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Department of Finance - Division of Procurement & Contracts
Reference: Acceptance of the Conservation Easement for the Morimitsu Farm Property
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Jane Bais DiSessa, City Manager
Prepared By: Travis Haines, Director of Parks & Recreation
CC: Marv Falconburg, Assistant City Manager
Jack Bajorek, City Attorney
Date Prepared: October 7, 2020
PURPOSE
Requesting City Council approval of a formal conveyance of the Conservation Easement for the Morimitsu Farm Property, and approving the resolution authorizing the Mayor, or City Manager to sign the contract.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The District Plan Commission is a joint group between the City of Brighton and Adams County formed with the intent to preserve farmland in an area south of the City of Brighton. This area that has soils that are classified as USDA prime has been named the Historic Splendid Valley. The City has worked with The Conservation Fund (TCF), a natural land conservation organization, to preserve our agricultural land and farming heritage for a number of years. TCF deals with the willing private landowners to acquire the farm properties and conserve them in perpetuity with conservation easements. After acquiring these properties, TCF works with the City, Adams County and private landowners to purchase these conserved properties. The Morimitsu Farm will be purchased by a private conservation buyer with the City of Brighton and Adams County being co-holders of the conservation easement on the property. The purchase of the conservation easement will utilize grant funding from Adams County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The purchase of the conservation easement is fully funded by grants from Adams County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado. With TCF involving a private landowner partner with the purchase of the property, the City of Brighton will not be impacted financially.
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