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Home My WebLink AboutORD-2011-041 NA Cost Share Adjustment for Breeze Farm Conservation Easement (Phase 2) and Approval of Budget Amendment #4-BORD A011 -0+1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 15, 2011 Action Agenda Item No. 5- ' SUBJECT: Cost Share Adjustment for Breeze Farm Conservation Easement (Phase 2) and Approval of Budget Amendment #4 -B DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENTS Approved Resolution (June 2011) INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stancil, 245 -2510 Rich Shaw, 245 -2514 PURPOSE: To authorize a reduction of $14,520 from NC Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Trust Funds for the agricultural conservation easement for the Breeze farm (Phase 2), and approve Budget Amendment #4 -B. BACKGROUND: On June 21, 2011 the Board approved the County's acceptance of a permanent conservation easement for 153 acres of the Breeze farm located on Schley Road in Cedar Grove Township. Since then DEAPR has been working with the landowner, closing attorney, and federal and state funding partners to complete the project. In August DEAPR was notified by the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFP Trust Fund) that the state grant would be reduced from $150,000 to $135,480. The ADFP Trust Fund had originally awarded $150,000 for this project, but since the final purchase price for the easement will be less than had been estimated when the County applied, the state's share of purchase price (25 %) is also reduced. The County was also awarded $172,000 in federal funds from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, but the amount of federal funds remains intact. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total Breeze Farm Conservation Easement budget will decrease by $14,520 from $502,000 to $487,480. The revised cost share for the $487,480 budget: $172,000 from the federal Farm & Ranch Land Protection Program, $180,000 from Orange County, and $135,480 from NC Agricultural Development & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. The landowner (Colonel Breeze) will donate an additional 12% of the easement value ($64,500). 1 Budget Amendment #4 -B Conservation Easements: Project # 20006 Ravarn iac fnr this nmiizr:t- Annronriated for this nroiect: Prior Years Amendment FY 2010 -11 Amendments 11 -15 -2011 Amendment FY 2011 -12 Revise Private Placement $590,632 $590,632 Grant Funds 586,000 $2,400 $(14,520) 571,480 Transfer from General Fund 12,944 12,944 Total Project Funding $1,189,576 $(14,520) $1,175,056 Annronriated for this nroiect: RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board authorize a reduction of $14,520 from the NC Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Trust Funds for the agricultural conservation easement for the Breeze Farm (Phase 2) and approve Budget Amendment #4- B. Prior Years Amendment FY 2010 -11 Amendments 11 -15 -2011 Amendment FY 2010 -11 Revised Volpe Easement $31,000 $31,000 Brooks Easement $2,400 2,400 Moore - Stanford Easement Breeze Farm Easement 502,000 $(14,520) 487,480 Sykes Farm Easement 520,000 520,000 Unallocated 136,576 2,400 134,176 Total Costs $1,189,576 $(14,520) $1,175,056 RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board authorize a reduction of $14,520 from the NC Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Trust Funds for the agricultural conservation easement for the Breeze Farm (Phase 2) and approve Budget Amendment #4- B. _1?E$.. 2,0 11— 06✓ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OPYRESOLUTION Approval of Agricultural Conservation Easement between Orange County and William Breeze, Sr. WHEREAS, agriculture in Orange County is an important facet of the economy and time honored Way of life in the County; and WHEREAS, Orange County has an adopted goal promoting the preservation. of farmland in the County; and WHEREAS, one component of the Lands Legacy Program is the acquisition of conservation easements on prime farmland within water supply watersheds; and WHEREAS, the Breeze Farm includes approximately 153 acres in the Little River protected watershed, consists entirely of prime agricultural soils, and is located in an agricultural community with good access to farm markets; and WHEREAS, Orange County intends to accept an agricultural conservation easement that would help to conserve the natural and scenic values of this farmland; and WHEREAS, matching grants of $172,000 and $150,000 were awarded to Orange County from the Federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program and the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, respectively, to help purchase the conservation easement; and WHEREAS, a conservation easement on these approximately 153 acres would ensure the preservation of this farmland for future generations and help to compensate the owners for this long -term commitment; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby 1) accept on behalf of Orange County the agricultural conservation easement to protect prime farmland owned by William Breeze, Sr.; 2) approve the execution of this conservation easement agreement with William Breeze, Sr., in accordance with the terms of the proposed easement agreement, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; 3) authorize the Chair and the Clerk to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Board, with a closing to occur on or about September 30, 2011; and 4) authorize County staff to sign any and all closing documents upon consultation with the County Attorney. This the 21St day of June, 2011. Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board 6�4&.p Bernadette Pelissier, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 3 The Board approved the resolution, which is incorporated by reference, approving the property tax refund requests in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 105 -381. e. Applications for Property Tax Exemption /Exclusion The Board approved a resolution, which is incorporated by reference, related to four (4) untimely applications for exemption /exclusion from ad valorem taxation for the 2011 tax year. L Intergovernmental Agreements This item was removed and placed at the end of the consent agenda for separate consideration. g_ Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance Amendment Outline and Schedule for Upcoming Master Telecommunications Plan Item The Board approved the attached Amendment Outline and directed staff to proceed accordingly. h. Fiscal Year 2011 -12 Budget Amendment #4 The Board approved budget and capital project ordinance amendments for fiscal year 2011- 12 for Department of Social Services, Department on Aging, Health Department, Sheriff Department, Emergency Services, Solid Waste, and Up fit of Link Government Services Center Capital Project. I. Approval of Conceptual Installation Plan for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Acceptance of Grant Funds and Approval of Budget Amendment #4 -A The Board approved the conceptual installation plan for approximately eight electric vehicle charging stations at the West Campus Office Building, Seymour Senior Center, Orange County /Chapel Hill Visitors Center, and Durham Technical Community College Park and Ride Lot; accepted the $83,540 in grant funds awarded by the United States Department of Energy and its Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative; approved Budget Amendment #4 -A; and authorized the Manager to sign any and all necessary agreements and subsequent amendments related to this agreement. Z—ei Cost Share Adiustment for Breeze Farm Conservation Easement (Phase 2) and Approval of Budget Amendment #4 -13 The Board authorized a reduction of $14,520 from the NC Agriculture and Farmland Preservation Trust Funds for the agricultural conservation easement for the Breeze Farm (Phase 2) and approved Budget Amendment #4 -B. k. Changes in BOCC Regular Meeting Schedule for 2011 and 2012 The Board amended its regular meeting calendars for 2011 and 2012 by: 2011 Meeting Calendar - Adding a Work Session on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, for the purpose of discussing transit issues. 2012 Meeting Calendar - Changing the meeting time of the Orange County Legislative Breakfast meeting on April 16, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (location TBD) - Changing the location of the Board of County Commissioners' regular meeting (and organizational meeting) currently scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2012 FROM the DSS Offices, 113 Mayo Street, TO the Central Orange Senior Center (Adjoining Triangle Sportsplex), 103 Meadowlands Drive, Hillsborough, N.C. VOTE ON CONSENT AGENDA: UNANIMOUS