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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5A - Be A PAL Presentation - Friends of the Library STAFF AGENDA REPORT AGENDA NUMBER: PREPARED BY: 5A PAUL HOKENESS, PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR SUBJECT: BE A PAL PRESENTATION BY FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND PRIOR LAKE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUESTING THE SCHEDULING OF A REFERENDUM ELECTION ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997 DATE: JANUARY 21, 1997 INTRODUCTION: The Friends of the Library and the Parks Advisory Committee will make a presentation to the City Council regarding a proposed 1997 Parks and Library Referendum. This is the same presentation which has been given to community and civic groups over the past eight months. This presentation includes a narrative and plans regarding all of the elements which would be included within a referendum if the Council directs such an election. Attached is the "BE A PAL" flyer for additional information on this subject. ACTION REQUIRED: Listen to the presentation and seek clarification where appropriate. Action items with respect to this topic are found under Agenda Item SA k REVIEWED BY: 16200 EajlN'KlVnlf.0lOO. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER " OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS Over the past few years Prior Lake residents have requested improvements to their neighborhood & community parks. Prior Lake Athletics for Y Guth (P.L.A. Y.) and the Prior Lake Soccer Club have expressed the need for more athletic fields & improvements to the existing facilities. The Friends of the Library have patiently been waiting for renovations to the existing library in an effort to provide more books, materials, and expanded hours of operation to the residents of the community. PRIOR LAKE POPULATION 1980: 7,284 1996: 13,300 2010: 21,000 (Projected) HOW TO PROVIDE FOR THESE NEEDS One way in which to provide for these needs would be for the City to offer a bond referendum in February of 1997. A bond referendum gives all citizens an opportunity to express their opinion. It will also provide a reasonable way for the City to fund and execute improvements. If approved, the investment would be spent over the next three years. But the costs will be spread out over 20 years. This is the most equitable way to make certain all present and future residents share both the benefits of the improvements and the financial responsi- bilities for them. 1997 P ARKSILIBRARY REFERENDUM ITEMS would include lights and irrigation and the softball fields and baseball fields would include fencing. With the development of the adult softball fields at a new community park the fields at the Pond's would be utilized by the youth program. This would also relieve the pressure on the neighborhood parks, which are currently being used for organized games. This park would also include space for a future picnic facility, playground, outdoor skating and trails. The development of this community park would serve the community needs for the next 15-20 years. LAKEFRONT PARK DEVELOPMENT This park development would coincide with the Lakefront Park Master Plan which was developed by the community and the Parks Advisory Committee and approved by the City Council. The plan includes improved access and parking, a large playground, and multi-purpose building which would serve as a warming house, concessions, restrooms, and natural resources education center. Trails would be expanded and improved. Baseball and Soccer fields would be upgraded. Also included in the plan are Tennis Courts, Sand Volleyball, Scenic Overlooks, and the Kop's Historical Farm. The plan also includes the preservation and management of the natural resources within the park. Copies of the plan are available at the Library and City Hall. A Community Bandstand! Amphitheater is also included in the plan. LIBRARY AND RESOURCE CENTER The Prior Lake Library needs to expand in order to meet the needs of the community. The current Library building is a retrofitted bank building and does not meet A.D.A. standards (Americans With Disabilities Act). Also included in the design of this building is a dance studio and community room which would be used for recreation programs, community meetings, and for the popular Prior Lake dance program. Revenues which are now being used for rent at the Mall could help offset the operating costs of the Library and Resource Center. This community space would be jointly used by the City and the Library. KOP FARM ACQUISITION Acquisition of the Kop Farm is critical to the ultimate design of Lakefront Park. The Farm would be maintained as a