12-01-2021 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 1, 2021 asked to produce a concept design with a budget of $150,000 that incorporated features unique to the area, have accessibility and play for all -abilities as a top priority, incorporate rope elements, play elements that have some height to them, and equipment that could be built for a by a Community Build event. The Parks & Rec/Community Services Director stated that staff received a concept design from three vendors which were put into a survey for the neighborhood to vote on, along with color pallet options for the playground and two different styles of open-air picnic shelters. A flyer was created with a link to the survey that was distributed to all the residential properties adjacent to the park and staff worked with the onsite management company to get flyers distributed to all the residents of The Provinces Apartments. The Parks & Rec/Community Services Director stated that playground #1 from St. Croix Recreation received the most votes, and noted that this is a plan that can be constructed through a community build. He noted that option #3 received the second highest number of votes, but that design cannot be constructed by a community build. He reported that the Parks & Rec Commission decided that they had no color preference and they would support the playground that the community chose, but constructing it through a community build was a priority. Keis introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOL UTION NO. 2021-12-145—APPR0VE THE PURCHASE OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT UP TO $150,000 FROMST. CROIX RECREATION The foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Torkelson. Ayes (5). Nays (0). Resolution adopted. ACCEPTANCE OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS & SPENDING PLAN DISCUSSION The Finance Director explained that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are federal funds that are to be used to address the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated that as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the City of Little Canada will receive funds totaling $1,147,573 under the Local Fiscal Recovery Fund based on a population formula. The first half of these funds in the amount of $573,786.39 were received in 2021, and the second half will be received in 2022. The Finance Director stated the 2022-2031 Capital Improvement Plan includes the funding of the Rondeau Park improvements in 2022 in the amount of $518,500 with the use of these funds. She explained that one of the of the eligible uses of these funds are for park improvements in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT), and stated that Rondeau Park is in a QCT. She explained that these funds can be considered an eligible use for parks and other outdoor recreation spaces within a QCT since investments in improving outdoor recreation spaces may be responsive to the needs of disproportionately impacted communities by promoting healthier living environments and outdoor recreation. She stated that Council may wait until 2022 to determine the use of the remaining funds, when there has been a determination on whether there was lost public sector revenue in 2021. 7