City of Brighton - File #: ID-255-17

• File #: ID-255-17
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 6/26/2017
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 8/1/2017
• Title: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO, APPROVING THE GRANT AND CONVEYANCE BY THE CITY OF THAT CERTAIN CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY AND LOCATED IN ADAMS COUNTY; AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THERETO; AND SETTING FORTH OTHER DETAILS RELATED THERETO

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
8/1/2017	1	City Council
7/11/2017	1	City Council

Body

Department of Parks and Recreation

Reference:                     An Ordinance approving the grant and Conveyance of that certain Conservation Easement over Agricultural Real Property owned by the City Located between 144^th Ave and 148^th Ave west of Sable Blvd and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Conservation Easement.

To:                                                               Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council

Through:                                          Clint Blackhurst, Acting City Manager

                                                               Chontel Trujillo, Assistant City Manager Operation

Prepared By:                                          Gary Wardle, Director Parks and Recreation

Date Prepared:                     June 26, 2017

PURPOSE
An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Brighton, Colorado, Approving the Grant and Conveyance by the City of that certain Conservation Easement over certain Agricultural Real Property owned by the City and located in Adams County between 144^th Ave and 148^th Ave west of Sable Blvd; and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Conservation Easement and the City Clerk to attest thereto; and setting forth other details related thereto.

BACKGROUND

In 2016 the City of Brighton and Adams County approved the District Plan. The focus of the District Plan is to preserve farmland in the south area of Brighton.  The Sable Farmland is located in the District Plan area.  The City has negotiated the final acquisition of the Sable Farmland, together with Fulton District water shares.  The City of Brighton has received Grants from Adams County and Great Outdoors Colorado to apply toward acquisition of the Property.  Both of these grants require the City to grant a Conservation Easement on the property.  The Conservation Easement will remove the development rights on the property, preserving the property as farmland.  The Conservation Easement will require the City to provide irrigation water to the farm to maintain farming.  The existing Fulton Ditch Water Shares may be converted to other uses as long as the City provides an alternate source of water for farming.

Adams County will hold the Conservation Easement.  They will monitor the terms of the Conservation Easement for compliance.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

There is no financial impact to the City for granting the Conservation Easement.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance granting and Conveying of a Conservation Easement over Agricultural Real Property located between 144^th Ave and 148^th Ave west of Sable Blvd and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Conservation Easement and the City Clerk to attest thereto.

OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION

1.                     Approve the Ordinance

2.                     Not Approve the ordinance

ATTACHMENTS

1.                     Ordinance

2.                     Conservation Easement