PRSR INFORMATION 08-05-1997 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 23 PARKS AND
• RECREATION BOND REFERENDUM
THE ISSUE: Citizens living within the boundaries of Elk River will have the opportunity on
September 23, 1997 to vote on the following question: "Shall the City of Elk River,
Minnesota, be authorized to issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed
$2,000,000 to defray the expense of the acquisition, construction, equipping and betterment
of public park and recreational facilities for the City?"
Vote at your regular polling place. For questions on where you vote, please call 441-7420
BACKGROUND: The City currently has more than 700 acres of parkland concentrated in 23
different sites. In the past the Park and Recreation Commission has worked primarily to acquire
new sites. According to a survey commissioned last spring by the City Council, residents feel that
the time has come to develop and improve existing parks.
The survey results indicated the need for permanent restrooms and shelters, neighborhood parks
and equipment(swingsets, hard surfaced courts and playground equipment) and additions to the
city's biking and hiking trails. There was significant support for adding park land and for
improving existing playing fields. Respondents to the survey were willing to support a modest
increase(under 30 dollars) in their property taxes.
COST TO CITY PROPERTY OWNERS: The average home.in Elk River has a market value
• of$105,000. A citizen with a home with this value will pay $29 per year for 20 years. A
commercial property owner will pay the same rate. Other sample increases include:
Market Value Dollars of Tax Increase Market Value Dollars of Tax Increase
$50,000 $14 $200,000 $57
$75,000 $21 $400,000 $113
$125,000 $35 $600,000 $170
$150,000 $42 $1,000,000 $283
THE REFERENDUM INCLUDES:
***Construction of a teen center in Lions Park, in partnership with the Elk
River Lions.
***Playground equipment installed or enhanced at 8 existing sites. In addition,
half basketball courts will be added to 5 existing sites.
***Permanent restrooms and/or shelters at 5 locations: Woodland Trails Park,
Orono Softball Complex, Orono Park, Oak Knoll Park, and the Elk River Youth
Athletic Complex.
• Continued on back page
1
•
INSIDE: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE
SEPTEMBER 23 PARKS AND RECREATION BOND
REFERENDUM
INCLUDED IN THE REFERENDUM(continued from front page):
***Improvement of approximately 10 miles of city trails.
***Lights for 4 existing youth baseball/softball fields plus construction of two larger •
youth baseball fields at the Elk River Youth Athletic Complex.
***Purchase of a new park site to serve the area east of Hwy. 169. Playground
equipment plus a half basketball court installed at this site.
***Design, engineering and construction costs for the above
FOR QUESTIONS ON THE REFERENDUM, PLEASE CALL ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING PARK AND RECREATIONAL COMMISSIONERS:
Dana Anderson(Chair) 441-3874 John Kuester 441-4327
Dave Anderson 441-4582 Kent Madsen 441-6887
Rolfe Anderson 441-6947 Clair Olson 441-4270
Lana Huberty 241-0795 Ron Westrum 441-4297
1
• PARKS REFERENDUM UPDATE: 8/13/97
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: Held August 5 with approximately 15 persons attending
including representatives from Women's Softball, Youth Baseball, Youth Football, TRSA, and
Girl's Youth Baseball. General strategy emerged during meeting:
1. To turn out 2000 to 2500 Elk River voters on September 23 to support
the parks and trails referendum.
2. To work with Girl's Youth Softball, Men and Women's Softball, Youth
Football, Girl's Youth Baseball, Youth Baseball and other stakeholders to turn out the
vote through phone banks, mailings of flyers, personal contact and other means.
3. To develop "coming soon to your neighborhood park" signs that will be
placed in each park and playing field due to be improved.
4. To have speakers available with a display at Chamber, Rotary, and other
public speaking opportunities.
5. To have a presentation about the referendum aired on cable
6. To develop flyers which can be mailed out or distributed at public venues
7. To tell the referendum story through the local media, inserts in public
utility bills, the Current, information booth at Community Ed sign-up, etc.
8. To have mini-exhibits in public places such as banks, grocery stores, etc.
9. To raise approximately $2700 to cover the following costs:
• a. Design work on speakers display, park signs, mini-exhibits and flyers: $300
b. Construction of park signs, speakers display, mini-exhibits. $600
c. Print approximately 2000 flyers: $300
d. Placement of two 1/2 page ads in Star News/Shopper $800
e. Contingency $700
AUGUST 14 MEETING: Decision Resources will attend to review strategy and to offer expert
opinion concerning organizing phone banks. Sample flyers and park signs will be available for
review. Fine tuning organizational responsibilities and commitments will be a major agenda item.
