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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> Natural resource values, maintenance, usage, and funding issues associated with the acceptance of <br /> non - developable parcels have been discussed in the proceeding paper. Hopefully, this discussion <br /> has shown that these lands can be a valuable asset to the City as natural park areas and wetlands, <br /> or just as easily, a relatively undesirable liability if significant negative factors are overlooked. <br /> Conclusions <br /> 1. Parcels considered for donation to the City as open space, parkland, or natural areas should <br /> first be evaluated to determine their suitability and value before acceptance by the City. <br /> 2. There are a number of factors that need to be considered prior to any decision on acceptance <br /> of parcels offered for donation. Certain factors may prove more significant than others and <br /> should therefore receive a heavier weighting. <br /> 3. Potential donations should be evaluated based on a set of established guidelines that consider <br /> natural resource values, management and maintenance costs, nuisance conditions, and other <br /> factors identified in this paper. <br /> 4. There are currently no established guidelines nor process to facilitate a thorough and timely <br /> evaluation of such land donation requests. <br /> Recommendations <br /> 1. City acceptance of donated parcels determined to be of high resource and recreational value <br /> based on evaluation of acceptance criteria, as long as maintenance and management funding is <br /> available. It is recognized that the donation of non - developable parcels offers an excellent <br /> opportunity for the City to increase the natural area /open space resource while offering the <br /> possibility to preserve valuable habitat for T &E species. To remain a valuable asset, the <br /> availability of funding necessary to manage and maintain the site must be budgeted. City <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 to <br /> be applied to acceptance of the highest value sites. <br /> 9 <br />