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Martin County

File #: 26-0208   
Type: Departmental Status: Agenda Ready
In control: Board of County Commissioners
On agenda: 12/2/2025 Final action:
Title: CONSIDERATION OF A PUBLIC PURPOSE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE MARTIN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR APPROXIMATELY 30.7 ACRES LOCATED ALONG SW CITRUS BOULEVARD IN WESTERN MARTIN COUNTY
Attachments: 1. Public Purpose Lease FINAL.pdf, 2. Exhibit A - Lease Premises.pdf, 3. Exhibit C - Policies and Procedures.pdf, 4. SUPP MEMO, 5. Fully Executed Access_and_Maintenance_Easement.pdf

PLACEMENT: Departmental

TITLE:

title  

CONSIDERATION OF A PUBLIC PURPOSE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE MARTIN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR APPROXIMATELY 30.7 ACRES LOCATED ALONG SW CITRUS BOULEVARD IN WESTERN MARTIN COUNTY

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

executive summary

The Board is requested to consider approval of a Public Purpose Lease Agreement (“Lease”) with the Martin County Fair Association, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit fair association, for approximately 30.7 acres along SW Citrus Boulevard in western Martin County, along with a Non-Exclusive Access and Maintenance Agreement.

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DEPARTMENT: Administration                     

PREPARED BY:                      Name: George M. Stokus                      

                     Title:                     Assistant County Administrator                     

REQUESTED BY:                                                

 

PRESET:     

PROCEDURES: None                     

 

BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:

 

 

1.                     Lease drafted by: Martin County

 

2.                     Parties: Martin County, as Lessor, and Martin County Fair Association, as Lessee

 

3.                     Purpose: To provide the Fair with a new location where capital investments can be made to benefit the public.

 

4.                     New/Renewal/Modified: New

 

5.                     Duration: An initial term of ten (10) years, with three (3) additional ten (10) year renewal options, for a total potential lease term of forty (40) years.

 

6.                     Benefits to Martin County: Engagement with an operator that promotes and educates the public about local agriculture, strengthens community ties, and contributes to the local economy. The County would also retain the right to use the parking lot as a temporary disaster relief staging area during natural disasters or declared states of emergency.

 

7.                     Costs to Martin County: None

 

The Martin County Fair Association is seeking to utilize approximately 30.7 acres of property adjacent to SW Citrus Boulevard for public exposition and community events as authorized by Chapter 616, Florida Statutes.  The Lease is structured as a typical ground lease, with the Fair being responsible for the construction of certain improvements (Fair office/agricultural education space, general and handicapped parking, public restrooms, and site work required for a “rustic fair”) and with the County taking title to all improvements at the end of the Lease term.  The Fair must submit a site plan for the improvements within six (6) months after the effective date of the Lease, and all improvements must be completed within three (3) years of site plan approval. 

 

The Lease premises is to be used by the Fair exclusively for hosting the Martin County Fair and for other expositions as authorized by Chapter 616, Florida Statutes. The Fair is permitted to license or rent space to other users, provided such use is directly related to the Martin County Fair or other permitted expositions.  Annual rent during the Lease term is $120.  Exhibit “B” of the Lease outlines the performance measures and the associated timelines, and Exhibit “C” sets forth the Policies and Procedures for the Martin County Fair.

 

The County is authorized pursuant to Section 125.38, Florida Statutes, to lease real property owned by the County to not-for-profit organizations organized for the purposes of promoting community interest and welfare.

 

Also included in this item is a request to approve a Non-Exclusive Access and Maintenance Agreement, which will provide legal access to the leased premises and allow for the Martin County Fair Association to install and maintain the necessary drainage infrastructure.  A copy of the partially executed Non-Exclusive Access and Maintenance Agreement is attached to this item by supplemental memo.

 

ISSUES:

 

None

 

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:

 

This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, and staff has identified and addressed legal risks and developed strategies for legal defensibility, as applicable.

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

 

RECOMMENDATION

Move that the Board:

1.                     Approve the Public Purpose Lease Agreement between Martin County and the Martin County Fair Association, Inc.;

2.                     Approve the Non-Exclusive Access and Maintenance Agreement between Martin County and the Martin County Fair Association, Inc.; and

3.                     Authorize the Chair to execute the above-referenced documents, along with any additional documents associated with this transaction.

 

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Provide staff with further direction.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

RECOMMENDATION

None

                     

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

None

 

DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:

Budget Transfer / Amendment                      Chair Letter                                                               Contract / Agreement

Grant / Application                                          Notice          Ordinance                     Resolution

Other:     

This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback <http://www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback>.