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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/15/2022 - RESOLUTION 2022-028 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECU Agenda Item 14 Item # 14 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY February 15, 2022 City Council STAFF David Myers, Land Conservation Manager Tawnya Ernst, Sr. Real Estate Specialist Katie Donahue, Natural Areas Director Ingrid Decker, Legal SUBJECT Resolution 2022-028 Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with Larimer County to Partner on the Purchase of a Conservation Easement on a 428 Acre Ranch within the Laramie Foothills - Mountains to Plains Project Area. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to seek Council approval of a Resolution implementing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Larimer County to partner on the conservation of a 428 -acre property within the Laramie Foothills - Mountains to Plains project area. The County is the lead on the project and will hold a conservation easement on the property. The conservation easement requires that the land never be subdivided and that it be managed to protect its conservation values in perpetuity. This acquisition would replace sever al property interests that Larimer County planned to acquire in partnership with the City under a 2020 IGA. This project was fully described in the Land Conservation Quarterly Report on January 13, 2022. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The County is under contract to purchase a conservation easement on the 428 -acre ranch with an anticipated closing date of February 28, 2022. The project was identified as a high priority for conservation within the Laramie Foothills - Mountains to Plains project area and County Open Lands staff have been working with the landowner towards protecting the ranch since late 2019. Additionally, the project has been approved by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) as a substitution property for the Special Opportunity Open Space grant that was awarded to Larimer County in 2020, which also received significant financial support from the City through an IGA approved by the Council in September 2020. For more than two decades, the City and Larimer County Open Lands have collaborated to conserve land throughout Larimer County to meet shared land conservation goals. This collaboration includes funding partnerships on various open space and conservation easement acquisitions, inclu ding the referenced 2020 GOCO Special Opportunity Open Space grant. This conservation easement will protect important values that confer the following public benefits: - Wildlife habitat values, which include high quality riparian corridors associated wit h Lone Pine Creek and Rabbit Creek (tributaries of the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River) Agenda Item 14 Item # 14 Page 2 - Scenic values that protect the visual corridor between Livermore and Red Feather Lakes (W County Road 74E / Red Feather Lakes Rd); conservation of the proper ty affords views of this mountainous area and adds protected land to the scenic corridor - Agricultural values include limited livestock grazing on the ranch and haying that occurs on approximately 80 acres of irrigated bottomlands, furthered by the protection of water rights - Open space values will contribute to existing conserved lands in the vicinity including Steinhoff Hill State Trust Land, Cherokee Park State Wildlife Area and various privately owned lands protected with conservation easements (the proposed conservation easement will not allow public access to the property) The proposed transaction between the City and the County authorizes the City to contribute $526,763 towards the County’s acquisition of the conservation easement. The conservati on easement ensures that the property will never be subdivided, that any development is limited to two 7 -acre “building envelopes”, and that the ranch is to be managed to protect its conservation values in perpetuity. The project addresses key criteria noted in the Land Acquisition Partnership Guidelines: · The project aligns with the goals of the Council-adopted Natural Areas Master Plan for regional conservation and partnerships by conserving lands within the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains prior ity area. • Larimer County and the City have a positive track record of partnerships. • The proposed partnership enhances landscape scale conservation efforts in the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains project area by finalizing a 428-acre conservation easement acquisition. • The project leverages the resources of the County, the City and GOCO in the Laramie Foothills, and extends collaborative efforts in this area. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS The total cost to the County to acquire the conservation easement is $1,200,000, plus closing and due diligence costs. The City’s share will be $526,763, and these funds are already appropriated and available for expenditure. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION At its February 9, 2022, meeting, the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board were scheduled to vote whether to recommend that Council approve the IGA with Larimer County to partner on the purchase of the Quarter Circle Ranch conservation easement. PUBLIC OUTREACH Natural Areas staff will present the proposed partnership to the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board in a public meeting on February 9, 2022. Larimer County Open Lands staff has presented the proposed partnership to the County Open Lands Board in a public meeting on January 27, 2022. Larimer County staff will present the proposed partnership to the Board of County Commissioners on February 15, 2022. ATTACHMENTS 1. Site Map (PDF) 2. Vicinity Map (PDF) 3. Update Administrative Partnership Policy (PDF) W COUNTY ROAD 74EN COUNTY ROAD 37COUNTY ROAD 76HLone Pin e C ree k Rabbit CreekN Fork Cache la Poudre RiverRabbit CreekQuarter Circle Lazy H Ranch Inc.Conservation Easement Boundaries (approx. 