Community Corner

Letter to the Editor: Vote In Support of Parks Amendment Tuesday

"This is a more collaborative approach to how our park and open space land will be used in the past in that it openly seeks citizen engagement."

Dear Editor:

On Nov. 8, a proposed will be on the Rochester Hills ballot that establishes a process for selling, leasing, transferring or changing the purpose of City parks and open spaces. This proposed Charter Amendment fills a void in the City Charter. Currently the Charter establishes a process for selling, leasing, or transferring city utility property which requires approval of Rochester Hills voters. This Amendment will also require approval of the voters if park or open space land is to be sold, leased, transferred, or its use is changed.

The proposed Amendment does not preclude the City from acting on its next great idea for parkland. It just puts in place another step in the process that assures the City clearly communicates to the residents the benefits that would make us want to give up all or a part of one of our parks to implement that idea. We feel that our parks should have at least the same protections as a DPS garage or a pumping station. This Charter Amendment will require no additional taxes.

This amendment is a result of an initiatory petition that was circulated door-to-door by over 60 residents - not a legislative act of the City Council. Over 3000 signatures were collected from residents in less than 60 days, most of whom couldn’t believe that this wasn’t already a part of the City Charter. The City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 29 to place it on the ballot.

Most residents of Rochester Hills are not aware that our parks do not enjoy the same safeguards as our Green Spaces which are permanently protected by millage language. Most do not realize that after the City pays off a bond used to purchase park and open space land that the City can then do as it pleases with that property, including developing it commercially, leasing it, or even selling it. In the recent past Councils have tried to do so but were stymied only by great public outcries.

This is a more collaborative approach to how our park and open space land will be used than the adversarial approach used in the past in that it openly seeks citizen engagement. Nearly all of the candidates running for City Council and Mayor including the incumbent, Bryan Barnett, have stated publicly that they are in favor of the Amendment. I urge Rochester Hills residents to vote “Yes” for the Parks and Open Space Amendment, and I urge everyone to get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Sincerely,

Gary Uhl, Saving Parks and City Environment (SPACE), A registered Ballot question committee (www.SPACE2011.org)

Send letters to the editor to Rochester Patch editor Kristin Bull at kristin.bull@patch.com. Please include a phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity.

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