City of San Antonio - File #: 17-2063

• File #: 17-2063
• Type: Real Property Acquisition
• In control: City Council A Session
• On agenda: 3/30/2017
• Posting Language: An Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of a conservation easement over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone on an approximate 2,830-acre tract of land known as the Middle Verde Ranch located in Medina and Bandera Counties, Texas from the following owners: Middle Verde Ranch Properties, Ltd.; the Lynne Morris Barnett Terminable Residuary Trust; the Jean Morris Stevenson Terminable Residuary Trust; the Lynne Morris Barnett GST Residuary Trust; and the Jean Morris Stevenson GST Residuary Trust, at a cost of $7,640,084.15. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Xavier D. Urrutia, Director, Parks and Recreation]

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
3/30/2017	1	City Council A Session

DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation


DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia


COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide


SUBJECT:

Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - Conservation Easement Acquisition for Middle Verde Ranch


SUMMARY:

This ordinance authorizes payment in the amount of $7,640,084.15 to Western Title Company of Bandera as escrow agent for title on a conservation easement, due diligence and closing costs on an approximate 2,830-acre tract of land known as the Middle Verde Ranch located in Medina and Bandera Counties, Texas for the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, a Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Venue funded project. This ordinance also authorizes the execution of necessary documents to accomplish said acquisition.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

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 was initiated in May 2000 when voters approved Proposition 3, 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. Proposition 3 ran from 2000 through 2005 and was limited to Bexar County.

The 2005 Proposition 1 program was an extension of the initial voter-approved Edwards Aquifer protection endeavor and was extended by voters in 2010 and renewed again in 2015. Changes in state legislation allowed watershed protection activities to expand outside of Bexar County.

The proposed purchase of a conservation easement on the Middle Verde Ranch is located over the Contributing Zone in Medina and Bandera Counties. This property initially was identified through use of the Scientific Evaluation Team's GIS Spatial Model and subsequent site visits identified previously unrecorded geological faults and other favorable recharge features on the property. The Middle Verde Ranch largely exists outside of the flood plain and...