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Home My WebLink About#17 - Parks Commission Work Plan 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. 2 Staff will present site options for sand volleyball courts and provide cost and expense of the project. Staff will continue to focus on any potential trial connectivity and make any future suggestions with potential of community growth. Maintenance & Refurbishing – The majority of this section focuses on maintaining current park amenities and what we already have. Public works staff is assigned to do much of the maintenance and upgrades to park facilities as needed. Public works staff conducts daily operations throughout city parks including weekly and monthly safety inspections. Additional Park Initiatives Items in this section focus on additional efforts by the commission and staff to continue the upkeep of our community parks to make them enjoyable for all users. A joint workshop with city council planned to review the 2024 work plan will assist in keeping the assigned goals on track for the upcoming year and provide guidance for future decisions. Staff will continue to support the efforts of conservation programs provided at the Sally Manzara Nature Center including the buckthorn removal project and present any future grant opportunities. Additional work in this area will include providing naming options for the new dog park expected to open in 2024 along with adding Demontreville Wildlife Park to our ski grant application. This includes staff creating a designated trail and adding any appropriate signage. Tree planting within our parks has continued to be requested by users. Staff will work with volunteers of adopted parks to help plant additional trees throughout during our Arbor Day event. Finance In June 2023 the Parks Commission approved the CIP and recommended it to City Council. Council approved the 2024- 2033 CIP in its December 5th meeting. Staff along with the Parks Commission will again review the CIP in June 2024 and make appropriate adjustments for the upcoming year. Staff will provide commissioners updates of the Park Dedication Fund balance at scheduled meetings when funds may be considered. OPTIONS: 1. Approve the Parks Commission 2024 Work Plan as presented. 2. Amend the Parks Commission 2024 Work Plan as presented. FISCAL IMPACT: Fiscal impacts are outlined and confirmed in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). CIP items are funded through the Park Dedication Fund while Maintenance & Refurbishing items are funded through the Public Works Operating Budget. RECOMMENDATION: If removed from the consent agenda staff recommends the following motion: “Motion to adopt the 2024 Parks Commission Work Plan.” ATTACHMENTS: 1. 2024 Parks Commission Work Plan Draft 1 2024 Parks Commission Strategic Work Plan The City of Lake Elmo Park Commission has affirmed their overall goals to be: 1) Ensure that our parks and trail system are constructed / maintained. 2) Provide recreational amenities that will attract more users of public lands as well as property tax payers to the City. 3) Create a safe environment in all our parks. 4) Serve as a reviewing body to make sure the “open space” character development is preserved in new developments. With the broader priorities defined, the 2023 Park Commission Strategic Work Plan has been broken down into three segments: Project and Description; Maintenance & Refurbishing and other Park Initiatives. Status and Timeline (projected months in which project will be brought to Parks Commission meeting) are also indicated in order to better manage goals and objectives. Priority Levels are determined on a 1-5 scale with 1 being the highest priority and 5 being the lowest. This will serve as a guide to what tasks serve as a higher priority to staff and work allocation. Key Planning / Project and Development PL Status Planning and Policy • Review, make recommendations and update Parks Master Plan 1 IP • Washington County Central Greenway Trail Plan - Assist Washington County when necessary for planning and funding opportunities 1 IP • Outline options for additional Parking 3 IP • Outline options for additional sand volleyball courts 3 IP • Pebble Park Playset Replacement 2 IP • Demontreville Park Playset Replacement 2 IP • Open Lake Elmo Dog Park 2 IP Status C – Complete IP – In Progress PL Priority Level (1-5 with 1 being the highest priority) 2 Maintenance & Refurbishing • Parks Needs Assessment 3 Annual • Asphalt trail Maintenance - Inspections, crack filling and inspections 3 IP • Playground and Park Inspections 3 IP Additional Park Initiatives • Hold a joint Parks Commission / City Council work session 2 IP • Seek land for purchase for multisport use 1 IP • Naming new City Dog Park 2 IP • Park Tree Planting 2 IP • Add Demontreville Wildlife Park to Ski Grant Application 3 IP • Oversee efforts of buckthorn removal and Sally Manzara Nature Center 4 IP • Improve resident awareness of parks via new social media (instagram), the fresh, and city website that highlighting park happenings, and opportunities for visitor input and donations 4 IP • Develop design standards document for parks 4 IP Finance • Update Capital Improvement Plan 1 IP • Provide Budget Updates as needed 4 IP