Item 4 (2)Proposed Sidewalk Partnership Program September 15, 2009 Presentation Outline Program Purpose Proposed Procedures “Sidewalk Partnership Program” Education and Marketing
Other Issues City Council Feedback and Direction Program Purpose To provide guidelines for a program to encourage residential and non-residential property owners to donate the property
required to implement the City of Southlake’s Pathway’s Plan. City of Southlake Strategy Map The City of Southlake provides municipal services that support the highest quality of
life for our residents and businesses. We do this by delivering outstanding value and unrivaled quality in everything that we do. Fulfill Our Mission Live Our Core Values Promote Learning
and Growth Provide Financial Stewardship Serve Our Customers C1 Achieve the highest standards of safety and security C3 Provide attractive and unique spaces for enjoyment of personal
interests C4 Attract and keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic and sustainable economic environment C2 Provide travel convenience within city and region B5 Optimize use of technology
B1 Implement and share best practices across all departments B3 Pursue innovative service delivery options B4 Provide high quality customer service B2 Collaborate with select partners
to implement service solutions F1 Achieve competitive financial benchmarks F2 Maintain or improve AA bond rating F4 Maximize return on investments F3 Invest to provide and maintain high
quality public assets Manage the Business Safety Mobility Infrastructure Performance Management Quality Partnerships and Security
and Service Delivery Development and Volunteerism L2 Enhance leadership capabilities to deliver results L3
Attract, develop and retain a skilled workforce L1 Ensure our people understand the strategy and how they contribute to it L4 Recognize and reward high performers L5 Actively promote
opportunities for partnerships and volunteer involvement (individual and group) Deliver on Our Focus Areas Integrity ● Innovation ● Accountability ● Commitment to Excellence ● Teamwork
C5 Enhance resident quality of life and business sustainability through tourism Proposed Procedure: Sidewalk Partnership Program Sidewalk Project Priorities Eligibility Property owner
notification Advocacy Conveyance costs Recognition Tax benefits Proposed Procedure: Sidewalk Partnership Program 30 Days = No response Participation Participation RECOGNITION & TAX
BENEFITS Proposed Procedure: Recognition Ideas Based on square feet of property donated Legacy recognition Pavers Signage “Advertising” recognition Website Newsletter Ads in local papers
Proposed Procedure: Education and Marketing Encourage property owners to donate, rather than sell, easements for pathways by: Promoting walk ability Enhancing connectivity Facilitating
tax benefits Recognizing participation Proposed Procedure: Education and Marketing Presentations Media Technology options Partners Other Issues Eligibility Property Bill of Rights
IRS Letter Property Valuation Questions / Discussion Notes ~ Citizen surveys consistently reveal that trails and sidewalks are highly desired by Southlake residents; In fact, residents
have named trails and sidewalks as their top need; They expect trails and sidewalks to be accessible from their neighborhood to local areas such as parks schools and shopping; Over
the past several years, the city has made significant investments in pathway design and construction; As we move forward – want to work more closely with community to implement our
Master Pathway Plan. * Notes ~ Tonight’s presentation is intended to start a discussion of how we can potentially work with the community to get sidewalks and trails constructed. This
idea is one that Mayor Terrell and the City Manager have been working on – tonight we want your feedback and direction. Once we receive your direction we will finalize the formal policy
for Council approval. * Notes ~ As noted on this slide, the purpose of this program is “To provide guidelines…” Given the citizens’ desire for trails and sidewalks, the program idea
would seem like a good idea, but we always have to start with the questions, “How does this align with Council’s approved Strategy?” * * Notes ~ As you can see by the highlighted boxes
on the Strategy Map, this idea addresses several key items. Working with property owners to implement our Pathways Plan, we will not only be able to provide needed and wanted infrastructure,
we will also be able to work with the community as partners to get the job done. Notes ~ Generating awareness of the need for and benefits of sidewalks may prompt some property owners
to work closely with us to get the job done. But some may need some added incentive. Developing a partnership program – to be named later – may inspire more participation. The next
few slides will walk you through the elements of the proposed program and describe for you a draft proposal to get us started on developing a program. * Notes ~ This slide show how
the program would work graphically. First, Council establishes sidewalk and trail segments to be build during the fiscal year each December. These priorities form the basis of the
program because these are the areas where easements will be needed and sidewalk construction is eminent. Once priority segments are approved, needed easements will be identified. Information
packets will be sent to property owners with a description of the needed property, a description of the needed easement(s), required paperwork for conveyance and contact information.
If the city does not received a response from the property owner after 30 days a citizen group will follow-up with the property owner to promote the program within policy guidelines.
When the property owner agrees to convey, the City will handle the paperwork and costs to effect the conveyance. Once the conveyance is completed, the property owner will be recognized
per the terms of the policy and provided with the necessary paperwork for tax deduction purposes. * Notes ~ On the previous slide, recognition was shown as a piece of the last step
in the program’s process. Based on participation, levels will need to be set up for specific recognition benefits. You might consider pavers with names embedded in the sidewalk or
trail or signage along walkway – We are really only limited by our creativity. Traditional advertising methods can also be used if desired. * Notes ~ Now that I’ve outlined the program
steps, I’ll move on to the education and marketing piece of the puzzle. So … what are we talking about? The first step in working with the community is to generate awareness of the
value and benefits of sidewalks and trails. Many of our residents have expressed a desire for trails and sidewalks, but on ongoing community dialogue will be important if we want property
owners to be active participants in this process by donating the easements needed to construct priority segments. As this slide shows, there are many community benefits to sidewalks
and trails, but there are also some nice benefits for property owners as well such as tax benefits and community recognition. The point here is to get the word out. * Notes ~ This
slide shows some of the ways to spread the word about the development of Southlake’s sidewalk and trail infrastructure and ways Southlake citizens can be involved. Developing brochures
and flyers, making presentations at board meetings or for social clubs, working with our media friends, using the website, or coordinating with homeowner associations are all ways we
can engage the community in a conversation on this topic. We have made a lot of progress on our sidewalk system in the past few years and we need to let folks know what has been done,
what is planned, and where we plan to go next. And, of course, how they can be a part of it all. * Notes ~ Some other issues that are important are shown on this slide. It is important
to note that only property owners who voluntarily convey easements will be eligible – those who are required to donate easements due to development regulations will not be eligible.
