DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - Fee Simple and Conservation Easement Acquisitions
SUMMARY:
Consideration of the following ordinances associated with the fee simple and conservation easement acquisitions in the amount of $8,500,000.00 for approximately 248.318 acres located over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in Bexar County, Texas from Morgan's Wonderland Camp, through the voter approved 2015 Sales Tax Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program.
A) An ordinance authorizing payment in the amount of $5,500,000.00 to Presidio Title Company as escrow agent for fee simple acquisition, due diligence and closing costs on 151.688 acres of land known as Cibolo Vista Tracts 1 and 2 located in Bexar County, Texas.
B) An ordinance authorizing payment in the amount of $3,000,000.00 to Presidio Title Company as escrow agent for title on a conservation easement, due diligence and closing costs on a 96.63 acre tract of land known as Cibolo Vista Tract 3 located in Bexar County, Texas.
These actions also authorize the execution of necessary documents to accomplish said acquisitions.
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 activit...
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