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File #: 07-1186    Version: 1 Name: 12/17/07 - Donation of Crary Property
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 12/17/2007 In control: City Council
On agenda: 12/17/2007 Final action: 12/17/2007
Enactment date: 12/17/2007 Enactment #: R-07-604
Title: Resolution to Accept the Donation of The Douglas D. Crary Trust Property Located at 1805 Washtenaw Avenue for a Neighborhood Park, Appropriate Funds in the Amount of $25,000.00 to Cover Closing and Due Diligence Costs, and Name the Park “Crary Park” (8 Votes Required)
Sponsors: Joan Lowenstein
Attachments: 1. Crary Location Map.pdf, 2. Crary Close Up Map.pdf, 3. Crary Donation Legal Description.pdf
Title
Resolution to Accept the Donation of The Douglas D. Crary Trust Property Located at 1805 Washtenaw Avenue for a Neighborhood Park, Appropriate Funds in the Amount of $25,000.00 to Cover Closing and Due Diligence Costs, and Name the Park "Crary Park" (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to accept the donation of the Douglas D. Crary Trust property, located at 1805 Washtenaw Avenue into the City's park system.  The site is approximately 1.3 acres in size.  Douglas Crary's heirs would like to donate the vacant parcel to the City to be used as a park for sledding and other recreational purposes.  Neighborhood children currently use the hill on the property for sledding in the winter.  The site will be used only for recreational purposes, and no playground equipment will be developed on the site.
 
Douglas Crary served on Ann Arbor Planning Commission and served two terms on the Ann Arbor City Council.  The landowners have requested that the park be named "Crary Park" and the Park Advisory Commission does not have any objection to name the park after the owners.
 
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment has been completed on the property.  A limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment was completed and soils on the site were identified as having high levels of arsenic.  Excavation of the contaminated soils will be removed at the landowner's expense and the area will be refilled with clean soils and stabilized with re-seeding and mulch.  The City will pay for the preparation of the reports to comply with DEQ requirements.
 
Staff met with the neighbors who are very supportive to have the parcel be part of the City's park system.  Conversations have begun to have the neighbors work with the City's Adopt-A-Park Program or to donate an unspecified amount of funding to offset the City's costs for maintenance.  A generous donation has already been made by Carl Cohen in the amount of $12,000.00 to begin an endowment for park maintenance of the property.
Staff
Sponsored by:  Councilmember Joan Jowenstein
Prepared by:       Ginny Trocchio, The Conservation Fund
Reviewed by:      Jayne Miller, Community Services Administrator
Body
Whereas, Donation of real property may be accepted by the City through the Open Space and Park Land Preservation Ordinance;
 
Whereas, The owners of the parcel are willing to donate the property located at 1805 Washtenaw Avenue, which is approximately 1.3 acres;
 
Whereas, There is neighborhood support to have the property be a neighborhood park; and
 
Whereas, There are sufficient funds in the Open Space and Parkland Preservation bond proceeds to cover the estimated due diligence costs, including the Environmental Site Assessment reports and closing costs;
 
RESOLVED, That City Council accept the donation of the property described in Exhibit A and authorize the City Administrator to execute the necessary closing documents to accept the donation after approval as to form by the City Attorney;
 
RESOLVED, That City Council acknowledge and agree that in accepting the donation it is expressly agreeing to the following terms of the donation:
•      No portion of the Property may be used for anything other than public park purposes
•      No permanent or temporary structures of any type may be constructed, erected, placed, kept, used, parked or maintained on the Property excluding appropriate benches and park signage
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the park be named "Crary Park";
 
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriate funds from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation bond proceeds and establish a project budget for the due diligence of the property in the amount of $25,000.00 to cover the costs of environmental reports, closing, and incidental costs to be available for expenditure without regard to fiscal year; and
 
RESOLVED, That City Council accept the $12,000.00 donation by Carl Cohen and establish an endowment for park maintenance of the property.