To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
A Final Certificate of Cancellation on a 4.36-acre Portion of the Approximately 77-acre Westfall Agricultural Preserve Property in Elk River
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Determine that the Conditions of Approval for the cancellation of the Agricultural Preserve Contract No. 08-109 have been met and adopt the Resolution (Attachment 1) approving the final cancellation; and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to record the Certificate of Cancellation (Attachment 3); and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to provide a certified board order to the planning and building staff to be included with the notification of decision to the appropriate parties; and
4. Direct the County Treasurer to transmit $68,750 to the State Controller within 30 days of the execution of the Certificate of Cancellation.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 5005 - Implement landscape stewardship through the General Plan
DISCUSSION:
This is a request to approve the Final Certificate of Cancellation of the Williamson Act Contract on a 4.36-acre developed portion of the 77-acre Westfall Agricultural Preserve in Elk River. The remaining vacant approximately 73-acres will be dedicated to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Westfall Agricultural Preserve is currently owned by Save the Redwoods League and is to be dedicated to the BLM to add public lands along Elk River and adjacent to the 7,472-acre Headwaters Forest Reserve. The 4.36-acre portion would create a new parcel to contain the existing single-family residence and barn, which would be privately sold and retained as part of the county’s housing stock and tax base. The Tentative Certificate of Cancellation was approved by the Board on May 12, 2026, which was subject to conditions of approval. Save the Redwoods League submitted a letter to the Board as notification that all conditions and contingencies have been fulfilled (Attachment 2). One of the conditions of approval was to pay a cancellation penalty fee of 25 percent of the appraised value of the property. In October 2025, the Assessor’s office gave a fee appraisal for the 4.36-acre parcel with a value of $550,000, which equals $137,500 penalty fee to be split between the state and the county (12.5% shall be distributed to the state and 12.5% to the county). The payment has been received by Humboldt County Treasurer and within 30 days of executing the Final Certificate of Cancellation, payment to the State Controller’s Office is required.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Funding from applicant fees.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$68,750 has been collected by the county as the property tax penalty fee for immediate cancellation. In addition, the existing single-family residence will remain on the tax assessment roll after acquisition of the larger property by the Bureau of Land Management.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Assessor
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Resolution
2. Letter from Applicant requesting Final Certificate of Cancellation
3. Final Certificate of Cancellation
4. Tentative Cancellation Conditions of Approval
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: May 12, 2026, Board of Supervisors
File No.: 26-371