02-14-2000 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Financial Issues The current balance in the Park Dedication Fund is approximately $181,000. An itemized listing of the revenues and expenditures in the Park Dedication Fund is also attached for your review. The balance listed includes the costs for the purchase of the Larson Property in Navarre and the costs for the land purchases and access installation for the Saga Hill Natural area. Also included in the Park Fund Financial Report is revenues of $19,064 received from the Lake Minnetonka Woods Town Home Development located in Navarre. This development will increase the number of residents and the demand on park facilities in the Navarre area. 1999 Park Dedication Fund revenues were approximately $161,000. The estimated costs of $255,000 for the neighborhood concept plan exceed the $181,000 balance in the Park Fund. The Park Commission has discussed Navarre Park at several meetings, and revised the neighborhood concept plan to reduce the project costs. The decorative concrete sidewalks were replaced with bituminous surfaced trails. The permanent picnic tables and benches with concrete pads were eliminated, and will be replaced with less expensive portable picnic tables. The decorative trash receptacles will be replaced with the standard trash barrels used in the other parks. Purchasing of the plants for the planting beds was eliminated. The neighborhood residents will be responsible for installing and maintaining the plantings. The lighting along the sidewalks was also eliminated. The concept plan included reconfiguring several spaces in the municipal parking lot to provide access from the street side for park users. This item was removed to reduce costs. Playground Equipment Potions Earl F. Anderson Company developed two options for Landscape Structures play equipment. Plan A was the same two module configuration that was used in Cottagewood Park. The two modules were x^parate the older and younger children. The estimated cost for the purchase and installaiioc A <bs> equipment is $52,000. An alternative Plan B single module was also developed. The Park Commission reviewed both plans and preferred Plan A. City staff is in favor of Plan B with the one larger module. This single module plan provides more activities on one module to make play more interesting. It also includes more popular activities such as a track ride. The Park commission was concerned that with one big module there may be conflicts between the older and younger children. A review of the module shows a natural break where the younger children will probably stay on one end the structure. The representative from Earl Anderson Company had developed Plan B as a more cost effective solution that provides a greater variety of play activities on one module. The estimated cost for the purchase and installation of this equipment is $41,000 compared to $52,000 for Plan A. We have reviewed the plans for other possible cost savings items. One item could be to substitute pea gravel for the manufactured wood chip product. This would result in a savings of approximately $3,000. It may be possible to save a greater amount by eliminating or reducing the under drainage system. With pea gravel the under drainage system is less critical. The use of pea gravel could also reduce future maintenance costs. t