Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 08/08/1996

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comfortable with the $120,000, and they needed an alternative financing plan to make up for the difference. Commissioner O~Strum stated one idea was to increase park dedication fees. City Administrator Schroeder expl~ed that would be short lived. Chairperson Cook explained park dedication fees were restricted tci that district so the funds would not be used for park improvements. Couneilmember P~erson stated that Rivers Bend and Central Park utilized corporate donations and parents did voluntber work. He also stated many businesses are willing to support park projects, and they could sell ad[vertising space to corporate sponsors. Mayor Hardin stated the bottom line was that the Park and Recreation Commission wanted more money in their bud~ get. He explained they were in budget talks now and if there was a surplus of money, there were many places for that money to go. Mayor Hardin expressed that they would do everything they c_~. uld to help with their budget. Mayor Hardin stated they needed more detailed ideas and informaiion. Councilmember ~eyer suggested the use of community service people, such as Tree Trust. She commented there ~,as substantial work needed in existing parks. Commissioner Johns stated a large portion of the budget is for the cost of materials. Councilmember l~eyer stated she has received calls regarding the up keep of existing parks. She asked if anyone ha~ considered the maintenance COsts for the boardwalks. Commissioner Johns stated that they have 25 gear warranties. Councilmember Beyer explained her point was to finish what has been started. ~ Councilmember B .Syer asked why there were no flowers in the parks. Commissioner Johns explained that landscaping id an emphasis in the CIP. Councilmember Zimmerman explained some people do not like to travel a long distance to a park. He stated they hltve been lax on getting donations and suggested an adopt-a-park program. Chairperson Cook ~xplained they have tried to get volunteers for many years and no one has applied. Councilmember B~yer stated the image needed to be changed. Chairperson Cook stated that they have changed thei~ image, but they needed to maintain it. He stated that flowers and landscaping would be the first ~hings to be cut. Councilmember Beyer pointed out that $500,000 in proposed trails were in the GIP, and suggested an area of higher priority was the completion of projects. Chairperson Cook ~xplained that the majority of people surveyed wanted paved trails. He explained that many people ~ere not in organized sports and this was their way to utilize the park system. Councilmember Bdyer suggested scaling back momentarily. She stated there were other areas that needed attention, s~ch as neighborhood parks. Park and Recreation Commission/July 11, 1996 Page 3 of 4