Agenda 04/23/2024 Item #16A 1 (Memorandum of Understanding w/Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation under Conservation Collier)04/23/2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida Wildlife
Corridor Foundation under the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program to allow FWCF to
contribute up to $1,500,000 towards the acquisition of Conservation Collier A-list parcels within the Panther
Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area.
OBJECTIVE: To accelerate the pace of acquisition in the Panther Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area using
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation (FWCF) funds.
CONSIDERATIONS: FWCF champions a collaborative campaign to permanently connect, protect, and restore
the Florida Wildlife Corridor - a statewide network of connected lands and waters that supports wildlife and people.
The organization aligns efforts to lead conservation of the Corridor’s highest priorities, accelerates connectivity by
providing tools and resources that elevate partners’ work, and celebrates collective Corridor successes through
storytelling and art.
The Panther Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area was established in February 2023 and is identified as high-
priority unprotected land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. To date, 51 acres of the 451.6 -acre project boundary
have been acquired. The project area is within the northern reaches of the Horsepen Strand - a forested swamp that
begins at Immokalee Rd in the Northern Golden Gate Estates and flows south into the North Belle Meade area
located north of I-75. Currently, wildlife can move relatively unimpeded across the landscape within the Horsepen
Strand and north into the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. A protected corridor will preserve wildlife’s
freedom of movement through this rapidly developing landscape.
To protect this important wildlife corridor, FWCF is interested in providing up to $1,500,000 in matching 1:1 funds
through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow FWCF to assist the Conservation Collier Program
with Panther Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area acquisition closings from January 31, 2024, through
December 31, 2024. The funds are conditioned on the County offering 100% of the appraised value for properties
in the Target Area (pg. 2 of MOU), which is north of 60th Ave within the Multi -Parcel project area. Though Board
action allows staff to negotiate pricing below the appraised value, it is recognized that if staff does negotiate below
appraised value, Conservation Collier will pay the full cost; if the cost is 100% of the appraised value, the cost will
be split 50/50 between Conservation Collier and FWCF. Additionally, if the property owner requests a purchase
price below appraised value, the cost will be split 50/50 between Conservation Collier and FWCF. If approved,
staff will send offer letters in April 2024 to property owners within the Target Area.
Successful implementation of the MOU could lead to its extension or the execution of a similar 2025 MOU for
unused FWCF funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: The executed FWCF MOU would result in savings of up to $1,500,000 to Collier County for
land acquisitions within the Panther Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area. The funds for land acquisitions within
the Panther Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area are available in the Conservation Collier Acquisition Trust
Fund (1061). FWCF will wire transfer match funds to Conservation Collier Acquisition Trust Fund (1061) after
each Purchase Agreement is approved by the Board of County Commissioners and documentation is received
demonstrating that of the MOU conditions have been met.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Fee simple acquisition of conservation lands is consistent with and
supports Policy 1.3.1(e) in the Conservation and Coastal Management Element of the Collier County Growth
Management Plan.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved as to form and legality and requires a majority vote for
approval. -SAA
RECOMMENDATION: To approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the FWCF under the Conservation
Collier Land Acquisition Program to allow the FWFC to contribute up to $1,500,000 towards the acquisition of
Conservation Collier A-list parcels within the Panther Walk Preserve Multi-parcel project area and authorize the
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04/23/2024
Chairman to execute the attached Memorandum of Understanding.
Prepared by: Melissa Hennig, Environmental Specialist I, Growth Management Community Development
Department
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation MOU (PDF)
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04/23/2024
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.1
Doc ID: 27195
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida
Wildlife Corridor Foundation under the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program to allow FWCF to
contribute up to $1,500,000 towards the acquisition of Conservation Collier A-list parcels within the Panther Walk
Preserve Multi-parcel project area.
Meeting Date: 04/23/2024
Prepared by:
Title: Technician – Development Review
Name: Lucia Martin
11/07/2023 2:13 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Environmental Specialist –
Name: Jaime Cook
11/07/2023 2:13 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Public Services Department Melissa Hennig Additional Reviewer Completed 11/07/2023 4:28 PM
Development Review Summer BrownAraque Additional Reviewer Completed 11/13/2023 9:34 AM
Operations & Regulatory Management Michael Stark Additional Reviewer Completed 11/14/2023 5:17 PM
Growth Management Community Development Department Diane Lynch Level 1 Department ReviewCompleted
11/14/2023 6:02 PM
Transportation Management Operations Support Evelyn Trimino Additional Reviewer Completed
11/14/2023 10:53 PM
Unknown Jaime Cook Division Director Completed 11/21/2023 8:24 PM
Growth Management Community Development Department James C French Growth Management Completed
11/27/2023 5:10 PM
County Attorney's Office Sally Ashkar Level 2 Attorney Review Completed 11/30/2023 2:32 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 11/30/2023 2:35 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 11/30/2023 3:07 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 12/01/2023 3:41 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 04/12/2024 11:13 AM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 04/23/2024 9:00 AM
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16.A.1.aPacket Pg. 221Attachment: Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation MOU (27195 : Conservation Collier MOU with Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation)
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Packet Pg. 222 Attachment: Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation MOU (27195 : Conservation Collier MOU with Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation)
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Packet Pg. 223 Attachment: Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation MOU (27195 : Conservation Collier MOU with Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation)
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Packet Pg. 224 Attachment: Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation MOU (27195 : Conservation Collier MOU with Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation)