PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
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REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE’S LIST OF RECOMMENDED PROPERTIES FOR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
In November 2024, the voters of Martin County approved a referendum authorizing the collection of a 0.5% sales tax to fund the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands. On June 18, 2026, the Environmental Lands Oversight Committee (ELOC), a nine-member Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) appointed citizen advisory board, developed a ranked list and recommended approval of acquisition of eight properties. This item seeks initial BOCC authorization to use sales tax funds for the acquisition of these properties. Before final acquisition, separate BOCC action will be required to complete each acquisition.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: Name: Michael Yustin
Title: Senior Project Manager
REQUESTED BY: Board of County Commissioners
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
On February 20, 2024, the BOCC voted to place a referendum on the 2024 general election ballot for the purpose of leveraging a 10-year 0.5% sales tax to acquire environmentally sensitive lands. The anticipated total revenue from this tax is approximately $220 million, and approximately $21 million has been collected to date. The collected funds are designated solely for land acquisition within four designated project areas: IRL South, Pal Mar, Loxa-Lucie, and Blueways. Concurrently, Ordinance #1221 was adopted to establish the framework for this land acquisition program. In November 2024, the voters of Martin County passed the referendum. The BOCC then appointed a nine-member ELOC to review, evaluate and provide recommendations for environmentally sensitive lands that have been nominated for acquisition as a part of the 2024 Sales Tax Referendum. The BOCC also approved an Environmental Lands Oversight Committee Manual to outline the process by which lands are nominated, ranked and recommended for acquisition.
On June 18, 2026, the ELOC developed a ranked list and recommended approval of acquisition of the 8 properties described in the presentation attached to this item. This item seeks initial BOCC authorization to use sales tax funds for the acquisition of these properties. It is important to note that this may include fee simple or conservation easement acquisitions. Before final acquisition, separate BOCC action will be required to approve these acquisitions on a parcel-by-parcel basis.
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board approve the use of funds generated from the 2024 Sales Tax Referendum and direct staff to proceed with fee simple acquisitions or conservation easements on the eight properties recommended by the ELOC.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Provide staff with additional guidance or alternate 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: