Rare Plant Mitigation Fee (Ecological Preserve Fee)

“The purpose of this Chapter is to implement the Pine Hill Endemics rare plant fee payment in lieu of mitigation for Mitigation Areas 1 and 2.”

“Since the establishment of the Ecological Fee Program in 1998, through Ordinance 4500 and Resolution 205-98, the Ecological Preserve Fee (Rare Plant Fee) has been collected for the purpose of protecting eight special-status gabbro soils plant species, many of which are state and/or federally listed or listed in the California Native Plant Society rare plant inventory (i.e., El Dorado bedstraw, Layne's butterweed, Pine Hill ceanothus, Pine Hill flannel bush, Stebbins' morning glory, Bisbee Peak rush rose, El Dorado mule ears, Red Hills soaproot) through property acquisition, conservation easements, and management within five designated ecological preserves that comprise Pine Hill Preserve: Salmon Falls, Martel Creek, Pine Hill, Cameron Park, Penny Lane Ridge.”

“The fee program set forth in this Chapter shall apply to all lands delineated as Pine Hill Endemic Rare Plant Mitigation Areas 1 and 2, as defined in Section 130.71.030 (Definitions) below in this Chapter.”

1998-07-28 (resolution adopted); effective 1998-09-26

“WHEREAS, concurrently with this Resolution, the Board of Supervisors of El Dorado County is adopting Ordinance No. 4500, adding Chapter 17.71, "Ecological Preserves," to the El Dorado County Ordinance Code and establishing a Rare Plant Mitigation requirement or fee in lieu thereof for certain development projects in western El Dorado County;”

Resolution No. 205-98, adopting Ordinance No. 4500

“WHEREAS, concurrently with this Resolution, the Board of Supervisors of El Dorado County is adopting Ordinance No. 4500, adding Chapter 17.71, "Ecological Preserves," to the El Dorado County Ordinance Code and establishing a Rare Plant Mitigation requirement or fee in lieu thereof for certain development projects in western El Dorado County;”

at building permit

“All fees shall be due and payable in full upon issuance of a building permit.”

El Dorado County Planning and Building Department

“The fee shall be collected by the Planning and Building Department. The County treasurer shall maintain the account.”

“If the Director, in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), finds that a development project which has already received all needed discretionary approvals at the effective date of this chapter has already met its mitigation obligations in whole or in part, such project will be exempted or credited against its Rare Plant Mitigation Obligation or fee in lieu thereof to a degree equivalent to the mitigation already provided.”

“No other exemptions or credits to the Rare Plant Mitigation or fee in lieu thereof shall be allowed.”