Initiate Strategic Plan for the Development of North Commons

At the January 17th 2012 City Council work session, a 10-point plan was discussed that brought together several of Council's goals relating to encouraging investment in Ramsey by the development community, increasing tax base and focusing on the effective delivery of recreational opportunities.  This strategy is summarized within the attached Power-Point presentation.

As the consensus of the Council was to progress the development of the park and the aforementioned goals, the purpose of this case is to initiate the first actionable items for the HRA property known as North Commons.

These first phase aspects for the development of the park are addressed below by individual subject for purposes of clarity, though each is interrelated and the success of one morceau is generally dependent upon the other elements.

The proposed disposition of 'Peltzer Park' and the relocation of the play equipment was mailed to each address in the city via the current issue of the Ramsey Resident as part of the City Owned Land Inventory article.

Topsoil for North Commons:
The park area, aside from the wetland in the center, comprising about half of the 7 acres is largely devoid of any topsoil.  Landform has been tasked with preparing a grading plan and volume of soil that will need to be imported - both for the non-wetland areas, and also the three, topsoil experimental 'plots'.  This information and cost/cubic yard calculation will be available for the meeting

As a significant part of this park project's purpose is to address the topsoil question itself - staff is recommending that the topsoil to be hauled to the site need not be certified to meet the current ordinance's specifications (for the non-test areas).  Further, the city will be managing the irrigation system (for the whole site) with sophisticated soil moisture sensors, assuring that only the appropriate amount of water is applied. The primary purpose of the stringent topsoil requirement was indeed for water conservation - however, to save the city cost, and in particular give due justice to the experiment, it would seem to make sense to waive the requirement for the MnDot soil specification for larger park space.  (It is estimated that this cost differential will be available at the meeting as well.)

Staff also anticipates examining the permitting costs associated with the excavation of a portion of the wetland to provide the topsoil resource.  This may be a significant cost saving by not having to purchase the soil and pay for trucking.  The other benefit would be to diversify the wetland habitat for wildlife, and at the same time improve aesthetics and wildlife viewing.

Grading:
Pending a defined scope of the grading plan, a plan and procedure has not yet been developed.  There is the potential pond work discussed above, and/or the city may perform some grading in-house.  Another scenario may be the importation of soil using city forces in early spring (as opposed to contracted hauling).  More information may be available at the meeting.

Future Lot Sales:
The proposed future lots along Zeolite Street will be graded concurrent with the park's grading, with a look-out or walk-out bench as the lots slope toward the wetland.  This same area reserved for homes will be the site of the topsoil test plots.  One rationale is that the area will be level and have the same environmental conditions.  Further, during the turf establishment phase the site may need to be roped off to prevent disproportionate foot traffic over the plots, which could have a minor influence on the precipitation demand for the test areas.  The plots along Zeolite are somewhat removed from the programmed park spaces, and therefore will not present a problem while they may need to be roped or fenced off.

At such time as the lots may be platted and sold, the city may salvage portions of the irrigation system from the interior of the plots, with the rear yards potentially left for future homeowners.  Until this would occur, the flat irrigated area is available for various recreational pursuits after the irrigation and topsoil experiment has concluded in late October 2012.

Irrigation:
A key component of the topsoil and irrigation experiment is engaging topsoil and irrigation wholesalers to 'team-up' in responding to an RFP, inviting them to be the providers of the materials and labor for this project. Ideally, at least the cost of the experimental area would be at no cost to the city.  In a different scenario, much of the irrigation system would be underwritten as the vendors would be named in funding an experiment that could result in significant advertising and sales for their firm.

Similar to the water tower and community garden location at Dysprosium Street and Nowthen Boulevard (where volunteers are maintaining the whole utility owned property) - it is believed the municipal water utility can provide some of the funding for providing the water service and irrigation for North Commons.  Also like the water tower, this park is encumbered by well number #8, and the utility will be benefited by park services taking care of the landscape there, (with the utility having a responsibility for landscaping its facility in this residential neighborhood - now by virtue of the interdepartmental 'trade' of irrigation installation for mowing labor).  (Well #8's proximity is shown within slide #35 in the PP presentation circled in a thin blue oval.)

