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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15- Norton Ranch Subdivision Water Adequacy Requirements Memorandum of UnderstandingMEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR NORTON RANCH SUBDIVISION WATER ADEQUACY REQUIREMENTS This AGREEMENT is made and entered into this I day of '2015, by and between Norton Properties, LLC, hereinafter called the "Subdivider," and the City of Bozeman, a municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Montana, with offices at 121 North Rouse Avenue, P.O. Box 1230, Bozeman, MT 59771-1230, hereinafter called the "City," for the purpose of addressing the City's water adequacy requirements for new development. It is the intent and purpose of the Subdivider and the City to hereby enter into an Agreement for Subdivider to transfer certain water rights to City in satisfaction of the required water adequacy obligation related with the property hereinafter described. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein, it is hereby agreed as follows: 1. Property Description This Agreement pertains to, and includes, properties which will be in future phases of Norton Ranch subdivision located in Section 9, Township 2 South, Range 5 East, PMM, Gallatin County, Montana on file and of record in the office of the Clerk and Recorder, Gallatin County, Montana (the "Norton Ranch Property"). The proposed place Norton Ranch Subdivision —Agreement of use of the water rights to be transferred to the City is a sports park located in Tract lAl COS 2554B, W1/2 NW1/4, Sec 3, T2S, RSE, PMM, Gallatin County, Montana (the "City Property") 2. Transfer of Water Rights Under this Memorandum, the Subdivider has been informed of and agrees to comply with, the water adequacy requirements of the City of the Bozeman Development Ordinance. This Agreement specifically includes the transfer of water rights that must first undergo a water rights change from the DNRC to ensure the transferred water rights are legally and physically available to serve water demands of the City on the City Property. Subdivider is the co-owner of three water rights from the West Gallatin River, 41H 300231118-00, 41H 30023119-00, and 41H 30023120-00 (Subdivider's interest in such water rights is hereinafter referred to as the "Norton Water Rights"). The City has determined that, subject to an approved Change Application. the Norton Water Rights are adequate and useful for City purposes. City acknowledges that Subdivider is currently in contract to sell a portion of the Norton Water Rights to a third party and the water rights transferred to the City will be the Norton Water Rights remaining after the sale to such third party. The parties agree that the applicable unit value of the Norton Water Rights is equal to 40.4 % of the City's current Cash in Lieu Unit Cost value, which is expressed in units of applied acre-feet per year. The Subdivider will therefore receive a credit of 0.404 acre-feet for each acre-foot of applied water effectively transferred to the City. The term `applied water' for purposes of this Agreement is defined as the amount of water approved for transfer that was historically applied to the Norton Properties field for irrigation from the Norton Water Rights. The historic applied water location was the pump located in the SESW of Section 9 Township 2 South, Range 5 East. The applied water is the difference between historic diverted volume less conveyance losses. Norton Ranch Subdivision—Agreement 2 3. Change Application The Subdivider shall diligently pursue approval of the water right transfer from the Norton Ranch Property to the City Property and shall, at its sole expense, be responsible for preparing applications and documents to complete the transfer. Those documents may include, but are not limited to, DNRC change applications, deeds to transfer fee simple title of the water rights, DNRC water rights ownership update forms; and any other documents or forms determined necessary. The applicant shall have eighteen months from the date this Agreement is fully executed to file a correct and complete change application(s) with the DNRC, and thirty-six months to complete the transfer of water to the City. The applicant shall cause the legal transfer of the water to the City including the execution of any necessary document(s), form(s), or request(s) in accordance with any applicable and governing documents or laws. In the event the transfer has not been completed within the thirty-six month term provided, the applicant will provide cash, or transfer equivalent volume of Middle Creek Water Users" Association shares, in accordance with Sec. 38.23.180, Bozeman Municipal Code and the water demands of the Subdivider's approved development, unless the parties determine that the transfer will be completed within a reasonable time after expiration of such thirty-six month term and mutually agree to an extension. 