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MEMO <br /> January 2, 1996 <br /> TO: Council Officers <br /> FROM: Barbara Keller <br /> SUBJECT: Park and Open Space Land Acquisition <br /> Council has identified the need for a more aggressive Park and Open Space land acquisition <br /> program in the Council Goals Process and those needs were incorporated in the Council Long- <br /> term Financial Plan. There is a lead time of several months that is required to pull together the <br /> identification of acquisition needs 'reflected in several adopted plans for parks and natural resource <br /> preservation. I would like to request that Council Officers schedule an item as soon as possible <br /> for Council discussion on the timing for this planning effort to begin. Using the example of the <br /> successful bond measure for the Portland Metro Greenspace acquisition program, the agenda item <br /> would include a request for $50,000 in contingency funds to initiate planning to produce a <br /> document identifying city -wide priorities for acquisition of land for parks, open space and natural <br /> resource areas. A scope of work for this activity has been developed by staff as preparation for <br /> inclusion in the FY97 proposed budget. By initiating this work activity now, it will be possible to <br /> have a first review of land acquisition needs reflected by the integration of existing planning <br /> documents by May -June 1996 for Council review. A citizen involvement process to develop the <br /> elements of a revenue measure could be completed by October - November 1996. Council would <br /> then be in a better postition to make an informed decision regarding the scope of possible revenue <br /> measures and the opportunities for public /private partnerships in the full range of acquisition, <br /> development and maintenance needs. <br /> While this item is currently scheduled to come back to Council on February 21, 1996 as part of <br /> the Council Goals, I am requesting that it be highlighted for discussion and decision by Council as <br /> a separately identified item at an earlier Council meeting. My expectation for background <br /> material for this agenda item would include the project scope as developed by staff for the FY97 <br /> budget process as well as a timeline for Council decision points and the identification of impact to <br /> current work plan activities if this work were to be added now. <br /> Jan Childs, Les Lyle and I are planning on being at the January 9th Council Officers meeting to <br /> answer any of your questions. <br />