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Home My WebLink About1998 04 13 Informational Item A COMMISSION AGENDA , ) , Il~EM A Regular Consent Informational XX April 13, 1998 Me:eting MGR. f?~ fDer:!- REQUEST: The Community Development Department - Planning Division informs the Commission that the City Staff expects to submit two (2) grant applications to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Community Trust and to the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways and Trails in an attempt to receive grant funds to purchase land for greenspace and trails in the Town Center. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Board Item is to inform the Commission that the City Staff expects to submit applications to two (2) grant programs in an attempt to receive grant funds for the purchase of land for greenspace and traib in the Town Center. One grant program involves the Florida Community Trust P-2000 Program that would award grant funds for the purchase of land to enhance a local or regional network of linked greenways by extending greenways or closing gaps. A 25% match from the City is required and ownership of the lands purchased with the grant funds would be retained by the City. The other program, under the Office of Greenways and Trails, acquires land for public greenspace and trails does not require a local match. The land in this program is retained in Stawownership. APPLICABLE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY: The provisions of 163.3167(11) F.S. which state "Each local government is encouraged to articulate a vision of the future physical appearance and qualities of its community as a component of its local comprehensive plan, The vision should be developed through a collaborative planning process with meaningful public participation and shall be adopted by the governing body of the jurisdiction. April 13, 1998 INFORMATIONAL AGENDA ITEM A Page 2 The provisions of380.507(2) F.S. which state [The Florida Communities Trust's powers are] "To undertake, coordinate, or fund activities and proj1ects which will help bring local comprehensive plans into compliance and help implement the goals, objectives, and policies of the conservation, recreation and open space, and coastal elements oflocal comprehensive plans, or which will otherwise serve to conserve natural resources and resolve land use conflicts.....(5) To acquire interests in land by means of land and exchanges, and enter into all alternatives to the acquisition offee interests in land, including the acquisition of conservation easements, life estates, leases, and leaseback arrangements. The trust may accept donations of any interest in land. (6) To award grants and make loans to local[ governments and nonprofit organizations for the purposes listed in subsection (2) and for acquiring fee title and less than fee title, such as conservation easements or other interest in land, for the purposes of this part. " The provisions of260,OI2(5) F.S. which state "It is the intent of the Legislature to officially recognize the Florida National Scenic Trail as Florida's official statewide trail from the Florida Panhandle to the Everglades. It is also the intent of the Legislature to encourage all state, regional and local agencies who acquire lands to include in their land- buying efforts the acquisition of sufficient legal interest in the lands over which the trail passes to ensure its continues existence in a permanent location. " The provisions of260.12(3) F.S. which state "The planning, development, oper.ation, and maintenance of the Florida Greenways and Trails System authorized by 250.011 - 260.018 is declared to be a public purpose, and the Department of Environmental Protection, together with other governments and agencies of the state and all counties, municipalities, and special districts of this state is authorized to spend public funds for such purposes and to accept gifts and grants of funds, property, or property rights from public or private sources to be used for such purposes." CONSIDERA TIONS: * The City Staff has outlined a number of parcels in the proposed Town Center for acquisition as greenspace or trails to be held in public trust by the City or state. April 13, 1998 INFORMATIONAL AGENDA ITEM A Page 3 * There are two (2) grant programs that may be utilized. The Florida Communities Trust - Preservation 2000 Program, and the Greenways and Trails Program. * The City is eligible to receive up to five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) from the Florida Communities Trust - Preservation 2000 Program for the purchase of greenspace and trails. Approval is based on a points system and is very competitive statewide. There is a required local match of25% of the grant funds awarded. Under this program, the City would retain ownership of the land purchased. * The Greenways and Trails Acquisition Program acquires land for public greenspace and trails. There is no local match required in this program, but ownership is retained by the state, * The City Staff is proposing to apply for grant funds to be applied to acquisition oflands for public greenspace and trails throughout the Town Center. FUNDING: The City is required to match 25% of the grant funds awarded if the grant is funded through the Florida Communities Trust - P-2000 Program. The maximum grant award available to a single municipality is $5,060,000.00 which would require a local match of$I,265,000.00. City owned land or dona.tions may be used for matching fund value. Grants funded through the Greenways and Trails Acquisition Program does not require a local match. RECOMMENDATION: Information Only COMMISSION ACTION: