11-08-1983 Meeting agenda and Sept minutes

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summer employees. An approach the City Council may wish to explore further is the possibility of expanding the questionnaire on programming mentioned in the section on administration. It could focus on service delivery and the amount of open space available in addition to programming. The questionnaire would need to be designed by someone in the social research area in order to assure residents that the City Council is prepared to supply responsible, cost-effective service. Also there should be a systematic procedure for appraisal of job performance. Each employee's record should include a written annual evaluation. The Director would be responsible for all positions within the Department. It is more difficult to suggest how the Director's job is to be analyzed under the present "chain of command". However, the task reasonably could be assigned to the City Council member liaison to the Department. The basic objective of these review processes is to improve the quality of performance on the job. Another aspect of staff development is the opportunity for professional staff to participate in conferences and other educational programs as part of the working time. Arden Hills does support staff participation in professional conferences. AREAS & FACILITIES Arden Hills has a well developed long range plan to provide active recreation areas wit 'n a half mile of every resident. The system has been developed 5-asie—d-Upoii the 1973 Plan, revised—onIy s�fry as opportunities became reality or were lost to private development. The systems major acquisitions soon will be complete in the developing 2/3rds of the community following development of Round Lake and City Hall • neighborhoods. The only exception to the abundance of recreational open space occurs in the area of the community known as Lake Johanna East. The three remanants of land currently in use or soon to be developed are miniparks which if added together at one location would create a neighborhood serving facility. This is in sharp contrast with all other areas of the City which exceed Metropolitan Council Standards for neighborhood open space. A neighborhood' park is defined in these standards as a site of 10 to 25 acres serving 4, 00 to Ss 1/2 mile radius. Considering population only, it would be possible to serve all of Arden Hills residents wi an oral Parks. However, the istances and barriers to walk in access have require a itiona acilities. Hazelnut and Commings Parks and the soon to be acquired Round Lake and Snelling/10 are ample land areas desine o iI this need. The large facilities are augmented by In erson, Valentine Arden Manor and Freeway Parks, described here for the lack of a etter term as sub-neighborhoo parks. Crepeau, because of its intended use as a nature area, fits better with the sub- neighborhood grouping. If for the moment it can be assumed that the large neighborhood parks will draw people from up to one half mile and the sub- neighborhood parks have a pulling power within a one quarter mile radius, it becomes ✓� apparent that the basic objective of the 1973 Plan soon will have been achieved. Acquisition of Roun ake and Snelling/10 fill in remaining voi s in t e nort ern portion of the community, whereas conversion of a portion of the Crepeau Park natural area to active recreation may be required to fill the voids in the southeastern part of the City. Because of the generous size and general distribution of neighborhood parks, it would be adviseable to consider accomodation of softball and hockey facilities within existing holdings, rather than at the Arsenal, until such time as a decision has been made concerning the entire property.