8. PRSR 04-14-2004ITEM ~ 8-
ver
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Michele Bergh, Recreation Manager
DATE: April 14, 2003
SUBJECT: Monthly Recreation Department Update
Hot Topic(s) of the Month
We are moving forward with our plans to begin accepting Internet registrations this year.
We will be making the necessary adjustments and plan on having the system up and n,nn;ng
for the September-October Program Guide. We are excited about implementing this and
believe it will make things much easier for our customers.
We also had 6`h grade visitors from Salk and VandenBerge through their Education to
Employment program in March. The students came with a parent volunteer and asked
various questions about our organization and then we did a word problem with them to
demonstrate how we use math in our daily work. Our word problem was about planning
and rumiing an Easter Egg Hunt.
March Programs
During the month of March, the programs we had nxtnting were Tumbling, Pee Wee
Basketball, Parent and Tot Tumbling during the day, Preschool Tumbling during the day,
Parents Night Chit, and our special non-school day event - a 4 Square Tournament. 4
Square is the hottest game on the playground and our first ever tournament was a huge
success. We had 2-5 graders playing for 4 hours at Lions Park Center and all had a great
time.
Special Marketing Efforts
We are really working hard to increase exposure and let people know about our programs
and to let people know we no longer charge anon-resident fee. We are already beginning to
see a growth in non-residents calling with questions and to register for programs because of
the change. We participated in the Business Expo, complete with a "Lions Den" and lion
roaming the halls of the high school. We made a mock cave and filled it with program
supplies and equipment and rented a lions costume to promote our Lions Den Summer Day
Camp and our Lions Park location. I have attached a few pictures from the day. We are
also doing face painting and promoting programs at the Meadowvale Elementary and
Memo to the Park and Recreation CommissionlRecreation Update
April 14, 2004
Page 2
Lincoln Elementary school carnivals. This is a first for us but they were happy for the help
and thought it was a great way to promote our programs.
Facili Use
We reserved 152 hours of use occurring in March. Of this, over 90 hours was for Lions
Park Center. We are also busy working with Adult Softball, Youth Baseball, Girls Softball,
and TRSA to reserve summer field space. Their seasons begin by May 1" and they are
usually "itching" to get on fields bymid-April. This is allowed if weather permits. We met
with Commumty Ed, TRSA, and Elk River United, Youth Baseball, and Girls Softball to
coordinate use. We will be conducting coaches training again for Girls Softball on Apri126`h.
This training certifies their coaches with National Alliance for Youth Spores. I have been
conducting these trainings for many years.
Wellness Committee
The Wellness Committee was very busy in March taking sign ups and promoting the Shape
Up Challenge through Medica. We have 7 teams of 5 employees each participating. This
challenge focuses on healthy living as a whole and includes point earnings for eating 5
fruits/vegetables, making healthier daily choices such as drinking 8 glasses of water or
parking in the back of parking lots, exercise of 30 minutes or more, take care of your health
through annual check ups and things like flossing your teeth, as well as taking time every day
to relax. The challenge is 6 weeks and we have a variety of activities planned during this
time for employees to do together on their own time.
Other
Summer programming is almost complete. Our first summer program guide, covering May-
August was delivered April 7`''. We will have a second summer guide, covering June-August
delivered June 2. We have our annual Easter Egg Hunt coming up April 10`h at Woodland
Trails. This event is co-sponsored by the YMCA and the National Honor Society at
ERAHS. We also have a large family event planned for Wednesday, May 26`h to promote
our summer programs as well. This event is also co-sponsored by the YMCA and will take
place at Lions Park. We'll have food, face painting, a moonwalk, pony rides, and more!
Memo to the Park and Recreation CommissionlRecreation Update
April 14, 2004
Page 3
BUSINESS EXPO PHOTOS
FOUR SQUARE TOURNAMENT PHOTOS
Item 9.B.1
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreatio(~n Commission
FROM: Michele McPherson; Director of Planning
Duane Peterson, Chair
John Kuester, Commissioner
DATE: April 14, 2004
SUBJECT: Affirm Recommendation for Woodland Hills Park Dedication
Request
The Comtnission is asked to affirm its recommendation to the City Council that the City pursue
acquisition of additional land from the developer of Woodland Hills. This request to review and
possibly reconsider acquisition of additional land was initiated by Chair Peterson and
Commissioner Kuester.
Attachments
- Location Map
- Aerial Photo with Current Proposed Plat Map (red lines show staff changes)
- Enlarged Aerial Photo of Utilities Facility
Issues to Consider
The preluninary plat of Woodland Hills will be reviewed by the City Council at their April 19,
2004 meeting. The Planning Commission recommended denial of the plat and made no
comment regarding the 200 foot buffer requested by the Commission.
There are issues the Comrnission should consider as they affirm or change its current
recommendation to the City Council:
1. Location of the neighborhood playground.
2. Cost of the recommendation in dollars, integrity, short-term and long-term.
3. Access road to the water treatment facility.
Memo to the Park and Recreation CommissionlWoodland Hllls
April 14, 2004
Page 2
Neighborhood Playground
The Commission has long-identified the need for a neighborhood playground to serve the
subdivisions of Windsor Oak Hill, Nordic Woods/Hills, and this development. Commission
discussion regarding the Nordic Hills development specifically opted for park dedication funds
because the Commission preferred land in the Woodland Hills development for a neighborhood
park to serve the area. Although recent discussion by the Commission has focused on the 200
foot buffer, unless the Commisslon has reversed its long-standing position to establish a
neighborhood park in this area. Playground equipment and possible other amenities are still part
of the plans for this site.
