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KITTITAS COUNTY <br /> DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br /> PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br /> STUDY SESSION DATE: November 12, 2024 <br /> TOPIC: Springwood Ranch <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff for ongoing operations of County property <br /> LEAD STAFF: <br /> Joshua Fredrickson <br /> RECOMMENDATION: <br /> Direct staff for the operation of County property known as Springwood Ranch. <br /> BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br /> • Trust for Public Land, a non-profit organization, acquired real property within the <br /> County known as Springwood Ranch. <br /> • Washington State Legislature provided funding for this property in exchange for <br /> conveying the property. <br /> • Kittitas County accepted title for a portion of the overall Springwood Ranch <br /> property. <br /> • Ongoing maintenance and operations will be required. <br /> • Over the next two years, we project that Springwood Ranch operations will run a <br /> deficit. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The Trust for Public Land, a non-profit organization, acquired real property in Kittitas <br /> County commonly known as Springwood Ranch. The Washington State Legislature <br /> provided funding for this property in exchange for conveying the property for public <br /> benefit purposes. This included conveying property to Kittitas County,the Washington <br /> State Department of Fish and Wildlife,the Yakima Nation and Kittitas Reclamation <br /> District. The public benefit for the portion conveyed to Kittitas County is associated with <br /> maintaining existing agricultural uses or future uses allowed under current zoning that <br /> provide a public use benefit. <br /> Final property transfer occurred October 31, 2024. This transfer of property included <br /> Kittitas County accepting title from the Trust for Public Lands. Current use of the <br /> property includes a grazing lease and two caretakers provide contracted services. <br /> DISCUSSION: <br /> Kittitas County staff expects that the County-owned lands will continue to be managed <br /> for agricultural purposes into the foreseeable future. All four property owners are <br /> requesting grant funding to help cover interim expenses. However, even with grant <br /> Page 1 of 2 <br /> Public Works"Work Session Staff Report",2024 <br />