Agenda - Council - 06/28/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE # PARK MAINTENANCE ISSUES By: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Background': During spring- early summer 1993, Staff was contacted by the Ramsey Youth Athletic Association (RYAA) expressing concerns regarding the quality of maintenance of City Parks, with a primary focus on Central Park. Even though we attempted to effect improvement~ in this area, the same concern has been expressed for 1994. As a result, the RYAA has re4uested time on your agenda to present these concerns. We have beea told by RYAA that written information would be provided for inclusion in your packet. [At the time of this writing it is not available, it will be forwarded upon receipt. : In an attempt !o provide relevant background included herein please find the following: 1 1991 park System Map: Since 1991, we have also added Emerald Pond, Riverdale and S~lstice Parks, to total about 400 acres in our system. 2) 1991 Comprehensive Plan Parks and Open Space Goals: While we also have a separate departmental goals list, this document provides the focus of the City's development and maintenance efforts. This document identified several areas of need ih our system (neighborhood, community and linear parks, also active and passiv~e uses). 3) The 1993 - 1999 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP): While the RYAA concern is primarily maintenance and not development, it should be noted that pursuant to #2 above.~ we must spend time and dollar resources in several areas. The CIP develSped by the Park and Recreation Commission focuses primarily on development of neighborhood and linear parks (again, as noted in the Compl-ehensive Plan) but does continue to dedicate resources to active uses. 4) 1989 ~ 1998 Staffing Plan: This plan notes that organizational ~owth is projected to occiur in public safety and park maintenance without ~owth in Other areas. Therefore, I believe this plan addresses concerns of the R~YAA to some degree, althoulgh perhaps not as quickly as may be desired. 5) 1995 iltinerant and New Staffing Proposal: The City increased the staffing allocaiion toward park maintenance in 1994. It was expected that we would be able to gai~ significant part-time assistance in May and June for turf maintenance. This did not occur to the degree expected and budgeted. As a result, changes are propot~ed for 1995 to react to this. 6) April ired May Department Report: As can be see, Ramsey's Park Staff has tasks in f . many ,.divergent areas. I have heard ~omments that the parks are a mess. I have also heard comments that they look fine. It should be noted that population growth, which creates additional park demand, do~s not result in increased revenues for two budget years after it occurs. Therefore, in a rapidly growing community, such as Ramsey, we are constantly playing catch up. I b,~,lieve that our maintenance effort is improving in 1994, and pursuant to the _; 4 /05