Agenda - 12-09-2003-5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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also help to protect a portion of the Pickard's Mountain Natural Area and Morgan Creek, which flows through the farm on its way to the University Lake public water supply. ERCD Staff and the County Attorney have worked with the Cheeks to craft an easement that meets the family's needs and the County's interests. The easement also conforms to federal guidelines pursuant tc the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, A copy of the draft easement is attached,. Easement monitoring will be accomplished by ERCD staff on an annual basis, until such time as the Board of Commissioners and the Soil and Water Board of Supervisors may enter into a memorandum of agreement for the easement monitoring to be accomplished by the County Soil and Water/NRCS staff. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of the easement purchase is $570,282, or $6,904 per acre, Including closing and other transacticn costs, the total cast of the project is $580,000, with $235,2,55 of this amount to be reimbursed by the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, The County's share of the cost ($345,000) would come from the $1,000,000 in alternative financing approved by the Board of Commissioners in FY 2002-03, and in accordance with the Conservation Easements Capital Project Ordinance approved by the Board on March 24, 2003, The attached Conservation Easements Capital Project Ordinance allocates $345,000 of the $1,000,000 towards this purchase. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Adopt the resolution approving the acceptance by Orange County of the conservation easement and authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the conservation easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and county attorney, with a closing and recordation of the document expected to occur by January 31, 2004, 2. Authorize the County to accept the $235,255 grant award for the Cheek easement, and 3, Approve the attached Conservation Easements Capital Project Ordinance,