Item 5GCity of Southlake, Texas
January 14, 2003
TO: Billy Campbell, City Manager
FROM: Malcolm Jackson, Interim Director of Community Services (xt. 1527)
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 03 -003 Supporting the establishment of the Corps of
Engineers lease area and portions of Bob Jones Park property as the site of
a future Nature Center to assist with funding opportunities, planning
efforts, and public education initiatives
Action Requested: Park and Recreation Board recommendation to City Council for
approval of Resolution No. 03 -003 supporting the establishment of the
Corps of Engineers property and portions of the adjacent Bob Jones
Park property as the site of a future Nature Center to assist with funding
opportunities, planning efforts, and public education initiatives
Background
Information: Since the acquisition of the Bob Jones Park property and the lease of
roughly 200 acres of adjacent Corps of Engineers land, the City of
Southlake's and Corps' planning has indicated that the area generally
within the Corps boundaries and adjacent city property is suitable for
low intensity, passive recreational uses, such as walking, hiking,
jogging, horseback riding, bird watching, and similar activities.
As determined by the Nature Center Development Committee (NCDC),
a group of local citizens and experts formed to study the potential for a
Nature Center in that area, these same areas within the park and Corps
lease area make for a prime habitat for the "curriculum" for Nature
Center study and should be utilized as such. One of the NCDC's
primary directives was to establish a site for a future Nature Center, and
this resolution proposes that portions of Bob Jones Park and the Corps
leased area as that location.
Financial
Consideration: There are no specific financial considerations accompanying this
resolution. However, a formal Council resolution supporting a site for a
Nature Center will assist in upcoming applications for grant funding.
Financial Impact: None at this time.
Citizen Input/
Board Review:
• Park Board appointed NCDC to research Nature Center issues in
December of 2001
• NCDC held workshops and public meetings throughout 2002
Billy Campbell, City Manager
January 14, 2003
Page 2
Legal Review:
Alternatives:
Supporting
Documents:
Staff
Recommendation:
• NCDC presented published report of findings and presentation to the
Park Board in October of 2002 recommending Bob Jones Park and
Corps lease areas for future site of the Nature Center
• Park Board recommended (7 -0) approval of Resolution No. 03 -003
at their January 13, 2003 meeting
Standard resolution format.
Alternatives may include:
■ Council approval as submitted.
■ Council discussion and input.
■ Council decision not to recommend the proposed Resolution No
03 -003.
Supporting documents include the following:
■ Copy of proposed Resolution No. 03 -003
City Council approval of Resolution No. 03 -003 supporting the
establishment of the Corps of Engineers property and portions of the
adjacent Bob Jones Park property as the site of a future Nature Center to
assist with funding opportunities, planning efforts, and public education
initiatives.
RESOLUTION NO. 03 -003
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, IN SUPPPORT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THE
CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROPERTY AND PORTIONS OF THE
ADJACENT BOB JONES PARK PROPERTY AS THE SITE OF A FUTURE
NATURE CENTER TO ASSIST WITH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES,
PLANNING EFFORTS, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES.
Whereas, the City Council of the City of Southlake recognizes one of Southlake's most
valuable resources is its areas of natural wildlife habitat, and
Whereas, the City of Southlake's Bob Jones Park area, together with the land leased from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, contains one of the finest examples of native Cross Timbers habitat in
the region, and
Whereas, the City of Southlake has long desired to preserve the Corps of Engineers property
and portions of the adjacent Bob Jones Park property as low- intensity, mainly passive recreational
areas suitable for walking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, bird - watching, and similar activities as
described and shown in the 2001 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, and
Whereas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in an update to the Lake Grapevine Reservoir
Master Land Use Plan in 2001 and sharing the City of Southlake's goals for the leased area,
determined that much of the Corps of Engineers property shall be designated as "Environmentally
Sensitive" and shall be reserved for low disturbance activities consistent with Southlake's master
planning and the Corps' low- intensity land uses for Lake Grapevine, and
Whereas, the Park Board of the City of Southlake has commissioned a study by citizens and
local experts entitled "Report of Recommendations and Findings for the Establishment of a Nature
Center in Southlake," and the Board has reviewed and accepted the recommendations, the most
important of which being support of the Corps of Engineers property and portions of the adjacent Bob
Jones Park property as the site of such a Nature Center, and
Whereas, the designation of the Corps of Engineers property and portions of the adjacent Bob
Jones Park property as a site for a Nature Center will result in stewardship of the area's natural
resources for their use and educational benefit and will greatly benefit the effort to secure funding for
the future development of Nature Center programs and structures,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS,
That the City of Southlake hereby supports the Corps of Engineers property and portions of the
adjacent Bob Jones Park property as the site of a future Nature Center to assist with funding
opportunities, planning efforts and public education initiatives.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS THE DAY OF JANUARY, 2003.
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS
ATTEST:
BY:
Mayor Rick Stacy
Lori Farwell, City Secretary