4.3. SR 01-21-2003City
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM
Mayor and City Council
Michele McPhers6~'~Director of Planning
January 2 I, 2003
Park and Recreation Commission Update
Item { 4.3.
Attachments
· Letters of Resignation from Commissioners DeWall and Sladek
· Location Map, Highlands East and West Parks
· Petition Requesting Development of Highlands East Park
· Lions Park Phasing Plan
· Lions Park Master Plan
Overview
The January 8th Park and Recreation Commission agenda was relatively light, however, there
were three issues that require City Council action.
1. The resignations of Tom DeWall and Tim Sladek
2. Petition Requesting Development of Highlands East Park (Previously Hillside 5th)
3. Adoption of Lions Park Master Plan and Concurrence with the Development of a Skate
Park
Commission Resignations
In December, staff received letters of resignation from Commissioners DeWall and Sladek.
Both indicate that family and employment responsibilities prevent them from devoting time
to the Commission at this time, and therefore, they have tendered their resignations. The
Commission accepted the resignations of Tom DeWall and Tim Sladek with regrets and
recommended that the Council do the same.
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
Park and Recreation Update
January 2 I, 2003
Page 2
Consider Petition for the Development of Highlands East Park
The Commission accepted the attached petition from residents living around Highlands East
Park (formerly Hillside 5th Park) supporting the development of the park in 2003. The
Council may recall that the Commission adopted a Development Plan for Highlands East
Park and its development was attempted in 1998/1999, however, the adjacent neighbors at
that time presented a petition against the development of the park.
If the Council concurs, staff has suggested that the Park and Recreation Commission hold a
large neighborhood meeting on February 12, 2003 to discuss the possible development of
Highlands East Park. If support can be demonstrated, monies for a playground could then
be included in the 2003 Capital Improvements Budget, which will be presented to the City
Council in late February or in March.
Staff recommends that the City Council direct the Park and Recreation Commission to conduct a
neighborhood meeting regarding the development of Highlands East Park and report the findings to the
Council at the February update.
Lions Park Master Plan
As the Council is aware, the Elk River Star News displayed the draft Lions Park Master Plan
in their January 8, 2003 edition. The proposed Master Plan is a compilation of comments
received from the Park and Recreation Commission as well as the Lions organization. Staff
met with the Lions organization on January 7, 2003 to review the final Master Plan and to
inform the Lions of the skate park meeting that had occurred on January 2, 2003.
The Lions had two major comments for consideration regarding the Master Plan: 1) They
requested that the proposed parking lot expansion be moved up in the Phasing Plan from
2005 to 2004 and, 2) they also requested that additional lighting around the parking lot be
installed. They appeared to concur with the remainder of the proposed park plan; however,
they are concerned about additional water area in the park, due to its attractiveness to the
local goose population.
The Park and Recreation Commission approved the Master Plan with the acknowledgement
that changes may occur in the future regarding amenities, phasing, and budgets and that
these changes would be reviewed as needed by the Commission for approval.
Skate Park
A component of the Lions Park Master Plan includes a skate park. Proposed Phase 1 of the
skate park is a paved area measuring 150'x120' located generally in the area of the existing
skating rink. Half of that space would be devoted to a permanent hockey rink, which could
be utilized for roller blade hockey or other similar activities. The remaining half of the
paved area would be used as a "canvas" for the skate boarders to design a skate park facility.
Memo to the Mayor and City Council
Park and Recreation Update
January 2 I, 2003
Page 3
Staff has identified the following costs associated with the development of a skate park:
Peat Removal:
Fill Material hauling:
Fill Material purchase:
Concrete Paving:
Hockey Boards:
Skate Park Equipment:
Contingency:
Total
Total Minus City Labor:
$18,000 (use of private contractor with
backhoe & dozer)
$24,000 (City contribution, labor &
equipment, possible material source Tyler
Street excess)
$ 8,000
$31,500 (City contributes $8,000 in labor)
$ 8,000
$35,000
$12,000
$128,500 not including the purchase of fill
material
$96,500
Of the $128,500 identified as costs, $32,000 would be in-kind costs contributed by the City
from the Public Works Department for labor in relocating fill material. The Council may
note that staff has estimated approximately $35,000 in equipment for the skate park which
would be the responsibility of the skate boarders to acquire.
The Commission did not identify an amount that the City should contribute from the Park
Dedication Fund for this activity. This will occur at their February 12 meeting where they
will finalize the 2003 CIP activities and will then be forwarded to the Council as part of the
February update.
Michele Bergh has facilitated one meeting with local skate boarders that occurred on January
2, 2003. Not only youth attended, but also parents, including Park and Recreation
Commission Chair Peterson and former Mayor Jim Tralle. The next meeting of the skate
boarders will occur on January 16th and a verbal update regarding the results of that meeting
will be provided to the City Council on January 21sL
Staff requests that the City Council approve the Master Plan for Lions Park and allow staff to continue to
work with the Lions and the local skating community on the development of a skate park for Lions Park.
Staff also requests authorization to begin movingfill material from the Twin Lakes Road stockpile to Lions
Park in anticipation of the skate park development.
December 3, 2002
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Pkwy.
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Mayor Klinzing and City Council,
The time I've spent on the Elk River Park and Recreation Commission has been both
enjoyable and informative. I have been continuously impressed by the knowledge and
dedication of my fellow commission members, and everyone else associated with that part
of our city government. Elk River is fortunate to have such a group of caring citizens to
oversee the continuing development of its park and recreation system.
Unfortunately, the time commitment that serving on the Commission requires is something
that ! can no longer devote. With reluctance, I ask that you accept my immediate
resignation from the Park and Recreation Commission.
I've recently opened my own chiropractic clinic, and one of the features I offer is home
care. In order to accommodate my schedule as well as the patients, this often requires that
I schedule in-home visits between 6-8 p.m.
Therefore, I feel it's better to step aside, than to not give the P&R Commission the
attention it deserves.
Sincerely,
Tom DeWall
Members of the Park Commision and Staff,
It has been brought to my attention there is a concern on the number of meetings I have missed in
the past year. When I was appointed to Vise Chair I spoke to some of the members about missing
some meetings because of my boys involvement in youth athletics. I am finding out that either
games or practices are scheduled for most Wednesdays and we are involved with four different
sports running year-round. At this time I would like to resign my position with the Park
Commission. I would still like to stay in contact and on occasion voice my opinion on an issue, but
at this time I do not have the time to dedicate enough attention to the commission. I would like to
thank you for the opportunity to be involved with the commission and the experience it has
allowed me to have.
Sincerely,
Tim Sladek
Case Number:.
Location Map
HIGHLANDS EAST & WEST
N
Petition
The hereby undersigned residents of Elk River would support the
creation of Highlands East Park, and request that the CiW Council
implement the plan for a playground to be built this spring or early
summer of 2003.
Name
Address
Petition
The hereby undersigned residents of Elk River would support the
creation of Highlands East Park, and request that the CiD' Council
implement the plan for a playground to be built this spring or early
summer of~2003. ~ ~/ i~, f,
Nameb~~,,,i~ddress Xk~c] i?~
The hereby undersigned residents of Elk River would support the
creation of Highlands East Park, and request that thc City CounCil
implement the plan for a playground to be built this sp~,ing or early
summer of 2003.
N
~ .ame
Address
/// s'&
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NEW PARKING
MASTER PLAN :%~oo~
Cay DRAWN BY:
E~.ll~X~~ OPTION 4 cue
SCALE:
l~lver 1 lO4 LIONS PA~ D~ NOT TO SCALE