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04-20-2004 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Study Session Packet City Council:Mayor: Jay Vavricek City Administrator: Gary Greer City Clerk: RaNae Edwards T u 7:00:00 PM Council Chambers - City Hall 100 East First Street Carole Cornelius Peg Gilbert Joyce Haase Margaret Hornady Robert Meyer Mitchell Nickerson Don Pauly Jackie Pielstick Scott Walker Fred Whitesides City of Grand Island City Council Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for Future Agenda Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without Council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date will be given. B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve time to speak. Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will be speaking. MAYOR COMMUNICATION This is an opportunity for the Mayor to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to the community. City of Grand Island City Council Item -1 Update on Stolley Park Improvements Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Study Session City of Grand Island Staff Contact: Steve Paustian City of Grand Island City Council Council Agenda Memo From: Steve Paustian, Park and Recreation Director Meeting: City Council, April 15, 2004, 2004 Subject: Update on Stolley Park Improvements Item #’s: 1 Presenter(s): Steve Paustian Background Since the closing of the Zoo, plans have been developed to reuse the former zoo site. A committee was formed and a reuse plan was developed. To date the construction of Kids Kingdom and the renovation of the train has been completed as part of that plan. The next phase of the implementation of the development plan is the installation of a community picnic shelter. Discussion A plan has been developed to incorporate the community shelter with other existing features of the Park. The architects that are currently designing the arboretum have assisted staff with the design. The design calls for a modification to the existing road that includes rerouting. A power point presentation will be provided Tuesday night to graphically display the proposed new routing. The power point will also focus on the existing cave and a discussion with Council is anticipated regarding its future. Alternatives 1. Accept the design. 2. Modify the design. Recommendation It is the recommendation of staff that the development proceed as presented, with or without modifications. Sample Motion A motion is not required. Item -2 Parks and Greenspace Development Fund Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Study Session City of Grand Island Staff Contact: Chad Nabity City of Grand Island City Council Council Agenda Memo From: Chad Nabity, AICP Regional Planning Director Meeting: April 12, 2004 Subject: Greenspace and Park Acquisition Fees Item #’s: 2 Presenter(s): Chad Nabity, AICP Regional Planning Director Steven Paustian, Grand Island Parks Director Background As the City grows it is to the benefit of the community if land for parks can be acquired concurrent with or preceding development. The Grand Island Parks Plan contains recommendations for park sizes and general locations. Acquisition of land for parks can be very costly. Most of the land on which development is anticipated (areas where parks will be necessary) could easily be developed with residential lots covering the entire property without leaving any space for parks. The city cannot afford to acquire parkland at building lot prices. Discussion Historically the City of Grand Island has acquired parkland primarily through the donation of property that could not otherwise be developed, or by purchasing tracts of ground with tax dollars. Recently, the City has been able to purchase undeveloped tracts of ground (at predevelopment prices) in areas where parks were needed (Cedar Hills Park). The City will need additional parks as residential development occurs. The Grand Island Parks Plan suggests that every house should have a neighborhood park within ½ mile of the property. Most property currently being developed in the City does not have an area that can be donated or purchased for parks because it cannot be developed for housing. It is unlikely that there will be property the owners would choose to give as a park rather than develop to sell for lots. To meet the recommendation of the Grand Island Parks Plan, the City needs to create a park acquisition and development fund. This fund needs to be large enough to provide adequate money to buy land for a neighborhood park every 3 or 4 years. Generally between 80 and 120 lots are developed in Grand Island during the course of a year. A park fee of $250 to $500 per lot would provide between $20,000 and $60,000 annually toward the acquisition and development of new parks. Any fees of less than $250 per lot would not generate enough funds to build an effective park acquisition and development fund. The fees charged to the development could be lowered if the developer is willing to provide property useable for a park, easements for hike/bike trails and/or build a trail through the subdivision with the development. The fees could be collected from the developer at the time of execution of the subdivision agreement or from the builder at the time of the building permit. Alternatives It appears that the Council has the following alternatives concerning the issue at hand. The Council may: 1. Direct Staff to bring forward fees for the creation of a Park Acquisition and Development fund at a level of not less than $250 per lot. 2. Direct Staff to create a Park Acquisition and Development fund from property taxes. 3. Direct Staff to create a Park Acquisition and Development fund from sales taxes. 4. Direct Staff to not to bring this item forward again for 3 years or until such time as it is requested by City Council. Recommendation City Administration recommends that the Council direct staff to bring forward fees for the creation of a Park Acquisition and Development fund at a level $500 per lot (with allowances for property or facilities in lieu of payment upon approval of council) payable upon execution of the subdivision agreement. Sample Motion To direct Staff to bring forward a resolution and/or ordinance creating a fund for the acquisition and development of parks to be funded by a fee of $500 per lot on the creation of new lots within the jurisdiction of the City Of Grand Island.