What is Proposed? On June 9, 2015, the Mayor & City Council unanimously approved a ballot initiative to preserve and protect: • Water quality • Wildlife and native plant habitat • Open space for recreation in the city’s Foothills and along the Boise River
2015 Foothills Open Space & Boise River Levy • The initiative will be on the general election ballot, Tuesday, November 3, 2015 • If voter approved, the levy will provide a total of $10 million ($5 million in each year over two years) • The estimated monthly impact would be $2.39 per $100,000 of taxable value on residential property owners
2001 Foothills Levy In 2001, a levy was proposed to protect and preserve
open space in the Foothills. • 59% of voters approved
• $10 million in property taxes in 2 years
3 Priority Areas in 2001 The 2001 levy identified three priority areas for preservation of open space: • Dry Creek/West Foothills • Hulls Gulch/Military Reserve • Table Rock
2001 Levy Accomplishments More than 10,800 acres have been protected through acquisition, trade and easements. • $13,465,498 has been expended from the levy fund • Preserved open space has a market value of $37,755,305 • $1.54 million remaining of the 2001 levy fund
Lands Protected by 2001 Foothills Levy • View scaled map
Major 2001 Foothills Levy Acquisitions Levy funds have been used to acquire the below properties: • Hammer Flat (701 acres) • Hawkins (260 acres) • Hillside to Hollow (258 acres) • North Collister (expanded Polecat Gulch; 154 acres)
Foothills Open Space Donations Two significant private donations have resulted in the establishment of two reserves: • Noble Reserve (600 acres) • Stack Rock (1,320 acres)
Easements Partnerships with private land owners and state & federal agencies have created four easements: • Daniel’s Creek • Upper Dry Creek • IDL & IDFG (1,928 acres) • BLM, IDL & USFS (5,000 acres)
2014 Foothills Open Space Reserve Plan In a 1-year public engagement process to create a management plan for the city’s 10 open space reserves citizens identified these priorities: • Acquire & preserve more land • Improve access • Provide connectivity between properties
Additional Priorities The Foothills Open Space and Boise River Levy would provide resources to: • Improve Boise River habitat & water quality • Increase access to the Boise River • Enhance existing projects • Promote natural stream corridors from the Foothills to the Boise River • Provide an opportunity for leveraging funds • Support partnerships with public and private entities