450 West Paseo Redondo
Thursday February 10, 2005
3:00 p.m.
MOTION: Commissioner Prouty moved, seconded by Commissioner
Pettis, not to take any further action on these non-bond properties
(Winterhaven Ranch, Arivaca Twin Peaks, and Donnelly Trust). Motion approved 10-0. This is the final Commission action
on these properties.
MOTION: Commissioner
Pettis moved Mr. Huckelberry’s recommendation, seconded by Commissioner Corey
(that the Commission ask staff to identify those parcels in the Camino de Oeste
project area with an asking price near $6,500 an acre or less, and have staff
provide the pros and cons of creating an inholding with regard to management
costs). Motion was later amended to
include beginning due diligence for the parcels near $6,500 an acre or
less. Commissioner Marshall seconded
the motion. Motion approved 11-0.
MOTION: Vice-Chair
Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner Shattuck, to recommend the purchase of
Rancho Seco to the Board of Supervisors. Motion passed 11-0.
MOTION: Vice-Chair
Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, to place the Curtis Trust due
diligence on hold as well as the Petrowski application until it is known
whether surrounding landowners are interested in selling, and to reevaluate the
benefits, if any, that these properties can provide in building a viable
biological reserve. Motion passed 10-0.
Commissioner Arnold abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest on the
Curtis Trust parcel.
MOTION: Commissioner Sheridan moved, seconded by Commissioner Pettis, to
begin due diligence on the Carpenter Ranch application. Motion approved 11-0
Regarding
the Avra/I-10 Critical Landscape Linkage, Chairman Roe suggested that staff
continue the process of discussing development set aside options with Marana,
and discussions with owners/representatives regarding the asking price of the
Continental Ranch parcels.
Commissioner
Wilson submitted a written request to ask staff to prepare a report on the
restoration of ranch lands purchased by the County, including type of
restoration, costs, time frames, and funding source, to be placed on the April
agenda.
The
following is a summary of the February 10, 2005 meeting. Audiotapes of the meeting are available upon
request.
1. Roll Call
The
meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. with a quorum.
Bill
Arnold (Arrived at 5pm)
Les
Corey
Trevor
Hare
Jan
Johnson, Vice-Chair
Rob
Marshall
Chuck
Pettis
Tim
Prouty
Bill
Roe, Chair
Wanda
Shattuck
Tom
Sheridan
Helen
Wilson
2. Applications for the Sale of Open
Space – Properties NOT included in Question 1 of the 2004 Bond Ordinance –
Final Action
Per Commission policy, after
initial discussion the Commission must wait 30 days
or until the next meeting, whichever occurs first, to make a final decision on
non-bond properties. The following
three properties were discussed initially at the January 11 meeting, with a
staff recommendation not to acquire the properties:
·
Winterhaven
Ranch (may reconsider in 12 months)
·
Arivaca
Twin Peaks
·
Donnelly
Trust
At the January 11
meeting, the Commission voted to place these three applications on the do not
acquire list for final action at this February 10 meeting.
MOTION: Commissioner Prouty moved, seconded by Commissioner
Pettis, not to take any further action on these non-bond properties
(Winterhaven Ranch, Arivaca Twin Peaks, and Donnelly Trust). Motion approved 10-0. This is the final Commission action
on these properties.
3. State Land Department and School
Trust Lands
Chairman
Roe announced that the State Land Commissioner will likely be attending the March
8 Conservation Acquisition Commission meeting.
Jean
Emery, Director of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation, presented
information on the Arizona State Land Department and State Trust lands, along
with possible questions to ask the State Land Commissioner at the next
meeting. A handout summarizing this
presentation and the list of questions is attached to this meeting summary.
4. Camino de Oeste Project Area
At the January 11 meeting, staff recommended that the owners of four
additional parcels in the Camino de Oeste project area be contacted to
determine their willingness to sell, before recommending the County begin due
diligence for the nine other Camino de Oeste parcels.
Diana Freshwater, Director of the Arizona Open Land Trust, reported that
the owners of these four parcels have much higher asking prices that others in
the area. Ms. Freshwater did not feel
that much progress could be made in the short term in obtaining lower prices. If the County pursued the surrounding
parcels, these four parcels would be left as inholdings.
Mr. Huckelberry, County Administrator, recommended that the Commission
ask staff to identify those parcels with an asking price of $6,500 an acre of
less, and have staff provided the pros and cons of creating an inholding with
regard to management costs.
