Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/09/2014

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Planning - Strategy 4: Projects may share costs, if they are consistent with a Council - approved master plan. Projects that are consistent with a Council- approved master plan but exceed regional need as determined by the Council may proceed on a cost - sharing basis. Regional park implementing agencies must obtain Council approval in advance of undertaking cost - shared developments. It is possible that a regional park implementing agency may wish to make improvements that substantially differ in type, size, scale or cost from those in the Council- approved master plan and the adopted CI P, in order to meet expanded local recreational demands or satisfy above - average quality standards. These improvements are subject to Council approval of an amended master plan. The master plan must include a funding proposal under which regional funds will be used only for the regional service facilities, not for facilities intended to serve local needs. In fairness to other regional park implementing agencies, it is necessary for the Council to limit funds to what is necessary to cover average improvements that will deliver adequate services, and not to pay for excessively ornate or elaborate facilities. Even if all of the improvement funds come from regional park implementing agency sources or are raised through cost - sharing arrangements with other governments or the private sector, the regional park implementing agency must secure Council approval of a master plan amendment. The improvements are to be developed on Regional Parks System lands that are committed to specific long -term planned uses. These lands must be protected from the intrusion of activities and developments that are incompatible with the planned uses of the regional parks, park reserves, and trails, regardless of how the development was funded. The regional park implementing agency may be required to pay the full amount or the extra portion of the project cost when the regional park implementing agency wants to develop a facility sooner than the Council has determined that it is needed to meet regional demand, or at a scale greater than regional demand warrants, or at a higher cost than the Council finds necessary to serve the regional interest. The following conditions apply to projects funded on a cost - sharing basis: • The project must meet the same requirements of master planning and Council approval as any other Regional Parks System projects. • Costs incurred by the regional park implementing agency as the local share of the project are not reimbursable. • Where funds are available from private sources or sources other than the regional park implementing agency to share in project costs, the Council will work directly with the affected regional park implementing agency.