Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/13/1996

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alternative resources. Chair Cook stated that Elk River could rent pool time at the Community Center. Commissioner Skinner recommended that a consultant be hired in the year 2000 to get public input and ideas, and added that the public input will be important for this project. Commissioner Johns stated that a consultant would be used more for feasibility studies and may not be needed in this case. Commissioner Droegemueller stated the consensus was that a change was not needed to the $1,900,000 figure at this time. Chair Cook stated that public buildings have many additional costs, due to certain regulations. Commissioner Droegemueller asked why the Park Improvement Program is not included in the General Fund. Chair Cook stated that they were given five years to see what could be done and if they did a good job, more funding would follow. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos stated that it was nice that park improvements could be done with funding from the Landfill Trust Fund interest earnings. Commissioner Droegemueller stated that the two main things considered in a city are safety/crime issues and the parks/recreation availability, thus funding should come from the General Fund. Chair Cook stated that the City needed to look to the future and invest now, because, by 2002 the land may be too developed and it will be too late. Commissioner Droegemueller stated that they needed to convince Council that there is a need for alternative financing rather than making cuts in the draft budget Boos recommended. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos explained that the Parks Department operations itself costs approximately $250,000. Commissioner Ostrum suggested that this was a percentage issue and that the percentage for Parks needs to be increased. Commissioner Asfahl stated that parks make a community more sellable to developers and at some point Ramsey can be in a position to regulate what types of developments come into the City. Commissioner Skinner stated that Ramsey ranked high on a study of the most desirable city. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos added that the C.I.P. would be finalized at the August 8th Park Board Meeting with recommendations to be made at the August 27th Finance Committee Meeting. He stated that the meeting will give Commissioners a chance to express the concerns regarding the future of the Parks in Ramsey. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos stated that $80,000 of the Landfill Trust Fund is proposed for the Parks Commission in the future years and that there were other interests wing for funding such as the Fire Department. Commissioner Ostrum suggested that rather than cutting projects they create a "bare necessity" need list and a"ifthere are other sources of funding" want list. Parks/utilities Supervisor Boos stated that it is important to prioritize items. Park and Recreation Commission/June 13, 1996 Page 5 of 7