City of Davis

In January 2002, the City Council adopted the Open Space Acquisition and Management Plan (AMP). The plan is designed to implement long standing community goals regarding the protection of the agricultural and open space resources that surround Davis. The AMP guides the City in the selection and management of open space properties and provides direction for the expenditure of open space funding for these purposes.

The background information below provides a summary of the process that led up to the adoption of the AMP.

You can download a copy of the City of Davis Open Space Acquisition & Management Plan: osamp-final.pdf

Background

After a year and a half of preparation, the Davis City Council placed Measure O on the November 2000 ballot. By an overwhelming majority, the citizens of Davis voted to tax themselves to protect open space and agricultural resources in the Davis area. As part of the preparation for the ballot measure, the City Council had adopted a resolution outlining a planning process that would establish open space acquisition priorities and management goals. (General Plan policy POS 1.7.d, pg 237 also calls for the development of an acquisition and management plan).

Upon passage of the measure, City staff and the Open Space Commission began to outline a process to implement the Council’s direction. A year long planning process followed which included several phases: input and information gathering, drafting of the plan, and consideration of the final draft by the City Council. The target completion date for the plan was set to coincide with the receipt of the first tax measure revenues in late 2001/early 2002.

In February 2001, the Commission held a public workshop to gather input on open space planning priorities. Landowners, resource conservation groups, farmers, and interested citizens were invited to this workshop. Over 120 comments were received from the more than 35 attendees.

Working from these comments, General Plan policies, and open space resource data, staff and the Commission began drafting the open space plan. During its monthly spring meetings, the Commission analyzed public comments, resource data, and samples of other open space plans to identify the goals that would serve as the foundation for the plan. The Commission’s summer meetings involved refinement of the plan goals and examination of how Measure O revenue could/should be spent.

In late summer/early fall 2001, City staff began drafting a plan for review and comment by the Commission and the public. This collaborative effort continued into the winter of 2001 and resulted in a framework plan that provided direction for open space program activities. The plan called for the development of more detailed planning tools to direct acquisitions and property. Development of these focused tools is an ongoing process. Regular reviews are an integral component of the plan to ensure that it remains current. As mentioned above, the Council adopted the AMP in January 2002.