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1991-08-13 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AUGUST 13I 1991 - 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of July 9, 1991 Minutes. 4. Review of Proposed 1992 Budget * Parks and Recreation Budget * Special Parks Fund 5. Mendakota Park - Reconsideration of Ice Rink 6. Kensington Park - Review of Park Dedication 7. Discussion of Requested Recreation Survey 8. Verbal Updates * Adopt -A -Park * Mayfield Heights Trail * Reservation of Tennis Courts - Visitation Convent * Tree Planting Grant - DNR * Request for Community Pool CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION < JULY 91 1991 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, July 9, 1991, in the City Hall Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. Chair John Huber called the meeting to order at 7:00 o'clock p.m. The following members were present: Huber, Damberg, Lundeen, Hunter, Kleinglass and Katz. Spicer was excused. Staff members present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Damberg moved to approve the minutes of the June 11, 1991 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 SYLVANDALE STORM WATER PROJECT Chair John Huber requested a report from staff on the Sylvandale Storm Water Project. Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder stated that the City Council had approved a storm water project that rerouted the flow of storm water through Ivy Hills Park. Batchelder stated that this project does not impact the park or the pond at all. Batchelder stated that there was a potential in the future for another phase of storm water construction that would impact the pond. Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander explained the general nature of the storm drainage and pond expansion should that storm water project occur. VERBAL UPDATES Batchelder stated that minor improvements had been undertaken by the Parks crews in Hagstrom-King Park and Victoria Highlands Park. He stated that grading and leveling had occurred at the basketball court in Hagstrom King Park. He stated that top dressing and leveling, as well as reseeding would occur in both parks and that the Parks crews were following a schedule to complete the maintenance items necessary. Batchelder explained that the Adopt -A -Park program had been contacted by four more applicants and that Dr. Hunter, of Centre One Dental, had adopted Marie Park and that Jim Dzik, of Mendota Heights stated the minimum requirement in this case was approximately 11.3 acres and that 13.4 acres of usable land was provided. Batchelder stated that another criteria was an area to serve as a neighborhood park along Mendota Heights Road. He stated this neighborhood park area should include the existing comfort station and be large enough to site a tot lot, practice soccer field and other amenities. Batchelder stated other criteria included a trail link from the north park area to the south park area and that the south park area needed to be of sufficient size to site one 360' by 240' soccer field and one 360' by 300'soccer field , a parking lot and an area for play equipment and amenities with a trail link to Delaware Avenue from the soccer area. Batchelder stated the developer would be required to balance the soils in the park areas. Batchelder stated that the City Council had accepted the plan and ordered public hearings to consider the more formal plans required for rezoning at the July 23, 1991 Planning Commission meeting and the August 6, 1991 City Council meeting. He stated that tonight the Parks and Recreation Commission had a chance to review the proposed dedication for comments and that should the settlement be achieved the specific design elements would be handled at future Parks and Recreation Commission meetings for recommendation to City Council. Chair Huber stated that he had been contacted about the design of the northern neighborhood park area and had received input that this should not be developed with a field, that it should remain open park area, that it would be nice to have a park without a field in it. Commissioner Damberg stated that this would need to be discussed during the design phase. Chair Huber stated he was concerned about the active soccer field under the power line, that this has never been done before. Chair Huber stated that in this respect the park dedication is worse than all earlier proposals. Commissioner Damberg stated it appeared to her to be the same old story of getting the undesirable land for development as the park dedication. Chair Huber stated that depending on the height of the power lines soccer balls could be kicked into the line, thus interfering with play. Chair Huber stated that interference with play was a serious concern. Commissioner Damberg stated she was CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO August 7, 1991 To: Parks and Recreation Commission From: Kevin Batchelder, Administrative s t Subject: Review of Proposed 1992 Budget On July 30, 1991, City Administrator Tom Lawell presented the proposed 1992 Budget to the City Council for review prior to the budget workshop in August. Included in the budget are, of course, the Parks and Recreation Budget and the Special Parks Fund. (See attached copies.) The Parks and Recreation budget is part of the Public Works Department and is prepared by the Public Works Director and his staff for submittal to the City Administrator. The City Administrator then conducts departmental budget workshops and based on this presents