Alachua County Cattle Grazing Business Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Alachua County Eagenda.NET (FP1) Page 1 of 3 back to agenda composer help Item Author : View Agenda Item Agenda January 24, 2012 Regular BoCC Meeting Category Governmental Units Sub-Category Community Planning Group Item Type Title Approval of the Cattle Grazing Business Plan for Alachua County Forever Preserves. (Amended) Amount n/a Description Staff requests the Board approve the Alachua County Forever Cattle Grazing Business Plan. Recommendation The BoCC should approve the Alachua County Forever Cattle Grazing Business Plan and the associated principles, policies and directives. Alternative(s) BoCC should not approve the Plan. Requested By Ramesh P. Buch 264-6804 Originating Department Environmental Protection Attachment(s) Description Exhibit 1: Alachua County Forever Cattle Grazing Business Plan. Exhibit 2: Stewardship Strategy Memo to the BoCC 050928. Exhibit 3: Stewardship Strategy Memo to the BoCC 060217. Exhibit 4: Stewardship Strategy Memo to the BoCC 060717. Exhibit 5: Stewardship Strategy Memo to the BoCC 070907. Exhibit 6: Stewardship Leveraging 2010.Exhibit 7: License Agreement to Graze Watermelon Pond Metzger Tract. Exhibit 8: Costs for Metzger Tract Documents Requiring Action Exhibit 1: Alachua County Forever Cattle Grazing Business Plan Executive Summary Staff requests the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) adopt the attached Business Plan (Exhibit 1) to guide licensing grazing rights on ACF Preserves as an interim management strategy and cost-saving measure. Site-specific goals are contained in that site's BoCC-approved Management Plan and this Business plan is intended to provide the County with additional tools to appropriately manage property in tough fiscal times. If any Management Plan allows for grazing, then this Business Plan lays out the principles and strategies, and the use of the resulting proceeds from that operation. Background Alachua County has acquired environmentally significant properties over the last decade to protect, improve and manage water resources, wildlife habitats, and to provide natural areas for resource-based recreation. Acquisitions were financed through two voter-approved initiatives: Alachua County Forever (ACF) in 2000 and Wild Spaces & Public Places in 2008. To guide stewardship of these preserves, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) adopts a Management Plan for each Preserve. In that Plan, the overall vision for the site is articulated. Each Plan furthers the http://eagenda.alachua.fl.us/AgendaComposer/ViewAgendaItem.aspx?id=1BCDE093-8CA... 1/9/2012 Alachua County Eagenda.NET (FP1) Page 2 of 3 Guiding Principles adopted by the BoCC at their February 26th, 2002 regular commission meeting. Among these were a “no loss of conservation values” stewardship philosophy and a directive that any stewardship be consistent with Alachua County Forever’s primary goal of preserving, restoring and enhancing environmental values. Several preserves acquired by the County contain semi-improved and improved pasture which if left un-managed, may become infested with exotic plants and be more expensive to manage in the long term. It is appropriate in some cases to continue recent grazing activities so long as it does no additional degradation to the property and can offset initial management costs to the County. The grazing rights are a commodity with economic value subject to unique market forces. It is appropriate to take advantage of this opportunity and derive income from these rights. However, as there is likely to be high initial investment on the part of a licensee, the County may trade years of grazing rights to compensate the rancher. Following along previously established policies, the County seeks first to continue an existing or recent lease on the same property rather that initiate an RFP process. It is faster, continues an existing relationship between tenant and land, and allows time to get a better handle on the site's conservation values. This Plan focuses on the process of Cattle Grazing and the use of the proceeds. It is not intended to be a comprehensive treatment of ranching, restoration nor resource management. This Business Plan does not supplant or replace any of the objectives of the individual preserve management plans as approved by the BoCC. This document is intended to establish certain principles to guide a decision on grazing a preserve. This Business Plan has been reviewed by the Community Planning Group, the Financial Planning Group, the Rural Concerns Advisory Committee, the Land Conservation Board, and the Environmental Protection Advisory Committee. Issues Taking advantage of the revenues from grazing rights is one of many mechanisms that ACF staff employs to fund and