Agenda Item Name:
Title
Approve Serenola Forest Cooperative Management Agreement between Alachua County and Alachua Conservation Trust
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Presenter:
Charlie Houder / (352) 264-6804
Description:
Request the Board execute the Serenola Forest Cooperative Management Agreement (CMA) between Alachua County and Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT). Approval of the CMA will designate ACT as the lead management entity and outline the duties and responsibilities of ACT and the County.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Execute the Serenola Forest Cooperative Management Agreement between Alachua County and Alachua Conservation Trust.
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Prior Board Motions:
January 23, 2018: BoCC placed the Paynes Prairie - Serenola Tract on the Active Acquisition List (Full Fee).
September 25, 2018: BoCC approved: 1) the Paynes Prairie - Serenola Contract to purchase 110.93 acres; 2) the Acquisition and Management Agreement between the County and Alachua Conservation Trust; 3) the execution of additional documents as necessary to close the transaction.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Approval of the CMA will save the County the cost of managing Serenola Forest for as long as the CMA remains in effect, an estimated $150,000 in the first three years of land management.
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Background:
Serenola Forest is a 110.93-acre natural area dominated by upland hardwoods forest. It is located about a mile from Paynes Prairie on the south side of Williston Road between Oak Hammock UF Retirement Community and the Idylwild Neighborhood. It was nominated to the Alachua County Forever Program on January 30, 2017, forwarded to the Land Conservation Board’s Priority Pool on August 24th, 2017, and moved onto the Alachua County Forever Active Acquisition List by the BoCC on January 23, 2018. ACT expressed an interest in and a commitment to managing the Serenola Forest property throughout the acquisition process.
On December 3, 2018, Alachua County, through the Alachua County Forever Program, collaborated with ACT to purchase 110.93-acre Serenola Forest. Specifically, Alachua County paid $2,997,965.76 for 103.21 acres and Alachua Conservation Trust paid $225,000.00 for 7.72 acres of the property. Each entity holds separate title for their respective acreage.
Approval of the CMA by the BoCC will designate ACT as the lead management entity for the provision of conservation, protection, management, and enhancement of natural resources, and to provide natural resource based recreation within Serenola Forest. ACT will coordinate, fund and oversee all activities on Serenola Forest, in addition to drafting a management plan for Alachua County review and approval.
Comp Plan Reference:
Policy 6.0 Land Conservation Program within the Conservation and Open Space Element, states “Establish and maintain a land conservation program for the purchase, preservation, and management of natural areas and open space to complement the regulatory approaches identified in other section of this element.