a proposed budget to the City Council. This budget is part of the General Fund supported by property taxes. The Special Parks Fund is not a General Fund item, but has been built up over time by Park Dedications paid in cash by developers during the subdivision process. The budget is before you tonight to review and pass along any comments regarding the budget to the City Council for their consideration. Although State law requires the City to adopt its preliminary tax levy by September 3, 1991, the actual City Budget is not finally approved until sometime in December. A public hearing on the budget will likely be held on December 3, 1991. New capital requests included are a snowblower attachment for our Toro 580-D to clear trails and a Cushman utility vehicle. These items are explained in the capital detail pages enclosed. The Parks department is also requesting a full time maintenance worker, the only new position being requested in the entire budget. ACTION REQUIRED Review the proposed 1992 Parks and Recreation budget and forward any comments to the City Council. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO July 30, 1991 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Tom Lawell, City Administrator SUBJECT: Recommended 1992 Budget It is with great pleasure that I submit to you my proposed 1992 City Budget. The document represents many hours of work by various City staff members, and provides our best estimate of the cost of providing high quality City services to the residents of the community during 1992. It is the intent of this memo to summarize the major budgetary changes envisioned within each department during the year, and to explain how the changes will affect the City's portion of the 1992 Property Tax Bill. BACRGROIIND• As you are aware, the City's budgetary process is heavily influenced by the State of Minnesota. From the application of "levy limits" to the imposition of budgetary timelines, the legislative actions out of St. Paul greatly impact the development of our annual City budget. For 1992, decisions made by the Governor and Legislature will have a particularly profound effect on the City's budget. Once again, state aid contributions to the City of Mendota Heights have been cut significantly, and perhaps even more importantly, levy limit restrictions have become even more onerous this year. More specifically, in years past the total amount of City tax levy was allowed to grow at a reasonable rate to account for inflation, plus a reasonable amount commensurate with the City's population growth during the past year, plus a reasonable amount to account for additional property market value added during the past year. For 1992, none of these adjustments are allowed, and the City is not permitted to increase its levy amount at all. Thus we are forced in 1992 to deal with increased service demands and inflationary pressures within the exact same levy amount imposed in 1991. Put another way, any additional dollars necessary to run City operations during 1992 must be found outside of the State imposed levy limit. Working within these tight parameters, staff has prepared a conservative budget for 1992 which will likely result in a significant decrease in the City's share of the overall property GENERAL FIIND OVERVIEW: The 1992 Budget Document summarizes the many separate.City funds which comprise our system of financial accountability. While each fund is important, -the primary fund which affects the City's daily operations is, of course, the general fund. The total 1991 general fund expenditure is proposed at $2,713,660 a $83,680 or 3.18 percent increase over 1991. Due to tight fiscal constraints in 1992, staff has prepared a maintenance level budget only. There are no identified "add level" expenditure requests identified in the Budget Document. As a highlight of the major spending issues within each department, the following departmental summaries are provided. CITY COIINCIL The proposed Council budget shows a $1,500 or 7 percent decrease for 1992. This reduction occurs within the "leadership and team building services" line item. Staff proposes a team ,, building session be held in 1992 similar to the session held in April 1991. The revised Council line item more accurately reflects the actual cost of hosting such a session. ADMINISTRATION The Administration is up 1.5 percent over 1991 amounts. The increase is comprised of a number of minor items including salary adjustments for a number of employees progressing through our salary matrix system, an increase in the City's dues to the League of Minnesota Cities and the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, and two minor equipment additions to the personal computer network within City Hall. ELECTIONS s' With three separate elections scheduled for 1992, the - election budget is shown at $38,010, more than double the amount allocated in 1991. In addition to the regular state primary and general elections which we conduct once every two years, in 1992 _ we are now required to also conduct a presidential primary election. Initially cities had hoped that the cost of the presidential primary would be covered by the State through the use of mailed ballots, but in the end, the primary became another of the unfunded State mandates cities have been forced to accommodate both operationally and financially. Due to the legislative boundary redistricting slated for 1992, the City will likely be faced with modifying our City precinct boundaries in early 1992 as well. The precinct modifichtion