7b City Center Park ExpansionMEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUB J:
OF
7b
690 COULTER DRIVE · P.O. BOX 147 · CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937-1900 · FAX (612) 937-5739
Don Ashworth, City Manager
Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director
March 21, 1996
Additional Information Regarding a Collaborative Project Between the City of
Chanhassen and School District 112 to Invest $14,000+ Dollars in Playground
Equipment at City Center Park/Chanhassen Elementary School
Hello council members. I truly wish I could be in attendance at your meeting to clarify issues for you.
My last Monday night class is May 6, 1996.
To answer your questions in a clear and succinct manner, I have utilized the March 11 council minutes as
a guide for my report. Prior to the meeting of March 11, I did receive and returned a voice mail message
from Councilwoman Dockendorf. Apparently she did not receive my voice mail. I apologize for not
contacting her in person.
Question 1: The "active reserve" budget question: Manager Ashworth answers this question for council
members. The $12,000 reserve was approved by the city council. However, council approval is also
necessary to access this reserve. The department only has authority to invest up to $297,900 in capital
projects in 1996. To tap this reserve, the council must authorize the additional $7,500.
Question 2: Why are we being asked to match the PTO's $7,500? Why not the school district?
The city is not being to The commission and city council, by
establishing this reserve, conversations with Jim
Andrews, Park Co~smon Chair and Jan Lash, Park COmmission Co-¢hmr, they offer the following:
Andrews: We have two choi6eS: 1) Pay for half a playground; or 2) Get nothings.'
· ~ :~%.].~;:' .-
Lash: We (the city) get to use the playground half'°f the day and` we'p~, fOr half of the playground.
I believe our cooperative efforts have benefited both the city and school district in the past and
recommend we continue those efforts through apprc;~l of this expenditure.
City Council Meeting - March 11, 1996
direct $49,000.00. What they're going to do is based on priorities, look at those communities under 50,000 and
making sure that you're meeting your objectives. Give you an opportunity to actually pick up other
communities monies. In looking at where that came from, one of the recommendations out of this housing
study that was approved last summer by Hennepin County was to actually go in and look at actually pooling all
the money, except for the entitlement money and opening it up, because what they're trying to do, at the County
itself, is look at other strategies for housing. So I believe this is, a large portion will be at housing. So what
it's going to force this community to do is to push to make sure that we have a project that's meeting the goals
and objectives, which is housing, which is why we felt strongly about putting additional money in for the senior
housing needs because we're going to have to try to do something more housing related most likely in the next
year. Which is a good goal too. But what it does is it provides communities such as Minnetonka Beach and
Greenwood, who have such a small allocation and no leverage, to pool that money. That's another thing they
want to do is do some collaborative things where other communities are working together with HRA's, as we've
done with Carver County. So I just wanted you to be aware of that. They have already approved this
resolution. That was done back in February so it's on the books and that's what we'll be forced with the next
year. The only way it wouldn't happen is if for some reason the allocation comes back and we're bumped back
over 50,000. Then we could just again, do whatever project...
Mayor Chmieh Yeah, being that we have only one house in Hennepin County, and they derive quite a bit of
taxes off of what we have within Hennepin County, I think they should reconsider some of their thoughts as far
as Chanhassen.
Councilman Berquist: We have one house in Hennepin County?
Mayor Chmieh That's it.
Don Ash~vorth: And we had to negotiate that one...
Mayor Chmieh Okay. There isn't any action that's required on this.
Kate Aanenson: No, this is just for your edification.
Mayor Chmieh Good, thank you. We'll move on to 1 l(a). Item a.
CONSENT AGENDA:
(A). CITY CENTER PARK/CHANHASSEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND EXPANSION~
MATCHING FUNDS~ CHANHASSEN ELEMENTARY PARENT ORGANIZATION.
Councilman Senn: I was somewhat confused in reading the Park and Rec's Commission's Minutes which stated
that these dollars to be dra~vn from 410 Parks and Trail Acquisition and Development reserve established for
this purpose. By this action the Council shall amend the 1996 Park and Trail Acquisition and Development
budget to include this expenditure. Yet the staff report we have here basically says that it's already included.
Councilwoman Doekendorf: I had the exact same question and I called Todd.
Councilman Senn: Okay. That was question one.
Coun¢ihvoman Dockendorf: And he didn't return my call.
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City Council Meeting - March 11, 1996
Councilman Senn: Yeah, I didn't either so. So that's question one.
Mayor Chmiel: Don can answer that.
Don Ashworth: Maybe let's finish..,
Councilman Senn: No, go ahead. I'm sorry if you've got it.
Don Ashworth: The answer is yes and yes. If you're looking in the budget, you'll see an amount in the lowest
portion there it shows reserve for future projects. Literally all you're doing is just moving it from a future
reserve item to a current budget item. So it is there. When you look in your 1996 budget, you'll see that the
Park Commission anticipated that this would become a project at some time in the future. So they established a
line item as a reserve for the item. They're now saying let's activate it.
Mayor Chmiel: This isn't the first time we've done this.
Don Ashworth: No, this is a typical fashion.
Councilman Senn: Okay. Second question. I commend the PTO for raising the $7,500.00 or whatever it was
that they're asking. Or I guess they've raised approximately $7,000.00 if they're asking for the matching funds.
My question is, why are we being asked to match it and why is not the School District? You know we paid for
everything that's out there now. Okay. Yet the predominant user of that equipment is the School District.
When's their turn to step to the table with some type of a contribution towards that equipment or the ongoing
use of that equipment?
Don Ashworth: I'll have to defer that one to Hoffman. I'll have him prepare a memorandum. I know that
there's a joint split. There was a shared position on equipment that's out there. My recollection there was a
grant but I also believe that you are correct. The City of Chanhassen was the primary funding source.
Mayor Chmiel: ...when we did all this?
Don Ashworth: Not the big play equipment stuff.
Councilman Senn: Well the city, you know according to the information I have, the city paid for it and it just
seems to me, I mean we paid for our park. We provided a Phase I, in fact even a renovation I think as part of
this and.
Don Ashworth: I'll have to talk this one.
Councilman Senn: I think it's great the PTO's raised money but I think the school district should be holding up
here, not the city.
Mayor Chmiel: Okay, is there any other concerns?
Councilman Senn: No.
Mayor Chmiel: Does anyone else wish to move this?
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City Council Meeting - March 1 I, 1996
Councilwoman Doekendorfi I move to table it. So we can get that answer.
Councilman Mason: I'd like to get that answer before I voted on it. I'I1 second to table.
Councilwoman Dockendorf moved, Councilman Mason seconded to table the City Center ParidChanhassen
Elementary School Playground Expanslon, matching funds request. All voted in favor and the motion carded.
Councilman Berquist moved, Councilman Senn seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the
motion carded. The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.n~
Submitted by Don Ashworth
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
46