Laserfiche WebLink
CASE #q <br /> <br />IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR RETROFITTING PLAYLOTS <br />WITH RESILIENT SURFACING <br /> By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The City Attorney has informed City Staff and City Council that recent court decisions indicate that <br />the City is better protected from liability exposure when decisions are based upon formal adopted <br />policies. Since nearly 70% of playground injuries are caused by falls from equipment onto <br />playground surfaces, a playground surfacing policy is particularly important. On October 23, <br />1990, the City passed a resolution establishing a policy for providing a resilient surfacing on all <br />new playgrounds. It also acknowledged that all existing playgrounds should be retrofitted with <br />said resilient surfacing as time and funds permit. At the time this surfacing policy was passed, it <br />was not known which playlots required upgraded surfacing nor was there any idea as to the cost <br />involved. <br /> <br />Since that time, Staff has inventoried its playlots. It has estimated that the cost of retrofitting seven <br />playlots with loose pea gravel surfacing would require approximately $6,300.00 in materials and <br />approximately 100% of that amount in City labor. The material cost consists primarily of border <br />landscape timbers needed to confine the pea gravel. The following playlots would be retrofitted <br />with pea gravel surfacing: Peltzer Park, Woodland Green, Ford Brook Estates, Shawn Acres, <br />Hunter's Hills, Ramsey Terrace, and Whispering Pines. <br /> <br />Now that the total costs for the desired resurfacing have been identified, a schedule for retrofitting <br />the existing noncomplying surfaces should be included in our existing policy. If we were to <br />retrofit the noncomplying playgrounds over the next three years, approximately 10% of our 1991 <br />budgeted operating expenses would be expended for the necessary supplies and 3% of the Park <br />and Recreation Personal Services Account would be expended. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />It is my recommendation that we amend our existing playground surfacing policy to schedule the <br />retrofitting of all existing, noncomplying playlot surfaces by the end of 1993. <br /> <br />Council Action: <br /> <br />Adopt Resolution ~491-0I- <br /> <br />amending policy for surfacing of playground equipment. <br /> <br />Review Checklist: <br /> <br />City Engineer <br />Finance Officer <br />City Attorney <br />Public Works Supervisor <br />Park/Utilities Coordinator <br /> <br />CC: 1/22/91 <br /> <br /> <br />