39DDC9F75F90CB5187258A84006EE8E6 Hearing Summary

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Date Dec 13, 2023
Location SCR 357

Department of Natural Resources - Three Property Transactions Approved

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01:11:36 PM

The committee returned
to order. Jeff Davis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) director,
Justin Rutter, CPW Wildlife Budget Director, and Margaret Taylor, CPW Capital
Development Program Director, presented the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) FY 2024-25 capital requests. CPW distributed fact sheets, which are
included as Attachment F. Mr. Davis provided opening remarks on the department
and its activities. Mr. Rutter provided an overview of DNR's two annual
line items: (1) Infrastructure and Real Property Maintenance; and
(2) Property Acquisition and Improvements. Ms. Taylor responded to
questions regarding improvements to be made to the Highline State Park
dam, and decontaminating aquatic nuisance species.

01:34:03 PM

Daphne Gervais, Director
of Legislative Affairs for DNR, presented three property transaction proposals,
starting with the Hohnholz Lake State Wildlife Area Lease Renewal request.
Committee members received a packet of information on the proposal,
assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment G).

01:37:39 PM	Motion	Recommend support for the lease renewal for the Hohnholz Lakes State Wildlife Area ($56,000 per year for 20 years plus annual CPI increases).
	Moved	Story
	Seconded

	Lindsay	Yes
	Mullica	Yes
	Simpson	Yes
	Weinberg	Excused
	Story	Yes
	Hinrichsen	Yes
		YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:37:46 PM

Ms. Gervais presented
the Elk Creek State Wildife Area Conservation Easement and Access Easement.
Committee members received a packet of information on the proposal,
assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment H). Ms. Kimberly
Rogers, CPW Real Estate Section Manager, responded to questions regarding
the arrangement for the easements whereby a third party holds the easements.
Johnathan Lambert, CPW Area Wildlife Manager, responded to questions
regarding whether the owner of the property on which the easements will
be placed will continue to conduct commercial hunting operations on the
property. Senator Mullica made comments on this arrangement. Discussion
ensued on this point, as well as the former point. Ms. Rogers responded
to questions regarding how third parties manage state-owned easements.

01:55:03 PM	Motion	Recommend support for the contribution of funding assistance for a conservation easement to be held by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust ($2,500,000 for 9,309 acres) and the acquisition of a perpetual public access easement ($0 for 9,309 acres) for the Elk Creek State Wildlife Area.
	Moved	Story
	Seconded

	Lindsay	Yes
	Mullica	No
	Simpson	Yes
	Weinberg	Excused
	Story	No
	Hinrichsen	Yes
		YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:55:10 PM

Ms. Gervais presented
the Collard Ranch State Wildlife Area Fee Title Acquisition property transaction
proposal. Committee members received a packet of information on the
proposal, assembled by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment I). Senator
Mullica provided his position on the proposal. Mark Lamb, CPW Area
Wildlife Manager, explained the layout of the property to be acquired.

02:03:41 PM	Motion	Recommend support for the fee title purchase of the two parcels, the Collard Ranch property ($8,250,000 for 1,860 acres) and the Michigan Creek parcel ($0 for 120 acres).
	Moved	Story
	Seconded

	Lindsay	Yes
	Mullica	Yes
	Simpson	Excused
	Weinberg	Excused
	Story	Yes
	Hinrichsen	Yes
		YES: 4 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Department of Natural Resources - Three Property Transactions Approved

Colorado General Assembly