NCLWF Acquisition Committee Agenda 9-29-2026

AGENDA

North Carolina Land and Water Fund
Acquisition Committee Meeting
September 29, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Ross Conference Room
Nature Research Center, 4th Floor
121 West Jones Street, NC 27603

This meeting will also be available to the public by teleconference. Please contact Terri Murray at teresa.murray@dncr.nc.gov or 919-707-9445 in advance to request a meeting invitation/call-in number.

Committee Members:
Mike Rusher (Chair), Kullen Bell, Jimmy Broughton, Ann Browning,
Chuck McGrady, John Watson

1. COMMENCEMENT
   1. Call to Order (Committee Chair)
      1. Welcome
      2. Roll call
      3. Compliance with General Statute § 138A-15

         General Statute § 138A-15 mandates that the Chair inquire as to whether any Trustee knows of any conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest with respect to matters on the agenda. If any Trustee knows of a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, please state so at this time.

      4. Please put cell phones on vibrate or turn off, and if you are a guest joining remotely, please mute your audio and turn off your video unless you are called upon to speak
      5. Revisions, additions, and adoption of the agenda
      6. Approval of minutes from the August 11, 2026 committee meeting
   2. Executive Director’s update (Will Summer)
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
   1. The public is invited to make comments to the Board (Committee Chair)

      The NCLWF Guidelines and Practices Manual states that comments shall be limited to subjects of business falling within the jurisdiction of the NCLWF. The NCLWF welcomes public comments on general issues. Comments will not be allowed on individual projects before the NCLWF for funding during the regular meeting. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person.

3. BUSINESS
   1. Donation Mini-Grant Program Allocation (Marissa Hartzler)

      Staff will review the Donation Mini-Grant Program and recommend an allocation for October 1, 2026, through the 2027 funding meeting.

   2. Review of 2026 Cycle Applications (Marissa Hartzler, Hannah Bowen, Isaac Merson, Damon Hearne)

      Staff will review applications and answer questions and the committee will develop funding recommendations.

4. ADJOURNMENT

North Carolina Land and Water Fund
Acquisition Committee Meeting Minutes
August 11, 2026

The meeting was held via Teams with a physical location on the 4th floor of the Nature Research Center located at 121 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC in room 4508. All Committee Members in attendance were on Teams, and the Teams link was provided to guest attendees.

Committee Members present: Ann Browning (Chair), Mike Rusher, Jimmy Broughton, Darrel Williams, Chuck McGrady, John Watson

Committee Members not present: none

Additional Board Members present: none

Staff present: Will Summer, Marissa Hartzler, Marie Meckman, Sabrina Shaffer, Chad Guthrie, Justin Mercer, Will Price, Ambar Torres Molinari, Teresa Murray, Ginny King, Jessica Winebrenner

Visitors present: George Chiles, Will Robinson

Call to Order (Ann Browning, Chair)

Meeting was called to order by Ann Browning, Chair, at 1:01 pm.

1. Welcome
2. Roll call
3. Compliance with General Statute § 138A-15
   1. No conflicts or appearances of conflicts of interest were noted
4. Revisions, Additions and Adoption of the Agenda
   1. Motion to approve the agenda was made by John Watson, seconded by Jimmy Broughton, and unanimously approved.
   2. Motion to approve the committee meeting minutes from May 5, 2026, was made by Darrel Williams, seconded by Chuck McGrady, and unanimously approved.

Executive Director’s Update (Will Summer)

Will Summer welcomed the newest Board and Acquisition Committee Member, Chuck McGrady and provided an update on appointees to the NCLWF Board.

Public Comments

No public requests for comment.

Business

1. Program Manager’s update (Marissa Hartzler)
   • Staff welcomed Sabrina Shaffer to the Acquisition Team as Conservation Real Property Agent.
   • Staff provided an update on provisional awards from 2025, which totaled 15.
   • Staff provided an update on active closings, which included issuance of 42 approvals to close so far this calendar year. It is anticipated that this October, we will have fewer active grants than in October 2025, despite awarding new projects.
2. 2000A-701 City of Raeford Conservation Agreement Amendment Request (Justin Mercer)

   Motion to allow the conservation easement to be amended to add the NCLWF standard reserved rights along with additional reserved rights that would allow for other park improvements including picnic shelters, a fishing pier, a canoe/kayak access, accessible parking spaces, and a kayak drop off in exchange for a conservation agreement to be placed on the adjacent city-owned tract that will be managed as part of the park was made by Chuck McGrady, seconded by Darrel Williams, and unanimously approved.

3. 1998B-504 City of New Bern Conservation Agreement Amendment Request (Justin Mercer)

   Motion to recommend approving the request to release approximately two combined acres of the 729.5-acre Martin Marietta easement and the 85-acre Cook easement to accommodate the continued use of their Public Works Building and future substation expansion in exchange for protection of comparable conservation land at a 3:1 ratio was made by Darrel Wilson, seconded by Chuck McGrady, and unanimously approved.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 2:17 pm by John Watson, seconded by Chuck McGrady, and unanimously approved.

Agenda Item III. A) Donation Mini-Grant Program Allocation

Each year, the Acquisition Committee is asked to set the allocation of funds for the Donation Mini-Grant (DMG) Program. The allocation will be used to administratively fund DMG applications from October 1, 2026, through the 2027 funding meeting. These funds are used on an as-needed basis and are drawn from license plate revenue and returned grant funds, similar to provisional funding.

Staff recommendation

Recommend to the board funding up to $500,000 in Donation Mini-Grants from license plate revenue and/or returned grant funds through the 2027 funding meeting and via administrative approval delegated to the NCLWF Board of Trustees Chair.

Committee action needed

Approve, amend, or deny the staff recommendation and make a recommendation to the board.

Agenda Item III. B) Review of 2026 Cycle Applications

The Acquisition Committee will review the 2026 applications for acquisition projects and make funding recommendations. Sixty-eight (68) applications for land acquisition projects have been ranked by staff for the Acquisition Committee to review.

Each trustee was given application review materials via Airtable with application scores and links to applications, project summaries, and PowerPoint presentations.

Presentations will be given by staff during the Committee Meeting.

Committee action needed

1. Recommendation to full board of a prioritized list of applications to be funded from the currently available funds, including which project(s) will receive the military buffer funds.
2. Recommendation to full board of a prioritized list of applications to be funded as additional funds become available from license plate fees, funds currently encumbered to projects that may become unencumbered before July 1, 2027, and additional appropriated funds.