§ 2-25-56. Environmental lands acquisition, management and protection policies.

(a)

Acquisition, management and protection. The county will acquire, manage and protect environmental lands in a manner that is consistent with the goals and objectives set forth in this article and the policies of the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan.

(b)

Priorities. The county will restrict its acquisition, management and protection to property interests, whether previously or hereafter acquired, which have been evaluated utilizing the criteria specified in attachment A and approved by the board for the priority list after review and recommendation by the ELMAC committee, and subject to a final determination by the board.

(c)

Acquisition, management and protection methods. The county will acquire environmental lands, or an interest therein, pursuant to this article only after obtaining voluntary approval of the landowner. Methods of acquisition of fee title or property interests will include, but not be limited to, conservation easements, tax incentives, compensation, transfer of development rights, exchanges, use reservations, acceptance of gifts of land, donations, and acquisition of property interests.

(d)

Cooperation with other groups. The county will work in a cooperative manner with, but not limited to, the following entities in the protection of environmental lands:

(1)

Private landowners.

(2)

Municipalities.

(3)

Private nonprofit organizations and land trusts.

(4)

Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

(5)

Southwest Florida Water Management District.

(6)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

(7)

Department of Community Affairs.

(8)

Appropriate federal, state and local agencies.

(e)

Cooperation with profit and nonprofit groups. The county will cooperate and consult with profit and nonprofit conservation organizations and trusts regarding purchase negotiations with willing sellers, environmental inventories and audits, matching funding, and procedures and processes for the acquisition and management of environmental lands. In no event shall this article, the authority granted hereunder, or the efforts of any such organization create an agency relationship, express or implied, between the organization and the county. The county shall not be bound by any person or entity to approve or complete any transaction involving real property or real property interests, as a result of the negotiations or other acts of omissions of such organizations, unless and until approved by formal action of the board.

(f)

Matching funding source. When desirable matching fund opportunities exist, the county will follow and implement protection procedures for environmental lands in accordance with the State of Florida's Florida Forever program, Save Our Rivers program, Florida Communities Trust program, and other matching fund programs to enhance opportunities for securing matching funding from these programs for protection of environmental lands.

(Ord. No. 03-62, § 6, 10-7-03)