Parks Protection initiative
Why this is an issue:
The initiative was inspired by the decision of the Hood River City Council to interpret Goal 8 (Recreational Needs) of the city’s comprehensive plan in a way that would allow housing to be built on any city park. The Oregon Court of Appeals remanded this decision declaring it “implausible”. The Hood River City Council then re-interpreted Goal 8, for a second time, forcing another round of legal challenges.
POV:
Proponents Protect Our Parks stated that this very simple amendment only requires a vote of the people before a park can be disposed of - a sale, for example.
POV:
Opponents warned that this constraint on the flexibility of the city council will prevent them from effectively doing their jobs. Hood River City Councilor Megan Saunders was opposed to 14-67. This is the explanation she wrote for Hood River News (Megan Saunders). Mayor Kate McBride and all City Councilors (except Erick Haynie) opposed the measure publicly.
Current Status:
Measure 14-67 (November 2019) passed by a vote of 72 - 28 percent. The result was an amendment to the City of Hood River Charter. It was advocated for and signatures gathered by the group Protect Our Parks. The city has now incorporated the November ballot measure into the copy of the city charter that can be found here. Since Morrison Park was an inventoried city park as of January 1, 2019, it should also be covered in the initiative provisions.
Proposed Charter Amendment (Measure 14-67)
What’s Next:
The City, after the remand from the Oregon Court of Appeals re-re-interpreted their previous position to again justify the rezone. Another appeal has been prepared for LUBA because the City has not been clear about their intentions for Morrison Park and has not shown any inclination to return the zoning to OS/PF (Open Space / Public Facility) which concerns park advocates. However, other parks now have added protection.
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