Ballot proposal would protect Ann Arbor's parks from sale

Opinion from the Ann Arbor News:

In the Nov. 4 election, the citizens of Ann Arbor have an opportunity to protect our parkland from arbitrary sale by a future city administration. Turn over the ballot, and down at the bottom there is a proposal to amend the city charter so that parkland cannot be sold without a vote at a general election. Voting yes on this proposal will ensure that the residents of Ann Arbor have a voice in any sale of the city's park areas.

What is the legal background of this proposal? The Home Rule Act, a state law that defines the powers of Michigan cities, forbids municipalities to sell parkland without a vote of approval at a general election. This seems clear enough, but there is an apparent loophole in the act - what if a city decides that a particular piece of property is no longer a park? Can the city ignore the requirement for a vote? Surprisingly, the answer is yes.

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Royal Oak tightens controls on land sales

When tough times have hit Royal Oak recently, the call from many commissioners has been to sell parkland. That's decision does not rest solely in their hands. Under state law, Michigan cities can only sell parkland that is identified as surplus in a master plan. Royal Oak's Park Master Plan does not note any parkland as surplus.

The Commission recently made land sales a little more transparent -- a good thing. A new land sale policy was developed as a result of a proposed development at the site of the driving range and putt-putt golf course.

From the Daily Tribune:

The fourth vote needed to move ahead with a deal aimed at selling the city’s driving range and putt-putt course to a shopping center developer didn’t materialize Monday.

The City Commission seemed to take a step in the opposite direction when it unanimously passed a two-part policy proposed by member Terry Drinkwine that says:

* Elected officials shall not sell any city-owned property unless two public hearings are held prior to the land being put on the open market.

* Any city-owned property offered for sale by the City Commission must go through the competitive bidding process.

We support this new policy. This along with state law may deter parkland fire sales in order to pay short-term bills.

No parks will be sold - for now

From the Detroit Free Press:
For now, efforts to bring more revenue into this cash-strapped city won't include selling off three neighborhood parks.

But the idea still has the support of at least three on the Royal Oak City Commission, which on Monday night narrowly defeated in a 4-3 vote putting Bassett, Rotary and Realtor parks up for sale.

Royal Oak says No to Park Sales

This year the Royal Oak City Commission has considered selling off many Royal Oaks parks. One option was to sell 15 parks and save an estimated $7,750 to $11,000 per year.

On Monday they voted on selling off our parks. Fortunately Commissioners Drinkwine, Ginotti, Lelito and Mayor Ellison blocked efforts to sell off the Bassett, Realtor, and Rotary parks. Commissioners Andrzejak, Miller and Semchena voted in favor of selling our parks.

The Daily Tribune wrote an article "Parks not for Sale" that covered this issue.