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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.11.11 Work Session Minutes Council! Parks and Recreation Commission Workshop April 11, 2011 Mayor Larson called the workshop to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Council: Larson, Bartholomay, Donnelly, Fogarty, May Parks and Recreation Commission: David McMillen, Adam Lares, Charlie Weber, Dawn Johnson Michael Haley Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director; Cynthia Muller, Executive Assistant Absent: Also Present: MOTION by Fogarty, second by Bartholomay to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. The Commission has identified Lake Julia Park for improvements for 2012. Staffalso provided improvement project costs for all parks yet to be completed. Costs have been adjusted upwards. The Commission wanted to focus discussion on the improvements for Lake Julia Park and also if the Council is interested in having a dedicated funding source for parks and trails. Currently funding comes strictly from development fees. This money is drying up as the park improvement fund is no longer receiving any money due to a lack of development. Currently there is $229,000 in the park improvement fund. With the request to spend $100,000 in 2012 for Lake Julia, that amount will be reduced. There are some deferred assessments where money will come in from developments that have occurred, but the lots needs to be sold before the assessments are paid. Council asked for a total for this outstanding amount. In the last eight years, three parks have not had any attention; Pine Knoll Park, Lake Julia Park, and Prairieview Park. Master Plans have been developed for these parks, but no improvements have been done. Lake Julia is the oldest park as far as playground equipment and there is no shelter. The park was built in the early 1990's. The swings can be reused. The playground structure for 5-12 year olds is quite old and a very small structure. The 2-5 year old structure is also old. None of the playground equipment is considered ADA accessible. Staffproposed to tear out the 5-12 year old structure and put in a new structure. The 2-5 year old equipment is still in good shape and another structure could be added to it. The pea gravel would be removed and a wood fiber installed. This is considered an accessible surface. In order for ADA compliance you need ground structures which need to be added. The Commission noted the top item on the survey was parks and trails. The playground equipment at Lake Julia is old and it has pea gravel. There is also no shade. With the lake, a shelter would be nice for picnics and shade. The park is surrounded by homes. A rectangular shelter would be built and use the existing concrete from the basketball court. In the long term the basketball court will be moved. Council asked how much outdated equipment we have. Staffhas taken a conscious effort to replace equipment in the last eight years. Over $2 million in development money has been spent 8 CounciIIPark & Roo Commission Workshop April 11, 2011 Page 2 over the last eight years to upgrade playground equipment and add shelters. The shelters are well received and can be rented which provides some revenue. Equipment for different ages is placed separately in the parks with signage. The Commission focused on the most important issues from the survey which was parks and trails. The project for 2012, Lake Julia Park, does what the residents have asked for without taxing them. Council was in favor of having permanent funding for parks and making them as user friendly as possible. Parks which have received new playground equipment over the last eight years include Daisy Knoll Park, Dakota County Estates Park, Evergreen Knoll Park, Farmington Preserve Park, Meadow Creek 3rd Addition, Meadowview Park, North Creek Park, Westview Park, Hill Dee Park, Silver Springs Park, Tamarack Park, Vermillion Grove Park, and Rambling River Park will receive new equipment this year. Arbor Day will be held in Lake Julia Park and 15 new trees will be planted. The plan shows a proposed bike trail along Egret Way. Council suggested continuing the bike trail all around Lake Julia to complete the loop. There may have to be parking on one side only on Egret Way. Funding - Mayor Larson suggested taking $10,000 - $15,000 from the budget and place it into a trail fund. Staff noted the trail maintenance would come under Engineering. Mayor Larson suggested another $10,000 - $15,000 be placed in a park fund for upgrading playground equipment. Staff felt those numbers were a little low and should be $50,000 between the two funds. It would take 3 years at $25,000/year to replace a piece of playground equipment. Councilmember Fogarty stated the park development fees are to get parks started. There has never been a funding source for maintenance of trails and parks. That has been the fIrst thing to be cut. She agreed Lake Julia Park needs to be upgraded. However, there are some parks that are not done yet such as Mystic Meadows. That is where those development fees came from. We have to be responsible to take care of what we have. She agreed we have to have a permanent funding source. Mayor Larson stated Council has to determine what dollar amount to put in the funds from the general fund or raise the levy. Staff noted in past years tax payers have not had to pay any tax dollars to build trails or for park improvements. Councilmember Donnelly was in favor of the idea of the funds, but we need the fortitude to stick with it. Councilmember May agreed that improvements are needed and that we need to start dedicating funds. It might be a low number to start and we need to prioritize. Staff stated it takes three years to build up a fund and we may need to postpone some things. All liquor store profIts currently go to the pool. Mayor Larson suggested once the liquor store becomes more profItable, perhaps 5% of those funds could go to parks and trails. Councilmember Bartholomay suggested we need to look all over the City for where we need dedicated funding. He was definitely in favor of funds for parks and trails. Mayor Larson asked if Council was comfortable with $50,000 between the two funds. Councilmember Bartholomay said yes. Councilmember Donnelly said yes and no. It is a number. We would have to leave it there for a couple years and not touch it. Residents in the audience stated their kids do not like the equipment because it is old. They need a shelter and more parking. When sports are taking place, cars are parked on both sides of the street and you cannot get through. Staff asked Council ifthey wanted to add a parking lot to the improvements if that is a safety issue. The plan shows a 20 stall paved parking lot. The cost 9 Council/Park & Rec Commission Workshop April 11, 2011 Page 3 would be approximately $24,000. Council reached a consensus to include the parking lot in the improvements for 2012. Staff asked Council if the Commission should work on a referendum for 2012. Mayor Larson felt we should wait until the economy is better. Councilmembers agreed. The foreclosure rate will be an indicator. Staff stated over the last couple years the senior center and the arena are in a good place. The third item is the pool. The Commission asked if dedications are done for new parks or parks that are redone. They felt this would be a good thing to do to show the residents the City is making a conscious effort to maintain their parks. Councilmembers agreed with this idea. MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Fogarty to adjourn at 7:23 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant 10