4. Financial Guarantee, Time for Transfer of Water Rights If the Subdivider seeks to file a final plat or other approval which requires satisfaction of Sec. 38.23.180, prior to completion of the Transfer of Water Rights, this Agreement shall be secured by a guarantee in a form acceptable to the City of Bozeman. Such guarantee may be financial or an appropriate pledge of shares in the Middle Creek Water User' Association. If the DNRC change application process for the water right has not been completed within the thirty-six month term provided, as the same may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, the Subdivider shall have 45 days to pay the cash in lieu amount, or transfer equivalent volume of Middle Creek Water Users' Associaiton shares, for all lots platted by the City in reliance on this Agreement. If the Norton Ranch Subdivision —Agreement 3 Subdivider does not pay such amount in full within such 45 day period, the Subdivider shall execute all necessary documentation to allow an assessment to be placed against the Norton Ranch Property then owned by the Subdivider such that the balance of the cash in lieu amount owed shall be a lien upon such property and invoiced and paid through the Gallatin County offices in the same manner as other municipal assessments against the property. This documentation will be forwarded to the City Treasurer for annual assessment pursuant to 7-13-4309, MCA. 5. Default Time is of the essence of this Agreement. If the Subdivider shall default in or fail to fully perform any of its obligations in conformance with the time schedule under this Agreement, and such default or failure shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice specifying the default is deposited in the United States mail addressed to the Subdivider at 63026 NE Lower Meadow Drive, Suite 200, Bend, Oregon 97701, or such other address as the Subdivider shall provide to the City from time to time, without being completely remedied, satisfied, and discharged, the City may elect to enforce any remedy provided by law. 6. Attorney Fees If any suit, or action is instituted to interpret or enforce the provisions of this Agreement, to rescind this Agreement, or otherwise with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, the parry prevailing on an issue will be entitled to recover with respect to such issue, in addition to costs, reasonable attorney fees incurred in the preparation, prosecution, or defense of such suit, or action as determined by the trial court, and if any appeal is taken from such decision, reasonable attorney fees as determined on appeal. Norton Ranch Subdivision —Agreement 4 7. Governing Law This Agreement shall be construed according to the laws of the State of Montana. In the event of litigation concerning this Agreement. venue is in the Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County, State of Montana. 8. Modification or Alterations No modifications or amendment of this Agreement shall valid, unless evidenced by a writing signed by the parties hereto. 9. Invalid Provision The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted. 10. No Assignment It is expressly agreed that the Subdivider shall not assign this Agreement in whole, or in part, without prior written consent to City. 11. Successors This Agreement shall be binding upon, enure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and assigns. 12. Filing This Agreement shall be recorded in the Office of the Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder. Norton Ranch Subdivision —Agreement 5 Norton S division 1 BYE`` (Authorized igner) STATE OF 19NT ) County of (3 "alp l On this 1 TTS day of !L 2015, before me a Notary Public of the State -?f Menr�ersonally appeared Q �'�� _ e1C CDC �>�' < - known to met ` be the representatives who executed the foregoing Agreement, and acknowledged to me that they executed the same for and on behalf of said Subdivider. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal the day and year first above written. (SEAL) * OFFICIAL SEAL j� TALLIE 1 BELA1 ff NOTARY PUBLIC• OR COMMISSION NO. ��i3�r83 ION OMUS AUGU913.2617 Norton Ranch Subdivision Agreement Notary Public for the State of -Montana— 1^ Residing at '1 " -+ `� , 1.) My Commission Expires: (Use 4 digits for expiration year) STATE OF MONTANA :ss County of Gallatin THE CITY OF BOZEMAN 5 BY: CRAIG WOOLARD DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS CITY OF BOZEMAN On this / _ day of / , 2015, before me a Notary Public of the State of Montana, personally appeared Craig Woolard, known to me to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument as Director of Public Works for the City of Bozeman, whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same for and on behalf of said City. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal the day and year first written above. (SEAL) KATHERINE MAINES Notary Public for the State of Montana _ Residing at: Belgrade, Montana Pv1Ct��P My Commission Expires: July 22, 2016 Norton Ranch Subdivision —Agreement Not ublic for the State of Montana Residing atm My Commission (Use 4 digits for