DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Janet Martin, Acting Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - United States Department of Agriculture Conservation Grant
SUMMARY:
This ordinance ratifies the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service's Agricultural Conservation Easement Program by the City's Edwards Aquifer Protection Program division, and authorizes the acceptance of grant funds upon award not to exceed $2,905,000.00 to be used toward the acquisition of a conservation easement on the 1,105 acre parcel of land known as Rancho Blanco in Bexar County.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, and his assigns, to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a cooperative agreement contract to effectuate the application and acceptance of the referenced grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In May of 2000, voters approved the first aquifer protection program, a 1/8-cent sales tax venue up to $45 million, for the acquisition of lands over the Edwards Aquifer, for parks and watershed protection. That program, referred to as "Proposition Three," ran from 2000 through 2005, was limited to Bexar County and acquired more than 6,500 acres as Natural Areas for the City of San Antonio.
The current program is an extension of that initial endeavor, although the scope was narrowed to watershed protection and, due to a change in state legislation, funds could be expended outside of Bexar County. The purpose of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program is to obtain property rights by fee-simple purchase, conservation easements or donations of land over the sensitive zones of the Edwards Aquifer. This Program, referred to as "Proposition One," also is funded with the 1/8-cent sales tax up to the amount of $90 million.
...
Click here for full text