City Council Minutes 2000 02 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Davidson called for City Attorney introduction. Sam Light, City Attorney, read Ordinance No. 1329, Series 2000- An Ordinance Establishing a Louisville Citizens Open Space Advisory Board to Advise the City Staff and Council on Matters Related to the Acquisition, Maintenance, Development, and Use of Open Space Lands as Set Forth in this Ordinance, and Establishing Standards for the Acquisition, Management, Restoration and Preservation of Such Open Space Lands. Light stated that the version in the Council packet includes proposed second reading amendments shown by underlining and strikeout and would also include some suggested changes to the title of the Ordinance. Davidson called for City Council presentation. Brown stated Ordinance No. 1329, Series 2000 is the culmination of long and hard work by several dedicated citizens and Council members aimed at addressing the issues. What was created was a very strong ordinance that addresses the needs of the City open space program provides the City of Louisville a program to protect open space, as well as provide adequate recreation opportunities on open space land. It will establish an open space advisory board that will advise Council on management, acquisition, and other related issues. He stated the negotiations involved council members, a group of citizens primarily representing the Petitioners, and Matt Jones who generously donated a great deal of his time. He stated that there are a few issues that remain open on the language in the management standards and the issue of a map. Brown noted the informal discussions with Council and the Petitioners could lead to a compromise and set the foundation for a strong program. Brown explained that the map delineates in green two classifications of land. The areas in solid green are open space and the areas crosshatched are non-irrigated undeveloped parcels. The Ordinance, if passed, would require all the indicated land be inventoried. Brown explained the Open Space Advisory Board's duties will be two-fold. One is to create an inventory of all undeveloped land, and the other is to recommend a classification of those lands in the form an open space management plan. Classifications of the lands are subject to three categories: open-space preserve, open-space protected and open-space visitor. Starting with preserve and moving to visitor, there would be decreasing levels of protection, with the preserve land designated the most protection, with recreational opportunities discouraged. Protected land would be subject to passive recreational opportunities and visitor land more open to recreational opportunities. All three classifications will be subject to certain management restrictions, including discouraging the use of pesticides wherever possible. This will also include management that encourages native plants, animals and species. The inventory would apply to all land on the map whether crosshatched or designated green. Brown stated no land is prejudged as to its designation. Brown addressed the issue of whether the standards applied in the Ordinance are to be managed with "intent to" or whether more binding language such as "shall" be used. 11