Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 07/10/1997

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JUN 17 '97 13:35 612 755-0230 ANOKA CO. PARKS DEPT P.8/16 J) , I ~ ~_ ~ I either the residential development to the east or from the Highway 10 corridor to the north. Mississippi West Regional Park would best be served from the east according to conversations with the City of Ramsey staff. There is no route or cost estimate available at this time. .The entry road from Highway 10 into the pm would be an extension ofR.amsey Boulevard. In 1991, Anderson Engineering conducted a H site traffic analysis II study related to the residential and commercial development proposed for the property lying to the east of Mississippi West Regional Park. The study recommends a four lane divided extension of Ramsey Boulevard to serve both the park and Riverdale Drive. The Anoka County Deparunent of Parks and Recreation needs to work in conjUnction with the City of Ramsey, Faye Developmem Company, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation to agree on an entranCe street design that makes sense for all parties. The design for the entry road should be completed as soon as possible because the lands to the east are developing quickly. The park entry road would be constrUcted to allow for a visitor contact station to control park use. 7. Operations Anoka County operates all county, regional par~ and trails under the jurisdiction of the Anoka County Department ofParlcs and Recreation. Policy and goal setting is done through Anoka County Park Committee and the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Public use and enjoyment of the Anon County Park System is controlled by the Ordinance Regulating Parks in the Anoka County Park System. The ordinances also incorporate pertinent Minnesota statutes. The ordinance was last updated on July 12, 1988. It is currently being revised. The ..o\noka County park ordinances are enforced by the Anoka County Park Ranger unit. The unit operates under an annual budget of $189,000 with three full time rangers. During the summer season, the department grows by about forty part-time rangers. The Maintenance and Operarlons unit of the Department of ParkS and Recreation has an annual budget ofapprox:ima.tely $1.65 ~n donars. It is staffed by twenty-tWo full employees. During the summer seaso~ between fifty to sixty seasonal employees are hired as gates attendants, life guards, maintenance wor~ naturalists, and other seasonal needs. The use of volunteers is also encouraged. The Department of Parks and Recreation budgets about $250,000 per year for equipment purchase and maintenance. The Depa:rtmelIt also operates two enterprise \mits . the Bunker Hills Wave Pool and Chomomx Golf Course with combined revenues of about one million dollars. Overall, the Anoka COllIlty"Department of Parks and Recreation operates under a $4.5 million dollar budget with a permanent staff of forty-two. The budget is growing at about four to six percent per year. To better serve park users, the Department is conducting customer surveys, developing a long range maintenance program, '-undertaking a long range park system plan, and creating a comprehensive marketing and advertising strategy for its park system. Page 3J ~3