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ARDEN HILLS CITY COiJNCIL—January 11, 2010 14 B. Resolution 2010-004 Supporting and Endorsing Legislation that Provides Additional Financing of Parks, Trails, and Recreational Facilities for Local Units of Government by Special Assessments Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson stated Mr. Aanarud attended a PTRC meeting to discuss park funding legislation that has been introduced. The legislation being proposed gives cities, counties, and regional park groups an additional method of funding park development through coding for a new law in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 448. The proposed legislation allows a city to develop a plan for whatever length of time they choose. Each year would have a certain amount to be expended. The city can pass the plan by public hearing and ordinance or like a bond, go to a vote of the residents. Once passed the city would ask the County to add an assessment on to each homeowner for their share of the cost of the plan. Unlike a bond, there would be no interest or bonding agent costs. Mr. Mel Aanarud, Chair of the Ham Lake Park and Tree Commission, stated that the proposed legislation is being carried by Senator Foley and Representative Newton and will get a hearing sometime early in 20 10. Currently cities have three ways to fund for park projects: park land dedication, levy increase, and bonding. Some of the negative things with these options are: park land dedication cannot be used for maintenance, a levy increase would only produce approximately $25,000 for every 1% increase, and Bonding can be costly. This legislation is just another option for cities to utilize. Several cities like that this is something that can be voted on by the residents and it works like an assessment similar to school assessments. Councilmember Holden stated under subdivision 2 it talks about maintaining but under subdivision 3 maintaining is not included. She asked how maintaining would fit. Mr. Aanarud stated that specific language changes have been requested and one of these includes adding maintenance. Councilmember Holmes stated the PTRC had discussed this and felt that this was a good option for the City and it is something that did not have to be used. Councilmember Grant stated that this item should have come to the Council at a work session first. He stated he would not be able to support this type of legislation at this time. There are other ways that the City can put money into their parks such as levy and setting money aside for parks.