Consider Master Parks Plan for The COR and Schematic Design for 'Lake Ramsey Commons'
 

 
The purpose of this case is to consider refinements to the concept plans for three distinct elements of the Public Realm in The COR; known as Municipal Plaza, the proposed greenway, and the water-centric park sometimes referred to as 'Lake Ramsey'.  Additionally, this review will engage the Council in the rationale to the enhancements to the concept plans, and explore how the adjoining land-uses benefit from a cogently designed and interconnected park, trail and stormwater system.

For the meeting, staff will outline the planning history relating to The COR and options for Municipal Plaza and the greenway—concluding with a more detailed examination of the water-centric park with an emphasis on how features of this park will benefit the goals of the community in the near term—and for the future.

 

It is anticipated that with review of the public participation of the planning for parks in The COR, 30 minutes will be required.

Funding for consultant services are included within the Park's 2016 General Fund budget, in the amount of $25,000 (landscape architecture) and $15,000 (civil engineering).

Note: (From Patrick Brama) "The EDA has included in their 2017 workplan an initiative to complete an infrastructure analysis, regional stormwater analysis, and sign plan for The COR.  The work the EDA is completing in 2017 will be made whole, by combining with the larger parks planning exercise [including the schematic design for the water-centric park area].  At the conclusion of both the EDA exercise and the parks exercise, the City will have a comprehensive pro-forma for The COR.  Essentially, we are putting numbers to our vision.  This work will put the City in a strong position to better understand our financial obligations related to The COR—and subsequently allow for more robust policy discussions (i.e. CIP planning, development fees, cost share policies for new infrastructure, parking ramps, land prices, timing of various improvements, land proceed policies, etc.)."

 

Mark Riverblood

The desired outcome is a consensus acknowledgement of the Master Plan for parks and trails in The COR Parks Plan as a working document, and that staff may proceed forward with schematic design for 'Lake Ramsey', for approval by Council on November 7th, 2016.