Title
Charter Park Update
Body
BACKGROUND:
Chapter X of the Oregon City Charter protects parks by preventing the transfer, sale, vacation or major changes in the use of city parks without first obtaining an approving vote of the legal voters of Oregon City. This protection is meant to preserve the natural beauty of public parks and protect the rights of citizens in the preservation of their natural heritage. The Oregon City Charter recognizes eleven (11) parks as charter parks:
• McLoughlin House
• Barclay Park
• Library Park
• Oregon City Pool
• Waterboard Park
• DC Latourette Park
• Clackamette Park
• Atkinson Park
• Rivercrest Park
• Canemah Children’s Park
• End of the Oregon Trail
Additional parks can be created upon the acceptance of Commission as a gift to the City for park purposes or dedication of land as a park. Property owned or acquired by the City in other manners can be designated as a park by ordinance. With the leadership of City Commission, staff have been working on designating our 36 recognized parks through ordinances beginning in 2018. To date, twenty-eight (28) parks have been designated through the Oregon City Charter or by ordinance. An additional four (4) parks will be brought forward for consideration at the February 20, 2019 regular meeting of the Commission.
Staff will be providing an update of the charter park designation project and identify next steps for the remaining properties.