process is always cause for concern due to the need to notify residents of the various voting place changes. The necessary community education activities associated with redistricting will require considerable staff attention in 1992. to fire call response is shown at a 5 percent increase - 4 percent related to a cost of living adjustment and an additional one percent to reflect more accurate call history. The Fire Department has once again requested that the 4 percent cost of living increase be applied to their fire relief pension contribution rather than fire call wage. Since the City's fire relief contribution is not part of the general fund, the 4 percent has been budgeted as part of the fire call allocation for the time being, and we should plan on discussing this issue further at the budget workshop. Also related to personal services, a 3 percent increase has been factored into various other activities undertaken by our volunteer firefighters. These activities include training and special events, cleanup drills, department meetings, and fire prevention. Two other significant line items include workers compensation and social security (FICA). The workers compensation line item has been adjusted to reflect the actual workers compensation cost associated with the Fire Department which has been mistakenly understated during the past several years. The FICA adjustment again is no fault of the Fire Department itself, but rather relates to a recent IRS ruling which for the first time includes volunteer firefighters in the ranks of those who must contribute to the social security system. The new law was announced and became effective July 1, 1991, and although many groups are currently attempting to have the rule rewritten, the League of Minnesota Cities has advised cities to budget and submit payment for the increased withholding in order to avoid possible future IRS penalties. The last item of note within the Fire Department budget involves the body conversion of our 1978 pumper at a cost of $85,000 Due to the long life/high cost nature of this capital improvement, it is recommended that we issue equipment certificates to help finance this purchase over a period of five ,.. years. This financing technique allows us the opportunity to better match the cost of the improvement to the life of the asset. In addition, it better allocates the cost of such improvement amongst all who will benefit over the years, as opposed to charging today's residents exclusively for an improvement which will last many years. More specific details related to this improvement will be available at the budget workshop. CODE The Code Enforcement budget is up 3.7 percent for 1992. After accounting for the personnel cost of living increases explained earlier in this memo, other line items within the Code -- Enforcement budget are actually less than they were in 1991. In terms of personnel, the only new City employee requested in 1992 is within the Parks and Recreation Department. The additional maintenance worker is necessary to keep up with the maintenance required by our parks system which has grown substantially over the past several years. Since 1989, our crews are responsible for maintaining 30 additional acres of active park land, and 10 plus additional miles of bituminous trailway. In addition, the new maintenance worker will also be able to . assist in our snow removal operation which has become increasingly more difficult as we continue to expand the miles of street and pathway we maintain. The other contributing factor to the budget increase for Parks and Recreation is capital equipment. Included are requests for a new snowblower attachment for our Toro 580-D mower and a Cushman utility vehicle. The snowblower obviously relates to our policy of snow removal from our trailway system. Based on last winter's experience, if the City is to clean the new trails constructed last year, a more efficient method of snow removal will be required. The snowblower attachment for our existing Toro 580-D mower allows us an opportunity to utilize the Toro more efficiently during the winter months. Another alternative would be to purchase a piece of equipment made exclusively for trail snow removal. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages which we can discuss at the budget workshop. In addition, we may want to also discuss if modifications to the City's trailway snow removal policy are necessary given our recent trail construction. The other item of equipment included in the Parks budget is a Cushman utility vehicle. The need for this vehicle again relates to the number of ballfields and park acres which now require maintenance. The Cushman is a small two person vehicle which can haul approximately 1,600 pounds of assorted equipment, material, etc. The unit as budgeted includes several attachments which can be used to groom ball diamond infields, spread dry materials, apply liquid products, etc. PLANNING The Planning Department budget is shown with a 4.4 percent -. decrease in 1992. The reason for the decrease is nearly entirely due to the elimination of a planned intern position to deal with airport noise issues. The $3,000 which was budgeted in 1991 . proved inadequate to recruit and hire an individual who would be able to spend the number of hours necessary to keep up with the topic. Rather than fill such a position, the City has F successfully dealt with the time demands with existing staff and •- involvement by Mayor Mertensotto. The elimination of the budget request in no way indicates