historical farm which would be programmed by the Parks and Recreation Department. Potential programming would include Holiday Events, Historical Education Programs, Heritage Festivals, and Community Events. The property is also necessary to provide improved access to the park. NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY PARK IMPROVEMENTS Older style playground equipment would be replaced with playground equipment which is accessible and meets current safety standards. Old ballfield backstops would be replaced and athletic fields would be improved. Trails would be upgraded and improved. Lights and irrigation would be added to The Ponds Park so that the community could get optimum use of this facility. Security and parking lot lighting would also be added for safety and the reduction of vandalism. COMMUNITY PARK LAND ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT Approximately 100 acres of land is necessary to construct the community park. This cost would include the construction of adult and youth athletic fields. Four adult softball fields, two combination youth/adult ballfields, two youth baseball fields, one youth/adult baseball field, and four soccer fields. Athletic fields ;r'~1'~'-"":~m~~;r~~~~~~?':'~:~~~?t~~;~~~~~:>7f~<!~m,-~.' fL;'i.,'rc,(< ;\3:":~;'},',-r~: r,;i;':. ,::,"...i,;_~ - "';'ll,";"- 1997 REFERENDUM FACT SHEET YOUTH ATHLETICS *** Over the past 10 years, P.L.A. y"s Football, Baseball and Softball programs have increased from 976 to over 1,700 participants. During that same time period, the City of Prior Lake has not been able to construct new fields to accommodate this growth. *** Over the past 12 years, Prior Lake Soccer Club participant numbers have doubled. This year over 500 youths will be participating in soccer. Currently, the city has no regulation size soccer fields. *** As the community grows and the number of participants increase, there will not be enough fields to accommodate this growth and some children will unfortunately not be able to play. ADULT SOFTBALL *** There has been a tremendous amount of growth in the number of partic- ipants who are playing in Adult Softball Leagues in Prior Lake. Currently there is no park land available to construct new fields to accommodate additional growth. In fact, if no fields are added, some adult leagues will not be able to play in Prior lake. LIBRARY *** The current library on Main Street in Prior Lake cannot accommodate the present day needs of the residents in our community. It is also in need of improvements to bring it up to today's standards. *** With Prior Lake continuing to grow, it is important that the residents of Prior Lake have a library to use for a resource center for both youth and adults. WHAT WILL IT COST YOU The total referendum amount for all of the improvements mentioned above is $7.8 million. The average cost for each homeowner would be approximately $8.00 per month (Based upon a $120,000 home). As the tax base in Prior Lake continues to grow, this monthly amount will decrease. This brochure has been provided.ti}r the residents of Prior Lake compliments of P R rlJ,m 14127 Commerce Avenue N.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372 . (612) 440-6666 BE A arks thletics ibrary Supported by Friends of the Library & Prior Lake Parks Advisory Committee TIlt 117 PARKS AI) lIRARY REFERENDUI is spouored by the Friends of the Prior Lake I.iInIy and the Prior Lake Parks IIId Advisory CommiIlee. The Park part of Ihe .. incUIes Ihe deveklpn8It of Lakefront Park. TIis WOliI iIcUIe Ihe I:qUisib of Ihe Kop Farm. The Farm wUi be ~ as a hisba farm w1111l11Y events taking pace Ihere MrY year. The rest of \he I.akerront Park Master P8l inliIdes iIJMd access IIlIIlIkiI a large IirfgrolIld.IIlI a IIIlIIi-pIIpose IlIikIing wIiiI Y<<lliI be used as a WIIIiwd house, CClIaSSion stand, resroom area, and a naIInI resuces educab center. T raIs would be ~ baseballId m:er liekIs woukt be lWDd lid tennis COlIlts woukI be Ilded. A COOlIIUIiy BI1dstandIAn;iheater is iso incUIed ~ lie I8L In IIdiln to LakehO PIt Ihe __ woukt aIow Ihe plIChase of "'100 m ofllld to construct a aMIIlUIIy pit This WOIiI iDlde 4.. sotIbaI fiekls, 2 oonDIab ~uI baIIf8js, 2 ydI basebaI. 1.... basebaI fiekl and 4 soccer fiekIs. This woukt iIcUIe _ and inigailn lid fenrq b Ihe soIbaI and basebaI fiekls, This would free up Ihe fields at Ihe Ponds for youth propns. Many other inprovements Y<<lIiI be made kl ~ pm . new paygroood~aOO ,-_fiekIlUjllsIld ~ wouki also be added to Ihe Ponds PIk. IiATYl.ur COSTYOU The~....balldlle"'(Plksand Lbary) is $7.8 nib. The average cost b each ImaIer woukI be ~ $8.00 per IIDIltI (Based upon a $120,000 home). As lie tax base ~ PriIr Lake conlilues to p, \his _ mnt wiI decrease.