09/22/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Chapter 9: Community Facilities Frequently Asked Questions What are Community Facilities? Community facilities are buildings or open space areas that serve a public or semi - public purpose. Within Lino Lakes, community facilities include the Public Works Building, the Lino Lakes Senior Center, the Lino Lakes Fire Station, several schools, parks, and the City's civic complex, which was built on publicly owned land near the Lake Drive and I -35W interchange to help drive the development of a new mixed use town center. What community facilities are planned to address the Tong -term needs of the community? As Lino Lakes grows, the need for additional community facilities and services will increase. Currently planning efforts are underway for several potential community facility projects. A Lino Lakes branch library is currently being planned for future construction in the Town Center area at the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Lake Drive and I -35W. Space is currently adequate at the City's civic complex, which houses the City Council Chambers and various departments. However, the City will continue to monitor space needs to ensure the provision of adequate space for future public uses. The Lino Lakes Public Works Building is not of sufficient size for the departments to function adequately. Additionally, the lack of storage space results in many vehicles and equipment being parked /stored outside, exposed to the elements. A feasibility study to determine options for a new facility is included in the City's Five Year Financial Plan. As the City grows, so will demand for recreational activities. Currently programmed athletic activities use the City's two community parks and numerous neighborhood parks. However, limitations exist due to the physical sizes of the parks and their locations within existing residential neighborhoods. Parking and traffic generated by programmed activities, particularly team sports, impacts residential neighborhoods that surround neighborhood parks. In response to these issues, the City has purchased 67 acres at the southeast corner of Birch Street and Centerville Road for a large athletic complex. This would provide for large scale activities, including team sports, while minimizing traffic and parking conflicts with neighborhoods. What is the City doing to help schools in Lino Lakes have capacity to accommodate the community's growth? The City will continue to work with each of the school districts within the community to adequately plan for community growth and school facilities. To assist the school districts in planning for projected growth, projected household growth by school district through 2030 was provided to the school districts, allowing them to better plan for serving new students that may reside in Lino Lakes over the next 20 years. How will the City budget for planned Community Facility improvements? The City will continue to study and monitor community facility needs, and will include improvements in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) accordingly. The CIP is a five -year plan for major city expenditures that allows the City to plan ahead for this type of investment.