Community Garden:
The proposed community garden beds have already generated interest from residents.  It is hoped that they may be made available for the early spring planting season.  The beds will likewise be irrigated, which has been part of the success with Ramsey's first community garden at the water tower site.  Additionally, the primary volunteer organizer there, has agreed to be a mentor for the gardeners at North Commons, with the goal of having this new location also run and operated on an annual basis by volunteers

Again, like our inaugural community garden at the water tower, staff is proposing 'free' plots at least initially to maximize interest in this new endeavor and connect a growing number of people to one another in this public space.

Playground:
Attached is an excerpt from the current issue of the Ramsey Resident which invites persons interested (or concerned) in the proposal to sell Peltzer Park, and relocate the play equipment to North Commons - to attend the Mayor's Town Hall on March 12th, 2012.  This community meeting will help inform the city on the sentiment of the Peltzer Park neighborhood on the sale of the land and moving of the play equipment. 

It is anticipated that one next step may be a Council Case acknowledging the relocation of the playstructure, which would be timed for early to mid-summer.  The play equipment would likely be moved in late June, early July, when the parks' department have a peak number of seasonals, with a brief slow-down in athletic field maintenance demand.

Crosswalk:
While a somewhat minor detail, relocation of the crosswalk from a mid-block point north of Ramsey Market (on Ramsey Boulevard), south to 149th Avenue's trails is part of the connectivity solution for neighborhoods on either side of CSAH #56; and should occur with out regard to any other element or improvement this case discusses.  Staff will proceed with this as soon as time allows.


Tree Installation:
Tree establishment may be deferred to a Fall 2012 planting as part of a proposed $15,000 MN DNR tree grant entitled 'Majesty of the Commons'.  If the city is found not to be successful (March 2012 award announcement), the trees may be funded by the $15,000 proposed within the city's Parks 2012 CIP for this same park and purpose.  In either event, neighborhood volunteers are expected to be tapped for the labor component, and also to broaden ownership for the park.

The aforementioned grant also frames the project as an opportunity for a neighborhood arboretum (a component of the Environmental Policy Board's 2012 approved work plan) and a partnership with PACT Charter School for students there to actually develop the interpretive signage within the park (relative to the trees) as part of their curriculum.  Attached is the narrative portion of the grant application in the event details are desired to be known.

Trail Easement and Neighborhood Connection(s):
A red dashed line within slide #35 in the attached PP presentation calls attention to what is viewed as an important connection to the neighborhoods to the north and east of North Commons.  This route is presently being used by residents - receiving a trail easement formalizes this pedestrian link from the larger existing neighborhood and the COR, and 'protects' the town home association from this public use that is already occuring.

The homeowners of Parkside Village are very enthusiastic about the park's development and have agreed to convey the easement to the city.  Staff requests that the HRA direct the City Attorney to prepare an easement for the appropriate parties to sign and record.

Similar to several of the park development components above, staff will organize a plan with costs for paving this new trail connection to the COR.  It should be favorably noted, that independent and subsequent of North Commons' park development discussion in January, representatives of Town Center Gardens approached the city desiring assistance in developing park amenities and a place to garden in their area of town homes.  Needless to say, they were ecstatic that the city was already in the process of meeting their stated needs with North Commons, and the trail connection.

The primary purpose of this case is to receive HRA approval to move forward with a work plan for North Commons development.  A key cost element is receiving HRA's concurrence that 'ordinary' topsoil may be approved for the park space - such that staff can obtain costs and bring this forward for City Council approval.  Additionally, the RFP responses will inform what water utility monies may be needed for the irrigation.

The grading costs will also return (with a funding source) once a plan with the specified number of cubic yards of appropriate material has been determined, (and an estimate may be available at the meeting).

Pending the Mayor's Town Hall meeting on March 12th, a plan with cost details may be brought forward to City Council for the relocation of Peltzer Park's playstructure - together with a recommendation to sell Lot 1, Block 5 of the Peltzer Addition (exhibit attached), which may be a partial funding source for the park improvements discussed within this case.

Direct Staff to initiate the first phase improvements for North Commons pursuant to the proposed work plan, and issuance of an RFP to address the topsoil requirement experiment, and direct the City Attorney to acquire and record the trail easement over Willemite Way in the favor of the City.