Title
Response to Questions Concerning Northeast Park Stormwater (B)
Explanation
Ms. Monica Cooper, member of the Northeast Park Task Force presented a memorandum to the City Commission at their May 14, 2001 meeting. She had three questions/concerns that she asked be addressed.
1. "Did the City Commission give Public Works authority to go ahead with investigating and planning a stormwater facility in Northeast Park?"
2. "Is it city policy that changes in parkland can be made without any review by citizens or the commission once the Parks Department or Public Works Department deems it to be good use of the land?"
3. "I, and many others, find it highly objectionable that the idea of a shared stormwater retention being encouraged by the city would be carried over to the use of a public park to benefit the needs of an adjacent developer."
In regards to #1, the City Commission has not taken specific action to grant Public Works authority to investigate and plan a stormwater facility in Northeast Park. The City Commission did approve the Capital Improvement Plan that contains the Northeast Park Joint Use SMU Facility with $50,000 programmed for FY 00-01. The intent of this project was to investigate, plan and construct a stormwater facility in Northeast Park for joint use.
There is no policy that provides the Parks or Public Works Department authority to make changes to parkland without review by citizens or the Commission as asked in question #2. The Parks Department had presented the proposed skateboard facility to the City Commission and a site plan was submitted to the Development Review Board for their consideration and approval. The site plan included a proposed joint stormwater facility. The Public Works staff never intended to make changes in the use of the Northeast Park property without first obtaining approval from the City Commission and relevant Advisory Boards.
In regards to #3, the City has allowed a shared stormwater...
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