Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Expansion of existing community parks including Skinner Butte Park to preserve access <br />to the Shelton-McMurphy-Johnson House, Amazon Park to address space limitations, <br />and Golden Gardens Park to improve safety and recreation opportunities.” <br /> <br />Staff has conferred with the City’s bond counsel, and confirmed that from a legal standpoint, the council <br />has the authority to direct that $1.944 million in bond funds to purchase land for a park and open space <br />site that was not specifically described in the ballot measure language or in the City’s informational <br />brochure about the bond measure. The legal limitation is that the City cannot use a “bait and switch” <br />tactic by getting voters to approve the bond measure with a promise of one or more projects that it did <br />not intend to finance with bond proceeds. Beyond this legal issue, there may also be policy or political <br />issues associated with changing the plan for how bond proceeds are to be spent. <br /> <br />The following table shows the amount originally allocated to each focus area, as well as the current <br />status and the funds remaining for each. <br /> <br />Bond Focus Area Original Status Uncommitted <br />Allocation Funds <br />Remaining <br />Acquire land for neighborhood $10,500,000  20 acres acquired for Santa $9,348,000 1 <br />and community parks Clara Community park (20 <br />more acres needed). <br /> <br />In-holding at Amazon Park <br />acquired. <br /> <br />Negotiation to acquire land <br />adjacent to SMJ House stalled <br />after exhaustive efforts. <br /> <br />One new neighborhood park <br />acquired, and access to one <br />future neighborhood park has <br />improved to date. Suitable park <br />sites with willing sellers have <br />been extremely difficult to find <br />within the target areas that <br />currently lack access to <br />neighborhood parks. <br />Expand and develop Golden $2,000,000 Completed. $0 <br />Gardens Park <br />Acquire land for natural area $7,750,000  More than 370 acres of $1,695,000 <br />parks ridgeline natural areas acquired <br />(Bond target was 60-100 acres). <br /> <br />Willamette River frontage yet <br />to be acquired (30-45 acres) <br /> <br />Gillespie Butte access <br />improvement discussions <br />continue with property owners <br />(1.7 acres). <br />Synthetic surface athletic fields $5,000,000 Four new synthetic fields $412,000 <br />completed. Replacement of two <br />existing synthetic fields remains. <br />Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M101108\S101108C.doc <br /> <br />