HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2002-12-03 - Number 4.2.1 - CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO 4.2. 1
AGENDA REPORT SUMMARY 12/03/02
MEETING DATE: December 3, 2002
SUBJECT: A motion of the City Council of the City of Lake Oswego to send a letter to
Metro endorsing Metro's Regional Greenspaces System Concept map.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move to send a letter to Metro endorsing the Regional Greenspaces System Concept map.
EST. FISCAL ATTACHMENTS: NOTICED (Date):
IMPACT:
• October 17, 2002
STAFF COST: $none Gilmer memo
BUDGETED:
Y N Ordinance no.:
Resolution no.:
FUNDING SOURCE:
Previous Council
consideration: no
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&arks and Recreation Department
Memorandum
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To: Doug Schmitz, City Manager
From: Kim Gilmer, Parks & Recreation Director
Subject: Metro Regional Greenspaces System Concept
Date: October 17, 2002
ACTION
Request that City Council send Charles Ciecko, Metro Parks &Greenspaces
Director a letter endorsing the Regional Greenspaces System Concept map.
BACKGROUND
The Metro Council adopted the Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan in July
of 1992. This plan is intended as a program document that is the first step
towards a regional system of greenspaces. The plan is not regulatory nor is it
site specific. The recommendations contained in the plan are suggested
guidelines to assist development of an interconnected greenspaces system
throughout Washington, Clackamas, and Multnomah counties.
Since 1992, Metro has successfully implemented many of the
recommendations contained in the plan. However, it is now ten years old
and Metro has decided it is now time to review and update the plan. One key
component is the Regional Greenspaces System Concept map. Metro has
requested each agency within the tri-county area review the new map and
provide them with an official endorsement. Attached are additional
explanatory materials (Exhibit A).
Last year, Metro updated the Regional Trails Map, which is also a component
of the Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan. The City of Lake Oswego
endorsed three regional trails within our jurisdiction through letters of
V1
endorsement to Metro (Willamette River trail, Turf to Surf rail trail from
downtown Lake Oswego to Sherwood, and the Hillsdale trail ending in
downtown Lake Oswego).
DISCUSSION
On October 16, a representative from Metro provided a brief overview of the
Regional Greenspaces System Concept to members of the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Board and the Natural Resources Advisory Board.
Following the presentation, members of PRAB and NRAB decided to request
that City Council send a letter to Metro endorsing Regional Greenspaces
System Concept map.
RECOMMENDATION
Option 1
Send a letter of endorsement to Charles Ciecko, Metro Parks &Greenspaces
Director endorsing the Regional Greenspaces System Concept map.
Option 2
Do not send a letter of endorsement
Staff recommends Option 1.
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Regional Greenspaces System Concept Map
Background:
This is an update to the concept map developed as a component of the Metropolitan
Greenspaces Master Plan (1992), which articulated the vision for a cooperative,
interconnected system of parks, natural areas, trails and greenways for fish, wildlife and
people. The plan identified 57 regional greenspace areas and 34 regional trails and
greenways that would serve to connect greenspace areas.
The plan was a collaborative effort of local citizens, local governments and Metro to
serve as a long term guide for a cooperative effort to protect and provide public access
to the region's premier natural areas as the region's population continues to grow.
Since 1992, much has been accomplished. For example:
• 150 miles of regional trails and greenways have been constructed for public use
• More than 9,000 acres of natural areas have been acquired by the public for
permanent protection.
• Environmental education programs serve thousands of students throughout the
region each year.
• Thousands of citizens are involved annually in hands-on stewardship projects to
improve greenspace habitat in their communities for fish, wildlife and people.
Based on recent conversations with local government representatives, it is clear that the
goals and objectives of the master plan continue to enjoy strong support today -- ten
years after its conception.
In an effort to keep the Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan current and vital, local
government park providers, interested citizens and Metro have undertaken an effort to
update the 1992 map depicting the concept for the regional greenspaces system. In
addition, the Regional Trails and Greenways Concept Map was updated in July, 2002 by
Metro Council resolution (02-3192).
What it is:
The updated Regional Greenspaces System Concept Map is a vision document.
It is intended to:
• Reaffirms long term vision and basis for collaborative actions
• Creates a context for cooperative regional protection and funding priorities
• Provides a basis for public land managers to discuss roles and responsibilities
• Provides private landowners with information about the relative importance of the
region's natural areas
• Clearly depicts concept of a regional greenspaces system
• Reflects changes in the landscape that have occurred over the last decade
• Documents progress made in achieving the vision of the Metropolitan Greenspaces
Master Plan
v.
What it isn't
The updated Regional Greenspaces System Concept Map imposes no regulatory or land
use application for the region. It establishes no requirements or obligations on public or
private landowners.
Next Steps:
Local governments and park providers are reviewing the Regional Greenspaces System
Concept Map to be sure that no important natural areas or greenway corridors have
been overlooked or omitted. These agencies will provide Metro with some formal
endorsement of the concept. This could be in the form of a letter or resolution.
Once Metro's local partners have indicated their support of the concept, the Metro
Council will take action to adopt the map by resolution as an amendment to the
Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan.
Timeline:
Local partners have been asked to complete their review by the end of 2002.
Metro Council will take action at the direction of the new Council President (after
January 2003).
� E T R 0
PEOPLE PLACES • OPEN SPACES
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UPDATING THE REGIONAL GREENSPACES SYSTEM CONCEPT MAP
In consultation with GTAC, identified a planning boundary for the update of the
Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan using a "sub-watershed" basis.
1997 satellite images of land cover and the urban forest canopy within the planning boundary
were mapped to determine the location of the region's "natural areas".
Metro's RLIS database of land uses was combined with the satellite data.
Using computer modeling, the best natural areas were identified based on criteria or values
consistent with the 1992 Metropolitan Greenspaces Master Plan
Ecological Values Community Values
• Size of the natural area • 2015 forecast population density within
• Proximity to water (including 1/2-mile of a natural area
floodplains and wetlands) • Proximity to regional trail corridors
• Connection to other natural areas • Proximity to schools, including public
• Species"richness" related to 56 and private colleges and universities
species of concern from the Oregon
Natural Heritage database
Public Review (Spring 2000) of Ecological and Community values confirmed the continued use
of these values with a priori given to ecological factors. .
Applying the criteria to a computer model, Metro developed a map of the "Top 200"
natural area sites.
During 2001, technical staff and "local experts" reviewed the "Top 200"sites. Local experts
included GTAC members, state and federal natural resource agency staff,
environmental community, citizens, watershed groups and independent scientists.
In workshops held at GTAC, local experts helped map the current existing and future desired
corridors and natural connections and confirmed the important natural areas.
In 2001, the first draft Regional Greenspaces System Concept map produced.
During the remainder of 2001, Metro staff continued to collect comments and refine the
Regional Greenspaces System Concept Map.
Final draft of the Regional Greenspaces System Concept map was completed by GTAC in 2002.
The draft concept includes regional natural area "anchor"sites and
connecting corridors for fish, wildlife and people.
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