Greenbelt staff report three conservation easement closings, fund balance about $5.7 million

Greenbelt staff told the commission on Jan. 9 that the program closed multiple conservation easements late in 2024 and that a larger closing was scheduled for the following day.

Rosie (staff member) summarized recent project work: the commission’s office completed a conservation easement described as the "Divine" project, a 20-acre forested parcel with vernal pools that sits adjacent to other conserved land. She said a Washtenaw County-held conservation easement called the "Forest Salem" project also closed; Rosie described that parcel as "much larger than 20 acres" but did not specify an exact size. "Closing tomorrow, so not quite the end of the year ... is Webster Township's Heller project, another conservation easement ... 70 acres," Rosie said.

On budget, staff reported a GAC fund balance of about $5,700,000 as of last September and noted that December-end figures were not yet reflected in their spreadsheet. "So we have our, fund balance of, 5,700,000 ish. So that is as of last September," Rosie said. She added that two projects—DeForest and Divine—had closed but were not yet reflected in the reported balance. Staff told commissioners that the program often leverages substantial partner funding (county, federal, township and state sources) and that the commission’s typical contribution is a portion of total project funding.

Rosie said the GAC’s internal pipeline and unrestricted funds totalled about $3,700,000 on the presented spreadsheet; she noted that some projects GAC has recommended remain to be acted on by City Council. No formal votes were taken at the meeting on the projects or budget items.

Commissioners thanked staff for the updates and moved on to the scoring discussion that made up the meeting’s main agenda item.