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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 - Trail Improvement Recommendations -~ "CELEBRATE PRIOR LAKE'S CENTENNIAL - 1991" AGENDA NUMBER: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: DATE: 10 BILL MANGAN, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR CONSIDER ACTION ON TRAIL IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS JULY 15, 1991 INTRODUCTION: At the City Council meeting of June 17, the Council referred a feasibility study for trail improvements back to the Parks Advisory Committee for their review and recommendation. The Parks Advisory Committee met on June 19 to review the feasibility report and prepare their recommendation. DISCUSSION: The Parks Advisory Committee has been meeting for three months in order to plan for prioritized park improvements. The first priority of the Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) was to begin the trail segment connecting the high school to Highway 13 along C.R. 44. When staff found out that C.R. 44 was scheduled for reconstruction in 1993, the PAC then decided to wait on that segment until the road was reconstructed. The PAC then recommended a feasibility study for trails in Lakefront Park for this year including a trail from C.R. 44 south to Highway 13. The Engineering plans and drawings were done "in house" to maximize dollars and the feasibility study was presented at the meeting of June 17. The City Council referred the feasibility study back to the PAC for their review. At their meeting of June 19, the PAC reviewed and discussed the following items from the feasibility study: 1. Trail construction, a bridge, and trail lighting costs of $351,000 for Lakefront Park. 2. Trail construction costs of $96,000 for Franklin Trail from Highway 13 south to Highway 13. BACKGROUND: 4629 Dakota St. S.E.. Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 An Equal Opportunity'Affirmative Action Employer "~'____~."_C"'"__'_'~_'__''_~'~'.''_____'~~_'.''~''"'''''~"^'" The PAC discussed the breakdown of the figures as presented. The discussion focused on getting the greatest length of trails constructed rather than spending money on a bridge or trail lighting. As a result of this discussion, the following motion was passed as the PAC recommendation: THAT THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE THAT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS BE PREPARED FOR PROJECT 91-14 EXCLUDING TRAIL LIGHTING AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. THIS WOULD BE THE PAVING OF ASPHALT TRAILS FROM C.R. 21 TO LAKEFRONT PARK AND C.R. 39 FROM HIGHWAY 13 SOUTH TO HIGHWAY 13. THE MOTION PASSED 6-0. The Parks Department staff restoration and sodding which enough money to bring the project $150,000 budgeted amount. Staff then met to discuss financing of this project and several items were discussed: would would within do save the 1. How would the City finance the project; 2. What would the construction timeframe be; 3. What can city staff do "in-house" to bring the project within the dollars targeted; After considerable discussion, it is recommended by staff to break the project into two sections-I) Lakefront Park to be done in 1991, and 2) Franklin Trail to be done in 1992. The rational behind this decision is two-fold; First, with the recent budget constraints, staff feels more comfortable spreading the expenditures over two years. The money will come from the General Fund Balance and it would be prudent to be conservative at this time and do the project over two fiscal years, and; Second, Franklin Trail will require a considerable amount of surve~ing and site preparation work in addit10n to informational meetings that Staff would recommend conducting. The engineering staff can prepare the plans over the winter rather than rush the project this year and try to beat the frost. " BUDGET IMPACT: ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDATION: ACTION REQUIRED: As a result of this discussion, staff would recommend that plans and specifications be prepared for the Lakefront Park trail segment yet this year and that the Franklin Trail plans and specifications be prepared during the winter months for construction in 1992. Both trail segments would be funded from the General Fund Balance at an estimated cost of $75,000 for each segment. This project in its entirety is be $150,000. The project would of the General Fund with $75,000 1991 and $75,000 allocated Lakefront Park would be completed Franklin Trail (from Highway 13 to would be constructed in 1992. estimated to be funded out allocated for for 1992. in 1991 and Highway 13) The General Fund Balance is currently $1,496,358. This expenditure of $150,000 would leave a balance (without any further adjustments) of $1,346,358 as of December 31, 1992. This balance will still be sufficient to meet our cash flow needs and provide a reserve fund for emergency purposes. Staff will discuss this further at the meeting. The alternatives are as follows: 1. Accept the Parks Advisory Committee recommendation and fund the project over two years as recommended by staff; 2. Accept the Parks recommendation and yet this year; 3. Table the project until an alternative funding source is identified; Advisory Committee do the entire project Staff would recommend Alternative #1, the recommendation of the Parks Committee and staff and proceed with construction in Lakefront Park in Franklin Trail in 1992. accept Advisory the trail 1991 and A motion is in order to direct staff to prepare plans and specifications for Project 91-14, construction of asphalt trails for Lakefront Park and Franklin Trail with the project to be funded from the General Fund with a transfer to the Park Dedication Fund in the amount of $75,000 in 1991 and $75,000 in 1992. These transfers will occur at the time the Council approves the plans and specifications for each project. "C_'_""'._'N. _......--->~_.~"_"._._~ "_..m.'~'~"_""""__,~"""",~._,~__,,,,,,,_,__,,__,__,_'''''~''''''_'_'W''_''''_~_'' ._____ . ::J ! 'I ~ PRIOR LAKE ~- . . . . . . . .: LEGEND . . . . . . . . . ::J . . ! . . . . . . . Proposed Trails c ...... 0 1& 4' Proposed lJghts D u iX [:=J Existing Trees . . /\ Park Boundary "- '. \ ) \. . , N o 500' I I Proposed Lakefront Park Improvements