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• <br /> acceptance may be the best means of ensuring that the City's natural resource and open space <br /> goals are met. However, a parcel should only be accepted after a thorough evaluation of the <br /> acceptance criteria discussed . The following two recommendations are aimed at this goal: <br /> a. Development of an evaluation matrix which can be used to rate parcels on how well they <br /> meet the acceptance criteria presented in this discussion. The development and <br /> implementation of an evaluation matrix is perhaps the most important recommendation to <br /> emerge from this discussion. This tool will help in the decision making process when <br /> acceptance of areas may result in costs, liabilities, and requirements for the City which <br /> may outweigh natural resource and open space values. During times of limited <br /> management and maintenance budgets this rating matrix will allow the available funding <br /> to be applied to acceptance of the highest value sites. <br /> b. Establish an interdepartmental review team to perform the matrix evaluations. This team <br /> should include representative staff from all program areas likely to be affected by such an <br /> acquisition, such as Planning and Development, Parks Planning, Urban Forestry, Parks <br /> Maintenance, Water Resources Team, and Maintenance Planning. By averaging the <br /> individual rating scores of all team members, an overall suitability rating could be arrived <br /> at for each parcel offered for donation to the City. <br /> 2. Possible options to City ownership which exist for parcels not accepted for City ownership <br /> because they do not meet acceptance criteria or do not rate as high as others and have no <br /> funding available. <br /> a. Acquisition of parcel by another government agency or through agency partnerships. <br /> Seek acquisition of parcel by an agency which would be better suited to maintain and <br /> operate a given parcel. Work with other governmental agencies such as BLM, Lane <br /> County, Springfield, and/or Willamalane Parks District to coordinate, consolidate, and <br /> implement open space and natural resource areas for the metropolitan region. Such <br /> partnerships could help cut costs through maintenance and operation efficiencies and <br /> prevent duplication of efforts <br /> b. Natural / open space areas as separate parcels held in land trust or private ownership by <br /> conservation groups. The natural resource area would be a separate parcel which would <br /> be owned or entrusted to a non - profit conservation group such as The Nature <br /> Conservancy. Another way to achieve this option would be through partnerships with <br /> • <br /> local or regional business where funding for acquisition and maintenance would be <br /> provided by a corporate sponsor. <br /> c. Incorporate natural / open space areas into lots within subdivisions. This would place the <br /> natural / open space area in private property ownership as part of a developed lot. The <br /> natural resource portion of the lot would be preserved through conservation easements <br /> 9 <br />