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How do I benefit from parks and trails?
<br />All residents, whether they utilize the new parks or not, will benefit. Parks and trails have a positive impact on health, crime prevention, the envi-
<br />'ient, the economy, our property values and our quality of life.
<br />.y a referendum, why bonding?
<br />A referendum is the appropriate way to allow citizens the opportunity to express their approval or disapproval with large "special" financial initiatives.
<br />Bonding is necessary to allow for all users and beneficiaries of the improvements to the City to share in the cost. Cost will essentially be spread
<br />out over 20 years allowing current and future beneficiaries to share in the costs.
<br />Why now?
<br />In the past 10 years the City has nearly doubled its population. As the population has increased, the demand for recreational facilities has
<br />increased. Our local, neighborhood parks, which are designed to meet the social needs of each respective neighborhood, are currently unable to
<br />meet the substantial demand placed on them by the many structured activities such as youth sports and adult softball. Additionally, school facili-
<br />ties at Centennial Middle School, Lino Elementary and Rice Lake Elementary are at full capacity for baseball, soccer and football activities. As
<br />participation in structured activities continues to grow over the next several years the City, and its residents, are in the position of deciding
<br />between meeting the recreational needs of the Community or restricting future recreational opportunities.
<br />Neighborhood park improvements and park and trail development are needs of the community. As with anything else, costs tend to rise over time.
<br />Property taxes levied by the City do not currently allow for park land acquisition or for development of parks and trails. Park and trail develop-
<br />ment funds are currently generated exclusively through cash dedications related to new developments. However, these allotments fall short of
<br />allowing for the type of park development needed in the City. Pursuing slower residential growth as proposed in the city's new Comprehensive
<br />Plan means fewer park dedication dollars for park and trail development. Realistically, the only way the City accomplishes its parks and trails ini-
<br />tiatives is by this bonding proposal.
<br />How will this recreation complex ease the pressure placed on neighborhood parks and school facilities?
<br />Under its current design, the recreation complex will provide 5 combination soccer /football fields, 4 combination ballfields, 5 youthfields, a com-
<br />bination ice hockey /in -line skate area, 2 tennis courts and a basketball court. Currently, no one park or school facility offers all of these opportuni-
<br />ties. The addition of a dedicated recreational complex with more athletic fields also allows the Community to better accommodate current partici-
<br />pants with more balanced and consistent scheduling.
<br />The land being considered for development is already owned by the City. It sits at the comer of Birch and Centerville Road. Shifting activities
<br />from neighborhood parks and school facilities to this area also takes traffic pressure off neighborhood and school area streets and parking lots.
<br />_ _inding The Proposal
<br />To pay for the neighborhood park improvements, development of the recreation complex, and the construction of the proposed
<br />trails, the city is asking voters to approve an $8.6 million bond issue. The allocation of the funds for the proposal are identified below:
<br />Allocation of Funds for the Proposal:
<br />Improvements to 16 Neighborhood Parks
<br />Reimburse City for Recreation Complex Land (including interest)
<br />Development of the 67 acre Recreation Complex
<br />Construction of Trails
<br />Total Investment
<br />Homeowner's Cost
<br />The costs to the residential property owner are based on the issuance of
<br />20 year general obligation bonds. The annual payments on the bonds are
<br />covered by an increase in property taxes spread out over the city's entire
<br />tax base. Businesses and rental property pay their share. The costs
<br />shown do not take into account any future growth.1,As residential and
<br />commercial growth continues, the financial impact to the property
<br />owner will continually decrease.
<br />$1,200,000
<br />$1,100,000
<br />$5,900,000
<br />$ 400,000
<br />$8,600,000
<br />Estimated Cost to Residential Property Owner:
<br />Assessor's Estimated
<br />Market Value Annual Cost (Monthly)
<br />x$75,000
<br />$58
<br />$125,000
<br />$150,000
<br />$116 ($9.63)
<br />$175,000
<br />$135 ' ($11.23)
<br />$200,000
<br />$154
<br />($12 :83)'
<br />$250,000
<br />$193 ($16.04)
<br />$300,000
<br />"$231 ($19.25)
<br />$350,000
<br />$270 ($22.46)
<br />$400,000
<br />$308 ($25.67)
<br />$500,000
<br />$385 ($32.08)
<br />"(T9ting Information
<br />.curday, April 27th, 2002 the same polling sites as regular elections will be open from 7:00 am - 8:00 pm. Absentee ballots
<br />may be cast at City Hall 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, M -F, until Friday April 26th, 2002. If you have any questions or need an absentee
<br />ballot, call City Hall at 651- 982 -2400.
<br />* Special Absentee voting Saturday April 20th, 2002 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, at City Hall.
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