Title
Consideration of Citizen Petition by Jerry Carlton
Description
This report provides the City Council with information in response to the citizen petition submitted by Mr. Jerry Carlton at the Dec. 13, 2023 Formal Meeting.
Report
Summary
The attached document (Attachment A) was submitted to the City Council regarding a request to adopt a City Ordinance 1) prohibiting the acquisition of additional park land if any park property were to remain undeveloped after five years, and 2) requiring the Parks and Recreation Department to re-convey title of park property back to the original owner for a nominal value if it remains undeveloped for 10 years.
The City Council may direct staff to propose an ordinance incorporating the first request. The second request affects the Parks and Recreation Board's Charter authority to manage park property. The City Council cannot adopt this request without the Parks and Recreation Board's concurrent approval. Presently, the City Council may only direct staff to put this request on the Parks and Recreation Board's agenda.
After reviewing both requests, staff recommends the City Council decline to take any action for the reasons stated below.
The Department's ability to construct and operate parks throughout the City is dependent on various factors, including the availability of funding, the availability of potential preserve or park land on the market, and other factors outside the City's control. When potential park or preserve land becomes available for purchase or donation, the Department will try to acquire such property before the land goes off the market again. Forcing the City to develop park land after five years will force the Department to forgo the opportunity to acquire additional park or preserve land when it becomes available. This will affect future Phoenix residents' access to parks and preserves. For that reason, staff recommends the City Council take no action regarding the first request.
The second request would also negatively impact the Parks and Recreation Department's ability to provide valuable open space and recreation opportunities for the community. Rather than constructing parks based on careful planning based on community outreach and growth patterns, this request will force the construction of parks based on an arbitrary deadline instead of rational planning. For that reason, staff recommends the City Council take no action regarding the second request.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Parks and Recreation Department.