03-20-07 PTRC - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

will decrease and eventually cease as land is developed and the City begins its "maintenance and replacement"mode. This source may not be reliable in the near(10- 20 year) future to sustain CIP projects. Charge the Public Works department for utility easements in parks: There are many utility easements located on park property. The thought behind this option was to attach a fee to the land used for utility easements,to be charged to the Public Works department. There was concern, however, about using this as an income source; first, the Parks Department is not charged for utilities to the parks. This would detract from the earnings from this option. These findings were reported to Council at their workshop meeting on March 25,2003. Council requested that additional information be investigated, such as: • Volunteerism: While volunteerism definitely benefits parks systems and can save some labor costs, it is not a revenue generator. Volunteers typically volunteer for one- time projects for service groups. Volunteers who Figure t:Adopt-A-Park Considered a commit regular service are not allowed to use the Sustainable Revenue Source heavy equipment such as groomers or mowers due to potential liability problems. A survey was conducted to inquire about volunteerism and adopt-a-park income in other Minnesota communities. 93% of the 39 respondents said that • volunteers produced no revenue for their parks system. This idea was determined as"not feasible"as a long-term revenue source. • Adopt-A-Park programs: Respondents to the Figure 2:Adopt-a-Park Duties volunteerism and adopt-a-park survey indicated Financial that Adopt-a-Park programs do not generate 5% other revenue for the department(see Figure 1), and ono Financial and certainly not enough to sustain CIP parks projects maintenance Heavy at Eagan's level. Figure 2 shows that 68% of 27% Maintenance respondents indicate that their Adopt-a-Park ORS program was a"light maintenance only"program where there is no fee charged for participation. This idea was deemed"not sustainable as a revenue source." • Lottery Grants: Staff investigated the process by which lottery funds are distributed. State lottery funds are distributed to the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCMR), who allots it for grant funding. The City of Eagan has received LCMR-allotted funds through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in the form of grant funds. According to the LCMR, individual municipalities are not eligible to apply directly for State Lottery funding.