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RESOLUTION
ENDORSING STANDARDS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR A PARKS AND GREENBELT
OPEN SPACE PROGRAM IF APPROVED BY THE VOTERS
OF ANN ARBOR ON NOVEMBER 4, 2003
Whereas,
Uncoordinated development in the areas around Ann Arbor has adversely
affected the quality of life in Ann Arbor leading to:
• Fragmented open space and wildlife habitat • Loss of productive farmland and forestland • Destruction of rural beauty which is part of the character of Ann
Arbor • Decline in water quality due to an increase in polluted runoff
in the • Huron River watershed, and the loss of wetlands • Increased auto dependency, fuel consumption, and air pollution • Relocation of jobs to peripheral areas • Increased traffic congestion, commuting times and costs • Overcrowded schools • Excessive public costs for school construction, roads and utility
extensions to dispersed development
Whereas,
On August 18, 2003, the Ann Arbor City Council by resolution determined
that a need existed for a Parks and Greenbelt Open Space Program for
the acquisition and management of land and land rights in and around
the Ann
Arbor community through taxes pledged to the Program;
Whereas,
The Ann Arbor City Council has adopted the necessary resolution to place
amendment of Section 8.23 of the City Charter on the November 4, 2003 ballot
to authorize a one-half mill tax for 30 years to replace the existing
Land Acquisition
Millage of one-half mil that expires in 2004; and
Whereas,
The Ann Arbor City Council desires to publicly state its intention to establish
standards for procedural guidelines for a parks and greenbelt open space
program if approved by the voters of Ann Arbor on November 4, 2003, consistent
with the following:
1. Millage revenues shall
be used to purchase land and conservation easements both within the
City limits and inside a greenbelt boundary line outside of the City
for the preservation of open space. The proposed greenbelt boundary
lines are identified on the attached map and
more specifically described as: bordered on the north by a line beginning
at the intersection of Zeeb Road and North Territorial Road, extending
eastward to Five Mile and Curtis Road; then south to Prospect Street
and Clark Road; then west along Clark Road to Golfside Drive; then south
to the intersection of Munger and Morgan Road; then west to the intersection
of Zeeb Road and Pleasant Lake Road; then north along Zeeb Road to the intersection of Zeeb
Road and North Territorial Road.
2. Millage revenues will
continue to be used for the acquisition of parkland as previously approved
under the existing millage. It is expected that approximately one-third
of the millage revenues will be used for purchases within the City and
approximately two-thirds for purchases in the Greenbelt area.
3. Millage revenues may be
used to make bond payments for bonds issued for any land or land right
acquisitions in connection with the Program to allow timely acquisition/preservation
of greenbelt properties.
4. Recommendation to City
Council concerning the acquisition of land, land rights and conservation
easements within the City shall be requested from Parks Advisory Commission
(PAC).
5. Recommendation to City
Council concerning the acquisition of land, land rights and conservation
easements for the preservation of open space outside the City shall
be requested from a Greenbelt Advisory Commission (GAC) to be created
by City Council consisting of nine members, appointed by City Council.
The members of the Commission shall include individuals with the following
expertise or affiliation: environmental/conservation organization representative
(2 members), agricultural land owner/agricultural business operator
(1 member), real estate development professional (1 member), plant or
animal biologist (1 member), public-at-large (3 members), Ann Arbor
City Council member. A minimum of six members shall be residents of
the City of Ann Arbor, and shall serve without pay. The organization
and procedures of the Commission shall be consistent with Chapter 8
of the Ann Arbor City Code.
6. Purchases of land, land
rights and conservation easements outside the City for the preservation
of open space will whenever possible or practicable be made using all
available funding sources, such as joint purchase agreements with property
owners, townships, cities, Washtenaw County; grant funds available from
the State of Michigan and the federal government; conservancy and land
trusts. For transactions outside the city, purchases will be favored
in which the City of Ann Arbor's share of the cost is no more than one-third
of the land's appraised value. Acquisitions in which a township or city
provides funds will be favored. The principal acquisition method is
anticipated to be conservation easements. 7. Purchases of land under
the Program will become part of the City park system or will be maintained
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the acquisition agreement
between the seller and purchasers, which may be solely the City or jointly
with other governmental entities, nonprofit public or private organizations
(i.e., conservation organizations, land trusts ) or individuals and
any other applicable agreements (i.e., grants). Whenever the City is
not to be the sole owner of the property, a conservation easement or
other appropriate agreement will be executed defining the rights and
responsibilities of the parties.
8. When created, the function
of the Greenbelt Advisory Committee will be to recommend property that
is located within the defined greenbelt area and has been voluntarily
proposed for acquisition by application of the property owner(s). Other
factors which may be considered as part of the recommendation process
include the proximity to the City limits; characteristics of the property
(species diversity, age of trees, presence of streams or wetlands etc.)
size, proximity to other protected land; current or projected future
use of adjacent property.
RESOLVED,
That City Council endorses the establishment of procedural guidelines
for a parks and greenbelt open space program if approved by the voters
of Ann Arbor on November 4, 2003 consistent with the standards contained
in this Resolution.
Sponsored:
Mayor Hieftje and Council member Johnson Date:
September 2, 2003 APPROVED
the
ballot proposal |