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funds available for the operation, maintenance, and management be adequate to fund current <br /> needs as well as any anticipated needs in the future. In addition, there may be special costs <br /> associated with owning a particular parcel which will need a funding source above and beyond <br /> acquisition, operation and maintenance. An example would be public improvement assessments <br /> projects such as road improvements, sidewalks, sewers, etc. Alternate sources of funding for any <br /> costs associated with the site should be identified and ev uated. <br /> L ' I . Li s+ o -F- pG`�s tip, i t (e- s r <br /> 4. ALTERNATIVES TO CITY OWNERSHIP <br /> Alternatives may exist to City ownership which still meet the City's planning goals for the <br /> parcel's use as a natural area. The parcel could be accepted for donation by another <br /> governmental agency, by a non - profit conservation group, or remain in private ownership with <br /> government regulation to assure preservation and use consistent with planning goals. <br /> Ownership by Other Governmental Agency <br /> Another government agency might be in a better position to take ownership of a parcel, <br /> especially if the parcel ties in with land the agency already manages. (BLM or Lane County) It <br /> may be logical for another agency to acquire the parcel if they already have experience and staff <br /> to manage parcels with a similar use. <br /> Ownership by Non - profit Conservation Group <br /> The parcel could be accepted by a private preservation group such as the Nature Conservency. <br /> While these groups are usually interested in acquiring and preserving a relatively specific type of <br /> habitat, their advantage lies with their familiarity with that type of habitat and how to manage <br /> such sites effectively. <br /> Private Ownership - Conservation Easements and Enforcement Authority <br /> Private ownership offers options which would provide limited control over the use of the parcel. <br /> The parcel could be owned privately by an individual with a conservation easement granted to <br /> the City which would control the use of the natural area. A conservation easement could also be <br /> obtained for a parcel which is a common area owned by a homeowner association. A third way <br /> could be to incorporate use restrictions into CC &R's for a common area of a subdivision. The <br /> easement description would specify the area covered and the type of use restrictions. <br /> The disadvantage of private ownership is that enforcement of the conservation provisions would <br /> be up to private parties who may not share the same goals as the City for preservation and <br /> management of these areas. A way around this limitation would be for the City to adopt <br /> ordinance provisions or zoning changes which would provide the necessary City enforcement <br /> authority. An example would be to expand the proposed ordinances currently being developed to <br /> provide for buffers and streamside protection zones in the West Eugene Wetlands to include all <br /> areas of the City. <br /> 6 <br />