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Council accepts Meissner family donation to create Timmyux Nature Preserve in Scappoose
Summary
The City Council approved a land donation agreement to accept roughly six acres from the Meissner family for a nature preserve; the agreement includes an initial scope of minimal access improvements and language intended to limit future repurposing of the parcel.
The Scappoose City Council unanimously approved on June 2 a donation agreement that will transfer ownership of roughly six acres from the Meissner family to the City for use as a nature preserve and park.
City Manager Ben Bergner told the council he and city attorneys worked with the Meissners to tighten language so the donors would feel protected against future repurposing of the land. “They wanted some stronger language … if we were to decide to do anything else, that would just revert back to them,” Bergner said, summarizing the donor concerns and the draft remedies.
Under the agreement, the city will accept the donation and make a limited set of initial improvements. Bergner said the donors asked the city to build a fence and install signage and a public frontage soon after transfer; more extensive improvements such as parking, restrooms or playground equipment are not part of the initial package and will be prioritized later through the park planning and budgeting process.
Councilor Jacobs moved to approve the Meissner Property Donation Agreement and authorize the city manager to sign all documents; Councilor LaFrenz seconded the motion. The council voted by voice; the mayor called the motion carried.
City staff said the site will be added to the city’s inventory of parks and that volunteers from the Meissner family have already been assisting with basic maintenance and path clearing. The donors told the council they intend for the preserve, to be called the Timmyux Nature Preserve, to include a plaque dedicating the land to Native Americans who lived on the land.
No immediate capital budget appropriation for extensive improvements was approved at the June 2 meeting; councilors said that future enhancements would be scheduled and funded through the city’s parks prioritization and budgeting process.
