HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.c. Park and Recreation Bond ReferendumE X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y
City Council Work Session Meeting: February 8, 20016
AGENDA ITEM: Park and Recreation – 2016 Referendum AGENDA SECTION:
Discussion
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation
Director
AGENDA NO.
2.c.
ATTACHMENTS: Concept Plans and Cost Estimates APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None, discussion only.
ISSUE
The City Council goals that were recently adopted included a goal of preparing for a bond referendum to
be held in the late spring or summer of 2016. The projects identified to be included in the referendum
were: a new sheet of indoor ice, ball fields at UMore Park, green fields at the Flint Hills Complex and
improvements at Central Park. Attached to the executive summary is a concept plan for each project
along with cost estimates. Please note that the cost estimates include the soft costs and a 10% contingency
budget for each project. Staff would like to discuss the projects in detail with the City Council and review
the concept plans and cost estimates for each project.
The City Council’s goals also listed four objectives with regards to having a referendum in the spring of
2016. The first objective is to engage the athletic associations. Staff have engaged representatives from
RAHA, REV Soccer and RAAA about the referendum and the projects that are to be included. The
leaders of all three groups indicated that they support the City’s efforts to provide additional parks and
recreation facilities for our residents.
The second objective is to determine how the question or questions will be stated on the ballot. This is an
item that staff would recommend the City Council discuss during the work session and provide direction
to staff on what they would like to see on the ballot.
The third objective is to seek approvals from the State and ISD 196 for the preferred ice arena site which
is the Rosemount Community Center/Armory property. Staff has met with ISD 196 on two occasions to
discuss the possibility of using one of their green fields as a parking lot location for new rink. The district
representatives indicated their willingness to try and support the City’s efforts but they did voice a concern
about possibly losing a field at the already overcrowded campus. If the City were to help with replacing
that field someplace nearby, it would make it easier for the school to allow us access to the space. Staff will
continue to have discussions with staff from ISD 196 about the use of their land. Staff has also
communicated the concept plan with Don Kerr, Executive Director, of the MN Armory Building
Commission and at this point he does not have any concerns with the plan.
The fourth objective was to set a date to hold the referendum in late spring or the summer of 2016. One
key item related to choosing a date for the referendum is that at least 74 days prior to election, the City
must provide written notice to County Auditor (including date of election, title and language for each
ballot question to be voted on) that the City plans to hold a referendum.
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Staff would like for the City Council to provide feedback and direction to staff as to how the Council
would like to move forward planning for the referendum.
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