07-16-07 Item 2A, PTRC Funding Discussion

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~ ~~HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: July 10, 2007 AGENDA ITEM: 2.A. TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Michelle Wolfe; City Administrator FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager '1YlcP SUBJECT: Funding Discussion with the PTRC BACKGROUND Recognizing that the City has almost no funding currently dedicated to park and trail development and improvement, the City Council charged the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee (pTRC) with identifying alternative funding sources. The PTRC has spent numerous meetings researching and discussing possible funding concepts and alternatives. At the June 19th PTRC meeting, the Comprehensive Plan Update was discussed. After reviewing the 1998 Comprehensive Plan and in particular, the Parks and Trail section, the Committee voiced concerns that parks and trail development has been severely lacking. The 1998 Comprehensive Plan identified issues very similar to the priorities and strategies established in 2002 and 2006 by the PTRC. The PTRC believes that the plan indicates that very little progress has been made in the past ten years with park and trail development. With TCAAP design standards progressing, the PTRC feels very strongly that the integration of TCAAP parks and trails and the existing Arden Hills is crucial. The City is obligated to maintain what they have and to develop missing links to connect to the development on TCAAP. The existing community is divided by many major roads, highways, and railroads. These transportation corridors provide excellent regional access and mobility, but they separate neighborhoods and people from parks. Trail connections are needed to tie the city together, create a comprehensive system of parks and trails, improve safety and enhance the feeling of community. The Park Fund can no longer be utilized for maintenance projects. In 2004, the Legislature enacted several changes to the parkland dedication statute. The new law (statute 462.358, subdivision 2b) specified that Park Dedication funds may not be used for ongoing operation and maintenance. In 2006, this statute was modified to read that Park Dedication funds may be used only for the acquisition and development or improvement of parks and must not be used for ongoing operation and maintenance of parks. Therefore, maintenance projects will need to be funded from the general fund in the future. \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\PR&PW\Parks\Memos\Council Memos\Memo to CC regarding Park Funding Discussion with PTRC07-4.doc