Utilization of State Grant Funding for the Preservation of 500 +/- Acres

The City of Santa Clarita is utilizing a $7,000,000 state grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s 2022-23 Open Space Acquisition Grant Program to acquire approximately 500 acres of land encompassing the LaBelle, Vartanian, Chaleff, English, and Forum Engineering properties. This acquisition is aimed at expanding and preserving open space, establishing greenbelt buffers around the city, and integrating the land into existing trail systems and conservation areas to enhance public recreational access and protect natural ecosystems. The project does not involve traditional procurement contracts but is structured as a grant-funded land purchase, with no line-item pricing, CLINs, or commercial contract clauses such as those defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The City, through its Neighborhood Services and Community Development Departments, serves as the sole responsible party for implementation, with Susan Nelson as the primary point of contact. Approval of the project was granted by the City Council on October 28, 2025, and the initiative qualifies for multiple California Environmental Quality Act exemptions—Classes 13, 16, 17, and 25—which confirm its alignment with land conservation, habitat preservation, and open space protection goals. No formal inspection criteria, packaging requirements, or contract administration details like COR/COTR assignments, invoicing procedures, or payment office information are specified, as the transaction is governed by state grant compliance and municipal land use regulations rather than federal contracting standards. The funding is fixed and non-renewable, with no option periods or variable pricing, and all project-related documentation is administered locally, with public records accessible through the City’s Community Development Department.