City Council Minutes 2000 02 01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Brown stated that council members and citizens have spent a lot of time over the course of the last several weeks working together on the ordinance. Much of the focus has been on providing an Ordinance that will bring to the City an Open Space Board and management standards that allow the City to be proud and protect the City's open space, while still allowing citizens to enjoy such open space. He noted that the ordinance might require further adjustment, but that the council and the citizen initiative committee had made significant progress. He asked whatever action is taken, it be on the revision recently made. Jay Berger, 1016 Main Street, proponent of the Open Space Board Petition, agreed that great strides have been made. He noted that he, Councilmen Brown and Mayer, and Ty Gee have worked very hard, and listened to each other. The negotiation process is allowing both parties to come to agreement and move forward. He felt confident that the issues could be worked out if both sides were willing to give a little. Mr. Berger noted that the document outlines the process. It establishes an Open Space Advisory Board, and provides an inventory for all open space lands. The second process is to develop a master plan. This master plan would be developed by the Open Space Advisory Board, in conjunction with the inventory information, supportive staff, and outside scientific help. This master plan would provide recommendations to Council for approval. Included in the master plan would be protection of all the open space lands, trails, and types of recreation allowable in open space. This plan would also call for restoration of open space lands. Mr. Berger stated that a master plan would then be developed by the Open Space Board utilizing the inventory to create a classification system, which would include three levels; open space preserve, open space protectorate, and open space visitor lands. The fourth level is yet to be decided. Each step will include staff involvement, support and council approval. Mr. Berger stated that Section 2.2. of the Ordinance, provides a new idea of a map outlining open space. The petitioners want to establish open space through the inventory, and then separate by classification. Mr. Berger stated he believed the major issues could be worked out, and noted that each new draft has brought fewer comments and changes. Mr. Berger stated the Petitioners are willing to withdraw the initiative petition from the ballot, if progress can be made on the issue of the inventory and inventory maps. He asked the Council to consider the suggested changes. He felt that they could come to terms with the issues, and there would be no need for an election. Berger stated that without an election the City would save about thirty thousand dollars, develop an Open Space Advisory Board and enhance citizen participation. Davidson pointed out a preliminary open space map, and announced that Council will have a work session on the Open Space Ordinance on Thursday, February 4, 2000, at 7:30 a.m. 10