Agenda Item Name:
Title
Resolution approving the lease of the Lake Santa Fe - Murphey Tract from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands.
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Presenter:
Charlie Houder / (352) 264-6804
Description:
Resolution approving a lease to the County of 69.42 acres from the Department of Environmental Protection, to be managed as an Alachua County Forever Preserve.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
1. Adopt Resolution (Exhibit 1) approving the 50-year lease of the Lake Santa Fe - Murphey Tract from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands; and
2. Approve the attached budget amendment (Exhibit 4), providing funding for land stewardship.
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Prior Board Motions:
On February 27, 2007, the Board placed the 69.42-acre Lake Santa Fe - Murphey Property (18397-000-000) on the Active Acquisition List (Full Price).
On September 22, 2020, the Board authorized staff to pursue an agreement to manage the Lake Santa Fe - Murphey Property with the State of Florida, Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Lake Alto Preserve is a collection of different tracts of land purchased, or in this case, leased, at different time periods. The attached budget amendment for $28,433, is a combination of the capital improvements and land stewardship costs for the Murphey Tract ($9,845) and the Padgett Tract ($18,588).
Even without any improvements or land management, there is a $300 per year cost as part of the lease; this cost will be incurred annually regardless.
Fund: 021.41.4160.537.46.00 - Wild Spaces Public Spaces - Project #6214101 Land Management - Lake Alto Preserve
Murphey Cost Estimates for Land Stewardship (Exhibit 5)
• $2,860 :Capital Improvements
o Account: 021.41.4160.537.46.00
• $6,685 :First Year Management Cost
o Account: 021.41.4160.537.46.00
• $300 :Annual Administrative Lease Fee
o Account: 001.41.4160.537.44.00
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Strategic Guide:
Environment
Background:
The acquisition and management of the Lake Santa Fe - Murphey Tract is a partnership between Alachua County and the State of Florida. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands (State) agreed to purchase the property, if Alachua County would agree to manage the land. Since the land was on the Alachua County Forever (ACF) Active Acquisition List since 2007, having the State purchase the land saves Alachua County the acquisition costs it would have incurred. On September 22, 2020, the County Commission authorized staff to pursue a management agreement with the State of Florida on the Murphey Tract.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands purchased the 69.42-acre property (parcel: 18397-000-000) on March 10, 2021 as a Florida Forever project. Recently, the State provided a lease for Alachua County to accept. (Exhibit 2) Therefore, staff has prepared the attached Murphy Tract land lease Resolution for the Board to consider. (Exhibit 1) The proposed lease agreement has a term of 50 years and the County would be required to pay an annual $300 administrative lease fee. The county must submit a written Management Plan to the Division of State Lands, State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Within 10 months of the full execution of the lease. Only after the Florida of Department of Environmental Protection approval of the Management Plan, can Alachua County proceed with the property’s land management activities. If the lease is approved, staff will implement standard land management and habitat restoration activities, such as exotic plant treatment, prescribed fire, timber management, facilitation of public access and other related activities. The above activities will be funded from county sources as noted in the fiscal section.
The Murphy property is one of the few remaining larger undeveloped privately owned properties on Little Lake Santa Fe, with approximately 730 feet of lake frontage on the western side of the Lake. The property’s untouched 29 acres of lakeshore swamp is located along this lake edge and is included in the Outstanding Florida Waters of the Santa Fe River System. The northwestern 41 acres of the property are uplands that consist mainly of mature pine plantation. Physical infrastructure on the property includes perimeter fencing and an approximately 880 foot long wooden boardwalk in very poor condition that traverses the lakeshore swamp to provide a vista of Little Lake Santa Fe. Staff will incorporate the land stewardship of the Murphey Tract within the larger County, Lake Alto Preserve complex. (Exhibit 3)