Approve Work Plan for the Proposed 2015 Parks Capital Improvements, and Adopt Resolution #15-03-081 Authorizing a MN DNR Trail Grant Application

↵ On a annual basis, the Park and Recreation Commission makes recommendations to City Council for park and trail projects, based upon community need.  The larger, city-wide Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) document contains all the 5-Year capital improvements - across departmental and topical areas.   This case's purpose is to brief City Council on the 2015 work plan only relating to the parks CIP.

There are 9 potential projects identified within the Capital Improvement Program, with a wide scope - ranging from grates to secure stormwater pipes at The Draw, to the playground for Elmcrest Park, to a shared trail project with the City of Anoka.  Three 2015 projects are ready to move forward for purchase, project development, and in one instance as a proposal for grant funding. These are listed below with the funding source and estimated project cost:
 

Selected 2015 Parks Capital Improvements

Monuments for The Draw and Elmcrest Park	Park Trust Fund	$80,000
Drinking Fountain with Pet Station and Misting station for Woodland Green Et al	Park Trust Fund	$7,000
Trail Connection - Trott Brook (Variolite St to Brookfield)	MN DNR & Park Trust Fund	$400,000

 Attached for your information is the 2015 Parks Capital Improvement Plan.

As alluded to, staff is in various stages of project development for nine (9), 2015 park and trail related projects. The narrative that follows shall summarize the six (6) projects that do not require Council action at this time.  Following that are the three (3) capital improvements* introduced in the table above that Staff and the Park and Recreation Commission request authorization to proceed on at this time.

Playground for Elmcrest Park
A comprehensive Request for Proposal is being developed for a not-to-exceed amount of $100,000 to be funded by the Lawful Gambling Improvement Fund; for the playstructure elements, as well as seating, landscape, and irrigation for the immediate area around the new Community Building at the park.  This RFQ will be sent to landscape architectural firms and playground purveyors, with the intention that they form a collaborative to provide a 'winning' design for the proposed improvements, worthy of the park and building's prominence in the community.  This project is a high-priority, and the desire would be to have the playground in service as soon as possible.  It is noteworthy to mention, that for 2015, Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association's recreational soccer program will have the preponderance of their games at Elmcrest - in addition to the traveling soccer program.

Parkway for Central Park
Another high priority project identified within the CIP, the near-term activity includes developing a strategy with the landowners east of the park to purchase additional land for expansion of the community park - which would include the parkway, more parking and athletic fields.  If this goal is not to be realized, a simple purchase of 2-acres would occur, with a park road and parking to be constructed east of the existing 45-acre community park. 

Landscape Improvements for Parks
This $5,000 'place-holder' is included in each year of the Parks CIP.  Approximately every other year, a resident initiated proposal is received by the city for certain improvements in neighborhood or community parks, or associated with trails. The monies are available for smaller scale projects and encourage community engagement.  There are no projects identified at this time.

The Draw Water Quality Fountains
No planning activity is occurring on this proposed project at this time. Costs and benefits will be analyzed as time permits.

The Draw Grates
This proposed CIP project is straight-forward, with the functional aspect to secure the large stormwater splitter pipes from being physically entered from the pond side in the park.  As time allows, staff will investigate accomplishing the grate function with something more architectural than bolting reinforcement rod to the fairly visible concrete walls at The Draw.

McKinley Trail Connection to Anoka
The concept of the trail connection from the City of Ramsey to the City of Anoka was an outcome of a joint meeting between the two City Council's.  The location would link the two dead-ended McKinley Streets in the respective city's business parks. In addition to benefiting pedestrians and bicyclists (and slightly reducing passenger vehicle trips in the area), the concept included the idea that business interests in Ramsey could utilize golf carts on the trail to access the Greenhaven Golf Course. It is anticipated this topic may be discussed by the two Council's at the 2015 joint meeting scheduled on April 13th.

