DEPARTMENT: Development Services
SUBJECT:
Government Canyon State Natural Area (GCSNA) Interlocal Agreement (ILA)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On May 19, 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was entered into between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County (SEP-HCP Permitees) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to establish the coordination, administration, implementation, funding, and performance of obligations in accordance with the incidental take permit (ITP). The ITP required the completion of Initial Conservation Actions for the Covered Karst Invertebrates prior to allowing enrollment of projects located over karst zones. In order for the SEP-HCP efforts to proceed, the Permittees must improve protections for the Covered Karst Invertebrate species.
The MOU was pursued as the funding was allocated in the original ILA between the City of San Antonio and Bexar County to implement the plan. The MOU expired on September 20, 2017, and an amendment was approved to extend the term of the MOU until December 31, 2017, to allow staff to work towards an Interlocal Agreement.
The intent of the ILA is for the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to collectively implement management and monitoring requirements for the six (6) Karst Fauna Areas (KFAs) present in GCSNA as set forth in the USFWS-approved SEP-HCP GCSNA KFAs Management and Monitoring Plan for 2017. The contributions made towards the recovery of the karst will not contribute towards the mitigation obligation of the ITP, which requires the establishment of a minimum of one thousand (1,000) acres of new recovery-quality karst habitat.
Each party shares the common goal of facilitating the biological objectives set forth in the SEP-HCP by contributing to the recovery of the seven (7) Covered Karst Invertebrates through the management and monitoring of six (6) Karst Fauna Areas (KFAs) within GCSNA and satisfying a component of the SEP-HCPs Initial Conservation Actions requirements. This agreement that will set out the management of Conservation Actions for GCSNA in accordance with the SEP-HCP ITP continuing through the life of the plan ending on September 30, 2032.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Coordinating Committee could elect not to approve the Interlocal Agreement and the SEP-HCP would not meet the requirements of the Incidental Take Permit. The lack of action will negatively impact the plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The SEP-HCP Permitees will allocate $50,000.00 to provide an annual contribution of $100,000 per year for fifteen (15) years with $35,000.00 each year allocated to that years management and monitoring obligations, and the remaining $65,000.00 each year will be allocated to funding the perpetual management and monitoring endowment.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.