428ac)LegendQuarter Circle Lazy H Ranch CERoadsRiverStreamProtected LandsConservation Easement (Private)Public LandsEntityCountyState¯00.750.375Miles2019 Aerial ImagerySteinhoff HillState Trust LandApproximate Building Envelope(Existing Residence) (7ac)ATTACHMENT 1 Quarter CircleLazy H Ranch IncW COUNTY ROAD 74EN HIGH W A Y 2 8 7 W COUNTY ROAD 80CW COUNTY ROAD 80COUNTY ROAD 76HN COUNTY ROAD 37N GREYROCK RDUNNAMED 102155RANCH SPRINGS RDMAXWELL RANCH RDROBER TS RAN CH RD DEER VALLEY LNGRANITE RDGLone Pine CreekNorth Poudre DitchRabbit CreekStone wall C reek Middle Fork Rabbit CreekFork C ache la Po udr e River Quarter Circle Lazy H Ranch Inc.Conservation Easement Boundaries (approx. 428ac)LegendQuarter Circle Lazy H Ranch CERoadsProtected LandsConservation Easement (Private)Public LandsEntityCountyStateFederal¯031.5Miles2019 Aerial ImagerySteinhoff HillState Trust LandCherokee State Wildlife AreaLivermoreATTACHMENT 2 Natural Areas Department 1745 Hoffman Mill Road PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2815 970.416.2211 - fax fcgov.com/naturalareas Natural Areas – Administrative Policy Land Acquisition Partnership Guidelines Background As requested by City Council during the December 11, 2018 work session, staff developed criteria and associated guiding questions to address Council’s suggestions related to external land conservation partnerships. The criteria and guiding questions will be utilized well in advance of formalizing a partnership. If staff believes the partnership to be justified based upon the criteria and guiding questions, a memo detailing staff’s recommendation will be presented to Council prior to moving forward. Thus, if Council has any concerns they can be addressed well in advance of a potential transaction. Criteria x The acquisition must align with the land conservation priorities set forth by the Council Adopted - City of Fort Collins 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan. x Visitation must be free of charge if public access is allowed. o If access fees are proposed, a staff recommendation to move forward must be explained and justified in the report to council. x The partner/s must have a positive track record of partnerships with the City and/or other organizations. x The partnership must enhance the conservation protections of the project. x The land conservation project must leverage the parties’ resources in a manner that leads to additional land conservation by one, or both, parties. Guiding Questions x Does the land conservation project align with the land conservation priorities set forth by the Council Adopted - City of Fort Collins 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan? x Does the partner have a positive track record of partnership with the City and or other organizations? x Is the project of mutual interest due to previous investments by the partners or due to its location? x How will the land conservation project benefit citizens of Fort Collins? x How can/should the land conservation project be funded? o Are there grants available to help fund the project? o Do the partners have the financial ability to participate? x Will the financial partnership positively affect a grant application? o Which partner is best suited to apply for and manage the grant? x Would the land conservation project be possible without the partnership? o If so, does the partnership leverage resources for additional conservation or partnership opportunities? x If the property is purchased: o Which partner is best suited to manage the property? x If the land is conserved with a conservation easement? o Which partner is best suited to hold and monitor the conservation easement? This Policy was Administratively Adopted by: _______________________________________________________________________ John Stokes, Natural Areas Department Director Date November 12 2019 John Stokes Digitally signed by John Stokes Date: 2019.11.12 16:24:58 -07'00' ATTACHMENT 3 -1- RESOLUTION 2022-028 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH LARIMER COUNTY TO PARTNER ON THE PURCHASE OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON A 428 ACRE RANCH WITHIN THE LARAMIE FOOTHILLS - MOUNTAINS TO PLAINS PROJECT AREA WHEREAS, to meet shared land conservation goals, the City and Larimer County (“County”) have been working together since 2003 to conserve land in the Laramie Foothills – Mountains to Plains Conservation Area, including the Red Mountain Open Space (“Red Mountain”) directly west of the City’s Soapstone Prairie Natural Area; and WHEREAS, in 2020 Larimer County (the “County”) was awarded $812,475 in Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant funds to acquire, in partnership with the City, fee title and conservation easements to parcels of real property known as Hawk Canyon Ranch, West Red Mountain Ranch, South Red Mountain Ranch, and Green Valley Ranch (the “2020 Expansion Properties”); and WHEREAS, on September 15, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution 2020-084 authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between the City and County regarding the joint purchase of the 2020 Expansion