MOTION: Commissioner
Pettis moved Mr. Huckelberry’s recommendation, seconded by Commissioner Corey
(that the Commission ask staff to identify those parcels with an asking price
near $6,500 an acre or less, and have staff provide the pros and cons of
creating an inholding with regard to management costs). Commissioner Pettis later amended the motion
to include beginning due diligence for the parcels near $6,500 an acre or less. Commissioner Marshall seconded the motion. Motion approved 11-0.
5. Approval of January 11 Meeting
Summary
Meeting
summary was approved 11-0, with a spelling correction.
6. Conservation Opportunities in
Connection Analysis Areas - Avra/I-10
At
the January 11 meeting, Chairman Roe directed staff to come back to the
Commission at the February or March meeting with specific recommendations for
Critical Landscape connections. Julia
Fonseca provided an overview of the biological importance of the Avra/I-10
wildlife corridor. Ms. Fonseca also
reiterated ADOTs commitment to keep the overpass open, Pima County’s already
significant investments in floodprone lands along the Santa Cruz and
investments in archaeologically significant lands in the Los Morteros area,
Pima County’s restoration goals for the area through the Tres Rios project, and
the Town of Marana’s purchase of the parcels in the area for habitat
mitigation.
There
were discussions regarding the impact of the frontage road, the status of
properties on the eastern side of I-10 leading to the Tortolitas, the
biological importance of the corridor, and the high cost of properties in this
area.
Chairman
Roe suggested that staff continue the process of discussing development set
aside options with Marana, and discussions with owners/representatives
regarding the asking price of the Continental Ranch parcels.
7. Update on 1997/2004 Conservation
Bond Program Expenditures
Nicole
Fyffe distributed an update of the 1997 and 2004 Conservation Bond Program
Expenditures as of January 31, 2005.
8. Rancho Seco Acquisition
Mr.
Huckelberry explained the terms of the acquisition: $18.5 million for 9,500
acres of fee land and a conservation easement over 400+ acres total around both
of the ranch headquarters limiting the number of lots to five per headquarters.
Commissioner
Wilson submitted a written request to ask staff to prepare a report on the
restoration of ranch lands purchased by the County, including type of
restoration, costs, time frames, and funding source, to be placed on the April
agenda.
The
issue of recreation and working landscapes was discussed. Mr. Huckelberry
explained that the first priority for this property is it’s continued use as a
working landscape, and that other complimentary uses would be identified at a
later date.
Commissioner
Arnold expressed concern about potential pollutants and waste dumps related to
past or present mining uses on or adjacent to the property, as well as whether
the County would be getting the mineral rights with this property. Staff confirmed that a Phase 1 environmental
assessment was underway and that so far nothing of concern had been
reported.
Four
members of the public spoke at this time regarding mining claims, the mineral
potential of the Cerro Colorado area, and potential liabilities to the County
regarding minerals and waste dumps related to mining activities: Glen G.
Burkhardt, Glen A Burkhardt, Charles Miller, and Carl Rice. All four
individuals opposed the creation of Cerro Colorado Reserve via the County’s
purchase of the Rancho Seco. Glen G.
Burkhardt submitted a written statement regarding the proposed Pima County
Cerro Colorado reserve.
Chairman
Roe and Mr. Huckelberry explained that it is common in Arizona for most lands
to have subsurface rights separate from surface rights, and this is in fact the
case with Tucson Mountain Park. Mr.
Huckelberry also stated that the County’s due diligence for the Rancho Seco
property was ongoing and that the property would not be acquired until this research
was completed to the County’s satisfaction.
MOTION: Vice-Chair
Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner Shattuck, to recommend the purchase of
Rancho Seco to the Board of Supervisors. Motion passed 11-0.
9.
Rosemont Ranch
Chairman Roe reported
on a meeting he had with two owners of the Rosemont property, Mr. Levy and Mr.
Warne, as well as a meeting of the Science Technical Advisory Team (STAT)
subcommittee tasked with considering how to address a possible request by this
Commission to review a non-bond property.
Each of the Commissioners
made comments regarding the Rosemont Ranch proposal. Concerns included: whether
the Commission was willing to amend the bond ordinance so soon after the
election; whether the property had biological values equal to or exceeding
those already identified as Habitat Protection Priorities in the bond
ordinance; recreational management and public access issues with the property;
the price of the property and the amount of profit for the seller; other
funding options and the restrictions on staff using bond funds to research
other funding options; mining claims; whether to forward to the STAT; and
whether the Commission’s policy to deal with non-bond proposals was sufficient.
