Sierra Nevada Conservancy Searches for First Home

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ERIC
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Sierra Nevada Conservancy Searches for First Home

Post by ERIC »

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Launches Search for First Home; Specific Criteria Will Guide Selection Process

December 14, 2005 05:30 PM US Eastern Timezone


SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 2005--Executive Officer Jim Branham today announced that criteria has been established and a search is underway for the first home of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Established last year by Governor Schwarzenegger to promote environmental conservation and economic development, the scope of responsibility for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy covers 25 million acres.

"We have been pleased with the interest shown by numerous Sierra Nevada communities in becoming home to our Conservancy's headquarters office," Branham said. "There are so many wonderful communities in our region, it will a difficult decision to make."

Branham was named executive officer in October by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board. He said that based on Board direction during their December meeting, the office location will need to be within two hours of Sacramento and have year round access. Office space proposals will then be limited to cities within the following counties: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Tehama, Tuolumne and Yuba. The California Department of General Services (DGS) will also participate in conducting the search.

Other search criteria include: an availability of interim and/or permanent office space (including the option of a "build to suit" building), access to major north-south and east-west transportation corridors (I-5, Hwy 99, Hwy 395, I-80, Hwy 50 and Hwy 49), access to high speed internet, and facilities for Conservancy Board meetings and other meetings. The new home must also be conveniently located for employees to access schools, affordable housing, alternative transportation and other services.

"This is a great partnership that we hope to create between the Conservancy and a community," Branham said. "This is also a fantastic opportunity for the Conservancy to contribute to the economic well-being of the community."

The deadline for proposal submission by a municipality is Jan. 9, 2006. Between Jan. 12 and Feb. 1, site visits and evaluation will take place. A decision on the community that will be selected as the first home for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is expected at the Feb. 23 Conservancy Board meeting.

The mission of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy is to collaborate and cooperate with local governments and interested parties to preserve and protect the environment and economies in the Sierra Nevada.

Other criteria, specifics relating to the process and additional information are available at http://www.sierranevada.ca.gov (click on the Headquarters Search link). Interested parties may also contact Patrick Foster at DGS at (916) 375-4188.
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SteveB
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Post by SteveB »

Sounds like they need to be in Reno!! :D All of their criteria are met from here!
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Post by dave54 »

SteveB wrote:Sounds like they need to be in Reno!! :D All of their criteria are met from here!
You meant that tongue-in-cheek but that is really a great idea!

Reno would get the organization far enough from Sacramento (and farther from san francisco) and out of California so it would be more insulated from the dysfunctional politics of the granola state.
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Or Carson City.
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Post by ERIC »

Auburn extends welcome mat for Sierra Nevada Conservancy

New environmental agency's visit part of search for home base

By: Michelle Miller, Journal Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 25, 2006 4:23 AM PST
auburnjournal.com


Officials from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy will be in town next week to see if Auburn might be the perfect place to plant the roots for a new state environmental agency.

Auburn officials, along with those from eight other communities, have expressed a desire to be the home of the state agency that would protect the environment and the economies in the Sierra Nevada.

City Councilman Kevin Hanley said at Monday's City Council meeting that he has delivered packets detailing the "Auburn Advantage" to six sub-committee members who will determine the ideal location for the conservancy's headquarters.

"What we wanted to convey to the 13 members of the governing board is that we think if they locate their headquarters in Auburn, it would be the best way to help them accomplish their mission," Hanley said.

One part of that is attracting highly skilled employees, he said. Auburn's quality of life - from the small-town atmosphere to recreation opportunities in the American River Canyon and nearby ski resorts - is more likely to attract the most talented people to work for the agency.

While the high cost of housing in Auburn may be a drawback, ($485,000 was the median home price in December), Hanley said Auburn did meet its regional goal for affordable housing units and the council has adopted a housing element to the general plan with strategies to encourage affordable housing.
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"From the Auburn point of view, we see it as a good economic boost for our town," he said.

Because of limited growth opportunities, bringing the agency's $3.5 million budget and 20 employees would trickle down into retail sales and business for environmental firms that would likely contract with the conservancy.

Auburn has submitted 17 office property options with immediate, long-term and build-to-suit opportunities. Sites must provide more than 10,000 square feet of space and have high-speed Internet capabilities.

Currently available sites submitted include:

n The Auburn Towers, 1240 High St.

n Creekside Office, 11501-11641 Blocker Dr.

n Nevada Commercial, 470 Nevada St.

n Shiloh Center, 905 Lincoln Way

But Auburn does have some competition.

Eight other communities have put their hats in the ring: Colfax, El Dorado Hills, Martell, Nevada City, Placerville, Pollock Pines, San Andreas and Truckee.

These cities meet requirements the conservancy board has set forth for a centralized location that is easy to access across the 22-county conservancy area.

The committee is expected to make its decision by the conservancy board's meeting on Feb. 23.

Michelle Miller can be reached at michel
lem@goldcountrymedia.com.
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