The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About#19 Direction to Parks Commission (2)STAFF REPORT DATE: July 5, 2016 REGULAR ITEM #: 19 MOTION TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Kristina Handt, City Administrator AGENDA ITEM: Direction to Parks Commission Regarding Savona BACKGROUND: Council members Fliflet and Lundgren were down in Savona meeting some of our newest residents and letting them know about the Farmers Market. They have found out that there is a desire from residents in Savona for a neighborhood park and Council member Fliflet supports this 100%. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the Council direct the Parks Commission to work on plans for a neighborhood park in the Savona neighborhood and include this project in the 2017 CIP? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Fliflet would like the Parks Commission to put together a work group to meet together with residents in this neighborhood to get their input and direction on what they would like to see in the park, and where they think the best location would be. Tucker Pearce, a resident of Savona has offered to take the lead on getting a group of residents together to work with the Parks Commission on this. Staff Comments:  Parks Commission previously agreed with having a smaller “pocket/neighborhood” park that serves the development along with a series of trails providing connections to the Stonegate Park and other local and regional parks.  Mr. Pearce had also been in contact with the Parks Commission Chair about their interest in a park in Savona. The Parks Commission Chair was planning to put this on a future agenda for continued discussion. Generally, the Parks Commission has been looking at parks in new developments once at least a third of the homes are in. Savona will likely meet that threshold within the next few months.  Directing an outcome (placing the project in the 2017 CIP) is not following appropriate process or procedure. It’s perfectly appropriate to ask the Parks Commission to work with the residents of Savona on a plan but directing them to place it in the 2017 CIP in problematic for a couple reasons. First, the Parks Commission has already held two meetings and passed out their recommendations for the 2017-2021 CIP. The Council should receive them at the appropriate time and then can make whatever changes the Council desires before final adoption. Secondly, it doesn’t make sense for the Council to direct an outcome from a recommending body when the Council has the final authority anyways. This just creates more work and inefficiencies. FISCAL IMPACT: Unknown without specific plans yet however, the Parks Commission has generally used $500 per house in determining how to plan for parks in new developments. There are 309 houses planned in Savona with 78 certificates of occupancy issued as of June 30, 2016. OPTIONS: 1) Direct the Parks Commission to work on plans for a neighborhood park in the Savona neighborhood and include this project in the 2017 CIP 2) Direct the Parks Commission to work on plans for a neighborhood park in the Savona neighborhood. 3) Do not direct this item to Parks Commission RECOMMENDATION: Council Members Fliflet and Lundgren would recommend option 1. “Motion to direct the Parks Commission to work on plans for a neighborhood park in the Savona neighborhood and include this project in the 2017 CIP”