Saving Parks and City Environments (SPACE) |
THANK YOU !
The Amendment WON
By an Overwhelming amount!
9,426 yes 88%
1,250 no 12%
You have added your voice to City government.
Thank you
to all the
Home Owners & Home Owner Associations
who contributed to this effort.
Proposed
Amendment to the Rochester
Hills City
Charter under: Section 11.8 - Parks and Open Spaces City-owned parks and open
spaces shall be used only for park and open space purposes and shall not be
sold, leased, transferred, exchanged or converted to another use unless
approved by a majority of votes cast by the electors at an election. .1 “Converted
to another use” means changing the use of a park or open space, or significant part
thereof, from a recreation or conservation use to another use not directly
related or incidental to public recreation or conservation. .2 This
section shall apply to all present and future City-owned property designated as
park or open space in the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The designation of parks or open space shall not be removed or changed
without voter approval. The existing use
of a park or open space on the effective date of this section shall be
considered to be a lawful use for the particular property. .3 All land acquired by the City with proceeds from the 2005 Millage Proposal to Provide Funding to Permanently Preserve Green Spaces and Natural Features within the City of Rochester Hills shall remain permanently preserved.
What is the Proposed City Charter Amendment about: Most residents in Rochester Hills do not realize that after the City has paid off a bond used to purchase park and open space property that it can then do as it pleases with this property including using it for something other than park use or even selling it. In the past few years the City has attempted to do both of these things but was only prevented from doing so as a result of public outcry. According to the City Financial Director, Rochester Hills will run out of reserves in 2014 and is looking for alternative ways to generate revenue. Parkland is a valuable resource that could be considered as a source of revenue. Unfortunately, the City is almost completely developed and if the current parks and open spaces disappear, there will be no available land to buy for parks in the future when they are gone. This Charter Amendment will require no new taxes but will simply protect the parks we have now from disappearing without the citizens’ permission. This Amendment adds your voice to City government and its decisions regarding parks and open spaces. If the City comes up with a great, alternative use for a park property, it can still move forward providing the majority of citizens approve of this other use. Please be sure to vote on November 8th and vote “Yes” on amending the City Charter to add Section 11.8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxVLf9gtNmQ __________________________________________________________________ | TO Volunteer for standing at the polls email: parkspace2011@gmail.com To Donate Send a Check Made payable to: Saving Parks and City Environment (SPACE) Mail attention SPACE Treasure to: 2164 Clinton View Circle Rochester Hills MI 48309 THANK YOU TO THE Home Owner Associations who have donated: Bridgewood Farms Heritage Oaks Cumberland Hills Thornridge Hunters Creek Hampton Eddington Rochester Hills Parks information can be found at: http://www.rochesterhills.org/city_services/parks/park_news.asp The Master Park and Recreation plan for 2011-2015 can also be found here.
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