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PRSR AGENDA MEMO 05-29-1990 •ityO TO: PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION • Elk River FROM: PAT KLAERS, CITY ADNI7TRATOR DATE: MAY 29, 1990 , SUBJECT: AGENDA MEMO The next Park and Recreation Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, 1990, at 7 :00 p.m. at the Elk River City Hall Conference Room. 3 . Minutes Attached for your information are the 4/4/90 Park and Recreation Commission minutes. These minutes have not yet been approved by the Park and Recreation Commission. Also attached is part of the 4/30/90 City Council minutes. At this meeting a discussion took place with the Park and Recreation Commission on the proposed Master Park and Recreation Plan (Draft III ) . There is no need for formal Park and Recreation Commission action on the 4/30/90 City • Council minutes; however staff needs to be advised if the Commission has any concerns over the content of these 4/30/90 minutes. 5 . Hillside Park and Woodland Trails Park Master Plans Bill Sanders, Sanders and Associates, Inc. , and one of his assistants, Paul Page, have been working with the Park and Recreation Commission on the development of two Master Plans for the larger City of Elk River parks. These two Master Plans are for the Hillside Park and the Woodland Trails Park. Bill and Paul have been keeping the Commission updated on the progress they have been making in putting these plans together. Typically, the Commission has received a somewhat brief update at the end of the last few Commission meetings. Staff believes that we should finalize a Commission recommendation to the City Council on the Master Plan for these two parks. The overall Master Parks and Recreation Plan will not be finalized until after the City Council approves the BRW Land Use Plan (Agenda Item #6) . It is • important for the Commission to closely evaluate the components within each plan, the cost of each proposal and the priorities for each park. These park plans from Mr. Sanders are going to form the foundation of future LAWCON Grants which the City will submit in an effort to get 720 Dodge Ave. N.W. Elk River, Minnesota 55330 (612) 441-7420 411 • financial assistance to implement the plans. It would be nice to finalize these plans at this meeting and pass a recommendation on to the City Council so that we can concentrate on approval of the Master Park and Recreation Plan later this summer. 6. BRW Land Use Plans In 1989, the City Council hired BRW as a Planning Consultant to develop land use plans in three key areas of the community. These three areas are the western area of Elk River between the two rivers, the east Highway 10 corridor and the Highway 169 area north of School Street/Elk Hills Drive. The Commission has been aware of the development of these plans and the City has instructed Mr. Sanders to work with BRW in coordinating the Park Plan with the Land Use Plan. It has been the general consensus of the City Council that the Land Use Plans should be approved prior to the Master Park and Recreation Plan. The Planning Commission is reviewing all of the area wide studies at a special meeting on Thursday, June 7, 1990 . The City Council is anticipated to review the plans on June 25, 1990 . Attached for your information are the four • alternative proposals for the western area, one proposal • for the east Highway 10 area and the two proposals for the Highway 169 areas. The proposals are fairly well coordinated with the Park Plan at this time, but whichever plan is finally approved by the City Council will require slight modifications in the Parks Master Plan Map that will be within the Master Park and Recreation Plan document. The Commission should discuss the Land Use Plan proposals and alternatives as it relates to park and recreation. Any concerns of the Commission need to be expressed to the Planning Commission at its 6/7/90 meeting. 7 . Park Dedication Fees Concerns have continuously been expressed to the staff regarding obtaining fees for development that takes place on existing properly zoned parcels of record. Over the past few years, we have had apartments developed and not received park dedication fees because the development took place on a parcel of record that was properly zoned and therefore, the developers simply had to obtain a building permit and begin construction. It is imperative that park dedication fees are obtained as the City extends utilities and develops currently undeveloped property. This is • especially important if the City extends utilities to the • west and development in this area takes place. The City needs to be careful that our development requirements do not get so restrictive that we discourage development. On the other hand, in order to insure a properly developed Pr park and recreation system that meets the needs of our citizens, a certain amount of funds must be collected as all new developments have some impact on City services, including park and recreation. Attached for your information is the material the Planning Commission reviewed and recommended to the Council relative to this issue. The Council will review this material on 6/18/90. The code amendment requires platting for "meets and bounds" property which allows park fees to be collected. The City will collect park fees on all new plats, lot splits, and when multi-principle buildings are built on one lot. However, the City may still miss park fees on certain existing platted lots of record. 8. Ski Trails and Railroad Trail At the last City Council meeting, representatives of the ski club were present to discuss a grant application for ski trail grooming funds. The City Council requested that this grant application request be reviewed by the Park and Recreation Commission. Representatives of the ski club . have not asked to be on this agenda to visit with the • Commission regarding the application, but staff felt that it would be appropriate for the Commission to discuss future use, maintenance and development of the cross country ski trails within Elk River. The discussion should include school use of the trails (which may require closing the trails during certain periods for competition) , development of a second trail along the existing trails, expansion of the trails onto private property by the ski club, requirements of the grant application that includes an annual user fee to citizens who use the trails, and how the trails should be available for our citizens. An associated issue with the cross country ski trails is development and use of the abandoned railroad bed which the City now owns . This discussion can include debate on summer and winter use of the trails along with 1990 and other long range trail improvements . 9 . Staff Updates Charlie should be able to provide the Commission with an update on the Saturday, 6/2/90 Community Festival and other summer recreation proposals. Phil and Charlie should both be able to update the Commission on the status of the proposed Handke Pit warming house. Additionally, Phil may be able to provide 411 the Commission' r with updates on park improvements that are taking place this summer. At the last City Council meeting with the Park and Recreation Commission on 4/30/90, a motion was approved by the City Council to spend up to $10,000 to help the school improve the ten tennis courts that are on school property. I have advised Dr. Flannery of this City Council motion. As of this date I have not, received any feedback from the school on their plans. 10. Other Business Another item that I would like to discuss with the Commission is the July Park and Recreation meeting. The regular schedule calls for this meeting to take place on July 4, 1990. Obviously this meeting will not take place on this date. Depending on the timing of the City Council approval of the land use studies by BRW, a meeting in later July may fulfill our meeting needs for both July and August . Hopefully, this meeting would be dedicated toward a final recommendation from the Commission on the Master Park and Recreation Plan. Once this recommendation is • 411 made, then the Planning Commission will have a review of the proposals. A public hearing is required for adoption of this Master Plan. This public hearing will most likely take place at the City Council level. •