Properties along with an additional property not funded by GOCO called Boxelder (the “2020 IGA”), and the parties thereafter executed the 2020 IGA; and WHEREAS, under the terms of the 2020 IGA the County planned to acquire ownership of the Hawk Canyon and Boxelder properties and the City would hold conservation easements on both properties, and the County would also acquire conservation easements on the West Red Mountain, South Red Mountain and Green Valley properties; and WHEREAS, the City agreed to contribute to the costs of acquiring all five properties and, in addition to the two conservation easements, the City would receive a right of first refusal if the County ever chose to convey away any of its interests in the five properties; and WHEREAS, Larimer County has acquired the fee interest in Hawk Canyon Ranch and conveyed a conservation easement on the property to the City of Fort Collins, and the Parties shared the acquisition costs and transaction costs associated with the fee acquisition and conveyance of the conservation easement to Fort Collins as described in the 2020 IGA; and WHEREAS, Larimer County has acquired a conservation easement on the West Red Mountain Ranch property and the Parties shared the acquisition costs and transaction costs associated with the County’s acquisition of the conservation easement as described in the 2020 IGA; and WHEREAS, Larimer County was not able to acquire the Boxelder Property, or to obtain conservation easements, as planned, on the South Red Mountain Ranch and Green Valley Ranch properties; and -2- WHEREAS, Larimer County applied for a GOCO Open Space Land Acquisition Substitution Request, to use GOCO funds remaining from the 2020 IGA to fund the County’s acquisition of a conservation easement on property known as the QCLH Ranch, comprised of approximately 428 acres; and WHEREAS, GOCO has approved funding in the amount of $144,475.00 to be applied to the County’s acquisition of a conservation easement on the QCLH Ranch, estimated to cost $1,200,000, plus due diligence and closing costs; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to collaborate with the County on the costs and responsibilities of conserving the QCLH Ranch by contributing $526,762.50 to the acquisition costs of the conservation easement; and WHEREAS, the City’s portion of the funds has already been appropriated and is available for expenditure in the Natural Areas Fund; and WHEREAS, the City and County have negotiated a proposed intergovernmental agreement regarding the proposed acquisition, a draft of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference (the “2022 IGA”); and WHEREAS, under the terms of the 2022 IGA the City would have a right of first refusal to purchase the conservation easement on the QCLH Ranch should the County ever wish to sell or transfer it, as well as the right to a proportional share of the proceeds if the conservation easement or any portion of it is ever sold or condemned; and WHEREAS, at its regular meeting on February 9, 2022, the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board voted to recommend that the City Council approve the IGA; and WHEREAS, Larimer County Open Lands staff intend to present the proposed arrangement to the Board of County Commissioners on February 15, 2022; and WHEREAS, the proposed collaboration with the County, as documented in the IGA, meets the criteria of the Natural Areas Department’s Land Acquisition Partnership Guidelines; and WHEREAS, the 2022 IGA states that upon its execution the 2020 IGA will terminate with respect to the City and County’s obligations regarding the three property interests the County could not acquire, but that ongoing obligations regarding the properties that were acquired will continue; and WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the City Charter empowers the City Council, by ordinance or resolution, to enter into contracts with governmental bodies to furnish governmental services and make charges for such services, or enter into cooperative or joint activities with other governmental bodies; and -3- WHEREAS, Section 29-1-203 of the Colorado Revised Statutes provides that governments may cooperate or contract with one another to provide certain services or facilities when such cooperation or contracts are authorized by each party thereto with the approval of its legislative body or other authority having the power to so approve; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that entering into the IGA with the County to acquire the QCLH Ranch conservation easement is in the best interests of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to execute the IGA, pursuant to which the City will pay the County a portion of its costs for acquiring a conservation easement on the QCLH Ranch, and in exchange the County will grant the City a right of first refusal over the conservation easement, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” together with such modifications and additions as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, determines are necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the City or further the purposes of this Resolution, as set forth above. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 15th day of February, A.D. 2022. