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TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator _ DEPAVWMEMT HEAD CONCURRENCE: Robert M. Reatin AI Community Development rector FROM: Roland M. DeBlois,%AICP Chief, Environmental Planning DATE: June 25, 1996 SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON PURCHASE OF THE CAIRNS TRACT LAAC SITE; MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS It is requested that the information herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of July 2, 1996. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS The Board of County Commissioners, at a public hearing on March 19, 1996, authorized staff to proceed with closing on the +104 acre Cairns Tract on south Jungle Trail. This environmentally significant property is being purchased with environmental land acquisition bond referendum funds, with a 50% cost -share from the State Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program. The Cairns Tract acquisition is scheduled for Governor and Cabinet. approval at a July 9, 1996 Cabinet meeting. Since the County_ Commissions approval of the purchase in March, county staff has coordinated with state staff to resolve two issues. The first issue relates to the county obtaining a real interest in the property to satisfy bond referendum language and to ensure that the property and its resources will remain, as intended, in conservation. This issue is being addressed via "right of re-entry" language that will be a part of the title assignment to the State. Language in the. title assignment will also clarify that the property will stay in its intended conservation use. Property Management The second issue relates to property management. When county staff brought this purchase before the Board in March, staff advised the Board that since the State will retain title to the property, the State will ultimately be responsible for property management. Moreover, staff advised that the County may want to participate is Property management, particularly along Jungle Trail, to promote County objectives. Also, the Board expressed an interest in having the option of'developing a limited public beach accdss sometime in the future. Over the past few months, staff has learned that the State would prefer that the County, take the lead role in overall property management. County staff met with representatives of the State Recreation and Parks Division. This Division is the agency responsible for managing the Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area (SRA), and is the most logical State managing agency for of the Cairns Tract. Although the Cairns Tract is within 5 miles of the Sebastian Inlet SRA, State Recreation and Parks staff expressed reluctance in accepting management responsibilities -Tor the Cairns Tract, due to personnel and budget constraints. As such, if the Cairns Tract purchase is to be approved for State funding the Governor and Cabinet, the County must consider accepting management ent responsibilities for the overall property. ANALYSIS As presented at the March County Commission meeting, purchase of the Cairns property will help fulfill objectives of the Jungle' Trail. Management Plan by providing the County with an opportunity• to acquire controlled public access to the Trail and Indian River Lagoon. An advantage to•the County agreeing to be the overall Property manager is that the. County- -can dictate the timing and level of public access and resource management improvements. Compared to environmental land purchases with cost -share from the Florida Communities Trust, the County would retain more management flexibility, with improvements contingent upon availability of funds. JULY 29 1996 23 MR. US s'ur.47