UNDERWAY:
1. VOTE YES FOR PARKS! has a Treasurer, Jerry Takle, and an account at
First National Bank.
2. Some fund raising approaches to the private sector are under way
3. The City will be mailing out 5500 informational flyers with public utility
statements next week.
4. An informational article will be included in the next issue of Current
5. Preliminary arrangements have been to have a booth at the September 6
Community Education Fall Sign-up.
6.An informational plug about the referendum is included in the Comm Ed Fall Brochure
7. Design work park signs and flyers which incorporate work by Cindi Edwards Plant, Phil
Hals, Lana Huberty and Ron Westrum will be on display at 8/14 meeting.
• CAMPAIGN COORDINATION: John Kuester
FUNDRAISING:
Design work for display/flyers: 200
Display construction: 300
Print 2000 flyers: 300
2 1/2 page inserts Star News/Shopper 800
Phone bank: misc expenses 200
Contingency 400
Total:2200
PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Presentations before Chamber, Rotary, Lions, church groups, recreation/sports groups-
wherever 2 or three are gathered together
insert-public utilities statement
promotion in Community Ed brochure, City Newsletter, etc
411 Webb page with pictures of improvements
Newspaper advertising
Signs in parks: "Coming soon at your favorite park location"
GET OUT THE VOTE:
Phone bank
Door to door
IP
Parks:
ID
Woodlands Trails Park Multi-Use Building
with Restrooms
Orono Park 1 -Rest Room
Arid Playground Equipment
Country Crossing 3rd Playground Equipment
'/2 Court Basketball
Mississippi Oaks Playground Equipment
'A Court
Lafayette Woods Playground Equipment
2 1/2 Courts
Ridgewood East Add Playground Equipment
Lights
Deerfield IV Add Playground Equipment
• Hillside 5th Playground Equipment
'A Court
Meadowvale Heights Playground Equipment
Y2 Court
East of 169 Park Property Purchase
Playground Equipment
V2 Court
Open Shelter
Lion's Park Teen Center(50% Contribution)
Total This Section $787,000
•
I
Athletic Field Section:
Orono Softball Complex 1 Rest Room
Oak Knoll - Combination Shelter/
Concessions/Restroom in center
Cass Fields 4 -Lighted Fields
1 - Combination Shelter/
Concessions/Restroom
1 - Open Shelter
Phase II for Cass Fields
Total This Section $580,000
Trails Section:
Rail Road Trail 4.5 miles
169 to Proctor Link 1.0 mile
• Country Crossing I 1/4 mile
Oak Knoll 1/2 mile
Woodland Trails 2.0 miles
Highway 10 1.5 miles
Babcock Park to Downtown
Total This Section $ 560,000
Engineer& Design $ 73,000
GRAND TOTAL $2,000,000
I
OFFICIAL
ELECTION BALLOT
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
DAKOTA COUNTY
MINNESOTA
***** "Shall the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota,
* * YES be authorized to issue its general
***** obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed
$8, 370, 000 to defray the expense of the
***** acquisition, construction, equipping and
* * NO betterment of public park and recreational
***** facilities for the City?"
NOTICE: BY VOTING "YES" ON THIS BALLOT
QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
The maximum amount of increased levy as a
percentage of market value is % .
The amount that will be raised by the new
• referendum tax rate in the first year it is to
be levied is $
INSTRUCTION TO VOTERS :
If you wish to vote in favor of the above proposition, mark a cross
(X) in the square before the word "YES" . If you wish to vote
against the above proposition, mark a cross (X) in the square
before the word "NO" .
(NOTE: On the back of each ballot shall be printed the words
"Official Ballot" , the date of the election and lines for
the initials of the judges . )
347372.1 3
• REFERENDUM ELECTION CALENDAR
September 23, 1997
DATE DUTY LAW
June 27 Notify Community Ed of need for polling places
July 25 Council approval by 2/3 vote to use electronic 206.58
voting systems. Information disseminated to
public regarding use of new voting system
*July 25 Plan to Secretary of State regarding use of 206.82 Subd. 2
(ck.With electronic voting devices and central count system
SOS Office)
Aug 1 Send letters to election judges asking if they want
to work
Aug 4 Provide instruction to voters with demonstration 206.58
voting machine in a public place for six weeks
prior to the first election
Aug 8 Notify County Auditor in Writing of Election 205.16, subd. 4
Aug 22 Last day to prepare and deliver absentee ballots. 204B.35, subd.
