HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.13.21 Park Minutes Minutes
Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission
Meeting of October 13, 2021
Hugo City Hall, 7:00 pm
Present: Roger Clarke, Emily McGinnity, Mat Rauschendorfer, Nicole Schmid, Meredith St. Pierre, Ranell
Tennyson.
Absent:Cathy Moore-Arcand
Staff Present: Shayla Denaway, Parks Planner
Scott Anderson, Public Works Director
Amber Lozier, Public Works and Finance Administrative Assistant
Chair Clarke called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
1. Approval of Minutes from the September 15, 2021 Meeting
Rauschendorfer stated the staff present at previous meeting should include Scott Anderson.
Rauschendorfer made a motion, McGinnity seconded to approve the minutes of the September 1S,
2021 Parks Commission meeting with the addition of Scott Anderson, Public Works Director listed under
staff present.
All ayes. Motion carried.
2. Val Jean Park Ice Rink
Denaway presented background on proposal, and informed commissioners of WSB&Associates' ability
to perform a survey of the park for less than $300.The survey would allow staff to determine if there is
a level area of the park where the EZ rink could be installed. Kris Birch was present at the meeting, and
thanked the commissioners for the ability to discuss his proposal further. Discussion included the
process involved if the City were to fund the grading project 100%,as well as the size of the EZ rink
installation. Commissioners stated that they would continue the discussion of the grading project
proposal at the CIP discussion meeting. Kris Birch requested that he received notice of that meeting,so
he could attend. Commissioners directed staff to service Birch with notice of the meeting that will
involve the CIP discussion.
Rauschendorfer made a motion,Tennyson seconded to approve the surveying of Val Jean Park by WSB
&Associates.
All ayes. Motion carried.
Page 1 of 2
Parks Commission Minutes
September 15,2021
3. Park Dedication Fee Research
Denaway presented staff research of park dedication fees in other cities, park dedication fees received
with recent developments and the evaluation of Hugo's developable acres and park needs in the
Comprehensive Plan.Staff used 2020 Census information of city populations and growth rates to
develop a list of cities that are comparable to Hugo in those aspects. Staff then compared park
dedication fee rates and methods of calculating those rates used by the chosen cities to Hugo's current
rate and calculation method. Denaway then presented information on park dedication fees collected
since 2015, monetary and land,and parks that had been constructed since 2015. Lastly, Denaway
discussed future park needs outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.
Open floor discussion included consideration of the Greenway Corridor Plan,what portion of park
dedication fees collected are monetary or land and the need to ensure a proper balance of land and
monetary collection. Commissioners all felt that increasing the park dedication fee would be appropriate
and discussed different ways of implementing an increase, including how much of an increase was
desired and whether to increase the fee one time or incrementally.Tennyson favored an increase that
would make the fee comparable with other cities, and St. Pierre added that the fee should be
comparable, but remain competitive with other cities.Schmid expressed a concern that too large of an
increase would encourage more land donation. Schmid suggested a system where the fee coincides with
property values, increasing or decreasing the fee in concert with increasing or decreasing property
values.Clarke inquired as to what information Council would need to approve an increase, and stressed
the need to have a logical and defensible rationale.Tennyson suggested an increase of$1000.00, St.
Pierre and McGinnity expressed agreement with that suggestion.
Clarke made a motion, Schmid seconded that Council be presented with a recommendation to increase
the park dedication fee by$1000.00,with a preference for a one-time increase, but open to an
incremental increase if that is what Council prefers.
All ayes. Motion carried.
4. AddjOUrnment
Tennyson made a motion, Schmid seconded to adjourn at 8:43 PM.
All ayes. Motion carried.
Page 2 of 2
Parks Commission Minutes
September 15,2021