Bill Summary for Bill Number Division of Wildlife Real Property Transactions

Date: 10/23/2009

Final
Division of Wildlife Real Property Transactions

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Recommend support for a deed of .11 acres of state Recommend support for the purchase of the Berthels Recommend support for the purchase of the Torres R	PASS PASS PASS

09:34 AM -- Division of Wildlife Real Property Transactions (3)

Mr. Grady McNeill, Resource Support Section Manager, and Ms. Anne Kelson, Real Estate Unit Supervisor, both of the Division of Wildlife (DOW), presented three real property transactions. Mr. McNeill began by summarizing the Torres Ranch State Habitat Area Conservation Easement #5 property transaction. Committee members received a summary of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment G). (The committee considered and approved the Torres Ranch State Habitat Area Conservation Easements #1 through #4 at its June 22, 2009 meeting.) In response to a question, Mr. McNeill explained that this request was not included with the other Torres Ranch Conservation Easement property transactions considered by the committee in June because there was some confusion about the name listed on the property title. He then responded to a question about allowable public access on the property and said the property owner will allow access to some outfitters. Mr. McNeill next addressed concerns raised by the letters of concurrence, including natural gas development and public access on the property. Discussion continued about public access on conservation easements, including how the cost of a conservation easement increases if a property owner agrees to allow public access for wildlife viewing, hunting, or fishing. Mr. McNeill provided clarification about why DOW is seeking a conservation easement for the property.

09:45 AM

Discussion continued about the Torres Ranch Conservation Easement #5 real property transaction. Mr. McNeill addressed a question about adjacent properties not protected by the conservation easement. Ms. Nelson said the conservation easement will not impact energy uses on nearby properties. Discussion continued about the uses of adjacent properties and the protection of a wildlife migration corridor.


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	09:52:34 AM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Recommend support for the purchase of the Torres Ranch State Habitat Area Conservation Easement #5 ($201,000 CF, including $100,500 Habitat Stamp funds and $100,500 GOCO funds, for 276 acres). The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Bacon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

09:53 AM

Mr. McNeill next presented the Berthelson Ranch State Habitat Area (SHA) Conservation Easement property transaction. Committee members received a summary of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment H). Mr. McNeill responded to a question about the annual operating costs required to monitor conservation easements. He then explained the division's responsibilities regarding monitoring and maintaining conservation easements. In response to a question, Mr. McNeill explained that the Berthelson SHA Conservation Easement will protect habitat for sage-dependent species such as the Greater Sage Grouse. Ms. Kelson addressed a question about how the cost of the conservation easement would change if public access were granted. She explained that including public access in the conservation easement price can increase the total value by 20 to 40 percent.


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	10:04:35 AM
MOVED:	Riesberg
MOTION:	Recommend support for the purchase of the Berthelson Ranch State Habitat Area property ($1,840,000 CF, including 920,000 Wildlife Cash funds and 920,000 GOCO funds, for 1,634 acres.) The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Bacon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:05 AM

Mr. McNeill presented a third and final real property transaction for the Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area, Property Exchange. Committee members received a summary of the request, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment I).


BILL:	Division of Wildlife
TIME:	10:07:02 AM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Recommend support for a deed of .11 acres of state-owned land in exchange for 1.42 acres of privately owned land at the Loma Boat Launch State Wildlife Area. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Bacon	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS