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5. Consider a 1995 Park, Open Space and Trail Acquisition and Development ReferendumCITY OF 5 CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 Actlon by City Adn*AftMT TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJ: Don Ashworth, City Manager Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director October 5, 1994 Over the past few years, the Park and R aware of the need for the City of Chanh open space acquisition and preservation. mount as the pace of development quicl+ opportunities remaining are equally as a nmission has become increasingly more isionary and proactive in the area of H of "lost opportunities" continue to tit our city. However, the number of tie .Park and Recreation Commission initiated an update of the Recreation Section of the Cori in order to assess the city's future in the areas of parks, recreational facilities. Ironically, the4orkload being pl staff members by the large number if site plan reviews this update to be put on hold a :dumber of times. Howe determined through a detailed: study of the'vacant lands decisive action being taken;' jeopardized. The conirriissit require the support of the .eii organizations. tha are not positioning themseiv commissioners and Park and the commission ✓ 'Dui � bb &IDmr"tted to Comb" Date Submitted to Council 10 ,/0—F6/ ensive Plan nearly two years ago i space, trails, and other upon both the commission and h are being processed, has caused the commission quickly q,ning in Chanhassen, that without tad open space program will be ijbr land acquisition effort will this issue down anybody's :)f other community ;fe�eri�dtim, but they ,Dn he contrary, the referendum explaining the present status of development u the bity and how the future of parks and recreation stands to benefit or be harmed by ts,evelopment. Clearly none of the individual groups named earlier (citizens, city council rr 4kers, Park and Recreation Commission members, staff members, civic organizations) can accomplish this initiative alone. But united we can help secure the future of the city's natural resources. the integrity of the city's parks Review Recommendation from the Park and Recreation Commission to Consider a 1995 Park, Open Space and Trail Acquisition and Development Referendum On Monday night, I will present the city council with a framed copy of a page from the October 29, 1969 Chanhassen Maverick Newspaper. Appearing on this page is a paid MEMORANDUM 1 r 1 Mr. Don Ashworth October 5, 1994 Page 2 advertisement from a citizen group advocating a park referendum in the amount of $250,000 to fund the initial acquisition of portions of Lake Ann Park and to complete other park improvements. The act of passing that referendum initiated the legacy of the city's most cherished park. I wonder, without this action being taken, what would Lake Ann Park be today? Perhaps another residential development and more highway businesses on Highway 5. As I have reflected with the Park and Recreation Commission, that first park referendum occurred 24 years ago. If we peer 24 years into the future, or even 20 or 15 years, the opportunities for setting aside a Lake Ann Park or a Bluff Creek Preservation District or a large tract of land for recreational fields or to preserve a large stand of maples /oakwoods, will be gone— forever. The city's Park and Recreation Commission does not want to look back 20 years from now and say that it did not try to save some of the city's landscape from irreversible change. They recognize such an effort will be a "tough sell," just as it was in 1969. But they also remind themselves that just as we look back and reflect how wise it was to invest $250,000 in 1969 to do something good for the community, so too would future generations look back on a successful referendum effort of today. Recommendation The Park and Recreation Commission has discussed a park, open space and trail acquisition and development referendum on two occasions, August 9 and September 27, 1994. On September 27 the Park and Recreation Commission took the following action: Commissioner Andrews moved, Commissioner Lash seconded to recommend the city council investigate a 1995 park, open space and trail acquisition and development referendum of a scope yet undetermined and to proceed to appoint a task force to initiate this process. This motion was unanimously approved. 71 CITY OF --- t 1 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 , MEMORANDUM TO: Park and Recreation Commission FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director 7 DATE: August 4, 1994 SUBJ: Discuss Future Park/Open Space Acquisition and Development Referendum The attached newspaper ad dated October 29, the first park referendum held in the City of the referendum passing by a wide majority, d Lake Ann Park. It is the opinion of this offi� 1969, and on several other occasions since .t for park acquisition and development. I ld commission are aware, and which I will RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the authorize a 1995 Park Acq and proceed to appoint, a Ii 1 %60 from the Chanhassen Maverick promoted l nhkssen. A total of 802 votes were cast with u inf iatina the acquisition and development of e that Ole same kind of commitment made in a time, 1 needed to pursue a 1995 referendum this pos for a variety of reasons which the znd on Tusday night. t i d Recreation Con lion and Development force to expedite the r recommend the City Council 11um of a scope yet undetermined i -M%1 i CITY OF 3 CHANHASSEN 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 (612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739 TO: ; Park and Recreation Commission FROM: Todd Hoffman, Park and Recreation Director IV 1 L BATE: September 22, 1994 SUBJ: Review Recommendation to the City Council Proposing a 1995 Park, Open Space and Trail Acquisition and Development Referendum On August 9, 1994, the Park and Recreation Commission unanimously agreed to recommend the city council consider a 1995 park, open space,: nd trail acquisition and development referendum. The commission instructed me to irepare a statement of recommendation in this regard for your review prior to presenting the jssue to the city council. My original intentions were to include a mesmerizing array of facts, :figures ",rand horror stories in regard to the rapid consumption of open space which has been the city over the past few years. However, I believe the reasons to consider park and ' ecreation based referendum are fairly obvious since we have all experienced the repercussions Hof the rapid pace of development which the city has been emersed in The number of "los opportunities" to preserve /protect natural areas which are unique to Chanhassen have mounded in just the short seven years that I have been with the City Park an ; ecreation Department �, In lieu of becoming overwhelmed with "progress," JJiave chosen to draw inspution from this growth p henomenon and continue tosee a bri ght future for the ci * the areas of arks, recreation, P g t3''F� P open space, greenways, trails, etc. This future is not secure, without a commitment by city leaders to a uc te.:ou% t this ogad, call Found the cause and promote efforts such as a referendum Ftae,aatral, rosouressd ciev±el recreational parks and pery trails. Standing `alone ,as a city council, a park commission, a staff ffieffib6f*4fi individual resident, such jobs are monuftl But if everyone is included in the ,process, great accomplishments can be made. As dark , and ecreaU oi �irwt+�r' t�� �a rapidly maturing city, the most important element of the position of�y 'fib is to perform professional work related to arkland acquisition and physical lamm� '4pd, "d velo ment of arks, open space and P q P Y P g P P P P trails. An W" x 11" sheet of paper folded 9W is taped to my office wall with the following words written on it: "Vacant land, the first and irreplaceable essential for parks." That message stands at the door step of the City of Chanhassen today. It would simply be irresponsible for me not to direct a significant effort to preserve the natural areas which have been identified in the city's Comprehensive Plan as perpetual open space. MEMORANDUM f Park and Recreation Commission September 22, 1994 Page 2 I ask that all commissioners /council members envision Chanhassen twenty years from now. , The city will be developed literally border to border with little opportunity for additional preservation of public spaces. Knowing that this will occur, I would not be proud of my past ' if I had not attempted to make a difference in shaping the landscape of this city. The first referendum to acquire parkland for the City of Chanhassen occurred on November 4, 1969, 25 years ago. In less time then has passed since then, the opportunities to undertake a similar ' effort will for all practical purposes be gone. We owe it to the city and its present and future residents to ask the question, "Are you willing to chip in a make a difference today ?" ' If you had hoped for hard facts and figures not soap box rhetoric from me in this memorandum, those facts and figures will come if this process is taken to the next step. I for one do not want to get dragged down in a detailed analysis of, "How much will my taxes go ' up ?," prior to establishing a clear vision. It is, however, safe to say that any referendum would fall under the $10 million mark, a figure considerably less than the $21.8 million and ' $46.5 million which were recently approved by Independent School District 276 and Independent School District 112 voters, respectively. RECOMMENDATION ' It is recommended that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend the city council ' investigate a 1995 park, open space and trail acquisition and development referendum of a scope yet undetermined and proceed to appoint a task force to expedite this process. 