2021.11.15 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for November 15, 2021 Page 5 of 6 a letter recommending the reappointment of John Waller to this position. Adoption of the Consent Agenda approved the letter for submission to Washington County to reappoint John Waller as Manager on the Rice Creek Watershed District Board of Managers. Discussion on Park Dedication Fee At the meeting of September 20, 2021, the City Council authorized the Parks Commission to evaluate the Park Dedication Fee. The Park Dedication Policy, Sec. 90-324 of the City Code, allowed the City to require park land or fee dedication with subdivision or development of any property in the City in order to develop a system of parks within the community to serve the public's health and recreational needs. The park dedication fee was currently $2,400 per residential unit and set annually by the City Council in the fee schedule. At their meeting of October 20, 2021, the Parks Commission reviewed the fee and recommended to Council that the fee be increased to $3,400 per residential unit. The change would be adopted with the 2022 Fee Schedule. Parks Planner Shayla Denaway reviewed the current ordinance on park dedication saying the Parks Commission did not want to change any language in the policy but wished to evaluate the fee. She provided information on population growth since the last time the fee was evaluated in 2010. Since 2015, the City had approved $1,683,682 in fees and 30 acres of land dedication. Denaway provided information on parks that had been constructed using these fees. She reviewed future park needs according to population projections and determined a need for up to 36 new neighborhood parks, not taking into account current parks. Denaway used past park construction costs as a basis for future park development costs and calculated that current fees fail to meet the current need. Petryk made motion, Strub seconded, to approve RESOLUTION 2021-70 APPROVING FINDINGS OF FACT FOR INCREASING THE PARK DEDICATION FEE. All Ayes. Motion carried. Visitor Presentation – County Commissioner Fran Miron County Commissioner Fran Miron was in attendance to hear Donald Raleigh speak, and Mayor Weidt asked him to provide an update on things happening at Washington County. Miron said it had been a pleasure to work with Raleigh, and he hoped Raleigh would continue to represent Washington County after redistricting. He talked about the County redistricting process saying the County Commission decided to remain at five members instead of increasing to seven. The county parks staff would continue to work with City staff on the extension of the Hardwood Creek Trail. He talked about the environmental Center being planned for construction in Forest Lake in 2022 for opening in 2023.