Cave Creek OKs agency agreement with Desert Foothills Land Trust to aid 4,000‑acre open‑space fundraising

The Town of Cave Creek approved an agency agreement with Desert Foothills Land Trust (DFLT) to accept and administer private donations toward the town’s goal of acquiring approximately 4,000 acres of open space.

Staff explained the agreement creates an agent relationship in which DFLT will manage donor accounts, issue donor acknowledgement letters for tax purposes, and handle administrative work associated with private contributions. The agreement includes an administrative reimbursement cap of $60,000 to the land trust for implementation work.

Town management reviewed the provenance of the prior Friends of Open Space account (FORCE) that DFLT historically helped manage and said the new agreement responds to recommendations from the open‑space ad hoc task force. DFLT board chair Bill Olman thanked the town for the partnership, calling the 35‑year relationship with Cave Creek “wonderful” and urged the council to move forward with fundraising activity.

Public comment supported the move: longtime volunteer and finance‑task‑force member Bill Basur urged broad community participation and said donors will want clear donor materials tracing how contributions will be used. Staff said a donor acknowledgment and remittance letter had been drafted and that DFLT would confirm its form prior to launching solicitations. Council voted to approve the agreement; the motion carried as recorded in the meeting.