05-04-2009 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Board members reviewed the 2009 -2013 CIP Tuesday night prior to the dog park update. Kappelhoff recommended the board cushion the park development fund's balance. A conservative spending stance was suggested by staff because Blaine has two large park projects under way this year - Lakeside Commons Park and the Lakes Athletic Complex. Kappelhoff told board members those projects would cost more than $2 million to complete at a time when the city's park dedication fees were leveling off or starting to decline. Additionally, Kappelhoff said the 10 acres cost approximately $35o,000. If the park board used one - third of the land for a dog park, it would owe the NRCB $10o,000 to $13o,000. Commissioner Jeffery Bird suggested the park board make a site visit to the proposed parcel as well as gain a better understanding of the true costs of purchasing the open space. "This may not be practical for use as a dog park," Bird said. "I'm not a fan of fencing because of the cost. My vision of a city dog park was to keep it low- impact, unfenced if possible." Bird was also concerned about developing a park on a county road with southbound turn -in only access. He said the city would have to ask Anoka County for a center island turn. I'm not sold that this is the location," Bird said. "I would like to know if there are other locations we IIIcould consider and if we could take a look at them. I'm concerned about cost, too." Commissioner Prad Das agreed with Walthour. He asked Kappelhoff if it would be possible for staff to provide additional budget figures to determine if he the project was feasible. Commissioner Rex Markel wanted staff to look at other open areas that could be used for a dog park, in particular a location that would have natural barriers to better define a park. "I don't think we have enough information right now to make any recommendation," Markel said. "We need to go out to the public to gauge interest in building or participating in this." Commissioner Ron Leathers agreed the park board and city could not afford to do much right now because of the budget. He didn't want to schedule a public hearing for the proposed Lexington site. "Something's nagging at me with respect to this particular location," Leathers said. "I'm not convinced this type of dog park is what people are looking for in Blaine." According to Leathers, a "classic" dog park concept would feature mowed, green grass, a four - foot -tall IIIchain link fence with dogs romping through the middle of such a park area.