2009-071OFFICIAL RECORD
RESOLUTION NO. 09-071
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING A
SIDEWALK PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has established "Partnerships and
Volunteerism" as a strategic focus area and the City of Southlake Strategy Map includes
initiative L5 to "Actively promote opportunities for partnerships and volunteer
involvement (individual and group)"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has also established "Mobility" as a strategic
focus area and the City of Southlake Strategy Map includes initiative C2 to "Provide
travel convenience within city and region"; and
WHEREAS, the program will assist in the implementation of the mobility goals
and objectives of the Southlake 2025 Plan by promoting an inter -connected system of
corridors for pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Southlake, Texas is of the opinion that
establishing a partnership program to promote the donation of easements and right-of-
way for the purposes of building priority sidewalk and trail segments would advance the
implementation of the City's Pathways Plan thereby improving mobility throughout the
city; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake Council wishes to create a program to provide
private property owners with incentive to donate the land needed to construct sidewalks
and trails;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1
The City does hereby establish a sidewalk partnership program to encourage
residential and non-residential property owners to donate the property required to
implement the City of Southlake's Pathways Plan.
SECTION 2
To encourage property owners to participate in the program, the City shall
establish and implement and education and marketing program designed to:
0 emphasize the environmental benefits of "walkability" within a community,
highlight the importance of connectivity between areas within the city:
o neighborhoods and schools
o neighborhoods and parks
o neighborhoods and other areas of interest in the city, and
underscore the opportunity for being involved in the development of high quality
and desirable facilities in the city.
The ongoing education/marketing program may include (but is not limited to) the
following elements:
a. Print — informational brochures, flyers, newsletter articles and ads, etc.
b. Presentations — Council/board meetings, social clubs
c. Media — coordination with local media outlets, including print and
broadcast
d. Technoloqv options — website, radio, etc.
e. Partnerships — coordinate with HOAs, and other partner groups
f. Sidewalk Partnership Proqram
SECTION 3
Sidewalk Partnership Proqram. The city has designed a program to provide for
lasting and memorable recognition for donors. Using a variety of methods, the City of
Southlake will memorialize the participation of property owners in the program.
Proqram Eligibility. Property owners who voluntarily convey easement(s) for the
purpose of building pathway segments identified in the City of Southlake's annual
pathway construction priority plan and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) shall be
eligible for the recognition offered through the Sidewalk Partnership Program. The City
of Southlake shall not pursue easements for pathway segments for which there are no
immediate plans for construction or allocated funding.
Property owners who are required to convey needed right-of-way or easements
due to development regulations are not eligible to participate in the program or receive
the benefits thereof.
Propertv Owner Notification. Once the pathway construction priority plan is
adopted by the City Council and funds are allocated for construction, staff shall identify
needed easements for the selected segments. A standard packet of information shall
be mailed to each property owner which shall, at a minimum, include a description of
the Sidewalk Partnership Program and its benefits, a description of the needed
easement, the paperwork to be completed for conveyance, and a contact name at the
City. Attachment A includes a representative sample of the items to be included in the
notification packet.
The packet shall also include a copy of the "Property Owners Bill of Rights" (Attachment
B).
Convevance. The City of Southlake will cover the cost of conveyance as
appropriate.
Proqram Benefits. Property owners who donate easements under this program
shall be publicly recognized for their contribution. The City Manager shall develop a
standard operating procedure outlining the method for properly recognizing property
owners. Recognition levels and benefits are defined by the size of the donated
property, but may include "advertisement" recognition as well as personalized
recognition, such as pavers embedded in the walkway built on the donated easement,
signage, or other recognition as may be deemed appropriate by the City Manager.
SECTION 4
Donations to the City of Southlake under the Sidewalk Partnership Program are
currently tax deductible. Upon closing the transaction, the City shall provide the donor
with a receipt for the gift and a letter opinion from the Internal Revenue Service
Attachment C) as long as the deduction remains in effect.
SECTION 5
If the City of Southlake does not receive a response from the property owner within 30
days of the issuance of the notice, a copy of this notification shall be provided to citizen
volunteers who wish to promote the construction of pathways in the City of Southlake.
These volunteers may then contact the property owner to promote the program in
conformance with guidelines established for the volunteer's activities within the program
standard operating procedure.
SECTION 6
The City Manager shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of
this program and the activities supporting it; however, the City Council shall have final
authority on program benefits.
SECTION 7
This Resolution shall become effective from and after its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 1St day of December, 2009.
ATTEST:
City Secretary
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John errell, Mayor