Joint Committee Committee on Capital Development (08/18/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Date:	08/18/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	08:02 AM to 09:20 AM	Becker K.	X
		Brown	X
Place:	SCR 356	Kefalas	E
		Sonnenberg	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Baumgardner	X
	Representative Vigil	Vigil	X

This Report was prepared by
	Matt Becker
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
CSU Two-Year Cash List CPW Property Transactions		Approved theTwo-Year Projection of Cash Need Recommendation(s) Approved

08:02 AM -- CSU Two-Year Cash List

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Mr. Richard Schweigert, Chief Financial Officer, Colorado State University System, and Mr. Joe Duda, Deputy State Forester, Colorado State Forest Service, came to the table to discuss the Sawtooth Mountain Conservation Easement project as a new project listed on the university's two-year projection of cash need. The committee received CSU's revised two-year projection of cash need, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment A). Mr. Duda discussed the location, purpose, and funding source for the conservation easement. In response to a committee question regarding the future use of the property if a conservation easement is not acquired, Mr. Duda explained that the property would likely be developed and subdivided into small ranchette homes. In response to a committee question regarding long-term operating costs of the conservation easement, Mr. Duda explained the landowner's willingness to manage the land and provide funding for long-term operating costs. Discussion ensued on the appraised value of the property and the federal government's role in managing the property.

150818 AttachA.pdf


BILL:	CSU Two-Year Cash List
TIME:	08:15:32 AM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Approve the new project listed on the Colorado State University two-year projection of cash need. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Vigil	Yes

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

08:16 AM -- CPW Property Transactions

Ms. Jackie Corday, Real Estate Specialist, Mr. Bill de Vergie, Area Wildlife Manager, and Mr. Bob Broscheid, Director, all representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), came to the table to discuss the fee title acquisition of the Charles Tucker Laimbock parcel at the Bitterbrush State Wildlife Area, located three miles southwest of Maybell. Mr. de Vergie discussed the purpose of the acquisition, including to benefit habitat and wildlife on the property. Committee members received a summary of the property transaction, assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment B). Mr. Broscheid responded to committee questions on the reserve balance and the reserve policy of the Wildlife Cash Fund.

150818 AttachB.pdf

08:27 AM

In response to a committee question regarding camping fees at state parks, Mr. Broscheid clarified the separate nature of cash funds utilized by CPW. Committee discussion ensued on the overall financial health of CPW and previous spending authority authorized for CPW property transactions.


BILL:	CPW Property Transactions
TIME:	08:35:57 AM
MOVED:	Baumgardner
MOTION:	Recommend support for the fee title acquisition of the Bitterbrush State Wildlife Area Charles Tucker Laimbock Parcel ($160,000 CF for 320 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 4-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Sonnenberg	No
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Vigil	Yes

Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:37 AM

Ms. Patt Dorsey, Southwest Regional Manager, came to the table to discuss the fee title acquisition of 88 acres of unimproved land from Archuleta County for the Pagosa Skyrocket State Natural Area property. Committee members received a summary of the property transaction, assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment C). Ms. Dorsey explained the acquisition will protect Pagosa Skyrocket plants on the property as an endangered species. She also stated that public access will be provided by the acquisition. Ms. Corday explained federal and state laws related to the preservation of endangered plant species, as well as the history of the property. Mr. Bentley Henderson, Archuleta County Administrator, came to the table to discuss the county's past use of the property.

150818 AttachC.pdf


BILL:	CPW Property Transactions
TIME:	08:47:35 AM
MOVED:	Vigil
MOTION:	Recommend support for the fee title acquisition of the Pagosa Skyrocket State Natural Area property ($738,000, including $494,137 FF and $243,863 CF, for 88 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Sonnenberg	No
	Baumgardner	No
	Vigil	Yes

Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

08:48 AM

Ms. Dorsey presented a proposed water lease for 8,000 acre-feet of storage space for 30 years in the Rio Grande Reservoir from the San Luis Valley Irrigation District (SLVID). Committee members received a summary of the proposed transaction, assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment D). They also received a fact sheet about the Rio Grande Cooperative Project (Attachment E). Mr. Travis Smith, superintendent of SLVID, came to the table to discuss the history of Rio Grande Reservoir and the Rio Grande Cooperative Project. The committee viewed a short video about the project (https://vimeo.com/129489798). Mr. Smith responded to a committee question regarding the approval of the water lease. He stated that if the lease with CPW is not approved, SLVID would have to look for another funding source to fund the reservoir repair project. Furthermore, it would limit CPW's ability to exercise its water rights.

150818 AttachD.pdf

150818 AttachE.pdf


BILL:	CPW Property Transactions
TIME:	08:58:15 AM
MOVED:	Baumgardner
MOTION:	Recommend support for the water storage lease in Rio Grande Reservoir ($3,000,000 CF for a 30-year lease of 8,000 acre-feet of storage space). The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Vigil	Yes

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

08:59 AM

Mr. de Vergie came to the table to discuss a proposed perpetual conservation easement for Slater Ranch, located 30 miles northeast of Craig. Committee members received a summary of the transaction, assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment F). He discussed the purpose of the transaction, including to provide winter range habitat for deer and elk and habitat for the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and other wildlife. The property is located adjacent to the Brush Mountain Ranch conservation easement. In response to a committee question regarding public access, Mr. de Vergie explained that public access is not currently provided on the private property. The limits of the public access will be determined as the details of the management plan are finalized.

150818 AttachF.pdf

09:04 AM

In response to a committee question, Ms. Kori Donaldson, Legislative Council Staff, explained the process for obtaining concurrence letters from legislators located in districts where transactions are proposed. Committee discussion ensued on the prioritization process for proposed property transactions. In response to a committee question regarding the appraisal of the Slater Ranch easement, Ms. Corday explained the appraisal process for property transactions. Mr. Mike Henrickson, property owner at Slater Ranch, came to the table to discuss the appraisal history of the property and the migrating elk herd on the property. Committee discussion ensued on road access to the property.


BILL:	CPW Property Transactions
TIME:	09:16:00 AM
MOVED:	Vigil
MOTION:	Recommend support for the acquisition of a perpetual conservation easement on the Slater Ranch LLC property ($2,250,000 CF for 4,400 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Sonnenberg	No
	Baumgardner	No
	Vigil	Yes

Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

09:17 AM

Mr. Travis Black, Area Wildlife Manager, came to the table to discuss a proposed perpetual public access easement for the Reed South Shore property at Two Buttes Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Committee members received a summary of the property transaction, assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment G).

150818 AttachG.pdf


BILL:	CPW Property Transactions
TIME:	09:18:58 AM
MOVED:	Baumgardner
MOTION:	Recommend support for disposition of 80 acres in exchange for the acquisition of a public access easement on the Reed South Shore property at the Two Buttes Reservoir State Wildlife Area ($0 for 11 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Brown	Yes
	Kefalas	Excused
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Vigil	Yes

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

09:20 AM

The meeting adjourned.