Also – won’t pursue easements for segments unless there are immediate plans for construction. Also, in compliance with the law a Property owners Bill of Rights will be sent out with
notification of the need for an easement. Finally, regarding tax benefits and property valuation - The city has obtained a letter from the IRS stating that charitable contributions
to governmental units are tax deductible if they are for a public purpose. This program will be set up to provide the paperwork needed by a donor to take advantage of this IRS provision,
although it is not our intention to determine the value of the donation. * Notes ~ This concludes my presentation. Turn over to Mayor for Council feedback and direction. * Notes ~
Citizen surveys consistently reveal that trails and sidewalks are highly desired by Southlake residents; In fact, residents have named trails and sidewalks as their top need; They
expect trails and sidewalks to be accessible from their neighborhood to local areas such as parks schools and shopping; Over the past several years, the city has made significant investments
in pathway design and construction; As we move forward – want to work more closely with community to implement our Master Pathway Plan. * Notes ~ Tonight’s presentation is intended
to start a discussion of how we can potentially work with the community to get sidewalks and trails constructed. This idea is one that Mayor Terrell and the City Manager have been working
on – tonight we want your feedback and direction. Once we receive your direction we will finalize the formal policy for Council approval. * Notes ~ As noted on this slide, the purpose
of this program is “To provide guidelines…” Given the citizens’ desire for trails and sidewalks, the program idea would seem like a good idea, but we always have to start with the questions,
“How does this align with Council’s approved Strategy?” * * Notes ~ As you can see by the highlighted boxes on the Strategy Map, this idea addresses several key items. Working with
property owners to implement our Pathways Plan, we will not only be able to provide needed and wanted infrastructure, we will also be able to work with the community as partners to get
the job done. Notes ~ Generating awareness of the need for and benefits of sidewalks may prompt some property owners to work closely with us to get the job done. But some may need
some added incentive. Developing a partnership program – to be named later – may inspire more participation. The next few slides will walk you through the elements of the proposed
program and describe for you a draft proposal to get us started on developing a program. * Notes ~ This slide show how the program would work graphically. First, Council establishes
sidewalk and trail segments to be build during the fiscal year each December. These priorities form the basis of the program because these are the areas where easements will be needed
and sidewalk construction is eminent. Once priority segments are approved, needed easements will be identified. Information packets will be sent to property owners with a description
of the needed property, a description of the needed easement(s), required paperwork for conveyance and contact information. If the city does not received a response from the property
owner after 30 days a citizen group will follow-up with the property owner to promote the program within policy guidelines. When the property owner agrees to convey, the City will
handle the paperwork and costs to effect the conveyance. Once the conveyance is completed, the property owner will be recognized per the terms of the policy and provided with the necessary
paperwork for tax deduction purposes. * Notes ~ On the previous slide, recognition was shown as a piece of the last step in the program’s process. Based on participation, levels will
need to be set up for specific recognition benefits. You might consider pavers with names embedded in the sidewalk or trail or signage along walkway – We are really only limited by
our creativity. Traditional advertising methods can also be used if desired. * Notes ~ Now that I’ve outlined the program steps, I’ll move on to the education and marketing piece of
the puzzle. So … what are we talking about? The first step in working with the community is to generate awareness of the value and benefits of sidewalks and trails. Many of our residents
have expressed a desire for trails and sidewalks, but on ongoing community dialogue will be important if we want property owners to be active participants in this process by donating
the easements needed to construct priority segments. As this slide shows, there are many community benefits to sidewalks and trails, but there are also some nice benefits for property
owners as well such as tax benefits and community recognition. The point here is to get the word out. * Notes ~ This slide shows some of the ways to spread the word about the development
of Southlake’s sidewalk and trail infrastructure and ways Southlake citizens can be involved. Developing brochures and flyers, making presentations at board meetings or for social clubs,
working with our media friends, using the website, or coordinating with homeowner associations are all ways we can engage the community in a conversation on this topic. We have made
a lot of progress on our sidewalk system in the past few years and we need to let folks know what has been done, what is planned, and where we plan to go next. And, of course, how they
can be a part of it all. * Notes ~ Some other issues that are important are shown on this slide. It is important to note that only property owners who voluntarily convey easements
will be eligible – those who are required to donate easements due to development regulations will not be eligible. Also – won’t pursue easements for segments unless there are immediate
plans for construction. Also, in compliance with the law a Property owners Bill of Rights will be sent out with notification of the need for an easement. Finally, regarding tax benefits
and property valuation - The city has obtained a letter from the IRS stating that charitable contributions to governmental units are tax deductible if they are for a public purpose.
This program will be set up to provide the paperwork needed by a donor to take advantage of this IRS provision, although it is not our intention to determine the value of the donation.
* Notes ~ This concludes my presentation. Turn over to Mayor for Council feedback and direction. *