ADMINISTRATION- Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager
Title
ADOPT THE 2021 - 2025 PARK DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND BUDGET
Background
A panel of City Staff including the City Manager, Finance Director, and Parks and Recreation staff have reviewed the Five-Year Park Development CIP and is recommending the 2021 component of the CIP. The Park Board reviewed the plan at their October 27 meeting and voted to recommend approval of the attached budget to the City Council for formal adoption. The City Council reviewed and discussed this budget at the November 9, 2020 workshop.
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 as necessary. All improvements listed in the plan are proposed and first go to the Park Board for review and then, if recommended by the Park Board, onto the City Council for approval. The City Council makes all final decisions on capital improvements.
Revenue for the parks 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% going to the parks CIP and 35% of the fee going to the open space and trails CIP. All commercial and industrial fees go to parks.
Revenue from park dedication fees can only be used for development of new parks and trails, for new improvements to community parks used by all residents, and for improvements to neighborhood parks that serve new growth. The fees cannot be used for park maintenance.
Park Dedication Fee Revenue has been reviewed by the Community Development Department based on latest city development projects.
All projects below have been identified in the Draft Park Master Plan.
A summary of the recommendations are as follows:
Proposed 2021 Expenses
Replacement of Aquatore Shelters East & West ($240,000)
Staff would hire consultant for design of replacement shelters in current locations. Shelters were constructed in 1988 and are in need of replacement or improvement.
Lexington Athletic Complex Digital Sign ($125,000)
Has been designed and will be constructed with the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary and the first new City of Blaine Sign located in the Pheasant Ridge Commercial area.
Parking Lot Expansion at Happy Acres ($525,000)
Recommendation to have parking lot expanded from 60 to 160 stalls and the entrance to the park widened to accommodate park amenities and usage. Parking lot was constructed in 1984 and is in need of replacement.
Future Proposed Projects
2022: Lexington Athletic Complex Additional Hockey Rink/Pleasure Rink ($100,000)
Staff is working on design elements with the Engineering Division and this budget number is an estimate for city staff to complete the project. If the scope of this project becomes too large for in-house staff, the City would look to contract with an outside firm for the work, with the cost capped at $100,000.
2022: Future Park East of Lexington ($350,000)
Developer has not brought any development plans forward so staff has pushed the project out one year.
2023: Aquatore Band Shell ($400,000)
Staff will be working with the Blaine Festival Committee, which has committed $150,000 of funding for this project on both design and location of this facility.
2023: Aquatore Restroom Replacement ($400,000)
Staff will be looking at the possibility of designing the Band Shell and bathrooms as one facility.
2023: Jim Peterson Athletic Complex Parking Lot Expansion ($150,000)
Staff will be looking at location and design of an additional parking lot.
2024: Future Park West of Lexington ($500,000)
Staff has moved out the land purchase expenditure to 2024 because there is no development activity happening in the area. Staff will continue to monitor development in the area and move up this expenditure if land becomes available for purchase. The other option is to wait for development and accept land in lieu of park dedication fees. If that were the case, the cost to develop the park would not be as high.
2025: Future Park West of Lexington ($350,000)
Staff has moved out the development of this park to 2025 because there is currently no development in the area. This budget number is likely to change if development is delayed or if the City requires a land donation from the developer rather than park dedication fees.
Recommendation
Adopt the following resolution.
Attachments
Park Development Capital Improvement Fund Budget
Body
WHEREAS, the proposed Park Development Capital Improvement Fund Budget for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2021 has been prepared by the City Manager and staff; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has examined, studied, and reviewed said proposed Park Development Capital Improvement Fund Budget; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has, after due consideration and deliberation, made such adjustments in the proposed Park Development Capital Improvement Fund 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 Park Development Capital Improvement Fund Budget attached hereto is approved; and
2. That the 2021 funding sources identified and attached hereto are approved; and
3. That the 2021 appropriations 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 Park Development Capital Improvement Fund Budget.
5. That the City’s Park Master Plan be updated to reflect the approval of projects included in the proposed Park Development Capital Improvement Fund 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 Park Development Capital Improvement Fund Budget.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 7th day of December 2020.