a _._ reduction in our level of concern over the airport issue. We have continued to budget a sum,of $10,000 for airnoise consulting services should airport relatAd developments require such expenditure during 1992. - . those budgeted in 1991. Our present projections indicate that the utility fund will cover its expenses and generate a $25,580 surplus in 1992. Total expenditures for the utility fund in 1992 are shown to decrease by 3.5 percent compared with 1991 amounts. The minor aggregate change masks two larger, more important budget trends - a substantial decrease in capital expenditures compared to 1991, and a substantial increase in Metropolitan Waste Control Commission charges compared to 1991. Regarding the capital purchase, in 1991 the City purchased a $75,000 sewer fetter out of the utility fund, while only $1,000 remains in the budget category for 1992. Offsetting this savings is an estimated increase in MWCC sewer use charges of approximately 10 percent. There typically remains some uncertainty regarding our utility fund until we receive word from the MWCC regarding our actual sewer use charges for the coming year. This information should be forthcoming in the near future, and will indicate whether we will need to consider an adjustment in our utility rates for 1992. Hopefully we will be able to provide more information on this subject at our budget workshop. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT The business development fund in 1992 has increased by $1,250 over the 1991 allocation. This fund continues to operate as in years past with $2,500 allocated for general business development activities which may be undertaken during the year, and $500.00 included to assist the Chamber of Commerce in producing their annual community directory. The fund balance is expected to stand at $106,000 at the end of 1992. CITY HALL As the Council is aware, City Hall expenses are budgeted as part of a special fund. All expenses associated with occupying and operating the building are paid from this fund. Revenues from the fund are raised by charging each occupying department a "City Hall Occupancy Charge" which shows up as a contractual line item within each department. The total 1992 cost for City Hall is $217,750. Of this amount, approximately $174,000 is for facility debt service, and the remainder provides for general operation and maintenance costs. The recommended budget proposes no capital expenditures for City Hall in 1992. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS The emergency preparedness fund is essentially unchanged for 1992. The $1,480 allocation primarily pays for the cost of siren maintenance. For 1992, fund receipts are shown at $124,600, a 13.3 percent increase over 1991. This increase is caused exclusively by increased water usage; and does not include any type of increase in either the connection fee or surcharge rate. DISTRICT FUND This fund covers the expenses associated with our required membership in the various watershed organizations. In addition, this fund also provides revenue for the preparation of various required watershed management plans. For 1992 we are proposing that the levy for this fund be set at $5,000, which represents a $15,000 decrease from 1991. Combined with our estimated December 1991 fund balance of $7,500, this fund will allow us to hopefully complete work on our required watershed and drainage plans during 1992. FIVE YEAR CAPITAL OPERATING BIIDGET: Also included as part of the budget document is the proposed five year capital operating budget which extends through 1996. This budget is intended to give the Council and staff a broader perspective on upcoming expenditures, in hopes of evening out future large purchases. Department heads are cautioned that submittals for the capital operating budget are suggestions only are not to be construed in any was as a commitment for their future funding. Nonetheless, the expenditures are detailed for our overall long term planning purposes. SIIMMARY AND CONCLIISIONS: The preceding has set forth the major elements of the 1992 City budget for City Council consideration. The budget message began with a broad overview of the anticipated tax levy for 1992 and its associated affects on our various households. The document then gave a brief synopsis of each department highlighting major changes for the coming year, and concluded with a fund by fund summary of some of our smaller but equally important enterprise operations. Given the sheer length and complexity of the budget document, it is doubtful that all of the Council questions have been addressed in this relatively brief summary. Should you have immediate questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Any other questions can hopefully be dealt with at our budget workshop scheduled for Wednesday, August 7th beginning at 7:30 P.M. The preparation of the City's annual budget represents a major staff undertaking each year, and the process demands considerable effort and cooperation from all of our City departments and divisions. Department heads and their individual personnel who contributed in the preparation of the budget CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PROJECTED PROPERTY TAX EFFECTS OF PROPOSED 1992 BUDGET (City Portion of Property Tax Bill Only) Assessors Market Value 80,000 100,000 140,000 180,000 200,000 1991 Tax Capacity 1991 City Tax 920 1,320 2,420 3,120 4,220 (17.4%) 160.08 229.68 421.08 629.88 734.28 1992 Tax Capacity 1992 Estimated City 880 1,280 21205 31205 31705 Tax (17.4%) 146.08 212.48 366.03 532.03 615.03 Levy as proposed Percent decrease -14.00 -8.7% -17.20 -7.5% -55.05 -13.1% -97.85 -15.5% -119.25 -16.2% Levy includes second issue of Park Bond debt authorized by voters. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO_ 91- RESOLUTION ADOPTING PROPOSED BIIDGET WiD�2EAS, State Statute requires City Council adoption of a proposed budget for 1992 on or before September 1, 1991; and WHEREAS, the City Council has received and reviewed the City Administrator's proposed 1992 budget; and WHEREAS, Council recognizes that the budget document was prepared on the basis of a preliminary levy which will be considered at public hearing in November or December of 1991; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights that the City Administrator's Proposed 1992 Budget appropriates expenditures in a manner consistent with service level needs and preliminary levy funding; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Council hereby adopts the Administrator's Proposed 1992 Budget dated August 20, 1991 as the -• preliminary budget for 1992, subject to amendment following budget and levy hearings and adoption of a final levy. Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this loth day of August, 1991. ATTEST: Kathleen M. Swanson City Clerk CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS By Charles E. Mertensotto Mayor n r oEl U a >rn UU v ti wao c ❑"v N m d N U 4 a°� cg 8 a tN�• '~ qt0°pa I 3.a q O q El m b =5b as N C] 7 w b qpPC U pp�� U ,ie Ad q ^d1 4yy w p P ? O Q 440.1co SL o O T ri, T fj WW 'L7 O N� 3 3 0 a o.� a q n N U �i R4 ElG 0.?4 •[7 MA ¢ z R z Q q "0� F F F F Ep• H F .-i ci ri .7�4 .ti C-i M 4 Vi \O l�: N 4 a ep paw q O p . 0D v•oo� 'o a o abO 0 Ujo ° q � $ d 0 0 b Ga""y v "ro o v �00 h'� A m. •.1 vaWi a a "yw o e5S•� :. � � GL � � � F•3x as o a H -b t- w z u� ww W Wa z z z O o w LU a 0) w M z N W CO Q X w m¢ �g a N w Q Z a m Q O. LL ma0o0CD co M (O 0 CO N N CD r co) CO �o 45% o 0 o o O O OD O 0 o N CO 0 o a o 0 v v v It rn o n O m N tOo N 0 D �O W O) DO (O N O) _ m o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D o m o to c0 rnoc0 m to oOrr orn � m o N v_ co 00 M rn oo m to rn � N O O> OD V' 'Q c0 c9 M V' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 to O) N 01 00 M M N O O O O 01 m 0 m M <O OD O) O M a a h O cO d' m to V co N N co 3 s m m C E C C N L G C N (d Q to N N C N m N > co 2 C CCEI elp N (OJ C n C (0 td t0 7 lQ G C C w td v C C c O 0 N •� •� •� mo j (` a � Q U a� U C U C co O O N O C — C N r C 0 d a)z O CON O B E O r = y O Y C L U¢ -tE C U E 0 0 O G N cd m =d E c c 'Cd m U N C Cco 'C N N O. i ¢ Q p 0)Y 7 N 'O > N N O N O w U Y w O to m = o a LL FORM 0-4A BACK-UP DETAIL FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICE _X_ COMMODITIES OTHER CHARGES (CHECK ONE) FUNCTION DEPT, DEPT. NO ACTIVITY SERVICE LEVEL I Public Works I Park & Recreation 1 70 1 Maintenance Maintenance LINE ITEM LINE ITEM DETAIL COST 4200 Rentals & Leases 41500 4210 Telephone 29080 4211 Electric Service 4,370 Public Works Garage 2,600 Warming Houses 1,770 4212 Gas Service 71030 Public Works Garage 5,980 Warming Houses 11050 4221 Engineering Retainer 19840 4224 Labor Negotiations 100 4280 Rubbish Removal 500 Sibley Park Maintenance Agreement 15,000 4220 Architect Fees, P.W. Garage Expansion 10000 TOTAL 36,420 I FORM O-4C BACK-UP DETAIL FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES _ COMMODITIES _ OTHER CHARGES X. (CHECK ONE) FUNCTION DEPT. DEPT. NO ACTIVITY SERVICE LEVEL I Public Works Park & Recreation 70 Maintenance Maintenance LINE ITEM LINE ITEM DETAIL COST 4400 Conferences & Schools 200 4404 Membership Dues 50 4410 Clothing Allowance 600 4415 Street Maintenance Material 11600 4422 Water Readings 1,300 4425-315 Public Works Garage 100 4425-470 Hydrant Water Readings 1,200 4490 Sundry 670 4490 Tree Removal 2,500 4500 Recreation Management Contingency 14,500 219620 TOTAL FIVE YEAR CAPITAL REQUEST FORM FUNCTION DEPT. I DEPT. # ACTIVITY 1 SERVICE LEVEL I Public Works Park Department 70 Park Maintenance Maintenance ITEM REQUESTED Cushman 4-Wheel Turf Truckster and attachments ITEM REPLACED YEAR REQUESTED 1992 JUSTIFICATION All-around utility vehicle for a variety of maintenance activities, including spraying, dragging, grooming, etc., ballfields and trails ADDITIONAL ANNUAL COSTS TO BE INCURRED (personnel, supplies, supplies, etc.) Explanation Personal Services Contractual Services Commodities Other Charges PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM WOULD (check all applicable Replace worn out or obsolete equipment Maintain existing service level Expand level of existing service _X Provide a new service ESTIMATED ITEM COST/RECOMMENDED SOURCE OF FUNDING $ 14,600 Gross X Operating Budget( General Fund) $ 0 Less Trade _ Equipment Certificates $ 14.600 Net _ Other 1992 REVENUE PROJECTION SPECIAL PARK FUND FUND NO. 10 Estimated 12/31/91 Fund Balance Estimated 1992 Receipts Estimated 1992 Interest Earnings 350,000 7,500 23$000 Balance Available 380,500 IFORM 0-4A BACK-UP DETAIL FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICE _X COMMODITIES _ OTHER CHARGES _ (CHECK ONE) FUNCTION FUND FUND NO. ACTIVITY SERVICE LEVEL Special Park Special Park 10 Maintenance LINE ITEM LINE ITEM DETAIL COST 4214 Data Processing $ 500 4220 Professional Fees 31000 City Audit 1,000 Engineering Fees 2,000 4232 Administrative Service Transfer 11000 4,500 TOTAL CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO August 7, 1991 To: Parks and Recreation Commission 11 From: Kevin Batchelder, Administrative