Shall City Charter be amended to add additional protections for boat ramps, parks, and natural areas?
Measure 3-612 – If passed, it amends the City Charter to enhance parks, natural areas, and boat ramp protection. It expands the rights of voters to make park-related decisions and ensures responsible management by the City.
A yes vote:
- The City Charter would be amended to enhance parks, natural areas, and boat ramp protection.
- The City Charter would be amended to expand voter rights for park-related decisions, requiring citizen votes for changes of any uses and/or restrictions at Lloyd Minor Park, Stark Boat Ramp, Heritage Park, and other natural areas.
- The City Charter would be amended to ensure that the City responsibly manages and maintains its parks, boat ramp and natural areas.
A no vote:
- The City could change the use of parks, natural areas and the boat ramp without a citizen vote.
- The City Charter would not be amended to enhance park, natural areas, and boat ramp protections.
- The City could sell, lease, or transfer parks without a citizen vote.
- The City could develop park land without a citizen vote.
- The City would not be required to maintain parks, natural areas, and boat ramps.
- The City could install communication towers in parks, natural areas, and other green spaces.
Charter amendment: Enhances park and natural area protection.
Explanatory Statement
The proposed Charter Amendment would change the Rivergrove City Charter by adding protections for parks, natural areas, and green spaces. These protections would apply to properties owned or controlled by the City by requiring a vote from Rivergrove citizens before the City could take certain actions regarding City-owned parks, natural areas, and green spaces.
The proposed protections cover properties owned or controlled by the City of Rivergrove and include:
- Property Transactions: The amendment would prohibit the sale, lease, or transfer of these areas without a vote from the citizens of Rivergrove.
- Development Restrictions: It would prevent any development or change in use of these areas without a vote of the citizens of Rivergrove.
- Communication Towers: Installation of communication or cell towers would be prohibited.
- Boat Ramp Designation: The boat ramp would be designated as a park and natural area, with specific usage hours would be set in the Charter.
- Maintenance Requirement: The City would be required to maintain these parks, natural areas, and green spaces.
- Emergency Use: In emergencies, there could be temporary changes in use for up to 48 hours and possibly up to 45 days if a supermajority of the City Council approved.
- Public Sewer Facilities: Allows the installation of public sewer facilities.
- Enforcement and Penalties: The amendment outlines enforcement rules and penalties for violations of the Charter amendment.
Definition of Terms
Certain terms used in the measure would be defined.
These amendments would remain in force unless a modification was approved through the same charter change procedure, ensuring transparency and citizen involvement.
In summary, the purpose of this charter amendment is to protect Rivergrove’s parks, natural spaces, and green spaces and ensure responsible management by the City. Natural spaces and green spaces and ensure responsible management by the City.