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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA 8H. AGENDA ITEM Parks, Recreation & Conservation Department Conservation Lands Division Date: June 3, 2024 To: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners Thru: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator Beth Powell, Parks, Recreation & Conservation Director From: Wendy Swindell, Conservation Lands Manager Subject: Approval of a Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners Approving and Accepting the Final Environmental Lands Program Guide, and Establishing the Environmental Lands Acquisition Panel BACKGROUND: On December 12, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved staff changes to the Environmental Lands Program Guide (ELPG). This document outlines the process for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands to be funded through the Environmental Bond approved in 2022 by both the BCC and voters in Indian River County. As described in the ELPG, part of the process for acquisition of environmental lands is to create an advisory board whose function is to review nominated properties and provide recommendations to the BCC on the value of properties that may be pursued for acquisition. The advisory group that has been established for the environmental land acquisition process is the Environmental Lands Acquisition Panel (ELAP). The primary role of the ELAP is to review nominations and provide a biannual property ranking summary for BCC consideration. The composition, function, and process for seating the ELAP is detailed in the ELPG. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS: Past Environmental Bond Referenda have included the adoption of a Resolution to approve the ELPG as well as the development of the advisory group. The December 12, 2023, agenda item did not include a BCC resolution accepting and approving these items. A Resolution approving and adopting the 2023 ELPG as well as the selection and process for the ELAP has been attached for BCC consideration. The nine member ELAP has been meeting since August of 2023. Meetings in 2023 were directed at providing the BCC comments towards the finalization of the ELPG. The County began accepting nominations for properties to be considered for acquisition on March 1, 2024. ELAP meetings in March, April and May 2024 have been conducted to review nominated properties to evaluate whether the minimum criteria for acquisition have been met for each property, however votes could only be taken at the April meeting due to lack of quorum at the other meetings. There have been several meetings of the ELAP where a quorum was not present. A lack of quorum results in delays in the process; for this reason, staff is respectfully requesting that the Board consider 77