SUBJECT
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Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Advisory Committee (CLASAC) recommendations on the following sites nominated to the Environmental Lands Program are to pursue acquisition on EL-139-25: Hancock Lake Ranch, EL-140 -25: Smith Bros Peace River, EL-141-25: Marston Ranch, EL-142-25: Wheeler Sandhill, EL-143-25: Shores of Lake Pierce, EL-144 -25: Mountain Lake NE Sandhill, EL-145-25: Lassiter Family Trust, EL-146-25: Ingram Hatchineha Property, and EL-147-25: Davis-Ingram Ranch.
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DESCRIPTION
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners ("Board") adopted Polk County Ordinance No.22-050 ("Ordinance") calling for a bond referendum on November 8, 2022, to finance capital projects related to the acquisition, preservation, protection, management, operation, and restoration of environmental lands, water resources and important fish and wildlife habitat ("Bond Referendum").
A majority of voters of Polk County approved of the Bond Referendum. The Ordinance provides that upon passing of the Bond Referendum, the Board shall create the Polk County Conservation Land Acquisition Advisory Committee ("CLASAC") by resolution; and the Board in determining the acquisition of land in accordance with the Ordinance.
The Ordinance provides that each proposed site will undergo a preliminary site assessment by the County to ensure the lands meet the basic criteria of environmental lands; and provides the criteria which will be considered in evaluation lands include (A) Water Resources, (B) Natural Communities and Landscape, (C) Plants Animals, (D) Human Values, and (E) Management.
Resolution No.2023-009 authorizes CLASAC to create subcommittees consisting of members and non-members of the CLASAC. CLASAC created a technical advisory group (TAG) to assist CLASAC in the technical fact-finding that is necessary in evaluating lands in accordance with the criteria provided in the ordinance.
The following sites have been evaluated by TAG and the recommendations made by CLA...
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