AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH BLUFFSTONE, LLC FOR THE LEASE OF LAND, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF A RESIDENCE HALL ON THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARABOO-SAUK COUNTY

RESOLUTION NO. ____ - 2013

AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH BLUFFSTONE, LLC FOR THE LEASE OF LAND, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF A RESIDENCE HALL ON THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARABOO-SAUK COUNTY

            WHEREAS, in 1966, Sauk County and the City of Baraboo jointly purchased certain real property which was improved and developed on a 50/50 basis to become the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County; and,

            WHEREAS, in 1966, the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to lease the Campus from Sauk County and the City of Baraboo to operate the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County as an institution of higher learning; and,

            WHEREAS, in 1969, the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County Campus Commission was created and comprised of County and City representatives to oversee the County's and City's interest in the Campus; and,

            WHEREAS, in 2006, Sauk County and the City of Baraboo commissioned a master planning analysis for the campus that identified the potential for a residence hall, and an updated market analysis was completed in 2013 by Baker, Tilly, Virchow, Krause, LLC, indicating that a residence hall on the campus was a viable business proposition; and,

            WHEREAS, the Campus Commission, along with a study sub-committee created by the Campus Commission comprising a representative of the Campus Commission, the County Administrative Coordinator, City Administrator, and other facilities staff personnel, have been studying the matter of a residence hall, and the Campus Commission approved the preparation and release of a competitive request for proposal for qualified firms to submit proposals for the lease of land, construction and operation of a residence hall at no cost to the City and County with the only compensation being a no-cost lease of property; and,

            WHEREAS, the Campus Commission, along with City, County and University staff, reviewed proposals and conducted an interview with qualified firms, and the Campus Commission is satisfied that Bluffstone, LLC, submitted a proposal that is in the best interest of the Joint Owners and the University.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors and City of Baraboo Common Council, met in their respective regular sessions, that the proposal of Bluffstone, LLC for the lease, construction, and operation of a residence hall on the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County is approved, subject to the final approval of the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County Campus Commission which is hereby delegated to act on behalf of the Joint Owners; and,

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the lease agreement must be approved by the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County Campus Commission, after review by the Sauk County Corporation Counsel and City of Baraboo Attorney, with the understanding that the lease shall not be for a term of more than thirty years, with the possibility of one ten year extension, and further, that the lease contain a clause that prohibits assignment of the lease or operating agreement absent the approval of the Campus Commission, as well as a clause that provides for the ability of the Joint Owners to buy out the contractor at a prearranged price that will be based on the depreciated value of the improvements on the leasehold at any time during the lease; and,

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Campus Commission is charged with approving a final design that, in the Commission’s discretion, is architecturally compatible with the existing buildings on the campus, and the agreement with Bluffstone, LLC shall be contingent upon the parties arriving at a mutual agreement regarding design; and,   

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the University of Wisconsin Baraboo-Sauk County Campus Commission is delegated the authority to represent the owners in this public/private venture with the understanding that the development of this project is at no cost to the Joint Owners.

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on September 17, 2013 and the City of Baraboo Common Council on September 10, 2013.

Respectfully submitted:

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BARABOO-SAUK COUNTY CAMPUS COMMISSION

__________________________________    ___________________________________

Phil Wedekind, CHAIR                                         Tom Kolb, VICE CHAIR

__________________________________    ___________________________________

Tom Geimer                                                 Andrea Lombard

__________________________________    ___________________________________

Scott Von Asten                                      Rebecca DeMars - Secretary

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Cheryl Giese - Treasurer

Fiscal note:   This project is a public/private venture whereby the Joint Owners are furnishing the land upon which the residence hall is going to be built and Bluffstone, LLC, incurs the cost of construction and the operation of the residence hall.  As such, there is no direct fiscal impact. 

MIS note:  No MIS impact.