CC - Agendas - City Council - REGULAR - 5/13/2014

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Prescott City Council Special Voting Meeting April 8, 2014 Page 3 the Granite Dells Foundation and other potential third parties to structure an acquisition plan that includes maintenance, within the next 12 months. Mayor Pro Tern Lamerson said he recognized the priority of the Dells. He commented on the tax structure changing and the money the City may owe to pay off lawsuits regarding the Yarnell fire. Councilman Kuknyo discussed the history of the Wirth property. He also mentioned current newspaper articles and the likelihood of re-opening the swimming hole and the dance hall. He mentioned that voters clearly voted, in May 2000, for the City to spend up to $40 million for open space from the streets tax. To date, approximately $6.4 had been spent. He discussed Resolution 3243 and 3231, regarding open space. Councilman Kuknyo talked about the economic crash and said the City was still struggling to provide basic services. He said that spending $50,000.00 per acre would torpedo the future efforts of the Parks and Recreation Department to obtain easements and license agreements. He proposed that if the City did not spend the open space allowance one year, it should be banked for the Granite Dells Foundation to acquire the parcel. He suggested getting developers, the Tribe, Yavapai County, Chino Valley and Prescott Valley involved with the acquisition. He said that if the property is acquired, it should be combined with property the City has acquired to the North and the South and turn it over to the state to make it a State Park. Councilman Blair said the lack of open space maintenance money is disturbing. Council should vote to use the $500,000.00 open space money in 2014, as seed money for partners in purchasing the Dells Property. He said the property was important to the region. Councilman Lazzell said the City did not have the money to acquire the property. He agreed to help find partners for the purchase. Dan Campbell, resident of Prescott, talked about Granite Dells and the Granite Dells Resort. He noted that the City of Prescott had to capitalize on their competitive advantages. He talked about how Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Camp Verde and Sedona had capitalized on their resources. He said the City has the Peavine Trail, Watson and Willow Lakes, but not the Dells, in between. He said water, rocks and Whiskey Row need to be the City's models for the future. Mr. Campbell said the City had a willing seller, who may look at a lower price. Granite Dells Foundation has gone out and found $1.5 million dollars. He noted that there is strong public support for the acquisition. He had 2,000 signatures on a letter of support. He discussed the Foundations role in the acquisition and the money it would take to make the deal happen. The Council should get a follow-up appraisal on the property. He suggested deferring a street project for one to two years to reach the total money needed to purchase the land. It would be better to bond a street project for a year or two and be remembered for protecting the heart of the Dells forever.