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Environmental Lands Acquisition Panel

On March 8, 2022 The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed Resolution 2022-016 which called for a Bond Referendum Election for the issuance of general obligation bonds as follows:

To acquire and permanently preserve environmentally significant lands to restore the Indian River Lagoon, protect water resources, natural areas, wildlife habitat, drinking water resources, and construct public access improvements related thereto, shall Indian River County be authorized to issue general obligation bonds up to $50,000,000, maturing within 20 years from each issuance, not exceeding the legal maximum interest rate, payable from ad valorem taxes, with full public disclosure of all spending through annual independent audits.

As the Environmental Bond Program process is initiated, the BOCC will determine the composition of the group responsible for reviewing and ranking the nominated parcels (Environmental Lands Acquisition Panel - ELAP) . As presented in the Draft Environmental Lands Program Guide, the duties and responsibilities of the ELAP will include the following:

  • Comply with the mandate of the electorate vote in accordance with Indian River County policies enumerated herein.
  • Make recommendations to the BOCC concerning modifications to the Indian River County ELP Guide to meet the needs of Indian River County.
  • Present to the BOCC, for their approval, a recommended program for the purchase of environmentally significant lands.
  • Investigate and consider alternative non-ad valorem-based funding sources for the purchase of environmentally significant lands.
  • Receive and review individual proposals nominated for purchase in accordance with the criteria established in this ELP Guide.
  • Create an annual summary for land acquisition in accordance with the criteria established in this ELP Guide from which due diligence investigations and purchase negotiations shall be commenced. The project summary shall carry over those sites still under consideration from the previous year’s cycle.
  • Based upon a staff report, make recommendations to the BOCC concerning the acquisition of Environmentally Significant sites. The ELAP’s recommendation shall specifically identify the land and interest therein to be acquired, and features of the land that meet (and don't meet) the selection criteria set forth in this ELP Guide.
  • Make use and management recommendations to the BOCC regarding environmentally significant lands to be protected.
  • The ELAP shall conduct an annual review and evaluation of the environmentally significant lands being considered for acquisition based on the results of purchase negotiations, funding opportunities with State and Federal preservation programs and the criteria established by this ELP Guide, reprioritize same, add new sites or delete sites, and provide a written report of results thereof to the BOCC.

Terms, Meetings, and Membership

The 2022 Draft ELP Guide proposed formation of an Environmental Lands Acquisition Panel (ELAP), with the following composition:

  • One (1) appointee residing in each of the five districts by their respective County Commissioner
  • Four (4) members “at large” with professional credentials and affiliations.
The Draft ELP Guide presents that the four “at large” members be selected from the following three categories:
  • Two (2) members with a broad background and professional experience in Natural Resources
  • One (1) member with extensive professional experience in Real Estate or Finance
  • One (1) member with extensive professional experience in Planning or Engineering

To further the objectives of Resolution 2022-016 and initiate the Environmental Lands Acquisition process, the BOCC will need to provide their designated district appointee to serve on the ELAP. In addition, the application process for the 4 “at large” positions has been initiated.

Voting Members

  1. VACANT - Appointee residing in each of the five districts by their respective County Commissioner
  2. VACANT - Appointee residing in each of the five districts by their respective County Commissioner
  3. VACANT - Appointee residing in each of the five districts by their respective County Commissioner
  4. VACANT - Appointee residing in each of the five districts by their respective County Commissioner
  5. VACANT - Appointee residing in each of the five districts by their respective County Commissioner
  6. VACANT - “At large” Member
  7. VACANT - “At large” Member
  8. VACANT - “At large” Member
  9. VACANT - “At large” Member