#17 - Parks Commission Work Plan

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Staff Report DATE: 02/06/2024 CONSENT AGENDA ITEM: Parks Commission 2024 Work Plan SUBMITTED BY: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director REVIEWED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director BACKGROUND: Per Section 3.12.540 of the Lake Elmo City Code, the Parks Commission is tasked with developing an annual work plan, including a list of projects, maintenance items, programs and goals for the year. Staff has built off of the 2023 work plan to establish the 2024 Parks Commission Work Plan. This work plan is intended to assess and then implement the overall goals of the parks division and outlines projects that the Commission and staff will work on throughout the upcoming year, yet has the flexibility to respond to priorities as they emerge. The projects are broken down in to the following categories: • Planning / Project and Development– This section addresses the larger long term park projects and funding opportunities. Projects that will be carried out in the upcoming year. o This would be limited to projects approved through CIP. • Maintenance & Refurbishing – Projects in this category are carried out by public works staff and does not rely on the Park Dedication money for funding and is based of the 2024 parks annual budget. Much of the maintenance by public works staff is daily operations along with weekly and monthly inspections. • Additional Park Initiatives - Establishes goals and ways in which staff and the commission can increase the use of city parks and promote community engagement. Launch new and creative ways to reach park users, gain insight on future needs. • Finance – How, specifically, does the Parks Commission want to spend and budget Parks and Recreation funds? o This will of course go hand-in-hand with planning and audit but this specifically should focus on next tasks to be carried out in terms of budget. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Would City Council like to accept the 2024 work plan as proposed? DETAILS AND ANALYSIS: Planning / Project and Development – Items in this section have been listed as a CIP item or have been identified as an item of consideration by the Parks Commission. Staff will work on the final preparation and opening of the new city dog park in 2024. This will include budgeting a project to include; fencing, signage, benches, shade and naming of the park. In 2023, Parks commissioners requested an updated park use plan. Staff along with the advisory committee will continue working with Bolton and Menk to finish preparing the new plan which is scheduled to be presented in June 2024. Two playground sets are scheduled to be replaced in 2024, staff will bring potential options and plans to be reviewed and implemented in Pebble and Demontreville Park.