Assi(4 Subject: Mendakota Park - Reconsideration of Ice Rink This item has been placed on your agenda in response to a constituent request, through Councilmember Koch, to review the design of Mendakota Park and reconsider the inclusion of a free skating rink at Mendakota Park. I have enclosed a reduced scale layout of Mendakota Parkas it is being constructed this summer. Mendakota Park was purchased just prior to the November 13, 1990 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Guy Kullander presented a rough conceptual design at that meeting which included a free skating rink and warming house. A special meeting of the Commission was held on November 27, 1990 to consider four concept schematics submitted by Barry Warner, of Barton-Aschman. A concept was recommended that evening which included the free skating rink and warming house. Staff review of the concept, prior to the Council meeting, resulted in recommendations by the Police Chief and Fire Chief to eliminate the reliance upon on -street parking for Mendakota Park. This recommendation produced a plan that enlarged the parking lot, thus eliminating the free skating area. City Council concurred that more parking, at the expense of the free skating rink, was preferred. At the December 11, 1990 Park meeting, the Commission also concurred and recommended that a final plan be based upon this scheme. Another consideration during the planning of the final design was the cost of construction for Mendakota Park, as compared to the remaining referendum monies. Park maintenance staff felt that there would be a low demand for this free skating rink, based upon the use of the other rinks in the City, and felt that the cost of operating another ice rink, and construction of another warming house, was unjustified. MENDAKOTA me ' DRIVE ,�n C o — o W 644W W IF r '� F A%lAll ) Fl W \j i IHb II I � � N>ie .N2 B 1. % 4!t�Mr,1TEDtMT1V<TTOoF � W 4DF A4 Z µ Fe5„� .M[A W/M TO i 5 MJ \ (Jj SEE UIOV EKNiM4 Y✓tB+mE/Nir" E m \� . / (Vj ABJWT TE sPppsTy WH MsIM (5) 49d,B SM EMIm CmTFIL FBtFE g (4) kTa S EwrtiA O"m eOWEF- •., r- (B) STm BBaf- OPIP BO FGN=6 (0) ,xSf,LLt {- fPDPN+BD VWFM S WEF - - G,ccxm PA'F HFF U0. T oESIm tuW is _- _GRADING AND DRAINAGE. PLAN_DAM 64 $ owxm Kw oF13 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO August 7, 1991 To: Parks and Recreation Commission From: Kevin Batchelder, Administrative Ass's Subject: Kensington Park - Review of Park Dedication DISCUSSION On August 6, 1991, the City Council approved the Kensington Planned Unit Development - Phase II by granting a Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit for Planned Unit Development, Preliminary Plat and Wetlands Permits to Centex Homes. With the approved project comes a 12.9 acre park dedication. The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the concept plan at its July meeting. The concept plan did not change in the interim and the dedication Council accepted for this subdivision was the same as reviewed by the Commission in July. In addition to the basic land dedication, the developer will be dedicating easements for a trail access from the soccer fields in the southern park area to the public streets leading to Delaware Avenue. The developer has also agreed to provide a balance of soils on the site and to cooperate with the City on grading of the park site, at the City's cost. The details of the developer's agreement have not been finalized as of this date, but are expected to be more concrete by Tuesday evening. At that time we will know more about the phasing of the development of this project, so that we can determine when the cooperation on grading of the park may take place. Hopefully, we can provide these details on Tuesday evening. Also, we have no small scale maps to provide in your packet, but will have large, full scale maps available for review at the meeting. Engineering staff has indicated that they feel they can handle the design and construction of this park without a park consultant and they are recommending that it be designed in-house with direction from the Parks and Recreation Commission. It is possible that this process could begin as early as the September meeting. ACTION REQUIRED Staff will provide a presentation of the park dedication, the basic layout of the park, trail easements and details of the developer's agreement for discussion. If the Parks and Recreation Commission so desires, they should make a recommendation to City Council that the engineering staff, at the direction of the Parks and Recreation Commission, design and construct Kensington Park. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO August 7, 1991 To: Parks and Recreation Commission From: Kevin Batchelder, Administrative Ass4 Subject: Discussion of Requested Recreation Survey At the June Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission directed staff to prepare survey questions, for the Commission's review, to poll the community on recreation needs through the City's Heights Highlites newsletter. After further consideration, I believe this to be a major undertaking that requires much more care and consideration. The Parks and Recreation Commission recently adopted a "Role of the Parks and Recreation Commission" document stating that recommendations on recreation programming were a primary function of the Commission. Because this is such a primary role of the Commission, I believe, if a recreation survey is to be done, it should not be conducted on a fast track approach through the City's newsletter. ACTION REQUIRED Discuss a Recreation Needs Survey and explore the options. :������ /� /���Q���� 9� � m� `� G2: -. .