Minutes - Council Work Session - 05/09/2017

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Mayor Strommen thanked the Ramsey Foundation for the amazing work they have done to establish The Draw Summer Event Series. 2.05: Consider Master Parks Plan Guiding Policy on Balance of Community and Neighborhood Parks and Smaller Pocket/Mini Parks Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood reviewed the staff report. He stated that the City often gets requests for new park equipment but there are limited funds. He provided examples of some smaller parks with limited or outdated park equipment and also of larger community parks that are connected to nearby developments through trail corridors. He stated that the policy question for the Council and Commission would be how to spend the park dedication funds, whether smaller parks should continue or whether focus should be given to larger community parks with connectivity to developments. He also provided examples of developments which have paid park dedication funds and also have greenspace areas and smaller parks within their developments that were fully funded and maintained by the developer/association. Parks Commissioner Trappen stated that he has lived in Ramsey for six years and really enjoys the trails. He stated that rather than building a small park they could build a trail that would reach a larger park and thus would create a better trail system and less park equipment to maintain. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated that it is not just the initial cost for a small playground but also the operating costs which include ongoing maintenance and replacement of damaged equipment. Councilmember Kuzma stated that he would like to know more about Outlot C on the Capstone project, specifically what the developer is proposed to contribute. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated that it is a moving target as discussions continue. He noted that the total development costs including land would be around $300,000. He stated that the total park dedication credit the developer is requesting is $482,000 which would include those development costs as well as the greenway contribution. He stated that the total for park and trail dedication for all the lots would be $1,100,000 in today's dollars. Councilmember Kuzma stated that once built out there will be over 1,000 people living in that development and they will need a park. He stated that he would support the reduction in park dedication. Councilmember Shryock stated that the long-term policy on parks planning has been community parks and noted that Itasca Park has been on the radar for a long time. She stated that the community parks are used more and differently than the traditional parks that people grew up with. She noted that people often have some play equipment in their yard and therefore the smaller parks are not often used as much. She stated that she also would not want to set precedent for the future. City Council Work Session/May 9, 2017 Page 7 of 10