Laserfiche WebLink
KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: October 25, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Agricultural Leases <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff develop an agricultural land lease model for Commission review. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Twin City Foods agricultural lease (26 acres) is coming up for renewal. <br />• The Flood Control Zone District has significant land available for agricultural <br />lease. <br />• What is the Board's desire in leasing agricultural land and what rate model should <br />guide staff securing leases? <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Twin City has been leasing approximately 26 acres of land (Hanson Pit) for wastewater <br />application for approximately 20 years. The lease is coming up for renewal at the end of <br />2021. The current lease rate is less than $150 per acre per year. The lease assists Twin <br />City Foods avoid the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and contributes to the <br />business viability of its vegetable processing facility in Ellensburg. Recent acquisition of <br />Flying M ranch and the previous acquisition of M Farm ranch by the Flood Control Zone <br />District greatly adds agricultural lands to the County's lease bank. Keeping the lands in <br />agricultural production is key to avoiding expensive weed management on the properties. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Prior to negotiating a new lease with Twin City Foods, staff desires a dialogue with the <br />Board defining philosophy and economic expectations tenant to agricultural leases. The <br />Airport Department currently leases agricultural land at half the value of the existing <br />Twin City lease. Issues of fairness and consistency are bound to move to the forefront as <br />the County negotiates with Twin City and the need to lease vacant agricultural land <br />begins to resonant in the community. Staff believes it essential to define rate structure <br />tied to use as we move forward developing our agricultural lease strategy. The <br />availability of water is expected to influence rate model development. <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2021 <br />