Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/08/2004

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COMMISSION B~.JSINESS Case #1: ltamsey Town Cent['r~ Parks, Trails and Open Space Discussion Civil Engineer Il IJinton explained he Ramsey Town Center LLC had submitted a parks, trails and open space [~roposal. k[c noted Staff had analyzed the proposal and prepared the report for the Commission's ;'cview. Civil E ~gi~eer I[ Linton explained the proposal provided land and cash to create bask; park spaces, l'hcre were spaces reserved in the parks for the signature elements identitied as priorities by tt~e Parks Commission at their planning meetings with the developer and landscape architect. 'Ihe signature clements were identified in the proposal. However, the fimding vehicle was n)t specified. Civil Engineer 1I Linton stated the Commission should make a motion to approw/mc~dify/reject proposal per discussion and motion should include recommendation to Council Principal City Engit~eer Olscn indic:[ted three primary parks were involved in the initial proposal: North Park, Town Center Park and ¢outh Park. In addition, there were two other parks included as part of that proposal: Downtown Commons Park and Civic Square Park. The proposal was to dedicate the land for those parks an{ t also contribute $4.2 million of infrastructure improvements related to park and land dedication r:~qu irements. Principal City [",ngincer Olson pro,'idcd a copy of a memo from staff to the Commission that discussed amcnitie:-; within cach of thc parks and the preferences identified the previous year, with the swimming hole being the tdghest priority. Concerns were traffic, staffing and expense. One of the things slaff had done w~,s to ask that North Park begin as a skeletal park, considering it would bc three or four years befi)rc development occurred and the development would move fi'om east to west i~ the residential pot'tions of the project. In addition, the proposal was above and beyond the rcq uirements o£ any otb er subdivision and was a monumental project for the City. Principal City [mgineer Olson stat~ d staff had asked that a trail be placed around the outside of North Park and improvement doll:irs; be placed toward an amphitheater. Walking paths and picnic shelters wer,,z also included. Two pavilions with bathrooms, open space and garden space were included iii the proposul and mobile turf with irrigation would be used due to soil issues within thc City, wtfich was not not{d i~t the proposal. The objective was to make sure all of the areas were irrigated. Principal City En~;ineer Olson no,,ed he gave the Commission an amendment to the parks proposal, stating thc Commission [~ad seen improvements that were concept plans identified for Civic Square Park and Downtown 72ommons Park. The initial cost estimates were in the range of $6.4 million ~br Civic Square P;~rk and $900,000 for Downtown Commons Park. There was concern about tinancing those park~; considering the development had contributed more than was required of a subdi vision. Staff we,it to the bargaining table and Town Center LLC had provided a generous ofl'cr~ suggesting that with each new house obtaining a building permit an additional $1,500 would be given toward the .~zost: of the park. This offer provided over $3.6 million from the residential portion only and did not include the retail building permits. It was not anticipated that everything would bc paid; hr wever, the amount needed from the City was dramatically decreased. Park and ~ecreation Commission/April 8, 2004 Page 2 of 21