First day of absentee voting. 4
• Aug 29 Last day for council resolution appointing election 204B.21, Subd.
judges 2
Sept 3 Last day for voters to register before Sept. 23 201.061, Subd.
election. Registration closes at 5 p.m. 1
Sept 8 Last day to post notice of election 204B.34, Subd.
1
Sept 8 Publish notice of election for two successive weeks 205.16, Subd. 1
Sept 9 First day to test voting equipment 206.83
Sept 13 First day to deliver absentee ballots to hospital 203B.11, Subd.
patients and health care facility residents who 2
have applied for them. (Last day is Sept. 22)
Sept 16 Publish sample ballot 205.16, Subd. 2
Sept 19 Last day to post sample ballot 205.16 Subd. 3
Sept 20 City offices open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for absentee 203B.085
ballot applications and voting
Sept 22 City offices open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for absentee 203B.085
ballot applications and voting
Sept 23 Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. — ELECTION
DAY
Sept 25 Last day for City Council to canvass election 205.185, Subd.
3
returns and declare results of election
OTHER DUTIES
• No meetings between 6 and 8 p.m. on election day. Does this
pertain to referendum also? SS 204C.03
• Prepare Summary Statements (do we do this or does this get
completed by the machine)?
• Prepare Test Deck
• Prepare Ballots - SS 205.17, Subd. 4
• Handle Absentee Ballots - See Ramona for supplies and process
information
• Letter to Secretary of State regarding use of voter machines.
• Council to approve the use of electronic voting machines at all
precincts.
•
X
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6129296166 DECISION RESOURSES 383 P02 JUL 09 '97 133E
• ELK RIVER PARK BOND REFERENDUM
CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Key Target Groups:
Under 45 year olds
Wards One and Three residents
Households containing children
Renters
Youth Recreation League member households
Adult Recreation League member households
Structural Considerations:
Two committees need to be organized: an internal staff committee and an external "citizens'
YES committee." The former may use city funds to inform the electorate; the latter may actually
undertake persuasional efforts for a YES vote, but cannot use public funds. Instead, the latter
must rely upon individual and group contributions.
• This should be a telephone-based campaign similar to school district efforts. We would
recommend the use of advocacy scripts which will identify supporters,undecideds, and
opponents. Telephoning should be done in a"bank/boiler room"situation to insure efficiency,
comradery,and centralized data keeping.
But,prior to the structuring of the telephone bank, we need to obtain the following lists
(hopefully with telephone numbers):
Households containing Elk River Public School children—should be available from the School
District at nominal cost--the same list the District"Yes"Committee used in its referenda.
Members of Adult Recreation Leagues
Registered voter lists for Wards One and Three—ideally this list would be cross-checked
against the School District list)
The telephone bank system will require about 65%of the total effort. Recruitment of telephoners
should be from stakeholder groups.
Generally,we recommend four subcommittees within the Citizens' Committee:
Voter Contact(Telephone Bank)
Publicity Committee (Letters to the Editor, Persuasional Mailings)
41) Finance Committee(General Fundraising)
Election Day Activities(Get-Out-The-Vote Program)
6129296166 DECISION RESOURSES 383 P03 JUL 09 '97 13:38
• To set a realistic goal for identifying"YES"voters, we need to obtain the City of Elk River
er
turnout in the last School District bond referendum effort which was NOT held in November of
an even year. Once this number has been obtained,we can work with you in determining the
number of phoners/nights you will need to hit the goal.
Campaign Flow:
Informational Mailing prepared by City of Elk River and mailed to all households
Persuasional Mailing(could be postcard)mailed to all households within three days
Telephone Bank classifying"supporters,""undecideds,"and"opponents"
Thank you post card mailed to all"supporters"
Persuasional letter mailed to all"undecideds"
Telephone Bank recalling"undecideds"for re-classification
Reminder post card mailed to all"supporters"
Election Day telephone call to all"supporters"urging a vote
• Additional Publicity:
"Letters to the Editor"should be mailed in favor of the proposal on a regular basis. For every
negative letter,make sure there are two positive letters the following edition. As funds permit,
an advertisement during the week before the election could be placed in the newspaper.
