A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO INCREASE CONSERVATION SPENDING AND THAT THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL BECOME A PARTNER IN THE LAND FOR TOMORROW INITIATIVE (2006-04-10/R-12)

WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill is committed to protecting lands critical to the future of North Carolina’s drinking water, economy, and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina is losing more than 100,000 acres of those special places to population pressures each year; and

WHEREAS, North Carolina’s population is expected to grow by 50 percent in the next 25 years; and

WHEREAS, the important tourism industry can only survive with natural beauty, clean water and scenic vistas; and

WHEREAS, there is inadequate funding for protecting stream banks and floodplains, legacy forests, prime farmlands, local parks and recreation, state parks, greenway and inactive rail corridors, game lands, natural, scenic and historic places; and

WHEREAS, there is no second chance to protect North Carolina’s great resources and costs will only increase in the future; and

WHEREAS, additional state funding will leverage twice as much funding from federal, private and local sources.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel that the Council urges the 2006 General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing a November 2006 General Obligation Bond referendum to increase conservation spending in North Carolina by $200 million per year for five years.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council asks that the Town of Chapel Hill be listed as a partner in the Land for Tomorrow initiative, and that staff explores the mechanisms by which our land protection efforts and Land for Tomorrow can mutually benefit from their common goals.

This the 10th day of April, 2006.