Title
Consider recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve a conservation easement on the 151.61 acres known as Cibolo Vista Tracts 1 & 2 in Bexar County.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board approve a conservation easement on the 151.61 acres known as Cibolo Vista Tracts 1 & 2, in Bexar County, and authorize the General Manager to execute the conservation easement accordingly.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an Executive Committee recommendation to approve a conservation easement on the 151.61 acres known as Cibolo Vista Tracts 1 & 2, in Bexar County.
Through its sales tax-funded Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, the City of San Antonio acquired fee simple title to the Cibolo Vista Tracts 1 & 2, located in northern Bexar County entirely within the Edwards Recharge Zone. Typically, the City will purchase a perpetual conservation easement to be placed on a selected property in the Edwards Contributing Zone or Recharge Zone to prevent its future development. In some cases, like this one, the City purchased the property outright.
At its November 14 meeting, the San Antonio City Council approved (1) the conveyance of this property to the Edwards Aquifer Conservancy (EAC), and (2) the acquisition of a conservation easement on the property from the EAC. As stated in the conservation easement:
…the City and the EAC desire to protect the integrity of the Easement Area from waste or residential, industrial, or commercial development…, except that the Easement shall allow for performance of land management practices that serve to reduce runoff, increase infiltration of surface water, reduce erosion, improve soil conditions, and performance of research pertaining to water quality and water quantity enhancement of the Edwards Aquifer (“Aquifer”) and other research or educational activities as otherwise permitted by this Easement, in order to minimize the chance of materially impairing the quantity or quality of aquifer recharge.
Since the EAA will be performing the “land management practices” and the “other research or educational activities” mentioned above, the EAA is a third-party beneficiary to the conservation easement and board approval of this easement is required. The conservation easement, which was reviewed by EAA legal counsel prior to approval by the San Antonio City Council is attached.
At the December 3 meeting, the Executive Committee voted to recommend the board approve a conservation easement on the 151.61 acres known as Cibolo Vista Tracts 1 & 2, in Bexar County, and authorize the General Manager to execute the conservation easement accordingly.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
This agenda item does not involve the procurement of goods or services by the EAA and, therefore, this section is not applicable.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item supports the EAA’s policy direction as set forth in the EAA 2016-20 Strategic Plan: Goal D, Prevent the Pollution of the Aquifer.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.