PRSR AGENDA MEMO 03-02-1990 A
-C./ .K
•City of
Elk River TO: PARK AND RECREATION Cs ISSION
FROM: PATRICK KLAERS, CITY 'D;/ TRATOR
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DATE: MARCH 2, 1990
SUBJECT: AGENDA MEMO
The next Park and Recreation Commission meeting is scheduled
for Wednesday, March 7, 1990, at 7 : 00 p.m. at the Elk River
City Hall Conference room. Attached for your information are
the draft 2/7/90 Park and Recreation Commission Minutes.
The main agenda item for this upcoming Park and Recreation
Commission meeting will be a discussion with Mr. Bill Sanders
on draft II of the Master Park and Recreation Plan. This plan
was distributed at the February 7, 1990, Park and Recreation
Commission meeting. At this March meeting it is appropriate
for the Commission to give Mr. Sanders detailed feedback on the
proposal . Discussion with Mr. Sanders should center on
incorporation of the results of the community survey into the
plan. Additionally, at the February meeting the Commission had
. a great deal of discussion on the trail systems and, most
importantly, how the City can implement the plan.
It is fairly obvious that most of the Commission members agree
with the general tone of the Master Parks and Recreation Plan,
but it is also fairly obvious that the Commission and staff are
not certain on how we can achieve the goals as listed in the
plan. For example, the Commission supports the development of
the trails and continued purchase of additional property for a
linking trail system, but are unsure as to how to implement
this goal. By this I mean, should the City go out and attempt
to purchase property at this time, or should the City wait
until property owners develop and then request easement across
their land. Additionally, is there some zoning or regulatory
technique that the City can use in order to preserve certain
areas of the community for future parks without infringing upon
individual property owners rights.
It is anticipated that following the Park and Recreation
Commission review of this draft II, that Mr. Sanders will
incorporate this information into the next draft . Draft III
will also provide information on how to implement the plan.
Draft II currently provides no information in the
implementation section. Careful review and comment is needed
by the Commission on draft II so that the next draft will be
very close to the final version of the Master Park and
Recreation Plan. Draft III is anticipated to be distributed at
the April Commission meeting. This draft, as it should be
close to the final document, will then be distributed to the
City Council.
720 Dodge Avenue N.W., Elk River, Minnesota 55330 (612) 441-7420
Park and Recreation Agenda Memo Page 2
March 2 , 1990
411
Also, at this March Commission meeting, I believe that Mr.
Sanders will provide us with some information on the progress
that he has been making in the development of the studies for
the Woodland Trail park and the Hillside park.
STAFF UPDATES:
Charlie Blesener is anticipated to attend this meeting and
should update the Commission on the status of winter Park and
Recreation activities and upcoming spring/summer Park and
Recreation plans .
Attached for your information is a "laundry list" of possible
park improvements that is provided by Street/Park
Superintendent, Phil Hals . As was done in 1989, the staff is
looking for a recommendation from the Commission on how park
dedication funds should be used in 1990 . Also, as in 1989 , it
is appropriate for the Commission to recommend to spend
somewhere in the neighborhood of $25,000 on improvements in
selected parks .
Attached for your review are a number of pieces of
information. The first item is a notice that the Elk River
Area Citizens League will be sponsoring a panel discussion on
April 26, 1990, on the topic of whether or not the City needs a
Park and Recreation Director. Also, on this attachment is a
notice about a public hearing on March 6 , at the County
Government Center on the Sherburne County Comprehensive Local
Water Management Plan. This meeting is also discussed in the
attached 2/27/90 letter from the Minnesota Soil and Water
Conservation Districts . A third piece of information that is
attached is a draft memo from the Mayor that discusses his
recent meeting at the Lake Orono Homeowners Association annual
meeting. This memo summarizes what he indicated to the
Association and some of the concerns expressed to him from the
Association. The final attachment is some information provided
by Planning Commission Chairman, Peter Kimball. This
information discusses Park and Recreation projections in
various activities in Minnesota through the year 2000. This
information seems to coincide with the results of the recently
conducted community survey.
One additional point I would like to bring to the attention of
the Commission is a new plat that has received preliminary
approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. The
Commission was supposed to review this plat before it got to
the City Council in its preliminary state; however, due to the
resignation of the Zoning Assistant, this did not get processed
to the Park and Recreation Commission. The plat that is in
question is behind the Masonic Lodge, south of Highway 10 and
west of Upland Avenue. No park property is planned in this
Park and Recreation Agenda Memo Page 3
March 2, 1990
plat and the City will be receiving cash in lieu of land. The
obtaining of cash is consistent with the Master Park Plan, as
no park area is designated in this vicinity. Not having the
Park and Recreation Commission review this preliminary plat and
make a recommendation to the City Council was a staff
oversight . However, I believe that the results would have been
the same and that no adjustments in this plat are needed or
would have been recommended by the Commission.
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