodic flooding by tidal waters, rainfall or runoff. The Wetlands provide habitat for a vast array of organisms, including many endangered species. The Wetlands also provide a vital link between land and open water, exporting nutrients and organic material, buffering the effects of storms, filtering and assimilating many pollutants from runoff, reducing shoreline erosion and improving water quality. Most importantly, the Wetlands provide an opportunity for passive enjoyment and quiet observation of a natural habitat and national resource.
In 2002, City Council entered into a confidentiality agreement with The Trust for Public Lands (TPL), utilizing their expertise to assist in negotiating a possible acquisition of the Bixby Property. In 2003 City Council authorized an amendment to the confidentiality agreement to include the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) to assist the City and TPL in negotiating for the acquisition of the Bixby Property, and including the Bryant and Hellman Properties. In December 2005, City Council authorized the formation of a Joint Powers Authority, referred to as the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCW...
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