City of San Antonio - File #: 17-3262

• File #: 17-3262
• Type: Real Property Acquisition
• In control: City Council A Session
• On agenda: 6/1/2017
• Posting Language: An Ordinance authorizing the acquisition of a conservation easement over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone on a 1,706.567 acre tract of land known as the Schuehle Ranch located in Medina County, Texas from the following owners: Lee Ann Auger; Susan Jo Hay; Henry Walter Schuehle, Jr.; and Laura Lee Schuehle, at a cost of $2,607,421.39. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Xavier D. Urrutia, Director, Parks and Recreation]

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/1/2017	1	City Council A Session	adopted	Pass

DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation


DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia


COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide


SUBJECT:

Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - Conservation Easement Acquisition for Schuehle Ranch.


SUMMARY:

This ordinance authorizes payment in the amount of $2,607,421.39 to Texas Heritage Title Company as escrow agent for title on a conservation easement, due diligence and closing costs on a 1,706.567 acre tract of land known as the Schuehle Ranch located in Medina County, 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 Schuehle Ranch is located over the Recharge and Contributing Zones in Medina County. The property was initially identified through use of the Scientific Evaluation Team's GIS Spatial Model and subsequent site visits identified favorable recharge features on the property. The Schuehle Ranch is located entirely within the Medina River drainage basin which is an important recharge contributor to the Edwards Aquifer. The property...