�A y <:: � � . ��\�� ^� � �/ _� `� <2� } d��:� . §\ 2 - :9 y� � �� - � � � � � � � � \ C� :' �� < � �� G� design, he reasoned, could provide the same recreation in a fraction of the space. The NRPA responded to such complaints by naming a 10-person task force to update its standards, last issued in 1971. After a year and a half of work, the task force de- cided that the new standards (destined for publication in 1979 as the current NRPA yellow book) -didn't need to be radically changed, but rather broadened. "We reviewed countless plans," recalls key task force member James Mertes, a pro- fessor in the department of park ad- ministration and landscape architecture at Texas Tech University and a consultant in the field. One thing that wasn't changed was the use of specific area -to -population ratios. "The bottom line was a profession - wide agreement that using specific area standards was still the approach to take. Sy Gold has come up with all kinds of social and behavioral ways of dealing with stan- dards setting. The problem is that when you get a subdivision plat under review and you have to calculate a land requirement, you need a number:' Theodore Wirth of Wirth Design Associates doesn't think it's necessary for most local park systems to revise their stan- ards. His Montana -based firm has been designing parks from Midvale, Utah, to Kuwait, and finds that needs don't vary much, and when they do, they can be met within the context of the NRPAs guidelines. "Those of us in the profession know that some adaptation is necessary;" he says. The NRPA insisted that the problem was not the standards themselves, but the way they were being applied by many parks planners. Thus, the 1979 revisions focused less on the numbers than on the planning process in which they were used. Ideally, wrote the yellow book's authors, a park system should set its own standards and implement them within the context of a parks master plan. The manual also offered a simplified standards -setting methodology. Fear of freedom But while the NRPA can provide more flex- ible guidelines and new methodologies, it can't force less experienced planners to use them, especMlly those in smaller park systems that lack the trained staff needed to undertake even the simplest projects that deviate from the norm. Moreover, there may be some pressure not to try. Area stan- 3ards are typically used to justify local land donation ordinances or exaction fees, and a poorly drafted standard might result in such requirements being tossed out by the courts. (Mertes notes that the NRPA stan- dards have in fact been tested by the courts and found to pass the "arbitrary and Town Square Park, in downlown St. Paul, is /ocaled in tine middle o(Ihe city's skyway syslem. Trees, benches, and noontime concerts are /ealured. Schools plus parks equars "Spark, •• a Houston program for carving parks out of se/nnot grounds. Over E 1.2 million has been raised for 32 parks since 1983, The history of the Cajuns mtd Creoles is played out daily of Vermiliom�ille, a living-hislory museum located in Beaver Park —in Lafayette, Louisiana, unreasonable" test, since they reflect a con- sensus of local practice.( No cookbook can help communities come up with a tailor-made parkland stan- dard that satisfies bothjudges and the park - using public. For instance, population pro- jections must be correlated with land -use patterns and natural resource databases. Computers make the forecasting easier — not necessarily more accurate. And user data is notoriously prey to misinter- pretation. The NRPA warns that demand projections.should be based on a rather large population sample (at least the overall an area)to be accurate. Gold argues for a different sort of ap- proach. While granting that "we still need standards;' he says the real question is "How do we arrive at them?" Toronto, for example, relied on direct observation as one way to learn how people actually use park spaces. In 1985, the city planning and development department and the parks department collaborated on a six-month study of five inner-city parks, using tech- niques pioneered by William Whyte. A number of communities across the country are now fully committed to the site -specific approach. In Miami, for in- stance, planners try to tailor the needs of each of the system's more than 600 parks to Health Concerns Over Lite Placement of Power Lines The potential health effects of electromagnet c fieldsow h ch occur around power lines and communication facilities, has captured public attention. While scientific finds suggest a link between electric and magnetic fields and a variety of ailments, including cancer and behavioral disorders, there is no consensus on how the fields can affect health or at what levels. To assist those involved in determining where to place facilities that produce electromagnetic fields, the Council of Planning Librarians (CPL) has published Siting of Power Lines and Communication: A Bibliography on the Potential Health Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields. The bibliography addresses two topics: possible health considerations related to the siting of communication towers and health considerations relating to the loca- tion of power transmission lines. Both involve electromagnetic fields, but have dif- ferent electrical applications. The bibliography is presented in three sections. The first provides a combined guide to abbreviations, a