7.0. SR 08-04-1997City of
iver
MEMORANDUM
Item # 7
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor & City Council
Pat Klaers, City Administrator
August 4, 1997
Discussion on List of Improvements to
be Funded Through a Successful Park
Bond Referendum
On July 28, 1997, the City Council endorsed a $2 million outdoor park and
recreation bond referendum proposal. At this meeting the City Council had
some questions regarding the details of what the commission hopes to
accomplish with the $2 million proposal. In an effort to get everyone "on the
same page" as soon as possible, the bond proposal sub-committee and staff
would like to have a discussion with the City Council on how and why certain
items got included in the detailed proposal. The commission will need council
feedback on the details so that we are not promising more to the public in
this bond referendum than can be delivered.
One thing that will most likely happen as this issue begins to get promoted is
that we will use a lump sum total for the park improvements without
detailing out exactly how much is going to be spent on each area...i.e., in
Orono Park for the restroom, in Ridgewood East for the playground
equipment, etc. However, in this area of park improvements, there were
questions from the council about the cost estimate for the warming
house/restroom/shelter component in the Woodland Trails Park and this
issue should be clarified on August 4.
Another issue that needs to be clarified is the development of the recreation
complex on the former Cass property. Information from Decision Resources
indicates that the city needs to have the support of some or all of the youth
organizations in the community in order to pass a referendum. (It is also
desirable to have no formalized opposition to the proposal.) In order to gain
the support of the youth organizations, improvements for their benefit need
to be included in the proposal. This is part of the rationale for including
funding in the referendum for lighting the fields, constructing the shelter/
concessions/restroom area, and for constructing the two additional larger
youth baseball fields south of the four field complex. In addition to wanting
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
the support of the youth baseball organization, there is a general need for
those improvements and the two larger youth ball fields.
On August 4, 1997, we hope to have a map available showing all of the trail
corridors that are proposed to be improved. We also hope to have some more
information from the Lions organization regarding the status of their
proposed teen center facility.
The Tuesday, August 5, 1997, meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Training Room is
an open meeting for any and all citizens that are interested in helping to
promote the bond referendum proposal or who simply have questions
regarding what is being proposed. This meeting was the subject of a July 30,
1997, Star News article. This meeting is being structured as an
organizational meeting and the beginning of the bond referendum committee.
The commission is enthused about the interest from the City Council to
attend this August 5, 1997, meeting and hopes that the council, as
individuals, will take an active role in promoting the referendum proposal.
Once this organizational meeting is held, Bill Morris from Decision Resources
will attend the next committee meeting in order to help identify strategies
and approaches for a successful referendum. Some preliminary information
in this regard has already been received from Decision Resources, but an
open discussion with Bill will certainly help the committee move forward in
promoting and selling the proposal to the voting public.
Attached for our review is the list of proposed improvements that was part of
the July 28, 1997, packet on the bond referendum. We will use this list for
the discussion of the bond referendum components.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\council\recbond.doc
Parks:
Woodlands Trails Park
Orono Park
Country Crossing 3ra
Mississippi Oaks
Lafayette Woods
Ridgewood East
Deerfield IV
Hillside 5th
Meadowvale Heights
East of 169 Park
Lion's Park
Multi-Use Building
with Restrooms
1 - Rest Room
Add Playground Equipment
Playground Equipment
½ Court Basketball
Playground Equipment
½ Court
Playground Equipment
2 ½ Courts
Add Playground Equipment
Lights
Add Playground Equipment
Playground Equipment
½ Court
Playground Equipment
½ Court
Property Purchase
Playground Equipment
½ Court
Open Shelter
Teen Center (50% Contribution)
$150,000
50,000
50,000
30,000
5,000
30,000
5,000
35,000
10,000
20,000
2,000
20,000
30,000
5,000
30,000
5,000
100,000
30,000
5,000
25,000
150,000
Total This Section $787,000
Athletic Field Section:
Orono Softball Complex
Oak Knoll
Cass Fields
1 Rest Room
Combination Shelter/
Concessions/Restroom in center
4 - Lighted Fields
1 - Combination Shelter/
Concessions/Restroom
1 - Open Shelter
Phase II for Cass Fields
Total This Section
$ 50,000
100,000
180,000
125,000
25,000
100,000
$580,000
Trails Section:
Rail Road Trail
169 to Proctor Link
Country Crossing I
Oak Knoll
Woodland Trails
Highway 10
4.5 miles
1.0 mile
¼ mile
½ mile
2.0 miles
1.5 miles
Babcock Park to Downtown
Total This Section
Engineer & Design
$200,000
70,000
15,000
25,000
125,000
75,000
50,000
$ 560,000
$ 73,000
GRAND TOTAL $2,000,000