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• <br />Although TCF has had contact with LTVC over the past several months, the tetnis of the proposed <br />contract offer have not been accepted by LTVC. Rather, LTVC representative Charles Bayer has <br />indicated that LTVC will not consider terms for sale of the islands (and McCuller's Point) until LTVC <br />first receives a formal contract offer approved by the County, City of Vero Beach, and Town of Indian <br />River Shores. Recently, both the City and Town approved the proposed contract offer. The contract offer <br />is now being presented to the Board for consideration. <br />Contract Offer <br />Following is a summary of the main components of the proposed contract offer: <br />• $15 million purchase price for —505 acres (-235 acres of which are uplands), consisting of LTVC <br />ownership on the "Inner Islands", "Outer Islands", "McCuller's Point", and six small adjacent <br />islands. <br />• $10,000 earnest money deposit (non-refundable after an inspection period for due diligence). <br />• ' Bargain Sale" acknowledgment to allow LTVC to seek status of the sale as a charitable <br />contribution under applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. <br />• "Involuntary Conversion" (threat of condemnation) provision to allow LTVC to seek tax relief. <br />• "Settlement of Claims" provision whereby LTVC must agree to dismiss all pending lawsuits and <br />agree not to initiate any future lawsuits regarding the subject property. <br />Funding Towards the Purchase <br />The County has reserved $8 million toward the purchase, and the City and Town have agreed to <br />contribute $1 million each toward the purchase. Last year, the County applied for a Florida Communities <br />Trust (FCT) grant to fund the remaining $5 million toward the $15 million purchase offer. The FCT <br />approved the grant, at 36.22% of "eligible project costs" or $5.5 million, whichever is less. <br />The Board recently approved an Addendum to the FCT Conceptual Approval Agreement that increased <br />the FCT match to 75% of eligible costs, provided the overall grant award does not exceed $5.5 million. <br />The Addendum ensures an FCT match of $4,875,000 (75% of $6.5 million, the current "as is" approved <br />appraised value) towards the Lost Tree Islands purchase price. The FCT will also pay 75% of acquisition <br />costs (i.e., appraisals, survey, environmental audit acquisition agent fees), provided the overall grant <br />award does not exceed $5.5 million. <br />The FCT match of $4,875,000 falls $125 000 short of the anticipated $5 million state match toward the <br />$15 million purchase offer. If an offer of $15 million is made and LTVC accepts, the $125,000 shortfall <br />will need to come from the local governments. Both the City and Town, when they recently considered <br />the proposed contract offer, agreed to evenly split the shortfall with the County ($41,667 each). <br />Interlocal Agreement <br />As the County, City and Town consider approval of the proposed contract offer, three issues warrant a <br />formal interlocal agreement. The issues are: who will be responsible for the state -funding shortfall toward <br />the proposed purchase offer; who will hold title interest if and when the project is purchased; and who <br />will be responsible for management funding. Attached is a draft interlocal agreement for the Board to <br />consider regarding these issues. <br />ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS <br />Contract Offer <br />The $15 million purchase price is indicative of last year's proposed purchase offer that led the County, <br />City and Town to apply for an FCT grant. Since last year, the County has obtained two independent <br />appraisals of the islands, the results of which are public information. The appraisals, which have been <br />reviewed and approved by the FCT, provide values for three alternative scenarios (each with a <br />development density of one unit per five acres). The three alternatives are summarized as follows: <br />September 3, 2002 <br />61 <br />• <br />