The ideal distance for a neighborhood park is between 1/8 and 1/4 of a mile to the service area.
Some discussion has occurred regarding utilization of the playground at Meadowvale Elementary
School. There are several barriers to this option:
a. Distance to the school from the core neighborhood area. The school is separated from
the neighborhood by the presence of a large wetland complex. Access to the school
would have to be either via the railroad grade or via County Road 1.
b. Relationship between the City and the School District. Several years ago, the City and
School District separated use and maintenance of athletic facilities and the City attempts
to limit its use of District facilities due to cost. Without a conversation by the leadership,
it is unsafe to assume that the neighborhood would be able to use the playground.
c. Fencing. The school property is fenced, making it less than welcoming and forcing a
longer walk to the facility.
The current version of the development has a wide area adjacent to the public street, one of the
key criteria in determining if land is suitable for park dedication purposes. It is in this area that
staff suggests an area be carved out for a playground. The Commission should discuss what
other components would be appropriate for this neighborhood park.
Cost of Recommendation
The Commission is asked to consider the cost of the recommendation to negotiate or condemn
land for the additiona153' of buffer. Cost can be calculated in terms of dollars, integrity, and
long-term commitments. In addition, has this site been evaluated in light of the priority list of
sites that the Commission has identified for acquisition to the park system (gun club, Houlton
properly, Gruys property, other yet to be identified parcels that maybe revealed as a result of
the NRI study)?
Currently, there is $1.5 million in the park dedication fund, with approximately $230,000 in
expenditures planned for 2004. Staff is aware that the developer is paying in excess of $50,000
per acre for the raw land. This number will be the m;n;mum amount per acre for the 1.89 acres
that is needed to meet the desired buffer area ($94,500). If terms cannot be negotiated and
condemnation proceedings occur, costs will be added for appraisals and attorneys. The cost for
condemnation could reach $300,000. The City paid around $235,000 for 11 acres of land when
it purchased Royal Valley Parkin 2001/02.
S:\PLANNING\Case Fdes\2004\P 04-02 Woodland Hills\4 14 04 P & R Memo.doc
Memo to the Park and Recreation Commiszion/Woodland Hills
April 14, 2004
Page 3
Once the buffer is acquired, in order to protect its integrity, proactive measures should be
considered and undertaken in order to prevent damage from construction and the spread of oak
wilt. This will require resources in terms of staff time and contractor expense, most likely from
the park dedication fund.
Lastly, there is the cost in terms of the Commission's integrity. The Conuitission has been able
to negotiate for park dedication, and has yet to play the "condemnation card" in order to get
close to what it desires for parkland. What message will this send to developers of future
subdivisions, and is this the place that this "card" should be played?
Access Road to Well House
The last issue the Commission should consider is the access road to the well house. It has
always been the Commission's desire to require an access to the well house from the
development in order to discontinue their use of the Great Northern Trail.
In analyzing the site, what is the benefit of moving the access to the well house? In all
likelihood, grading will need to occur (the natural grade is at least two feet above the driveway
grade), and additional trees would need to be removed to accomplish the construction.
Construction of the driveway would also remove an opporttmity to reforest the area, thereby
providing additional screening of the facility from the trail.
Discussion of the construction of a proposed access road has to consider which possible
gains/losses are most important to the Commission. Probable gains of constructing the road
means less vehicle traffic on the trail and less opportunity for the southern trail gate to be left
open. Probable losses for constructing the road are construction costs (who pays -Utilities or
Parks?), additional tree loss, plus possible community perception that the Commission created
an elephant sized solution to anant-sized problem.
Recommendation
The Commission is asked to deternine the following regarding this issue:
1. Commitment to a neighborhood park within the buffer area.
2. Determination of components to be included within the neighborhood park.
3. Commitment to condemnation if necessary.
4. Commitment to moving the access to the well house.
S:\PLAIVIVING\Caze Fdes\2004\P 04-02 Woodland Hills\4 14 04 P &RMemo.doc
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Item 9.6.2
ver
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Michele McPherson, Director of Planning
DATE: April 14, 2004
SUBJECT: Consider Park Dedication
Case No. AS 04-O1 Thompson Addition
Request
The Commission is asked to consider park dedication for a one lot administrative
subdivision.
Attachments
• Location Map
• Aerial Photo
• Paxk Map Excerpt
• Property Survey
Location
The property is located north and east of the intersection of Elk Lake Road (County Road 1)
and 221" Avenue.
Analysis
The applicant is proposing to create a 10-acre parcel out of a 66-acre parcel.
The subject property is outside of any area-wide ox neighborhood park target area and would
be too small in terms of land area to warrant requesting land dedication. Cash dedication
appears to be appropriate fox this request.
As the site is adjacent to a County road, the Commission often requests additional right-of-
way fox off street trail construction. The applicant will be required to provide 50' of right-of-
way to the County fox road purposes. The area adjacent to the roadway contains wide
Memo to the Park and Recreation CommissionlASO4-01
April 14, 2004
Page 2
roadside ditches. The County is proposing to rebuild County Road
1, and as the City has an opportunity to review the construction
plans, these ditches will need to be evaluated as to how they will
support off-siseet pedestrian facilities. There
aze also mature pine trees along the back slope
of the ditch, so any detached pedestrian facility
may require either piping the ditch ox impacting
these trees.
The Commission may want to establish a
subcommittee to study the feasibility of off-street detached pedestrian
facilities along County Road 1.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend cash dedication
for one lot for park dedication purposes.
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