glossary of terms found in the literature, and citations to materials that introduce the subject matter. The second section addresses informa- tion on the possible adverse health effects of radiation emitted by communication facilities. The final section focuses on the health effects of electric and magnetic fields of power lines. This section also includes information on what various states have done in regard to the health effects of power lines. Siting of Power Lines and Communication Towers: A Bibliography on the Potential Health Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields was compiled by Lynne DeMerritt of the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington. Copies of CPL Bibliography #257 are available at a cost of $21, which includes postage and handling, from the American Planning Association's Bookstore, 1313 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637; (312) 955-9100, WINNING WAYS TO RESOLVE DEVELOPMENT DILEMMAS The average citizen, when faced with adevelopment-related problem, often feels powerless. But there are many avenues open to those who wish to protect them- selves, their community and the environment from the damages often associated with land development, according to Richard D. Klein, the author of Everyone Wins! A Citizen's Guide To Development, a new book published by the American Planning Association. This practical guide to resolving development dilemmas is designed to help citi- zens find "the easiest and least expensive solution." The author focuses on com- promises that don't prohibit development, but that satisfy residents' concerns. 'The book is intended to serve as a guide for those having little experience with develop- ment issues. But," writes Klein, "the winning strategies... will also help the veteran community activist to be even more effective in dealing with development." Everyone Winsl provides numerous examples of ways to resolve development conflicts. The key to finding the best solution, according to the author, is research. Klein describes the various sources of development -related information, such as computer data banks, government agencies, nonprofit groups and corporations, and he provides tips on how to retrieve data from these sources. Richard Klein has been helping people with land development problems for 20 years. He served as the executive director of Maryland's Save Our Streams pro- gram for 10 years and was also a manager with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for to years. During that period he worked in the water pollution control and fisheries management field. The author is currently president of Community & Environmental Defense Associates in Maryland Line, Maryland. Everyone Winsl A Citizens Guide to Development is available by writing the American Planning Association's Bookstore at 1313 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637. The book is available for $17.95 in paperback and $29.95 in hard cover. December 1 9 9 0 I.Q. Test (Cont. from Page 3) Scoring Instructions: Give yourself 10 points for every cor- rect answer. A scare of 60-100 makes you a techni-genius, enlightened in mod - technology. A score of 30-60 indi- cates you're a little behind the times. A score of 20 or less means you're a 20th century novice; ft's time for you to stop living in the technological dark ages. Answers: 1. False. There are several utility programs available that let you resurrect erased files. 2. False. Cellular pay phones for passenger use are now found on many fl'ghis, 3. False. Although the Apple II launched the PC revolution in 1975, the Kenbak, a $750 PC, was marketed to educators in 1971, 4. False. Since 1988, as insurance and financial companies have become automated, spreadsheets have outsold all other software. 5. True. WYSIWYG means that what your printer prints will be identical to what you see on the -monitor, 6. False. DOS stands for disk oper- ating system. 7. False. Microsoft BASIC was the first commercially -available software. 8. False. Vermont and West Virginia have not yet passed laws forbidding tampering. 9. False. MODEM stands for modu- lator -demodulator. A MODEM converts computer data into sound for outgoing telephone transmission, and vice versa. 10. True. The only legal exception is software specifically marked "Freeware," which is designed to be duplicated. Planning Courses (Coot. from page 6) Mankato State University Telephone: 507-389-1714 URSI 528: URBAN LAW, Wed., 6-9:50, David Twa, Instructor URSI554: URBAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, Mon., 6-9:50, Professor David Rafter URSI 571: COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Thurs., 6-9:50, Roger Guenette, Instructor CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO July 6, 1991 To: Parks and Recreation Commission �- From: Kevin Batchelder, Administrative Assiszai�t�t1�,) Subject: July Parks Agenda DISCUSSION Tonight's meeting has a rather short agenda and in £act the meeting would have been cancelled were it not for the timing of the Centex settlement. Because of the timing of the proposed Kensington PUD, and the public hearings involved, the July Parks and Recreation meeting may be the only chance for the Commission to review the proposed park dedication prior to the approval process. City Council feels it is important for the Commissioners to be informed on the park issues involved as the community moves into this issue again. Hopefully we can make short work of the agenda and be home in time to enjoy a wonderful summer evening!