Agenda Item Name:
Title
Approval of a resolution adopting the sublease of a portion of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks.
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Presenter:
Charlie Houder / (352) 264-6804
Description:
Approval of a resolution adopting a sub-lease to the County of 6.663 acres± from the Department of Environmental Protection for the continued management of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Park
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of a resolution adopting the sublease of a portion of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks.
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Prior Board Motions:
February 18, 2018
Motion carried to negotiate a lease with the State for the Boat ramp, play area, and parking lot. Staff is to return to the Board with a detailed presentation explaining the $400,000.00 in capital upgrades. Inquire of the State if they intend to make any improvements to the park and return to the Board when the State responds.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
N/A. The Division of State Lands will recommend that the annual fee be waived.
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Background:
Between 1965 and 2013, the University of Florida Foundation as trustee for the estate of Marjorie Kinnan (Rawlings) Baskin (Foundation) leased the property known as M.K. Rawlings Park to Alachua County. In 2015, the Foundation sold the property to the State of Florida Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Trustees).
County staff subsequently contacted the Division of State Lands and began the process of applying for a sublease of the property. Based on Board direction, looked to minimize the footprint of the leased area to that needed for the continued operation of the park. The final area proposed for sublease contains 6.663 acres and include the parking lot, boat ramp, play area and restroom. The remainder of the area will be managed as part of the adjacent Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park.
The proposed sublease agreement has a term of 14 years and the County would not be required to pay any fees for the sublease. The County would be allowed to implement improvements to the boat ramp, parking lot, grounds and facilities through future construction projects paid for by Alachua County. The County must submit a written Management Plan to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks prior to the end of the first year of the sublease. Only after the Division of State Lands approval of the Management Plan can Alachua County proceed with coordinating these planned construction projects within the 6.663 acre sublease area.
Based on the uncertainties of the County’s control of the property, plans for improvement of the park have been temporarily shelved. If the sublease is approved, likely improvements in the future would include the replacement of the restroom including an upgrade of the wastewater system, upgrade of the dock, and the installation of shoreline protection overlooks (i.e., bank fishing platforms).