One penny at a time. That's what Councilman David Speck envisions.
Speck proposed to City Council Tuesday using some of the windfall from real-estate assessments to fund the city's open-space trust fund.
"This really presents us with more questions than answers," Speck said. "But if we are going to do something about preserving open space, this is a way to begin the discussion. We have gone to the state legislature before and have gotten no help there. This is something that we can do locally to begin to preserve the little open space that we have left."
The concept calls for the city to use one penny of the real-estate tax to purchase open space. Staff analysis indicates that this would provide about $2 million a year.
"This would give us only about $12 or $13 million over the next six years, and with land selling for about $1 million an acre in the city, this wouldn't purchase much," said Councilwoman Claire Eberwein.
She then asked about purchasing pocket parks and rights of way.
"We have done a pretty thorough job of mapping all of the available open space in the city, and those small parcels are certainly important," said Sandra Whitmore, the director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities.
The city's study on open-space needs recommends the purchase of 100 acres of open space over the next 10 years to keep pace with the current per capita open-space acreage.
"The city can't do it all, but this would certainly be a start," Whitmore said.
MAYOR KERRY J. DONLEY applauded Speck's efforts, saying, "We do need to discuss this," he said. "But we need to be aware that with the purchase of land for parks comes the cost of maintenance. We aren't going to get any help from the state, so we must find ways to preserve open space ourselves if this is truly a priority," he said.
Vice Mayor Bill Cleveland was cautious.
"I don't think that there is anyone in this room who doesn't support more open space," he said. "But right now my priority is the budget. I want to read and think about the budget, and then we can discuss this."
Speck proposed holding a work session on the matter and asking for public comment in the context of the budget public hearing. Council will set a date for that work session at the next meeting.