Laney Levick, President
of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, spoke at this time. Ms. Levick spoke in support
of preventing mining and/or residential development of the Rosemont property,
and stated that if bond funds were not available that she would be willing to
assist in pursuing other creative funding options.
Priscilla Robinson,
member of the public, also spoke at this time.
Ms. Robinson stated that much more research needed to be undertaken
before an informed decision could be made with regard to this proposal.
No action was taken on
the Rosemont Ranch proposal.
10. Applications for the Sale of Open
Space
A.
Petrowski Parcels
– Habitat Protection Priorities – Southeast Corridor
MOTION: Vice-Chair Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, to place
the Curtis Trust due diligence on hold as well as the Petrowski application
until it is known whether surrounding landowners are interested in selling, and
to reevaluate the benefits, if any, that these properties can provide in
building a viable biological reserve.
Motion passed 10-0. Commissioner Arnold abstained from voting due to a
conflict of interest on the Curtis Trust parcel.
B.
Carpenter Ranch –
Community Open Space
Steve Anderson, Natural Resource Parks and
Recreation Planner, presented the Carpenter Ranch application to the
Commission, as well as staff’s recommendation to begin due diligence.
MOTION: Commissioner Sheridan moved, seconded by
Commissioner Pettis, to begin due diligence on the Carpenter Ranch. Motion
approved 11-0
11. Chairman’s
report on discussion with Executive Director of the Coalition for Sonoran Desert
Protection regarding A-7 Management Proposals
Chairman
Roe reported on his meeting with Carolyn Campbell and his suggestion that
rather than tackling management issues on A-7 alone, that the discussion wait
until the County completes acquisition of other similar properties. There was a discussion on whether the
Science Commission was an appropriate group to participate in this management
discussion, or whether a separate group needed to be formed.
12. Updates:
Bee/Mordka: Christine Curtis reported that the County
closed on the property on February 4th, 2005.
Bar V Ranch: Nicole Fyffe reported that the Board of
Supervisors approved the acquisition of the Bar V Ranch on February 8,
2005. The Board will be presented with
the final version of the Management Agreement for ratification on February 15,
2005. The County plans to close on the
property also on February 15th.
King98: Christine Curtis reported that the King98
acquisition will go before the Board of Supervisors on February 22, 2005.
Poteet: Diana Freshwater
reported that no other owners surrounding this property are willing to sell at
this time, and that the broker for the property is currently reviewing the
County’s appraisal.
South Corridor Project Area: Diana Freshwater reported willing sellers
and asking prices for several parcels. Ms. Freshwater will continue working to
acquire options on the properties, as directed by the Commission on January 11.
Michael
Berard, property owner in the area, presented two large photos of the parcels under
consideration, as well as a budget analysis showing that all the parcels could
be acquired at asking price for $2.3 million.
Belvedere: Diana
Freshwater reported that due diligence was underway.
Green Valley Hills: Nicole Fyffe reported no progress on this
property.
Proposed Development Activities on Bond Parcels: Sherry
Ruther, Environmental Planning Manager for Development Services, provided
updates on the following development proposals: Desert Rose Canyon (within the
Community Open Space Painted Hills project area), Sumpter Road parcel
(identified as a high priority Habitat Protection Priority in the Tortolita
area), Rancho Grande (identified as a high priority Habitat Protection Priority
in the Houghton/Speedway area), and Canoa Reserve (identified as a high
priority Habitat Protection Priority north of the County’s Canoa Ranch).
A
joint study session for this Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission
is scheduled for March 30th in order to better familiarize both Commissions
with each other’s tasks.
13. Next Commission Meeting, March 8, 2005
The
next Commission meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2005 at 3 p.m. A suggested
agenda was distributed to the Commission. Commissioner Marshall requested
additional time for the discussion with the State Land Commissioner. Vice-Chair Johnson requested that the
subcommittee on conservation easements and tax deductions be pushed back to
April. Commissioner Wilson’s request
regarding restoration activities will be placed on the April agenda. Commissioner Corey requested that
conservation opportunities in the area of Arthur Pack park be placed on the
March or April agenda. Commissioner
Hare asked that the discussion regarding management team issues be continued at
the next meeting.
14.
Call to the Public
Chris
McVie spoke at this time. Ms. McVie stated that the County needs to acquire the
Avra/I-10 parcels now, that she supports turning attention to Habitat
Protection Priority parcels in the northwest, that she also supports
acquisitions in the South Corridor project area, and that she applauds the
decision to hold a join Planning and Zoning and Conservation Acquisition
Commission meeting.
15. Adjournment
Meeting
adjourned at 6:30 pm.