4.11. SR 02-20-2001City of
River
MEMORANDUM
Item 4.11.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Cou,~..
Michele McPhersotiC'Director of Planning
February 20, 200'1
Park and Recreation Commission Update
At its February 14th meeting, the Park and Recreation Commission discussed a
wide variety of issues from park improvements to snowmobiles to the cross-city
transportation corridor. To follow is a summary and requested action by the City
Council:
Approve 2001 Capital Budget
Attached please find the proposed 2001 Capital Improvement Budget. The
budget as proposed includes approximately $98,000 worth of expenditures.
Highlights of the budget are as follows:
Barrington Park- $27,000 for additions to the playground structure including
improvements to meet the Americans With Disabilities Act requirements,
landscaping, benches, sidewalks, a park identification and lighting. The
proposed addition to the play structure includes a separate structure for the
toddler age group.
Riverplace Park- Playground of $40,000. The proposed playground structure
includes three pods for toddlers, school-age (5-12 years) swings, and a school-
age playground structure.
Park Brochure and Map - $8,000. The Park and Recreation Commission would
like to develop and print for distribution to the general public a brochure/map of
park locations, trails, and amenities in each of the parks. This would incorporate
the City's new logo.
As in 2000, there is also a budgeted amount of $10,000 for improvements to
unimproved parks. In addition to the above identified expenditures, staff Will be
submitting a supplemental budget for capital improvements for the Devine barn
to be approved at a later date. Staff has identified the need to re-roof the barn in
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone (763) 441-7420 · Fax (763) 441-7425
Memo to Mayor and City Council/2-14 P & R Meeting
February 20, 2001
Page 2
2001 and improvements to the lower level of the barn are desired in 2001, so that
the barn can be used for programming, hopefully in late fall.
Staff requests that the City Council approve the attached Park Capital
Budget for 2001.
Playground Equipment
Staff has been working with Earl F. Anderson on the design of the expanded
playground for Barrington Park and the new playground proposed for Riverplace
Park. Staff requests that the City Council authorize the advertisement for
bids for the construction of the playgrounds in 2001. Staff anticipates that
with an early bid process, construction of a playground could begin in mid-June.
Snowmobiles
The Commission is continuing discussions with the River City Snow Riders in
regards to clarifying the City's ordinance, identifying areas in the City where trails
would not be plowed in order to allow snowmobile use, and for the evaluation of
any trail damage that may have occurred in the 2000-2001 snowmobile season.
Staff anticipates that the trail evaluation will occur shortly after the snow melts,
hopefully during April, with a revised ordinance and trail map ready for review by
the City Council by August 1st. Staff and the Commission will continue to work
with the River City Snow Riders as we make changes to accommodate this use
within the community.
Cross-City Transportation Corridor
The Commission discussed and voted unanimously to recommend to the City
Council that the right-of-way identified through Woodland Trails for the
realignment of County Road 33 be removed and that an alternative location for
the cross-city transportation corridor be identified. This discussion occurred as a
result of the work that MN/DOT, the County and City have been completing for
the construction of the interchange at County Road 33 and Highway 169. The
Commission is concerned regarding the lack of evaluation to date regarding the
impacts to trails and natural resources that a corridor would have should it be
constructed through Woodland Trails Park. Once a date for local approval of the
interchange has been identified, the Commission will be in attendance to further
discuss this concern with the City Council.
Lions Park Shelter
The Commission also reviewed the proposed expansion to the Lions Park shelter
and voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council continue to work with
the Lions in developing the expansion plans and the utilization of the shelter at
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Memo to Mayor and City Council/2-14 P & R Meeting
February 20, 2001
Page 3
Lions Park. The Council will review the conditional use permit for the expansion
of the park shelter at its March meeting.
Downtown Fishinq Pier
The River's Edge Chamber of Commerce has been working the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources on the development of a fishing pier in the
Mississippi River below the City park located between the Sunshine Depot and
the Cinema Building. The Department of Natural Resources has a program by
which they design and construct fishing piers in local communities at the DNR's
cost with the cites picking up the tab for ongoing maintenance of the fishing pier.
The Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council enter
into a partnership with the River's Edge Chamber of Commerce and the
Department of Natural Resources in the construction and maintenance of the
fishing pier.
If the Council has any questions regarding any of the items discussed at the
February 14, 2001 Park and Recreation Commission meeting, please feel free to
contact me at 441-4902 prior to the City Council meeting. I will be in attendance
to answer any questions the Council may have at the City Council meeting.
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Proposed 2001 Park Expenditures
Barrington Park:
all improvements
$27,000.00
Riverplace Park:
playground
amenities
$40,000.00
$ 3,000.00
Country Crossing 3ra Park:
amenities
$ 6,500.00
Deerfield 4 Park:
retaining wall $ 3,000.00
landscaping $ 1,250.00
Park Brochure/Map
$ 8,000.00
Unimproved Parks:
$10,000.00
Total: $98,750.00
Devine Barn:
Staff is currently working on an improvement plan for the Devine Barn. At a minimum, a new roof
will be needed in 2001.
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