Nonprofit raises transparency questions over Prop 70 dairy site sale and city's development plans

Randy Beckendam, executive director of the Southern California Agricultural Land Foundation, read from county board minutes describing disposal of a Prop 70 dairy site of about 74 acres and said the county proposes to sell that site to the City of Ontario. He told the council he expected the city to pay market value — which he estimated at roughly $90,000,000 — and expressed concern that the city's subsequent sale of the parcel to a developer would funnel proceeds to a special fund for acquiring other land in the Grand Park footprint without sufficient public transparency.

Beckendam said his organization managed Prop 70 lands from 1990 to 2006 and urged the council to study the transaction. The city manager responded that the matter was not on the city's agenda that night and described the public commenter’s understanding as a "misunderstanding." No formal city action on the Prop 70 matter occurred at the meeting.

Why it matters: Prop 70 lands are subject to specific restrictions tied to the original funding and stewardship. Transfers or sales can carry legal and administrative conditions; a local nonprofit called for public clarity about proposed land disposals and the intended use of proceeds.

What happens next: The speaker’s concerns were entered into the record; the city indicated the item was not before the council and no immediate action was taken.