12.0. PRSR 08-12-1998 Item#12
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MEMORANDUM
Elk
River
TO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Pat Klaers, City . m' : 'strator
DATE: August 12, 1998
SUBJECT: Bond Referendum
The following update comments are offered to generate some bond
referendum discussion at the Commission meeting.
Dave Burbach, Burbach Aquatics, has been hired by the city to do some of
the pre-referendum family aquatic center work. This pre-referendum work
includes the items listed under Task 2 in the attachment for the cost of
$3,350. This work includes a rendering of the proposal. If a 3D rendering is
• needed to help promote the bond proposal, this would cost $2,200. A
recommendation from Burbach is expected by the end of the month. Phil
Hals is planning to make contact with Mr. Burbach before the Commission
meeting so that an update can be provided. One of the most important issues
is determining if a pool can fit in Orono Park near the Gary Street and Orono
Road intersection and if the soils in this area can accommodate an aquatic
center.
It is assumed that an aquatic center is going to cost somewhere in the
neighborhood of$1.7 to $1.8 million. If this estimate is correct and the total
bond cannot exceed $2.8 million, then cuts or other sources of funds need to
be identified. Certainly the state grant noted under the next agenda item
helps by reducing the outdoor trail figures by $49,000. A decision on which
outside funds are available and/or which cuts can take place will need to be
discussed later. Additionally, it should be noted that some of the estimates
which Planner Steve Wensman has obtained for improvements to
neighborhood parks are higher than the estimates in the bond proposal.
Accordingly, the proposed improvements and the cost of the improvements
need additional review.
Regarding the estimate for a pool, a significant factor is the size which, in
turn, is based on the ultimate service area. We want the project near the
Gary Street/Orono Road intersection, and if this site works, a net will be
required to keep softballs out of the aquatic center. The entire aquatic center
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River,MN 55330 • TDD &Phone: (612)441-7420 • Fax: (612)441-7425
• area will need to be fenced in order to monitor attendance which relates to
obtaining fees and revenues to pay the operating expenses. The season pass,
daily fees, and other such rates can be worked on at a future date. If the site
near Gary Street works, then the city could save some costs on the
construction of a parking lot by using (and improving) the existing parking
facilities which may include the county fairground parking lot. One cost
savings that will most likely be necessary is to have the aquatic center not
include a diving well. If we can reserve space for this facility, it may be
something that can be added in the future. The basis for this comment is
that the diving well is high in price and low in usage. Another thing that the
city could be responsible for that could be excluded from the bond proposal is
the sand play area which hopefully can be constructed by the city street crew.
Any public information regarding a proposed referendum can be put together
and financed by the city. Any "vote yes" information needs to be funded by
an outside agency. This bond proposal effort will require some fundraising
and outside funds much like it did last year.
One issue we need to review is a video to run on Cable TV. We can run the
video on the public access channel (Channel 16) and we can also run the
video on the city channel following the tapes of the City Council and EDA
• meetings. This video should include some footage of an active aquatic center
such as videotaping the Anoka facility on a nice day when it is full, and also
some of the parks and trails which are scheduled for improvements.
Logically, the video would include an introduction and some concluding
comments which should involve some Commissioners. Including some
graphics, charts, and figures in the video should also help explain the
proposal. If the video can be put together in August/September and run in
October, it may help promote the issue.
Some of the other public information items that took place during the last
referendum need to take place this time. This includes an informational (or
vote yes) flyer being in the utility bills which are distributed in mid to late
October. Additionally a newsletter article which goes out in early September
is appropriate although limited information will be available for this article
as it needs to be completed by mid August. The Business Expo is tentatively
scheduled for October 17 and a bond referendum booth seems appropriate.
The other bond referendum informational components include articles in the
Star News, presentations, signs in city parks, and toward November 3, a
phone bank. A committee needs to be established and a strategy meeting
held in the not to distant future.
•
• "APPENDIX B"
FEASIBILITY STUDY - PHASE I
Our feasibility studies are broken down into five typical Work Tasks.
TASK #1 - TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF EXISTING FACILITY
(not applicable)
TASK #2 - DEVELOP NEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
Work for this Task would include conceptual development of a new proposed
outdoor family aquatic center. This p 'on o t e study would address such items
as evaluation of the proposed site, determination of the City's aquatic programming
needs, probable construction and operating costs, determination of the type and
configuration of pool facility to best meet the community's needs and establishment
of a project concept. The following is a detailed description of the work which we
would perform for this task of the feasibility study:
1. Perform a technical an alysis of two sites for placement of the new family
aquatic center. Our firm has developed rigid technical review requirements in
which 17 categories of analyses are provided for the site, including field check of
elevations and existing utilities, effect on surrounding neighbors, traffic patterns,
accessibility for the users, etc;
2. Review projections of the Community's demographic trends and analyze
recent swimming pool usage data and advise on the demand for aquatics in the
Community; — -- .
3. Perform a mark eting study including on-site evaluation of surrounding
communities' aquatic facilities highlighting their relative strengths and
programming;
4. Review proposed programming with City__ Team determine optimum
programming needs and define which facilities can best s handle those needs.
Develop a system wide approach to meeting the communities aquatic needs;
5. We would then perform a detailed aquatic sizing of the proposed pool
vessel, as required to meet the communities needs for the next 25 years;
ID
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Jul -28-98 16 : 08 Burbach Engineers 1 608 348 4970
• 6. The next step in the development of this project would be to prepare
conceptual design layouts of the project intended to meet the community's demands.
Two conceptual layouts of new family aquatic center facilities would be prepared.
Site amenities, new recreation pools and other assets will be shown. An informative
process would be undertaken by the consultant which would involve slide and video
presentations to the City Team illustrating different types of facilities and their
respective uses. One of the goals of Burbach Aquatics is to maintain a close team
approach so as to assist our clients as the project develops;
7. Conduct up to two review and comment sessions with Elk River
community groups for the purpose of receiving comments on programming needs
and suitability of the preliminary plans to meet their needs;
8. Evaluate comments received from community users groups and review
with City Team. The preliminary plan will be presented to the City Council for
their review and approval;
9. Individual components of each of the proposed facilities would be
analyzed and recommendations would be put forth addressing issues such as
maintenance, probable operating costs, and overall impact on the quality of the
aquatic environment and impact on the existing facility. Since we specialize in the
• design of municipal pools, both neighborhood and community, we have an excellent
working knowledge of the equipment and mechanical apparatus and assemblies
which should be provided and installed in facilities such as these;
10. Provide opinions of probable construction costs and make
recommendations for the pool shells, surge tanks, piping systems, filter systems,
recirculation pumps, chemical systems,pool heaters, wading pools, deck equipment,
sanitary facilities, site amenities, bathhouses, mechanical buildings, and other items
for a total of 33 categories;
11. Make overall final recommendations regarding the type and size facility,
extent to which existing site facilities can be reused, location, etc, and provide six
copies of the report;
I 2. Present findings to the Superintendent of Streets & Parks, City Council,
Recreation Staff, and various community groups. A total of four trips are included
in the stipulated amount.
TASK #3 - PUBLIC OPINION POLL
(Provided as additional service)
• The purpose of this task is to develop and conduct a scientific public opinion poll