ADMINISTRATION- Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager
Title
ADOPT THE 2020 - 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
Background
The city maintains a five-year capital improvement plan for park development funds. The capital improvement plan is a flexible plan based upon long-range physical planning and financial projections. Flexibility is achieved through an annual review, and revisions are made as necessary. All improvements listed in the plan are proposed and must come back to the Park Board for review and recommendation to the city council. The City Council then makes all final decisions on capital improvements. The attached plan was reviewed by the Park Board and is recommended for approval.
Revenue for the capital improvement plan comes from park dedication fees required of all new residential ($4,449/unit), commercial ($8,704/acre), and industrial ($6,702/acre) development. The residential fee is split with 65% of the allocation to parks development and 35% to the Open Space and Trails Development Fund. Park dedication fees collected from commercial and industrial development are not split, with 100% of those fees allocated to parks development.
Revenue from park dedication fees can only be used for development of new parks and trails, or significant redevelopment of existing parks. Park dedication fees cannot be used for park maintenance.
The plan was reviewed by the City Council at the February 10, 2020 Workshop and aligns with the draft Parks Master Plan. Plan highlights include:
• 2020
o Staff is recommending accelerating the internal borrowing repayments to the Water Utility Fund, used for the development of LAC, from $450,000 to $750,000. This will save $24,000 in interest expense from the previous CIP which had the payments spread out until 2022.
o There is a carry-over of funding for the Lexington Athletic Complex digital entrance sign.
o New Park (66) West of Lexington: Staff has reached out to a land owner as to the possibility of purchasing the land in 2020. There is a $500,000 appropriation in 2020 for this purchase. Development of this park is projected in 2024.
• 2021
o Lexington Athletic Complex Additional Hockey Rink/Pleasure Rink. ($100,000)
o Parking Lot Expansion at Happy Acres has been added to the plan. The parking lot is 35 years old and based on the parking analysis performed by WSB & Associates as part of the Parks Master Plan process, the recommended number of parking stalls for Happy Acres is between 150 and 180. Currently the park has 64 parking stalls and the expansion would take it up to 160 parking stalls. ($425,000)
o New Park East of Lexington (Park 67): Staff has requested two lots in lieu of park dedication fees as a part of the Almberg Acres development just north of the City Open Space parcel near Sunrise Elementary. Plans for the new park include a playground and trails that would connect to the City’s open space property.
Recommendation
Adopt the following resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, the proposed Capital Improvement Plan for Park Development Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2020 has been prepared by the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has examined, studied, and reviewed said proposed Parks Development Fund Capital Budget; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has, after due consideration and deliberation, made such amendments and adjustments in the proposed Parks Development Fund Capital Budget as they consider necessary, desirable, or expedient.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blaine as follows:
1. That the proposed Parks Development Fund Capital Budget attached hereto is approved.
2. That the 2020 appropriations attached hereto are approved.
3. That the 2020 funding sources identified and attached hereto are approved.
4. That the City’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan be updated to reflect the approval of projects included in the proposed budget.
5. That the City’s Parks Master Plan be updated to reflect the approval of projects included in the proposed Parks Development Fund Capital Budget.
6. That the City Manager is authorized and directed to implement and to administer, within the budgetary funding limits and within adopted City policy and relevant State and City laws and regulations, said approved Parks Development Fund Capital Budget.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 19th day of February 2019.