Bill Summary for Bill Number Division of Wildlife

Date: 12/03/2009

Final
Division of Wildlife

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Approve the waiver request for the FY 2009-10 appr Recommend support for the acceptance of the Trout Recommend support for the exchange of 46 acres bet Recommend support for the Jumping Cow Ranch State	PASS PASS PASS PASS

02:56 PM -- Division of Wildlife

The committee returned to order. Mr. Pat Miks, Budget Manager, Mr. Ed Frazar, Chief Engineer, and Mr. Grady McNeill, Resource Support Section Manager, all of the Division of Wildlife (DOW), presented four FY 2010-11 requests, a five-year projection of need, three real property transaction proposals, and a request to waive the six-month encumbrance deadline for one project. Mr. Frazar began by presenting the FY 2010-11 requests including: (1) Land and Water Acquisitions; (2) Asset Development or Improvements; (3) Infrastructure and Real Property Maintenance; and (4) Motorboat Access on Lakes and Streams. Mr. Frazar explained that the department consolidated many of the division's FY 2009-10 requests into fewer capital requests for FY 2010-11. Mr. Miks addressed a question about the potential use of GOCO funds for operating expenses. Mr. Frazar continued his presentation of the four FY 2010-11 capital requests.

03:15 PM

Mr. McNeill presented a real property transaction proposal for the Trout Creek State Habitat Area Conservation Easement. Committee members received a summary of the proposal, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment I). Mr. McNeill provided the large game herd objectives for the region. He then addressed a question about the possibility of future development on the property if the conservation easement is not purchased. He responded to a concern about the projected annual operating expenses for various property transactions brought forward by the division. Discussion ensued about the cost of property maintenance.


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	03:22:37 PM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Recommend support for the acceptance of the Trout Creek State Habitat Area Perpetual Conservation Easement (15 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 5-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Riesberg	Excused
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:23 PM

Mr. McNeill next presented a real property transaction proposal for the Jumping Cow Ranch State Wildlife Area Public Access Easement and Conservation Easement. Committee members received a summary of the proposal, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment J). Mr. Doug Robinson, Real Estate Specialist, DOW, responded to questions about parcels not included in the proposed conservation easement and about the ownership of these parcels.


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	03:28:05 PM
MOVED:	Kopp
MOTION:	Recommend support for the Jumping Cow Ranch State Wildlife Area Public Access Easement and Conservation Easement ($1,492,000 CF, including $746,000 from Habitat Stamp funds and $746,000 from GOCO funds, for 12,495 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 5-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Riesberg	Excused
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:28 PM

Mr. McNeill presented a real property transaction proposal for the Bodo State Wildlife Area Shooting Range Property Exchange. Committee members received a summary of the proposal, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment K).


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	03:31:02 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Recommend support for the exchange of 46 acres between the Division of Wildlife and La Plata County at the Bodo State Wildlife Area. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Riesberg	Excused
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:31 PM

Mr. Miks presented a request to waive the six-month encumbrance deadline for the Land and Water Acquisitions project. Committee members received a summary of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment L). Mr. Miks addressed questions about how the moneys authorized for the project will be spent and the types of species that may be protected. Discussion commenced about the review and approval process for DOW property transactions. Mr. McNeill answered a question about why the division does not put conservation easements on lands owned by DOW. Discussion ensued. Mr. Robinson further explained why the division is not allowed to have conservation easements on its own property.

03:43 PM

Discussion continued about the possible resale of division-owned land and the use of conservation easements to protect land from development.


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	03:45:39 PM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Approve the waiver request for the FY 2009-10 appropriation to the Land and Water Acquisitions project ($3,535,000 CF). The motion passed on a vote of 5-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Riesberg	Excused
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:46 PM

Mr. Frazar responded to a question about when the FY 2010-11 cash-funded requests will be considered by the committee. He then answered a question about a proposed project in Pitkin County.