Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Approval of Parkland Acreage for Home Rule Charter Provision and No Net Loss Policy
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Recommendation
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Approve the baseline of parkland acreage at 6,412 acres to be the official quantity of parkland for purposes of No Net Loss Policy as referenced in the county’s Home Rule Charter.
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Background and Rationale
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The 1992 Ramsey County Home Rule Charter, section 2.02.K, states that the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners has powers to “To sell, lease or otherwise dispose of park property upon such terms as it considers best in the public interest.” Furthermore, it asserts that “Before the sale, lease or disposal of park property for any inconsistent use, the county board shall adopt, by resolution, a policy providing for no net loss of park, recreational or open space land and facilities.”
On March 23, 1993, the Ramsey County Board adopted Resolution 93-201, resolving that “Land acquired for park and open space purposes shall be used solely for that purpose. Conversion of park and open space land to other public or private uses will not be considered unless no other reasonable alternative exists, or said property was determined to be surplus at the time of acquisition. Where in the interest of the public and no other reasonable alternative exists, park and open space land may be converted to another use provided such land and recreational facilities are replaced in an equivalent amount, in comparable location and of similar quality.” The Administrative Code, Chapter 5.10.54 Park/Open Space, No Net Loss Policy, was enacted pursuant to that resolution.
Subsequently, an amendment to the Home Rule Charter was adopted on November 9, 1994, which states that, “…the county board shall adopt, by resolution, a policy providing for no net loss of park, recreational or open space land and facilities. At a minimum, the policy shall provide that park, recreational and open space land acquired for such purposes may not be converted to another use unless such land and recreational facilities are replaced in an equivalent amount and of similar quality.” (Home Rule Charter Section 2.02.K)
The Home Rule Charter did not state what the total acreage of parkland was at the time its adoption and thus it is not possible to determine what a “surplus” of parkland is when acquiring or disposing of parkland after Home Rule Charter amendment regarding No Net Loss was adopted. Therefore, it is critical that a baseline of parkland acreage be quantified.
Parks & Recreation staff utilized the 1994 Parks & Recreation System Plan along with mapping technology and records of property ownership to determine that 6,175 acres of parkland existed at the time of the Home Rule Charter Amendment regarding when the No Net Loss Policy was approved by Ramsey County voters in November of 1994. Since that time, Parks has gone through a series of acquisitions and disposals of parkland resulting in a current parkland inventory of 6,412 acres.
Parks staff attended the May 6, 2024, Ramsey County Charter Commission meeting to explore asking the Ramsey County Board to set a baseline of parkland acreage tied to the Home Rule Charter Provision and the county’s No Net Loss policy.
As future opportunities arise to consider the acquisition and disposal of parkland Parks would like to maintain a baseline of 6,412 acres of parkland. Parklands include lands that are owned by the county such as county and regional parks, county and regional trails, open spaces, as well as land where ice arenas are located and golf courses.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Having access to parkland has an extremely important equity impact since parkland provides spaces for people to nurture their physical and mental health through recreation and maintaining a connection to the outdoors. Affirming a baseline acreage of parkland helps to ensure a minimum quantity of parkland that will be available for residents to enjoy for generations. Since parkland is distributed throughout the county affirming the parkland inventory is also important to affirm equitable access to parkland.
Community Participation Level and Impact
As stated previously, Parks staff consulted the Ramsey County Charter Commission, a citizen advisory board on May 6, 2024. Commission members communicated their recommendations of having the parkland acreage be set to the quantity Ramsey County owns today which is 6,412 acres. Community members continue to be heavily involved in formulating long range plans for the use of parkland including helping to determine the sort of recreational programming that is available at these facilities.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request for board action. This request for board action will help inform future decision making as opportunities for property acquisitions and disposals present themselves.
Last Previous Action
On March 23, 1993, the Ramsey County Board adopted the Park/Open Space, No Net Loss Policy (Resolution 93-201).
Attachments
1. Home Rule Charter
2. Administrative Code 5.10.54 Park/Open Space No Net Loss Policy
3. 1994 Home Rule Charter Amendment
4. Current Park Land Inventory