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk Draft 2/8/2022 INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE LARAMIE FOOTHILLS QCLH PROJECT This Intergovernmental Agreement (Agreement) is made this ___day of _____________, 2022, by and between the CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO (the "City") and LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO (the “County"). WHEREAS, part 2 of Article 1 of Title 29, C.R.S. authorizes governments to cooperate and contract with one another to provide any function, service or facility lawfully authorized to each, including the sharing of costs; and WHEREAS, the County has imposed a sales and use tax via the "Help Preserve Open Spaces Initiative" for the purchase and maintenance of open space, natural areas, wildlife habitat, parks and trails and a portion of the funds generated by said sales tax are distributed to municipalities located within Larimer County, including the City; and WHEREAS, the City has imposed a dedicated 0.25% sales and use tax known as "Open Space Yes!", portions of the revenues from which are intended and available for the purchase and maintenance of open space, natural areas, and trails; and WHEREAS, the parties recognize through the Larimer County Open Lands Master Plan and Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan that certain lands in the Laramie Foothills – Mountains to Plains Conservation Area (“Conservation Area”) are important to be conserved through various means such as fee acquisition, conservation easements, and regulatory measures; and WHEREAS, the parties have historically worked cooperatively to conserve lands within the Conservation Area, provide limited public recreation, and protect and promote the quality of life, wildlife, the natural environment and the character of the region; and WHEREAS, the Larimer County Natural Resources Department and the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department share common goals in conserving land in the Conservation Area, and by this IGA intend to form a partnership to carry out a land conservation project to protect approximately 428 acres with a conservation easement, as described in Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, Larimer County was awarded in 2020, $812,475 in Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant funds to acquire, in partnership with the City, fee title and conservation easements to parcels of real property located in the County of Larimer, State of Colorado known as Hawk Canyon Ranch, West Red Mountain Ranch, South Red Mountain Ranch, and Green Valley Ranch parcels (“Laramie Foothills 2020 Expansion Properties”); and WHEREAS, Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins entered into the Intergovernmental Agreement Concerning the Laramie Foothills 2020 Expansion Project (the “2020 IGA”), recorded at Reception Number 20210011409 of the Larimer County records, which describes the sharing of costs and responsibilities for the acquisition, ownership, improvement and management of the Laramie Foothills 2020 Expansion Properties, as well as an additional parcel not funded by GOCO (the “Boxelder Property”); and EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 WHEREAS, Larimer County has acquired the fee interest in Hawk Canyon Ranch and conveyed a conservation easement on the property to the City of Fort Collins, and the Parties shared the acquisition costs and transaction costs associated with the fee acquisition and conveyance of the conservation easement to Fort Collins as described in the 2020 IGA; and WHEREAS, Larimer County has acquired a conservation easement on the West Red Mountain Ranch property and the Parties shared the acquisition costs and transaction costs associated with the County’s acquisition of the conservation easement as described in the 2020 IGA; and WHEREAS, Larimer County was not able to acquire the Boxelder Property; and WHEREAS, Larimer County did not obtain conservation easements, as planned, on the South Red Mountain Ranch and Green Valley Ranch properties, due to the associated landowners’ lack of willingness to convey conservation easements on said lands after discussing appraised values of the conservation easements presented at the initial appraisal consultations; and WHEREAS, Larimer County applied for a GOCO Open Space Land Acquisition Substitution Request, to use $144,475 in GOCO funds remaining from the 2020 IGA to fund the acquisition of a conservation easement on the lands described in Exhibit A, referred to as the QCLH Ranch, comprised of approximately 428 acres; and WHEREAS, GOCO has approved funding in the amount of $144,475.00 to be applied to the County’s acquisition of a conservation easement on the QCLH Ranch; and WHEREAS, the parties desire to cooperate and contract with one another concerning the sharing of costs and responsibilities for the conservation of the QCLH Ranch. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties agree as follows: A. Subject Properties/Easements 1. The County will make reasonable efforts to acquire a conservation easement on the QCLH Ranch property (the “Conservation Easement”), subject to prior approval by the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners in its discretion. 2. The cost for conserving this portion of the QCLH Ranch property, including the purchase price for the Conservation Easement, appraisal, closing costs, title insurance, environmental due diligence costs and surveys is estimated to be approximately $1,231,867.00. These costs are described in greater detail in Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. 3. The parties are responsible for paying the estimated costs designated to each of them as shown in Exhibit B EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 4. The County will prepare the deed of conservation easement instrument ("Deed"). The County shall submit the Deed, upon completion of the transaction, to the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder for recording in the real property records of the County and shall provide a copy of the recorded Deed to the City upon completion of recording. 