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Item E1 MEMORANDUM To: James Roberts, County Administrator From: Mark Rosch, Executive Director Monroe County Land Authority MIL ---- Date: October 24, 2000 Subject: Land Authority Agenda Items for November 3,2000 BOCC Meeting Please include the following item on the Board of County Commissioners agenda for the above referenced meeting. LAND AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD 1. Approval of a resolution concerning the acquisition of conservation lands. c/ LAND AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: November 3, 2000 Bulk Item: Ves No X Department: Land Authority Agenda Item Wording: Approval of a resolution concerning the acquisition of conservation lands. Item Background: On October 19, 2000 the Board approved several actions relating to the acquisition of conservation lands. The Board's action did not clearly specify a scope of funding and duration for two of the actions. The proposed resolution will clarify this matter. Advisory Committee Action: N/A Previous Governing Board Action: On October 19, 2000 the Board adopted Resolution 08-2000. Staff Recommendation: Approval. Total Cost: $ N/A Budgeted: Ves No Cost to Land Authority: $ N/A Approved By: Attorney L.. OMB/Purchasing _ ~.~ YL . ark J. Rosch Risk Management Executive Director Approval: Documentation: Included: X To Follow: Not Required: Disposition: Agenda Item LA #1 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND AUTHORITY CONCERNING THE ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION LANDS. WHEREAS, on October 19, 2000, the Governing Board of the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Land Authority (hereinafter "Land Authority") adopted Resolution 08-2000 related to the expenditure of Preservation 2000 funds; and WHEREAS, the Governing Board wishes to further address the subject of conservation lands, specifically with respect to the scope of funds and duration of the policies; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MONROE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND AUTHORITY: Section 1. The expenditure of Preservation 2000 funds is hereby declared to be the Land Authority's first priority until January 1, 2001, along with the affordable housing initiatives already underway. Section 2. The Land Authority Executive Director is hereby authorized to execute purchase contracts on behalf of the Land Authority, provided the purchase price is less than $50,000.00, the purchase price is within the guidelines established by the Land Authority operating rule, and the property is on the Acquisition List approved by the Governing Board within the following subdivisions: Rainbow Beach, Blocks 1 through 6 only of Cutthroat Harbor Estates, Bay Haven, and the portion of Harris Ocean Park Estates zoned Native Area. Said authorization shall remain in effect unless rescinded or modified by the Governing Board. Furthermore, said authorization applies to the expenditure of any appropriately budgeted revenues, including but not limited to Preservation 2000 funds. Section 3. The policy on conservation lands acquisition and conservation acquisition priorities in Attachment A is hereby adopted and shall remain in effect unless rescinded or modified by the Governing Board. Acquisitions pursuant to said policy may be funded by any appropriately budgeted revenues, including but not limited to Preservation 2000 funds. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Land Authority at a special meeting on this _ day of 2000. (Seal) ATTEST: MONROE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND AUTHORITY Mark J. Rosch Executive Director Nora Williams Chairman Approved for Legal Sufficiency Larry R. Erskine ATTACHMENT A Land Authority Policy On Conservation Lands Acquisition and Conservation Acquisition Priorities Overview: Policy: It is the policy of the Monroe County Land Authority, in acquiring land for conservation, to preserve and enhance the natural beauty and environment of the Florida Keys in order to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all our residents and visitors. Acquisition Priorities (in no particular order): 1) Buy natural areas prioritized as follows: land in CARL projects first, land in national wildlife refuges second, and other land last. (Willing sellers only.) 2) Buy and present for restoration to the County Land Steward selected US 1 frontage properties, in keeping with recommendations of the CommuniKeys program, should those recommendations be available. (Willing sellers only.) 3) Buy conservation easements on vacant lots in developed subdivisions in conjunction with adjoining homeowners. (Willing sellers only.) 4) Buy large parcels that pose future or current growth management problems. (Willing sellers only.) 5) Buy vacant property on Big Pine and No Name Keys, starting outside of the most densely populated subdivisions, consistent with previous rankings by the Advisory Committee. (Willing sellers only.) Details follow, including benefits and issues for each priority item. Benefits and Issues with each of the proposed Conservation Land Acquisition Priorities: 1. Project: Buy natural areas prioritized as follows: land in CARL projects first, land in national wildlife refuges second, and other land last. (Willing sellers only.) Benefits: High resource protection, follows existing state and federal commitments for stewardship responsibilities, implements Cabinet comp plan rule and Year 2010 plan, protects property rights for owners adversely impacted by County environmental regulations. Issues: USFWS would need to endorse the purchase of all lands in refuge boundaries. 2. Project: Buy and present for restoration to the County Land Steward selected US 1 frontage properties, in keeping with recommendations of the CommuniKeys program, should those recommendations be available. (Willing sellers only.) Benefits: Protects property rights for owners hurt by commercial moratorium; enhances scenic beauty and character of US 1; protects affordable housing stock, creates impetus for CommuniKeys program to minimize "strip mall" look of the Keys, may provide additional incentive for the State to support our easing restrictions on existing businesses. Issues: Highway frontage property generally requires more frequent and more thorough stewardship activities. 3. Project: Buy conservation easements on vacant lots in developed subdivisions in conjunction with adjoining homeowners. (Willing sellers only.) Benefits: Reduces buildout without all the responsibilities of fee simple ownership (i.e. management remains with the adjacent homeowner); keeps a portion of the property on the tax roll; gives homeowners more elbow room. Issues: Must make sure the conservation easement is carefully crafted to avoid Dodge Lake scenarios. 4. Project: Buy large parcels that pose future or current growth management problems. Benefits: Spends large amounts of grant money quickly and efficiently (certain types of grants are more likely if parcels to be purchased are sizable); growth management benefits will vary by property but could include reducing future or present traffic congestion; protecting property rights, resolving litigation. Issues: May not provide the most bang for the buck; properties will have to be carefully selected to minimize opposition and maximize community consensus. 5. Project: Buy vacant property on Big Pine and No Name Keys in areas where the CommuniKeys program supports such an endeavor, starting outside of the most densely populated subdivisions, consistent with previous rankings by the Advisory Committee. (Willing sellers only.) Benefits: Protects property rights for owners adversely impacted by County environmental regulations; preserves rural character of the area; protects Key deer from secondary impacts of development. Issues: USFWS would need to endorse the purchase of this land. Many of the remaining vacant parcels are in developed subdivisions and will have associated land management costs, if neighboring property-owners don't want to assume responsibility . 6. Project: A Big Pine Area Park Benefits: Fills a real community need that has already been endorsed by this Commission. Issues: Uses of the park would be limited by the limitations placed on Preservation 2000 funds (as we've already discovered in Marathon). The Community must be clearly informed of those limitations so that expectations of park uses are based on the reality of these limitations. 7. Buy Greenspace/natural areas/appropriate recreational areas as community consensus indicates in the CommuniKeys program Benefits: Works to guide the future growth of Keys' communities in ways those communities desire, creates goodwill in community to see their desires matched with funding resources, helps control build-out and provide recreational space. Issues: Same as Item #6 above when space purchased is for recreational rather than conservation uses.