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Council approves ballot language for open‑space charter amendment; petitioners and opponents weigh in
Summary
The council approved final ballot language for a charter amendment to protect designated public lands as open space; the measure would place about 2,746 newly designated acres and 1,259 previously designated acres under permanent charter protection and appear on the ballot as Proposition 484.
Prescott — The City Council approved final ballot language on March 25 for a charter amendment to designate certain publicly held parcels as protected open space and require voter approval for their sale.
City Attorney Joseph Young reviewed small edits to the previously approved charter text: the addition of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve to the list of protected parcels, correction of parcel identifier typos in the Thumb Butte area, and a duplicate phrase removed from the public‑use section. Young also noted a calculation in staff materials showing the amendment would add 2,746 acres to the city’s open‑space protections; combined with previously protected parcels (1,259 acres), the charter amendment would protect about 4,005 acres if voters approve.
Petitioner representatives urged council approval so the measure could be placed on the August ballot; several petitioners and members of the public said delaying the measure would complicate efforts and reduce momentum. Others urged inclusion of a small number of additional parcels — notably parcels within West Granite Creek Park — but the city attorney advised that adding new parcels to the ballot language would be a separate action and could delay the effort.
Councilmember Racine reminded voters that without a charter protection measure, four council votes could authorize sale of certain city lands, including taxpayer‑purchased open space. After public comment and brief council discussion, the council adopted the resolution finalizing ballot language for the charter amendment; the transcript shows the recorded vote as "Passes 3 0 2." The city clerk noted the proposition number would be assigned (recorded at the meeting as Proposition 484).
Ending: With council approval of the ballot language, petitioners will continue signature and outreach efforts ahead of the scheduled election; staff said additional parcel additions could be handled by a future amendment but would likely delay ballot timing.