5. After acquiring the Conservation Easement, the County will prepare a summary report similar to Exhibit B, showing the exact costs paid by each party. It is not necessarily the parties’ intent that the costs paid by each party will be equivalent to the value of the property interest held by such party. 6. Until such time as the closing and conveyance of the Conservation Easement, Larimer County shall remain the primary negotiator with the landowner. Additionally, the County shall have the discretion to make decisions related to the negotiations including choice of surveyor, title company, and other administrative matters, consistent with this Agreement. The parties shall promptly communicate with each other on any new developments in the negotiations and new material information related to the subject property and the Conservation Easement acquisition. 7. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the 2020 IGA shall terminate with respect to the purchase of the conservation easements on the South Red Mountain Ranch and Green Valley Ranch properties and the purchase of the fee interest in the Boxelder Property. The parties’ ongoing obligations under the 2020 IGA regarding the Hawk Canyon Ranch Property and West Red Mountain Ranch Property shall continue. B. Management of the QCLH Ranch Property 1. The private property will remain under the management of the landowner. Larimer County will steward and monitor the Conservation Easement. C. Subsequent Sale and/or Transfer of the Conservation Easement Interest 1. If the County desires to sell all or any portion of the Conservation Easement the County shall provide written notice to the City of its intention to sell its interest (“Notice of Intent to Sell”). The City shall have a right of first refusal (“ROFR”) to purchase such interest (“Interest”) for its fair market value. The City shall have 30 days from the date of the Notice of Intent to Sell to notify the County if it is interested in purchasing the Interest. The parties shall then jointly select an appraiser to determine the fair market value of the Interest. The cost of such appraisal shall be split equally between the parties. The City shall notify the County within 30 days following the completion of the appraisal whether it intends to purchase the Interest. The parties shall then work in good faith to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement and any necessary documents for completion of the sale. The ROFR shall expire if the City does not, within 30 days of the completion of the appraisal, notify the County that it intends to purchase the Interest. If the City timely notifies the County of its intent to purchase, within 30 days of the completion of the appraisal, the ROFR shall nonetheless expire two years after the date of the Notice of Intent to Purchase if the parties have not closed on the conveyance of the Interest by that time. EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 2. If the City declines to purchase the Interest, either before or after having the Interest appraised, the County may then convey the Interest to a third-party as it chooses. 3. Any transfer of the Conservation Easement interest acquired under this Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the deed of conservation easement and any GOCO-related grant requirements. 4. In the event all or any portion of the Conservation Easement is sold, exchanged, transferred or otherwise extinguished, or taken by eminent domain, the net proceeds from such disposition shall be divided between the County and the City in the same proportion as their respective contributions to the initial purchase payments for acquiring the Conservation Easement as defined in Exhibit B. D. General Provisions. 1. Each party agrees to execute all additional instruments and documents necessary to effectuate the transactions and purposes described herein, subject to any necessary approvals. 2. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties’ respective successors and permitted assigns. 3. Financial obligations of the parties payable after the current fiscal year are contingent upon the governing bodies of the parties, in their discretion, appropriating funds sufficient and intended for such purposes. 4. Each party is responsible for its own negligence and that of its officers, employees and volunteers. Nothing in this Agreement waives the immunities, limits of liability, or other terms and conditions of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act as now in force or hereafter amended. 5. Any notices required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and personally delivered to the office of the parties hereof, or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, or by overnight commercial courier, addressed as follows: Katie Donahue Daylan Figgs Natural Areas Director Natural Resources Director City of Fort Collins – Natural Areas Department Larimer County Natural Resources Department PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522 1800 S County Rd 31, Loveland, CO 80537 kdonahue@fcgov.com dfiggs@larimer.org Any such notice shall be effective (i) in the case of personal delivery or by overnight courier, when the notice is actually received, or (ii) in the case of first-class mail, the third day following deposit in EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed as set forth above. Any party may change these persons or addresses by giving notice as required above. 