PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
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APPROVAL OF THREE MEMORANDUMS OF AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM, FOR THE ACQUISITION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OVER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PARCELS USING SURTAX FUNDING
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
In 2024, Martin County voters approved a referendum establishing a 0.5% sales tax to fund the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands through fee simple and conservation easement purchases. This item requests Board of County Commissioners (Board) approval of Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, to acquire conservation easements on three separate parcels. Approval of the MOAs will enable partnership with FDACS to secure these easements. The Environmental Lands Oversight Committee recommended these properties on September 5, 2025, and the Board approved them on October 21, 2025.
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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 Board voted to place a referendum on the 2024 general election ballot to levy a 10-year, 0.5% sales tax dedicated to the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands. The tax is anticipated to generate approximately $220 million over its duration. Funds are restricted to fee simple or conservation easement acquisitions within four designated project areas: IRL South, Pal Mar, Loxa-Lucie and the Blueways. Ordinance No. 1221 established the framework for administration of the program.
Following voter approval in November 2024, the Board appointed a nine-member Environmental Lands Oversight Committee (ELOC) to review, evaluate, rank and recommend eligible properties for acquisition. The Boa...
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