implement site stewardship. Each of these tools is part of a larger strategy to minimize the Program's dependence on the General Fund. Details of this strategy and its effectiveness have been communicated to the BoCC over the years (Exhibits 2, 3, 4, 5). Recently the BoCC approved the Timber Harvesting Plan, guiding timber harvesting. An update is provided here also (Exhibit 6) on the effectiveness of the stewardship leveraging which was recognized this year at the Annual Transforming Local Government/Florida City and County Managers Association Conference. Through this strategy, the Program has offset nearly $1 million in stewardship costs; equivalent to $5.35 of offset for every $1 of County expense since FY2008. We expect that ratio to increase as the grazing agreements get underway over the next few years. It is important to consider the general fund portion of the funding as the "seed money" without which, none of the offsets could be realized and none of the stewardship implemented. The County may be grazing on conservation lands to further certain goals in the BoCC-adopted Management Plan. Grazing may seem contradictory in a preserve setting, may even continue ecological damage and necessitate closures of portions of the property during grazing. However, with proper planning, oversight and execution, staff is confident that these activities ultimately lead to better ecological function, cost offsets and additional revenue to further the County’s preserve stewardship goals. County staff recommends the BoCC adopt the five policy directives (page 4 of the Plan, Exhibit 1) to staff to further the BoCC's adopted Principles for stewardship of ACF preserves and to enhance the County’s ability to efficiently manage the Cattle Grazing and the revenues generated by these operations. These are: 1. The Board of County Commissioners recognizes that well- managed nature preserves contribute to the community’s quality of life by protecting water resources, protecting and enhancing wildlife habitats, and providing natural areas suitable for resource-basedrecreation. 2. The Board of County Commissioners recognizes that grazing appropriate areas of a preserve can be a valuable stewardship tool and directs that cattle grazing on these Alachua County Forever preserves shall be allowed when the following conditions can be met:- only on improved or semi-improved (rough) pasture- only where grazing has recently occurred- only on an interim basis until habitat restoration activities can occur- only as a prescribed management tool consistent with the goals of the adopted preserve management plan- only where the preserve’s conservation values will not be degraded3. The Board of County Commissioners recognizes that conversion of natural areas to grazing range is not consistent with Alachua County Forever and Wild Spaces & Public Places referenda.4. The Board of County Commissioners recognizes that grazing rights are a commodity, with economic value subject to market forces, and directs that they should be leased at market value. The Board also recognizes that offsetting County property management expenses can be a valuable substitute for cash proceeds.5. The Board of County Commissioners recognizes it is beneficial for the County to re-invest any grazing revenues in the stewardship of the Alachua County Forever portfolio of preserves and directs that these funds supplement existing stewardship funding. Staff has also attached as Exhibit 7, the first license agreement negotiated with a rancher to illustrate the implementation of this Plan. It will be a part of an acquisition decision (Watermelon Pond - Metzger) for the BoCC to consider later. Attached (Exhibit 8) as an example of the savings are the cost estimates for the Metzger Tract with and without the grazing agreement. Fiscal Recommendation Additional source of revenue for ACF preserve stewardship Fiscal Alternative(s) ACF stewardship will continue to rely on County General Fund, referendum proceeds and grants for stewardship Funding Sources Cattle Grazing Proceeds Account Code(s) Funds 326 and 302 Attachments: (list) Exhibit 1 ACF Exhibit 2 Exhibit 3 Exhibit 4 Cattle Grazing Stewardship Stewardship Stewardship http://eagenda.alachua.fl.us/AgendaComposer/ViewAgendaItem.aspx?id=1BCDE093-8CA... 1/9/2012 Alachua County Eagenda.NET (FP1) Page 3 of 3 Business Plan Strategy Memo to Strategy Memo to Strategy Memo to 120104.pdf the BoCC the BoCC the BoCC 050928.pdf 060217.pdf 060717.pdf Exhibit 6 Exhibit 5 Exhibit 7 WAT Exhibit 8 Metzger BoCC120124 Stewardship Stewardship Metzger Cattle Costs.pdf Cattle Leveraging Strategy Memo to Grazing License Plan.pptx 2010.pdf the BoCC Agreement 070907.pdf 120105.pdf Audit Data Date & Time Agenda Item Added by Ramesh Buch 1/5/2012 1:07:57 PM Exhibit 1 ACF Cattle Grazing Business Plan 120104.pdf added