6.3. SR 02-22-2005
Item 6.3.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Bill Maertz, Parks and Recreation Director
DATE: February 22, 2005
SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Update
. 2005 park improvement projects are moving forward. Staff is preparing requests
for proposals that will go out in the next two weeks. Components of the various
projects have been broken out individually in order receive the best prices
possible.
. The design concept for Rivers Edge Commons (hardware store site) has been
reviewed by the Park Commission. The design, which includes an amphitheatre, a
gazebo, and historical interpretation, will be brought to the Council for
consideration in March.
. The Park Commission has requested that the consider forming a taskforce
composed of two Park Commission members, two planning commission members
and council person, to examine ways that areas identified in the Natural
Resources Inventory can be preserved. This NRI taskforce will be a discussion
item at the March Council workshop.
. Staff will be advertising a full time park maintenance position in March with a
projected mid-April start date.
. Staffhas proposed a partnership with the school district at the potential school site
at The River Park development. In this proposal the school district would build a
warming house addition to the gymnasium at the school. Elk River Park and
Recreation would provide a skating rink and lights and operate the warming house
in the winter. In the summer the Park and Recreation or Community Education
could offer youth programming. This model is used in other cities and is a
efficient use of resources
Parks and Recreation currently operates the warming house at Handke School and
maintains the rink. This has been a very positive partnership both in terms of
recreation opportunities provided and in terms of district/city cooperation.
. The Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District has finalized plans
for a rain garden demonstration project at Orono Beach. The estimated cost is
$15,000, of which the Soil and Water district would pay 75 percent. Much ofthe
city contribution would be in-kind services such as excavation and planting.