City Council Announcements
April 10, 2007
A. Information Needed by Council Staff
1. Council Members,
Attached are three versions of a resolution relating to This Is the Place Heritage State Park that have been prepared by Council staff based upon Council Members’ input:
Version A: Mayor Anderson’s version
Version B: Includes additional suggested change (underlined areas) to
Mayor Anderson’s version
Version C: Council Member Eric Jergensen’s version
This issue is scheduled on tonight’s City Council agenda under opening ceremonies. A Council Member expressed preference to have this issue discussed during announcements by the City Council in order for the Council to come to a consensus on the language prior to considering a resolution. Councilmember Buhler said he had a conflict and was recused. The Council was in favor of postponing the issue for additional input.
VERSION A
WHEREAS, the This Is The Place Foundation Board of Trustees recently voted in favor of proposing that 12 acres of This Is The Place Heritage State Park be leased to ARUP for $400,000 per year for fifty years for construction of an administrative building and parking lot;
WHEREAS, the current details of this proposed land lease are inconsistent with the original operational intent of the park and its present mission statement, which is: “…to educate the public about the history, culture, and contemporary legacy of Utah's early settlers and the cultures, groups, and indigenous people with whom they interacted through interpretive programs, living history experiences, research, and exhibits;”
WHEREAS, the proposed lease would violate the trust of many private and public donors to the This Is The Place Heritage State Park who expect the foundation’s board to protect the interests of the park;
WHEREAS, a new building on the This Is The Place Heritage State Park land will have significant impact on the view from the park and the neighboring Governors Grove and the Matheson Nature Preserve;
WHEREAS, the proposed land is very close to both the Brigham Young Home and the Heber C. Kimball Home;
WHEREAS, the development would result in permanent and irreparable harm to the function of the park and may set a precedent that would be used to allow further unwanted development in the future; and,
WHEREAS, the This Is The Place Heritage State Park is a reflection of the proud history of Utah’s pioneer settlers and, as such, it deserves our full protection.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. Anderson urge the members of the Board of Utah State Parks & Recreation to reject the proposed land lease at their April 20, 2007 board meeting and preserve the beauty, significance, and heritage of this historic site.
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson Salt Lake City Council Chair
Mayor Van Blair Turner, District Two
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Salt Lake City Council Vice Chair Salt Lake City Council Member
Jill Remington Love, District Five Carlton J. Christensen, District One
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Salt Lake City Council Member Salt Lake City Council Member
Søren D. Simonsen, District Seven K. Eric Jergensen, District Three
_____________________________________ RECUSED
Salt Lake City Council Member Salt Lake City Council Member
Nancy Saxton, District Four Dave L. Buhler, District Six
VERSION B
WHEREAS, the This Is The Place State Park is managed by the This Is The Place Foundation, a private non-profit organization, under contract with the State of Utah; and
WHEREAS, the final decision regarding this lease will be made by the Board of Utah State Parks & Recreation; and
WHEREAS, annual state support for the park is less than it was ten years ago, however, the Legislature provided $2 million in one-time funds in 2006 to stabilize its finances and at that time urged the foundation to take steps to keep park operations in the black going forward; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City is committed to increasing, rather than decreasing, the amount of publicly-owned open space in our community; and
WHEREAS, the This Is The Place Foundation Board of Trustees recently voted in favor of proposing that 12 acres of This Is The Place State Park be leased to ARUP for $400,000 per year for fifty years for construction of an administrative building and parking lot; and
WHEREAS, the current details of this proposed land lease are inconsistent with the original operational intent of the park and its present mission statement, which is: “…to educate the public about the history, culture, and contemporary legacy of Utah's early settlers and the cultures, groups, and indigenous people with whom they interacted through interpretive programs, living history experiences, research, and exhibits;” and
WHEREAS, the proposed lease would violate the trust of many private and public donors to the This Is The Place Heritage State Park who expect the foundation’s board to protect the interests of the park; and
WHEREAS, a new building on the This Is The Place Heritage State Park land will have significant impact on the view from the park and the neighboring Governors Grove and the Matheson Nature Preserve; and
WHEREAS, the development would result in permanent and irreparable harm to the function of the park and may set a precedent that would be used to allow further unwanted development in the future; and
WHEREAS, the This Is The Place Heritage State Park is a reflection of the proud history of Utah’s pioneer settlers and, as such, it deserves our full protection.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson urge the members of the Board of Utah State Parks & Recreation to reject the proposed land lease at their April 20, 2007 board meeting and preserve the beauty, significance, and heritage of this historic site.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson urge the public to visit and support the Park in 2007 and to cooperate in any appropriate way to help park management stabilize its budget to provide for perpetual care and management of this important state and historic resource in our community.
Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson Salt Lake City Council Chair
Mayor Van Blair Turner, District Two
Salt Lake City Council Vice Chair Salt Lake City Council Member
Jill Remington Love, District Five Carlton J. Christensen, District One
Salt Lake City Council Member Salt Lake City Council Member
Søren D. Simonsen, District Seven Eric Jergensen, District Three
__________________________________ RECUSED
Salt Lake City Council Member Salt Lake City Council Member
Nancy Saxton, District Four David L. Buhler, District Six
VERSION C
WHEREAS, the original operational intent of the This Is The Place State Park (the “Park”) and its present mission statement state that the purpose of the Park is “… to educate the public about the history, culture, and contemporary legacy of Utah's early settlers and the cultures, groups, and indigenous people with whom they interacted through interpretive programs, living history experiences, research, and exhibits;”and
WHEREAS, the Park is managed by the This Is The Place Foundation, a private non-profit organization, under contract with the State of Utah; and
WHEREAS, annual state support for the park is less than it was ten years ago, however, the Legislature provided $2 million in one-time funds in 2006 to stabilize its finances and at that time urged the foundation to take steps to keep park operations in the black going forward; and
WHEREAS, the Park has continued to operate in a negative cash position and has indicated that it must find additional sources of revenue to fulfill its operational intent and mission statement; and
WHEREAS, the open space policy of Salt Lake City is to preserve and expand, rather than reduce, the amount of publicly-owned open space areas within the boundaries of our community; and
WHEREAS, the This Is The Place Foundation Board of Trustees recently voted in favor of proposing that 12 acres of current open space at the Park be leased to ARUP for $400,000 per year for fifty years for construction of an administrative building and parking lot to provide needed additional operating revenues; and
WHEREAS, the final decision regarding this lease will be made by the Board of Utah State Parks & Recreation; and
WHEREAS, the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson, as confirmed by City policy, believe it is in the overall best interests of its citizens and visitors to our City to maintain the beauty, significance and heritage of this historic site by preserving all existing open space within the Park,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson urge the members of the Board of Utah State Parks & Recreation to reject the proposed land lease at their April 20, 2007 board meeting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson urge the Board of Utah State Parks & Recreation to identify other sources of additional revenue that do not include the sale or lease of existing open space located within the boundaries of the Park.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson urge the public to expand their understanding of the proud history of Utah’s pioneer settlers by visiting and supporting the Park in 2007 and into the future.
Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson Salt Lake City Council Chair
Mayor Van Blair Turner, District Two
Salt Lake City Council Vice Chair Salt Lake City Council Member
Jill Remington Love, District Five Carlton J. Christensen, District One
Salt Lake City Council Member Salt Lake City Council Member
Søren D. Simonsen, District Seven Eric Jergensen, District Three
__________________________________ RECUSED
Salt Lake City Council Member Salt Lake City Council Member
Nancy Saxton, District Four David L. Buhler, District Six