How the county picks and buys land to protect

(a) The prioritized list developed by the commission shall be submitted to the mayor for comments and recommendation. Within sixty days after receipt, the mayor will submit the list to the council with comments and recommendations. The council shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved. Under no circumstances shall the purchase price paid for a property exceed the appraised value as prepared by an independent appraiser engaged by the County. Where there are multiple lands under consideration at any one time, priority shall be given to coastal lands and lands where matching funding is available to leverage the County contribution. (b) Negotiations for acquisition of lands to be preserved shall occur between the County and the seller or its commissioned agent, or a licensed broker only. The commission shall have no role in the negotiations other than in its advisory capacity. (c) Appraisals, title reports, surveying and other costs incidental to the acquisition of land shall be permitted uses of the public access, open space, and natural resources preservation fund. (d) Adequate staff to carry out the provisions of this article and to manage the land acquired shall be provided in the department of finance to maximize the use of available funds by minimizing the payment of commission to outside agents to put together funding plans and to ensure that the County is a good steward of any land that comes under its control through this article. (2005, ord 05-166, sec 5; am 2007, ord 07-21, sec 2; am 2015, ord 15-97, sec 8.)2-218 Article 43. Budget Stabilization Fund.