Recommend Irrigation and Drinking Fountain for North Commons

On April 24th, 2012, City Council approved the Park and Recreation Commission's recommendation to invest $21,695 in Park Trust Funds for grading and the application of topsoil for North Commons.  This activity is presently underway, concurrent with the similar work on the location of the 4 future home sites along Zeolite Street on this same 7 acre parcel.

Staff is in the process of developing an irrigation plan for both the park and the topsoil test beds. Additionally, as some of the platting of the city owned land in this vicinity occurs, revenue in the way of Park Dedication and Trail Fees will occur, and these funds may be programed into a phasing plan for the park.

While this phasing plan is being considered, the city does need to move forward for the irrigation (both for the topsoil test plots, and for the community garden, as well as for the fall tree planting via the DNR grant of $15,000).  Therefore, the purpose of this case is to establish a not-to-exceed cost for the first phase improvements, consisting primarily of irrigation and drinking fountain.  (The drinking fountain would also have a pet attachment and connection for a garden hose for the garden spaces.)

The attached draft irrigation plan is being revised significantly - but is shown to demonstrate some of the complexity of these systems and associated costs.  In addition to pipe, sprinkler heads, soil moister sensors, decoders, valves, valve boxes and the sophisticated controller, the system will also include; 5, 1 1/2" meters, 2" copper pipe, many steel fittings, a reduced pressure back-flow preventer, control cabinet and the power supply and electric meter.

The cost of the drinking fountain alone as a point of reference is estimated at $3,563 without installation or supply line.

Upon City Council approval, a portion of the irrigation costs may be attributable to the City's Water Utility (as the municipal well site will now be irrigated, with grounds maintenance performed by park's).  The development cost study experiment (for the topsoil test beds) may also be assigned to a different funding source as well. Staff is estimating that a not-to-exceed amount from the Park Trust Fund be allocated in the amount of $40,000 for the first elements of park development - the preponderance being irrigation.  This is also an opportunity to note that the recent closing of the Flarety and Collin's project resulted in $xx,xxx being contributed into the Park Trust Fund (precise dollar amount to be communicated at the meeting on May 10th, together with additional information).

Funding for irrigation and drinking fountain for North Commons is from the Park Trust Fund, a fund comprised of Park Dedication proceeds from developers.

Motion to recommend to City Council that $40,000 from the Park Trust Fund be allocated for first phase development of North Commons, consisting primarily of irrigation and associated improvements.