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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#20 - Parks Commission Work Plan 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? 2 DETAILS AND ANALYSIS: Staff has outline some of the changes between the 2022 and 2023 Work Plan. The Parks commission recommended approval of the presented Work Plan to City Council at the January 18th, 2023 meeting. A priority category was added to the 2023 Work Plan to allow staff and the Parks Commission to prioritize work allocation. The scale of (1-5) was used to stay consistent with other commissions. Planning and Policy – 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 planning for future updates to city ball fields as well as other future park needs. The Parks Commission reviewed the items listed and determine the need for these items. Staff recommends removing disk golf from the work plan and potentially the CIP due to the lack of interest over the years. Staff changed the language of the pickle ball project to include new or resurfaced courts. After a joint session between the City Council and the Parks Commission, it was recommended a park strategic plan be implemented as part of the work plan. Commissioners requested to seek ways to update the current plan and apply any findings to future CIP plans. Development & Equipping – Changes to this section focus on trial connectivity and park projects. Specific trails include a connection from Ivywood Park through Stonegate to Lakes Ridge Crossing and a trail connection between Tapestry and Hamlet on Sunfish Lake. Both trail projects are a continuation form the 2022. Other trail improvements include resurfacing a segment in Demontreville Wildlife Area, the Hamlet on Sunfish public trails and a short section of trail next to from Stillwater BLVD past Gorman’s. Projects for 2023 include, updates to both Tablyn and Pebble Park’s tennis courts by converting them to both tennis and pickle ball courts. Other projects include updating several parks to meet ADA compliance and design for Pebble and Demontreville playset replacement. 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. Nature & Conservation – Staff continues to support the efforts of conservation programs provided at the Sally Manzara Nature Center including the buckthorn removal project. The Parks Commission elected to develop a plan to manage invasive species and help protect biodiversity throughout the city. Park Awareness – Staff has used community surveys in the past to gauge needs to our park system. Surveys will continued to be used as needed. City staff has continued to make updates to the cities web page. Information will continued to be updated and posted on the parks page to keep community members updated on the park system. Finance – In June 2022 the Parks Commission approved the CIP and recommended it to City Council. Council approved the 2023- 2027 CIP in December 2022. Staff along with the Parks Commission will again review the CIP in June 2023 and make appropriate adjustments for the upcoming year. OPTIONS: 1. Approve the Parks Commission 2023 Work Plan as presented. 2. Amend the Parks Commission 2023 Work Plan as presented. 3 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: Staff and Parks Commission recommends the following motion: “Motion to adopt the 2023 Parks Commission Work Plan.” ATTACHMENTS: 1. 2023 Parks Commission Work Plan 2023 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 six segments: Planning & Policy; Park Development & Equipping; Maintenance & Refurbishing; Nature & Conservation; Park Awareness; and Finance. 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. Planning and Policy Assess future park needs. Project Specific Tasks Priority Status Timeline Work with the County on implementing the Central Greenway Trail Master Plan. • Assist Washington County when necessary. • Work with Washington County on funding opportunities. 1 Met Council has approved the master plan Ongoing Development Review • Continue to make recommendations on development applications with a focus on proper equipping of parks and available park funding. • Have available 5 year CIP upon request 2 Ongoing Ongoing Park Strategic plan • Update current plan • Outline the needs of the City and neighborhood for amenities within the park. Apply findings to CIP. 1 Ongoing As needed Look for Grant Opportunities • Look for grant opportunities that aide in development of parks within the City. 4 Ongoing Ongoing Parking at Tablyn Park • Outline options for additional parking at Tablyn 3 Recommended 2024 Sand Volleyball Courts • Provide park options for additional courts 4 Recommended 2024 Development & Equipping Begin work on approved projects (those in the Capital Improvement Plan or have received a form of funding approval). Project Specific Tasks Priority Status Timeline Sunfish Lake Park • Continue with buckthorn removal project • Prescribed prairie burn and weed control • Work with MORC to maintain the single track trails. 3 In Progress 2023/2024 Dog Park • Review City Parks/Land to determine possible location 2 In Progress 2023 or when location is identified City Trail Connectivity • Continue identifying trails within the City which can be connected to each other 4 On Going On Going City Trail Connectivity • Connecting trail from Ivywood to Stonegate • Rebuild and asphalt trails through Stonegate, connecting to Lake Ridge Crossing • Rebuild and resurface 36th St. Trail (Gorman’s) • Connect Tapestry to Hamlet • Demontreville Wildlife Park - resurface • Hamlet on Sunfish Lake - resurface 1 In Progress 2023 Pebble Park Tennis court resurfacing • Resurface playing court • Update tennis courts to include pickle ball and tennis 1 In Progress 2023 Tablyn Park – Tennis court resurfacing • Resurface playing court • Update tennis courts to include pickle ball and tennis 1 In Progress 2023 Baseball field updates • Select from list of current fields to update. • Update fields to accommodate current need for baseball with the community 2 In Progress 2023/2024 Demontreville Wildlife Park • Add to Ski Grant Application and trail signage 4 Ongoing 2023/2024 ADA Compliance • Make access to current parks ADA Compliant • Pilot, Firefly, Ivywood 3 Ongoing Ongoing Pebble Park Playset replacement • Review and seek replacement piece according to CIP 2 Recommended 2023/2024 Demontreville Playset replacement • Review and seek replacement piece according to CIP 2 Recommended 2023/2024 Maintenance & Refurbishing Maintain and upgrading park facilities in a manner that increases park use for a relevant experience. New soccer Nets • Public Works to provide placement 4 Recommended 2023 Garbage Can and Tree Planting • Trash Can Replacement • New Tree Planting 4 Ongoing 2023/2024 Park needs assessment • To be completed by public works staff. 4 Ongoing Yearly City Trails • Update City Trail maps • Tree Trimming as needed 4 2023 Ongoing Asphalt Trail Maintenance • Inspections • Crack fill and seal coat • Parking lot asphalt maintenance 3 In Progress 2023/2024 Playground • Monthly inspections 1 In Progress 2023 Ball fields • Weekly/biweekly infield maintenance • Add infield clay to ballfield 2 In progress 2023 Nature & Conservation Mission Statement: To promote the open space character and commitment to the environment via nature observation amenities and targeted conservation programs. Project Specific Tasks Priority Status Timeline Sunfish Lake Forest Management Plan • Continue to work and build off the existing management plan 4 In Progress On going Sally Manzara Nature Center • Provide support as detailed in the agreement. 4 In Progress On going Manage Invasive Species and protection of biodiversity • Develop community plan to manage invasive species 4 On going On going Park Awareness Mission Statement: To promote the utilization of City Parks Project Specific Tasks Priority Status Timeline Resident Survey • Survey residents on park amenities via new survey tool. 4 As required Ongoing Resident Updates • Update parks and trails on web page and city website, amenities and accessibility • Provide Social Media updates on parks 3 Ongoing Ongoing Finance Mission Statement: To effectively spend parkland dedication funds to meet the objectives of each year’s Strategic Plan of Work while maintaining a minimum fund balance of $100,000. Project Specific Tasks Priority Status Timeline Update Capital Improvement Plan if needed to accomplish goals outlined herein • Reassess funding priorities as needed. 1 As needed June 2023 Provide Budget Updates as necessary • Provide financials on park dedication fund upon request. 3 As requested Ongoing