6. If either party should fail or refuse to perform according to the terms of this Agreement, such party may be declared in default thereof. If a party has been declared in default, such defaulting party shall be allowed a period of ten (10) days within which to cure said default. In the event the default remains uncorrected, the party declaring default may elect to (a) terminate the Agreement and seek damages; (b) treat the Agreement as continuing and require specific performance; or (c) avail itself of any other remedy at law or equity. If the non-defaulting party commences legal or equitable actions against the defaulting party, the defaulting party shall be liable to the non-defaulting party for the non- defaulting party's reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred because of the default. 7. Nothing in this Agreement shall imply any partnership, joint venture, or other association between the City and the County. Each party shall have sole responsibility for the content and the conduct of its activities. Neither party shall use the other’s name or logo to suggest co- sponsorship or endorsement of any activity without the other’s prior written approval. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Intergovernmental Agreement concerning the QCLH Project, on the day and year first above written. THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, A Municipal Corporation By: _________________________________ Jeni Arndt, Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Clerk Senior Assistant City Attorney ____________________________ _________________________________ (print name) (print name) EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO By: _________________________________ Chair ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Deputy Clerk County Attorney EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 EXHIBIT A (Page 1 of 2) Legal Description of the Conservation Easement A TRACT OF LAND SITUATE IN THE WEST 1/2 SECTION 30, AND IN THE WEST 1/2 OF SECTION 31, ALL IN TOWNSHIP 10 NORTH, RANGE 70 WEST OF SIXTH P.M., COUNTY OF LARIMER, STATE OF COLORADO, WHICH CONSIDERING THE EAST LINE OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 31 AS BEARING S00°05'38'W AND WITH ALL BEARING CONTAINED HEREIN RELATIVE THERETO, IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY LINES WHICH BEGIN AT POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 SAID SECTION 30, WHICH BEARS S00°32'42"E 1320.29 FEET FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 30, AND RUN THENCE N88°04'39”E 2709.41 FEET TO A POINT ON THE EAST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 14 OF SAID SECTION 30; THENCE ALONG SAID EAST LINE, S00°24'25”E 1328.65 FEET TO THE CENTER 1/4 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 30; THENCE ALONG THE EAST LINE OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 30, S00°24'25”E 2639.77 FEET TO THE SOUTH 1/4 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 30; THENCE ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 31, S88°04'30”W 1349.93 FEET TO THE WEST 1/16 CORNER ON THE NORTH LINE OF SAID SECTION 31; THENCE ALONG THE WEST LINE OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF THE NORTHWEST OF SAID SECTION 31, S00°21'45”W 1325.86 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST 1/16 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 31; THENCE ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 31, N88°21'46"E 1356.06 FEET TO THE CENTER-NORTH 1/16 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 31; THENCE ALONG THE EAST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 31, S00°05'18”W 1332.43 FEET TO THE CENTER ¼ CORNER OF SAID SECTION 31; THENCE ALONG THE EAST LINE OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 31, S00°05'38”W 60.32 FEET TO THE EXISTING CENTERLINE OF COUNTY ROAD 74E; THENCE ALONG SAID CENTERLINE, N86°45'21”W 414.88 FEET, AND AGAIN S88°19'16"W 452.92 FEET, AND AGAIN N85°57'26"W 469.78 FEET, AND AGAIN N85°24'44"W 447.88 FEET, AND AGAIN S88°40'25"W 450.01 FEET, AND AGAIN N 86°15'54"W 491.57 FEET TO A POINT ON THE NORTHWEST 1/4 SAID SECTION 31; THENCE ALONG SAID WEST LINE, N00°38'22"E 2533.89 FEET TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 30; THENCE ALONG THE WEST LINE OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 30, N00°32'42"W 2644.30 FEET TO THE WEST 1/4 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 30; THENCE ALONG THE WEST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SAID SECTION 30, N00°32'42"W 1324.01 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING AND THAT PART OF THE NE 1/4 OF SECTION 36, TOWNSHIP 10 NORTH, RANGE 71 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., COUNTY OF LARIMER, STATE OF COLORADO, LYING NORTH OF LARIMER COUNTY ROAD 74E AND EAST OF LARIMER COUNTY ROAD 37, LESS AND EXCEPT A TRACT DESCRIBED IN BOOK 1591 AT PAGE 438, PUBLIC RECORDS OF LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 EXHIBIT A (Page 2 of 2) AND THE NE 1/4 OF THE NW 1/4 OF SECTION 31, TOWNSHIP 10 NORTH, RANGE 70 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., COUNTY OF LARIMER, STATE OF COLORADO EXHIBIT A Draft 2/8/2022 EXHIBIT B QCLH Ranch – Conservation Easement Acquisition Costs Larimer County Fort Collins GOCO Total CE Acquisition $528,762.50 $526,762.50 $144,475.00 $1,200,000.00 Appraisal $23,720.00 - - $23,720.00 Closing Costs $1,000.00 - - $1,000.00 Environmental Assessment $3,200.00 - - $3,200.00 Mineral Remoteness Opinion $2,000.00 - - $2,000.00 Surveys $1,947.00 - - $1,947.00 TOTALS $560,629.50 $526,762.50 $144,475.00 $1,231,867.00 EXHIBIT A