#20 - Parks Commission Work Plan

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Staff Report DATE: 02/07/2023 MOTION AGENDA ITEM: Parks Commission 2023 Work Plan SUBMITTED BY: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director REVIEWED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director Kristina Handt, City Administrator 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 built off of the 2022 work plan to establish the 2023 Parks Commission Work Plan. The Parks Commission met on January 18th 2023 at a scheduled meeting to review and update the current work plan. Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the amended work plan and recommended the work plan to City Council. The Plan is intended to assess and then implement overall goals of the Parks Commission 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 and Policy – This section addresses the larger long term park projects and funding opportunities. • Development & Equipping –Projects that will be carried out in the following year. o This would be limited to projects approved through CIP. o This provides an opportunity to break down specific tasks associated with developing and equipping. • Maintenance & Refurbishing – Projects in this category are carried out by public works staff and does not rely on the Park Dedication money for funding. • Nature & Conservation – What specific activities can the Parks Commission carry out this year to promote open space character and commitment to the environment via nature observation amenities and targeted conservation programs? Also, continue to implement conservation efforts and remediation of invasive species. • Park Awareness – Establishes the goals and ways in which staff and the commission can receive feedback from the community. The City currently uses an online survey tool to reach out to residents with hopes of understanding what the needs of the community might be. • 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 THE CITY COUNCIL: Would the City Council like to accept the 2023 work plan as proposed?