Presenter: Ted Hollingsworth

Commission Agenda Item No. 23
Action
Land Sale - Travis County
Austin Game Warden Academy Property
August 23, 2007

I. Executive Summary: Sale of the Austin Game Warden Academy to generate revenue for development of the PAL Ranch Game Warden Academy is authorized by the legislature and recommended by staff.

II. Discussion: TPWD has been training its game wardens at the Austin Game Warden Academy on 50th street, adjacent to the University of Texas campus, since 1978. At only 4.26 acres, instruction at the Austin Academy is limited to classroom instruction and some physical training. With the donation of the 219-acre PAL Ranch in Hamilton County, TPWD will have the facilities to conduct essentially all game warden training functions in one location, and the potential to accommodate training needs of other law enforcement programs. Sale of these 4.26 acres was authorized in May 2007.

In the course of preparing title for the Austin Game Warden Academy, it was discovered that TPWD owns an additional and adjacent 2.4 acres of land. TPWD has worked with GLO and real estate broker Mike Dallas to identify the offer representing the best financial and logistical value to TPWD. The buyer is currently under contract to purchase both the 4.26-acre tract of land authorized by the Commission in May 2007 and the additional 2.4 acres of land. The local public hearing that was conducted per TPWD land sale policy referenced the sale of the entire 6.66 acre tract of state-owned land. The TPW Commission has standing authority for this sale under §13.009. Anticipated revenue from the sale of the additional 2.4 acres is over $1,000,000. Application of the sale proceeds to development of the PAL Ranch facility was authorized in the last session of the legislature.

III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission finds that ownership of land adjacent to the Austin Game Warden Academy is no longer in the best interest of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to sell 2.4 acres in Travis County to generate revenue for improvements to the Game Warden Academy in Hamilton County."

Attachments – 1

  1. Exhibit A – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 23
Exhibit A

Map Showing Subject 2.4-Acre Tract

Location of 2.4-acre tract in relation to Austin Game Warden Academy

For help in interpreting this map, please contact Ted Hollingsworth.