'Page B--4 THE MAVERICK October 29, 1969 i i 'Chanhassen Residents: � VOTE YES I FOR PARKS NOVA Too many communities have lost for• ever the potentialities that are yet avail. able to Chanhassen. It therefore becomes important that s"me of Chanhassen's natural resources be immediately preserved before this village also settles into the dogma of just another community ". Mr. and Mrs. Roman Sinnen Mr. and Mrs. Hrnn Moline Mr. and Mrs. Morison Bell Mr. and Mrs. Ray Schmitt Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Bleed Rev. and Mrs. J. omille Martin Mr. and Mrs. Conroy Webster Mr. and Mrs. Steve Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Mary Mures Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Prillaman Mr. and Airs. E. C. Seim Mr. and Sirs. P. Larson Mr. and Mrs. Albert Barnacle Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Herbst Mrs. Richard Relf Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sotherlund Mr. and Mrs. Nick Warritz Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pike Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Soderlind Mr. and Mrs. Dick Pear,on Mr. and Mrs. Russell H. Larson Mr. and Mrs Dean Scheff Mr. Tom Klingelhutz Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gleason Mr. and Mrs. Berk Rodgers ' For Further Information ' Call: Minnewashta Park area Arnie Weimerskirch 474.5733 Sinnen Hill area Harvey will 474.8168 Lotus Lake area Sal ,, del ance_v 474.7214 Murray Hill area Steve Wolf 474 -7828 Colonial Grove area Gladys McCary 474-4471 Chanhassen Estates area Conrad Fiskness 474.5581 Lake Susan area Don Slather ' 47a•7590 QUESTION NO. 1 Shall the Village of Chanhassen borrow money by issuing its general obligation bonds in the amount of 5250,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of parks? This bond issue will provide funds for the realiwiun of our own park system; recreational facilities for families, adults & senior citizens as well as neighborhood play arcds and facilities for swimming, tunnis, baseball, picnicing, hiking, skating, hockey, skiing and sliding. Rev. Dennis L. Lorenz Mr. and Mrs. Gllff Weidman Mr. and Mr.,. Conrad Fialkness AL. and Ars. Roger Casey + Mr. and Mrs. Gerrold Hekkinen Mr. and Mrs. Walter Paulson Mr. and Mrs. Harley Robinson Mr. and Mrs. AI Sinnen Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wolf 'Mr, and Mrs. Al Harvey Mr. and Mrs. Don Slather Mr. and Mrs. Joe Glaccum Mr. and Mrs. Tarry O'Brien Mr. and Mrs. Lyk Ricklefs Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bauer Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Reutiman Mr. and Mrs. Newton Brisley Mr. and Mrs. John Neveaux Mr. and Mrs. Joseph N. Boyer Mr. and Mrs. Gene Coulter Mr. and Mrs. At Klingelhutz Mr. and Mrs. Roy Roeser Mr, and Mrs. Ray Dietz Mr. and Mrs. Nei Brettblgen Where Do I Vote? WE SUPPORT THE PARS( BOND ISSUE! Mr,. Eduard H "„ and Mr. and .'•Ls ilc"r% Nwd Mr, and pies. A. W. Owens Mr. and Mrs. Gluon Manson Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beckstrom Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Nicholson Mr. and Mrs. Miles Lord Mr. and .Mrs. S. M. Osgood Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kelly Air. and Mrs. Willis Klein Mr. and Mrs. Howard Viken Mrs. Loraine Reeser Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Conner Mr. and Mrs. Erik Dundurs Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hodgson Mr. and Mrs. Ray Jezierski Mr. and Mrs. Dave Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Brown Mr. and Mrs. Ran Mielke Air. and Mrs. Did Mingo Mr. and Mrs. James Payseno Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kant Mr. and Mrs. Bob Broderson Mr. and Mrs. Bonn Clayton Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Stan Frismore Mr. and Mrs. 'fed H. deLv- e) Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Thrmie Mrs. Uara Bacon Mr. and Mrs. E. W. McCary Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Stan Tilly Mr. and Mrs. Paul Thompson Mr, and Mrs. Michael Roaleau Mr. and Mrs. Hibbert Hill Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Pope Dr. and Mrs. Jim Bennyhoff Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Roeser Mr. and Mrs. Dean Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Ross Mr and Mrs. Robert Reichert Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Weimerdcirch Mr. and Mrs. James Cranston Mr. and Mrs. Giles Courtney Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Will Mr. and Mrs. Herb De Vaan Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Kunerth Mr. Richard Lyman Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Yanisch Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hjerrnstad The Question On The Blue Ballot Will Be— What Does This Mean To Chanhassen Residents? Chanhassen residents living east of Cty. Rd. 117 vote at the Chanhassen Village Hall, (1) The beginning of our own village pads system. # Residents living west of Cty. (2) A community picnic area and swimming beach. 4 Rd. 117 vote at West Junior (3) Neighborhood tot lots and ball fields. High School, located on State (4) Preserving the beauty and character of the village — ' Hwy' 41. the reason why we all moved to Chanhassen. We Urge YOU To Vote YES y prepared and paid for by the Volunteer Commtnee for pub in Ckwhasaen. 4