•
• MASTER SCHEDULE OF REFERENDUM EVENTS
AUGUST 4-10: Organization meeting(8/5)
Copy for Community Ed Brochure
Concept work for display/flyer
Assignments for next meeting
Fundraising begins
August 11-17: Assignment Meeting
Master Schedule completed
Display/flyer work finished and approved
Fundraising continues
August 18-24: Ongoing promotion of the referendum
August 25-31: Phone bank in place
September 1-7: Ongoing promotion of the referendum
September 8-13 On going promotion of the referendum
First round of advertising Star News
•
September 15/20 Phone bank in full operation
p p
Second round of advertising Star News
September 23: ELECTION NIGHT-CELEBRATION
•
• Parks:
Woodlands Trails Park Multi-Use Building
with Restrooms
Orono Park 1 - Rest Room
Add Playground Equipment
Country Crossing 3'd Playground Equipment
1/2 Court Basketball
Mississippi Oaks Playground Equipment
'/2 Court
Lafayette Woods Playground Equipment
2 '/2 Courts
Ridgewood East Add Playground Equipment
Lights
Deerfield IV Add Playground Equipment
• Hillside 5th Playground Equipment
'/2 Court
Meadowvale Heights Playground Equipment
%2 Court
East of 169 Park Property Purchase
Playground Equipment
%2 Court
Open Shelter
Lion's Park Teen Center(50% Contribution)
Total This Section $787,000
110
•
Athletic Field Section:
Orono Softball Complex 1 Rest Room
Oak Knoll - Combination Shelter/
Concessions/Restroom in center
Cass Fields 4 -Lighted Fields
1 - Combination Shelter/
Concessions/Restroom
1 - Open Shelter
Phase II for Cass Fields
Total This Section $580,000
Trails Section:
Rail Road Trail 4.5 miles
169 to Proctor Link 1.0 mile
• Country Crossing I 1/4 mile
Oak Knoll 1/2 mile
Woodland Trails 2.0 miles
Highway 10 1.5 miles
Babcock Park to Downtown
Total This Section $ 560,000
Engineer& Design $ 73,000
GRAND TOTAL $2,000,000
•
• CAMPAIGN COORDINATION: John Kuester
FUNDRAISING:
Design work for display/flyers: 200
Display construction: 300
Print 2000 flyers: 300
2 Y2 page inserts Star News/Shopper 800
Phone bank: misc expenses 200
Contingency 400
Total:2200
PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Presentations before Chamber, Rotary, Lions, church groups, recreation/sports groups-
wherever 2 or three are gathered together
insert-public utilities statement
promotion in Community Ed brochure, City Newsletter, etc
IDWebb page with pictures of improvements
Newspaper advertising
Signs in parks: "Coming soon at your favorite park location"
GET OUT THE VOTE:
Phone bank
Door to door
s
ELK RIVER PARKS AND RECREATION BOND ISSUE TIME LINE(DRAFT)
Jan 2: Special meeting of Parks Commission. Brainstorm"wish list" Select
areas to be covered in community survey. Commissioners review bonding
process. Sub-Committee formed to work on bond issue.
Jan/March: Meeting of Elk River Commission with Parks Commission in community
which was successful in passing Parks/Recreation Bond Issue. Purpose of meeting
is to learn what role was played by the Parks Commission in passing the bond issue.
Also, what works to build public support for a parks referendum.
Jan/March: Sub-Committee does additional homework on bonding referendum to learn
how they work.
Jan/April: Commission and staff work with Decision Resources LDT to design
and carry out a survey of the views of residents about park and recreational
priorities.
April 9: Commission and staff review final results of survey. At this meeting or
another special meeting, Commission design strategy for referendum
April: Sub-Committee works with staff to cost out priorities as identified in survey
May 7: Sub Committee reports proposed bond package to Commission for action.
May: Commission meets with City Council to discuss proposed bond package and
election process. Commission receives red/yellow/green light from Council. Commission
moves ahead/revises package as necessary.
SUMMER/FALL: support strategy in place.
November: VOTE ON REFERENDUM(?)
S