2021 Parks Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Park Dedication Fee Increased One of the implementation steps of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan was to review the Park Dedication Policy. The Commission reviewed the policy at their Septem- ber 15 meeting. The Commission agreed that the policy continued to provide for expansion of the parks system with development and that the policy was in keep- ing with state statues. However, the Commission asked the Council for authoriza- tion to evaluate the fee charged with residential development. The fee had not been changed since 2005 and had not been evaluated since 2010. At the October 13 meeting, the Commission reviewed research on the expense of the planned park system growth, fee comparisons to cities of a similar population and similar growth rates, as well as the park dedications received in recent years. The Commission recommended a fee increase of $1,000. The City Council approved the recommended fee increase by resolution at their November 15 meeting. The new fee of $3,400 per unit will be effective in 2022, but not applied to developments approved in 2021 or earlier. The Council asked for the fee to be reviewed again in 2022. Santa Party The City of Hugo has held very few programs since spring 2020. Programs held in partnership with the Washington County Library and YMCA shifted to be held primarily outdoors but continued to offer activity options to Hugo families. A resident offered the idea that the City hold a holiday lighting party with Santa. The Commission discussed this and brainstormed other programming ideas at their September 15 meeting. A Santa Party was held in City Hall on Wednesday, December 1. The Hugo Fire Department volunteered to assist and collected food and toys for their drive bene- fiting the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf. City Hall was lit. Goodie bags were distributed to the 20 kids who attended. Santa looks forward to visiting the new pavilion in Lions Park in 2022. Sunset Lake Property The Commission discussed concepts for the city-owned property on Sunset Lake in 2019 through early 2020. A contentious neighborhood meeting was held. Staff continued to receive complaints about fishing from the adjacent roads and lack of access to the property. At the meeting of March 17, the Com- mission requested to review the concepts and authorized “opening up of the property”. In the spring, staff removed brush and small tree growth which provided physical access and a views of Sunset Lake. Santa with the Fire Department and Councilmember Strub Sunset Lake Property Before Sunset Lake Property After