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Motion carried. V oting Yes: Chairperson Strommen, Councilmembers Look and Elvig. Voting No: None. Case #2: Authorize Plans and Specifications for Improvement Project 08-30 Alpine Park Skate Park Parks Supervisor Riverblood showed a few pictures of the homemade materials people have rigged to use to skate. He stated that skate parks are popular and seems to be overdue for Ramsey. He stated that the Parks and Recreation Committee went through an exhaustive process of where to consider a skate park and Alpine Park came in on top of the list. He showed some demographic information of student numbers from the Anoka/Hennepin School District and noted that Alpine Park has many of the necessary trail connections, which they felt was important, so kids can get to the park without riding on the streets. He reviewed the concept plan and noted that the City will use the two temporary pieces of equipment that were purchased for part of Happy Days last year into the design. He stated that they also considered fiberglass equipment versus concrete and decided to recommend concrete because it is quieter and stronger than fiberglass. ' Councilmember Elvig asked if the City would use someone who has experience with skate park construction to do the concrete work. He stated that at his building, kids have been using the ramps for skating and have worn it down and cracked the concrete. Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated that the concrete will be modular and premade and also includes a steel coated edging which makes it very durable but also more expensive. He stated that he has spoken with North Country Concrete and St. Croix Recreation about the best specifications to use for the project. He reviewed some of the possible drainage issues at the site. He reviewed the layout of the area and noted that the whole site cannot be constructed right now, with the ice rinks and full parking lot, but will be designed so those elements can be added later while still having a very skate-able park. Councilmember Elvig stated that he likes the fact that so much of the trail system is in place to get kids to Alpine Park. He asked what is taking so long, because it feels like the Council has been talking about this skate park for a long time. Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated that there have been a few starts and stops, including a small issue with the T -Mobile site, but he feels if this receives Council approval, there will be a park in the ground by late summer. Councilmember Elvig asked why there was a parking lot at the rear of the park and asked if this was to be constructed as part of Phase I. Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated that only the parking area near the skate park would be constructed now and the rest would be phased in as part of the future ice rinks. Councilmember Elvig stated that he likes the idea of driving into a park, rather than parking and walking into a park. Finance Committee / June 24, 2008 Page 3 of5