TITLE
RESOLUTION RETROACTIVELY APPROVING A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR UP TO $4,120,000.00 TO RECEIVE CONTINUED FUNDING FROM THE FARM AND RANCH LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY�S PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND THE FUNDS AWARDED, AND TO ENTER INTO THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED HERETO, UPON REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board approves the County Mayor and/or County Mayor designee�s action to apply for, receive, and expend $4,120,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture, and authorizes the County Mayor and/or County Mayor�s designee to enter into a cooperative agreement with the United States of America in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit �A� upon review and approval of the County Attorney�s Office, and authorizing the County Mayor or his designee to exercise any other rights conferred therein.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject:Resolution entering into a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to receive funding from the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program for Miami-Dade County�s Purchase of Development Rights Program

..Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) adopt the attached resolution retroactively approving application of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant for up to $4,120,000 to continue to receive funding from the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) for Miami-Dade County�s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program. The resolution further authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s Designee to accept and expend the funds awarded; and to enter into a cooperative agreement in substantially the form attached hereto. This is the third FRPP grant awarded to the PDR program.

Scope
Depending on acquisition sites, the PDR program will affect parcels located in Commission Districts 8 and 9, however, the PDR Program is countywide in nature as it contributes to the cultural heritage and environmental quality of the region.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The PDR Program is funded through the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program (BBC GOB), with a total allocation of $30 million. Under the Cooperative Agreement, the USDA will provide a 50 percent match up to $4.12 Million. Miami-Dade County�s match will come from BBC GOB Project 10 funds currently allocated for expenditure in 2011-2012.

The purchases of conservation easement(s) will require Board approval. Acceptance of the grant does not obligate Miami-Dade County to purchase an easement. However, to receive funding an approved purchase must be consummated prior to March 31, 2013.

Acceptance of this grant will have no fiscal impact on the current or future County budgets. If development rights are acquired, future County budgets may have an impact due to the State of Florida�s property tax exemption of perpetually conserved land which exempts certain properties from ad valorem taxation that are subject to perpetual conservation easements.

Track Record/Monitor
This program is monitored by the County�s Agricultural Manager who serves as the PDR Administrator.

BODY
In November 2004, Miami-Dade County voters approved the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program which included $30 million to preserve viable farmland through the acquisition of development rights on property suitable for agricultural use. The
value of land for agricultural use is often significantly less than the value of land sold for development. For that reason, many agricultural landowners choose to sell their farmland for development, threatening the community's agricultural heritage and quality of life. Without programs to help farmers find alternatives to liquidating businesses, farms will continue to disappear at an increasing rate. The PDR Program allows agricultural landowners to retain their existing use rights while receiving compensation for the land's development value. To increase the viability of the PDR Program, staff has applied for grants to increase the funding available to the program. To date, $3.19 million in grants have been awarded to the program and 165 acres of development rights have been acquired by the program.




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Lisa M. Martinez
Senior Advisor