|
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - June 26, 2000
<br />
<br />10
<br />
<br />C. Parks & Recreation Department, Authorization for Comprehensive Plan
<br />
<br />Mr. Moore stated the City will be approaching its 50th Anniversary and there has never been a
<br />comprehensive study of the City's parks, recreation facilities, open spaces and trail systems,
<br />There currently is no long range planning tool in place for staff, the City Council, or Parks and
<br />Recreation Committee members to refer to, This study will look at the development of the park
<br />system to date, evaluate how well it is meeting the needs of the community, and define future
<br />development needs, A 1 O-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will be developed for
<br />incorporation to the City wide CIP, This project will take 12-18 months to complete,
<br />
<br />The concept of a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan was presented to the Parks and
<br />Recreation Committee at the Tuesday, April 25 meeting, The City's Administrator, Accountant,
<br />and Parks & Recreation Director made the presentation, The Committee voted unanimously to
<br />support a Comprehensive Plan, The Committee also voted unanimously to present the concept
<br />of a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan to the Council for approval.
<br />
<br />Anticipated cost of the Plan is $60,000, The City Accountant is recommending that the funding
<br />of the project be through the Community Services Fund,
<br />
<br />Mr, Moore stated that Staff recommends that the City Council approve funding of a
<br />Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan at a cost not to exceed $60,000, and that the cost of
<br />this project be funded through the Community Services Fund.
<br />
<br />Councilmember Larson asked how a cost of $60,000 was determined, Mr. Moore stated that
<br />recent studies done in New Brighton and Long Lake were reviewed and compared, and Joe
<br />Ingram ofIngram Associates was consulted,
<br />
<br />Councilmember Rem expressed her support of the study, stating it will give a better sense of the
<br />City's park system, She added there had been some discussion with regard to using parklands
<br />for other purposes, such as drainage ponds, She noted it would be helpful to have a thorough
<br />study of the parklands,
<br />
<br />Councilmember Grant stated the City's parks are a great resource for its residents to enjoy, He
<br />added the Council should endeavor to keep them in good shape, He noted that such a plan could
<br />help to maximize park use,
<br />
<br />Councilmember Aplikowski asked whether such a study had been completed under the previous
<br />Parks & Recreation Director, Mr. Moore stated this study will be comprehensive, will take into
<br />consideration current and future use, and will include polls of residents, park users, City staff,
<br />City Council, and neighborhood groups, He added the City has not undergone such a study in its
<br />50-year history,
<br />
<br />Mr. Post stated Councihnemher Aplikowski was referring to parks replacement schedules
<br />attached to the City's Comprehensive Plan update, He added that Mr. Moore's proposal is more
<br />comprehensive and refers to overall future parks use, Councilmember Aplikowski stated the
<br />timing is not right for her.
<br />
|