Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2015 04 08

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes March 11th 2015 Page 3 of 8 cities and commissioners to help them identify land acquisition targets. They also use a comprehensive plan to help them direct their planning. If they get the go -ahead from their directors, then the plans move forward. These plans are held private until they are presented to the advisory committee, and then the basic details of the plan are made public. An attorney attends this meeting, and the advisory board can express any concerns. Due diligences during this process include looking at environmental assessment, examining leases and mineral rights, etc. Mike asked whether there are priorities within the comprehensive plan or whether it's mostly a reactive process. Janis answered that within Boulder County's open space there are cultural, environmental, open space, agricultural elements. In the comprehensive plan there are specific properties identified, but these may be changed. She mentioned that private landowners don't like to be listed as target properties. Helen remarked that Joy has a lot of bureaucracy to help document and work on several deals simultaneously. Janis and Joy both said that there is lot of documentation that they hang on to, and that it helps them answer future questions, even when a property is not chosen. Janis clarified that the entire process is private until the deal is essentially done. Sarah said that her organization can keep proceedings entirely private, except for fundraising efforts, which necessitates public involvement. Her process tends to be more informal, though still very carefully documented. The staff has a lot of autonomy from the board. Their first step is to order and inspect titles for a target property, and then the internal staff discuss the property. Then the board is given the general structure of the plan, and asked if they should pursue it, but never given an actual cost. That is left to the discretion of the staff. Sarah said that sometimes a landowner approaches them, and sometimes they identify specific land (or land types) and approach the landowner. They sometime cold call or get introductions to landowners. Helen asked how Colorado Open Lands determines desirable properties. Sarah answered that they have an application form that landowners can fill in (ownership information, conservation values, etc.). Helen asked how often Colorado Open Lands turns down landowner applicants. Sarah estimated that they turn down 20 -30% of landowner approaches. Some reasons include: landowners not understanding what their land is worth, mineral activities on the land that Colorado Open Lands isn't comfortable with, or low conservation value to the land. Sarah said that they will close on 15 easements of about 20,000 total acres in 2015. Missy asked Joy and Janis to gauge how active vs. re- active their organizations are about land acquisition. Janis replied that Boulder County is very active, doing cold calls, etc. Christopher asked whether the panelists ever engage with the real estate brokerage community. Janis said that sometimes they do for carving up property and selling sections, such as selling a house that's on the property. Joy works with Tax Credit Correction to identify parcels for acquisition. They rarely work with the broker community. Sarah said that they do work quite a bit with the real estate brokerage community, especially with the rancher communities. Sarah often gives presentations to brokers to help educate them on easements and water rights issues, since they can be complicated when a property changes hands. Christopher asked whether Sarah walks the perspective landowners through the conservation easement process. Janis pointed out that there could be a conflict of 4