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~ tit . e ~ \ tJ It 0 IOi:> it CITY OF ARDEN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: October 4, 2000 TO: Mayor and City Council \\ /f\fl,J2t-/ Joe Lynch, City Administrator(JlJfV- . FROM: SUBJECT: Outdoor Skating Rink Establishment and Operation Policy Backl!round At the regular Council meeting of September 11,2000, Ms. Fran Holmes, 1804 Venus Avenue, approached the City Council with a petition indicating a desire to re-establish a skating rink at Valentine Park. In addition to the request for the skating rink, the neighborhood did desire the opportunity to have available and utilize the warminghouse at the park. Ms. Holmes was asked to attend the next Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC) meeting on Tuesday, September 26th, with the petition for discussion with that group. The PTRC would then make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the establislunent and operation of a skating rink, not only at Valentine Park, but also at any of the other parks in Arden Hills. Ms. Holmes did attend the PTRC meeting on September 26th and presented information to that group about the neighborhood's desire to re-establish the skating rink. As well, the PTRC heard from City staff, including Michelle Olson on the prograntming side, Tom Moore on the parks side, and Dave Winkel on the operation and maintenance side of this request. After much discussion, the PTRC is bringing forward a recommendation to re-establish the skating rink at Valentine Park (see draft enclosed PTRC meeting minutes). Facts In our Planning cases, we try to make decisions based on facts instead of emotions. Does someone indeed have a peculiar or particular piece of property with the hardship not caused by the current or previous property owners. Is it a fact that one house is set closer to the street than another particular house, or to the side yard or to the rear yard, or whatever the variance request may be. In looking at budgets, we look for factual information about costs, revenue, projections, anticipated numbers, previous years' use, etc. In trying to make a determination in this case, I believe that we should try to use factual information to guide the decision. Ms. Olson, Mr. Moore and Mr. Winkel put together, I believe, a fairly comprehensive, factual compilation of costs, time, program participants, and program time (see attached staff outline). As my memorandum to the PTRC prior to their September 26th meeting states, I requested that they take a look at and weigh more heavily the factual information as compared to emotional statements.