*Monuments for The Draw and Elmcrest Park
The design work for the Kasota Stone monument for The Draw was completed in 2012, and is being investigated to 'upgrade' the proposed poster-type display panel element to an electronic display for advertising the concerts and other community events.  The intention would be to have the monument and sign in place for the beginning of The Draw Summer Event Series in June of 2015. (This request to complete the project has been made by the Ramsey Foundation, the city's non-profit concert organizer, in partnership with the Park and Recreation Commission.)  The Draw's monument is estimated (with electronic display and power supply) at $50,000.  Additionally, staff will investigate if there is any revenue opportunities (concert sponsorships as an example), associated with the display element of the park sign and monument for The Draw. 

The essence of the work plan (at this time) for this individual capital improvement would be issue a Request for Quotation, including installation by sign contractors.  The project will return for further City Council consideration based in part upon the larger work plan below.

Note:  Staff is beginning a formal process for the review of the Design Framework and standards for The COR with the city commissions and Council.  Additionally, draft 2015 Strategic Imperative III states:  "Create a Community-wide Sign Plan that focuses on gateways to the community and key nodes within the community." These two interrelated reviews and examination are anticipated to occur in the next months. The RFQ for The Draw's monument would be concurrent with this process, with obtaining the costs informing and contributing to the review and Sign Plan itself. 

As for a monument/sign for Elmcrest Park, this design work may occur as part of the Sign Plan exercise above, or subsequent to it.  The total estimated amount for the two separate monuments or signs, is $80,000 proposed to be funded by the Park Trust Fund.

*Drinking Fountain for Woodland Green Park
This small scale project is fairly straight-forward with the purchase of the components, and staff installation as time permits during the spring or early summer.  While a drinking fountain and a 'misting station' are listed for Woodland Green Park within the CIP for simplicity, the intention would be for drinking fountain to be installed at Woodland, with the 'misting station' to be installed at Emerald Pond Park (where there already is a drinking fountain with pet attachment).

*Trott Brook Trail Connection
As City Council may recall, the recommendation to satisfy Park Dedication for the Brookfield 4th Addition in 2013, was to accept approximately $46,000 in cash, with the intention to construct a boardwalk connection from the existing trail in Brookfield to Variolite Street - if additional funding could be secured by a grant.  (Details are included in the Park and Recreation Commission's October 2013 case, on the city's website.)  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Local Trail Connections Program is accepting proposals in March 2015, for projects like the Trott Brook trail connection referenced herein.

The DNR competitive grant program matches 75% of project costs up to $150,000.  If Staff can dedicate enough time to develop a competitive proposal, the intention would be to submit the application on or before the deadline of March 31st.  Staff is in the process of refining the project's anticipated construction cost.  Estimates at this time are between $300,000 and $400,000, a $150,000 of which may be reimbursable by the DNR.

Attached is the City's Priority Trail Map, with the project area circled with a dotted line.  Also attached is the proposed trail and boardwalk extension shown in a red and yellow dotted line in relation to the Brookfield plat.  The work plan for this specific CIP proposal would be to adopt Resolution #15-03-081, which then authorizes the grant application.

 

Funding for the three (3) projects that are to be advanced in some manner, would be from Park Improvement Trust Fund, and potential grant monies as discussed.  However, the only actual expenditure approval Staff is requesting as part of this case, is the not-to-exceed amount of $7,000 from the Park Trust Fund for the drinking fountain and misting station - the other two projects would return for Council consideration:  The Draw's monument with a specific cost, (following or as part of the Sign Plan) - and the Trott Brook trail project if successful in the grant application.

Staff and the Park and Recreation Commission recommend City Council concurrence with the work plan outlined above, and approval of $7,000 for drinking fountain, misting station, authorizing staff to issue an RFQ for The Draw project, and adoption of Resolution #15-03-081, with also affirms that Staff may prepare a grant proposal for the Trott Brook Trail project - all of which is consistent with the 2015, Parks Capital Improvement Plan.

Motion to approve/not approve the 2015 Parks Capital Improvement work plan, including the issuance of an RFQ for the proposed monument at The Draw, purchase a drinking fountain and misting station for two neighborhood parks, and adopt Resolution #15-03-081, which authorizes Staff to apply for a MN DNR trail grant for the Trott Brook Trail