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8661 Deer Run Dr. * Victoria

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PRIORITIZING VICTORIA PARKS AND TRAILS

FOR CONSTRUCTION TODAY AND TOMORROW

Council unanimously approved a plan that prioritizes future Park and Rec projects in the City of Victoria.

Said Ann Mahnke, Director of Park and Rec, "This is a Prioritization Plan coming from the Park and Rec Committee. It has been ongoing for a few months. We've taken it a couple steps further with another list if the sky was the limit. I believe that was the task set before the Park and Rec Committee."

Said Councilmember Kim Roden "I'd be trying to figure out how to get these things done if I were running for re-election. Are our park fees high enough to accomplish our objectives? How do we do these things? Do we do a referendum? Do we tell people they're not going to get their park for five years? How did you arrive at that list?"

Councilmember Tom O'Connor, a liaison member of the Park and Rec Committee, replied, "These items survived the budgeting process. This is a Park and Rec recommendation. If somebody wants to move swimming pool to the top of the list, we need to hear it."

Regarding developments plans that homebuyers might be presented, depicting amenities and locations, Councilmember Roden stated, "I think we need to do a better job as a city, to let people know upfront if a park is funded. There is frustration about how a neighborhood was to be built. There was an expectation. People have come through here and asked, 'Where's my park?' We need to partner with developers so people understand this."

"In the main, we have funding for every park. We have money to build it eventually, right?" asked Councilmember O'Connor.

"Yes," replied Ann.

Stated Councilmember Tom Strigel, "I want to make sure we don't make any more commitments until we take care of the ones we currently have. Developers have to be a real partner in realizing the goals."

Reminded Administrator Don Uram, "We need to keep in mind that when we build things, we also have to maintain them." Additional maintenance can mean additional equipment and staff.

City Attorney Mike Norton said that a letter of awareness to homebuyers can be part of city policy to potential residents.

The recommended list from the Park and Rec Committee for projects to be completed in 2012/2013 and their costs:

*Rhapsody Park Construction .............. $80,000

*Madelyn Creek Playground ................ $30,000

*Lake Virginia Park Construction ....... $200,000

*Lakebridge Park Construction .......... $330,000

*Regional Trail paving from Kirke Lachen

to Stieger Lake Boat Launch .... $120,000

*Hwy 5/Bavaria Trail Construction

to Minnewashta Parkway .......... $250,000

*Co. Rd. 11 Trail Resurfacing between

Co. Rd. 18 and Co. Rd. 86 .............$25,000

*Deer Run Hard Surface and

Fence Repairs ............................ $20,000

TOTAL COST ...................$1,055,000

Ann Mahnke said the above projects are earmarked and funded in the city budget or the city's capital improvement plan.

A second list of priority items is not funded, there is no city money for the projects, and there is no source of income identified:

*Trail Connections

1) Intersection of Co. Rd. 18 to

Laketown neighborhood ......... $400,000

2) Lakebridge to Watermark ...... $300,000

3)Rhapsody to Watermark ........ $400,000

*Replace dugouts at Diethelm Park ..... $60,000

*Improve Lions Park Field .................... $50,000

*Replace Playgrounds Program ......... $200,000

TOTAL COST .................. $1,410,000

Ann Mahnke said the following projects, on a third list, are prioritized if sufficient funding existed, if the sky is the limit: Connecting trails at Bavaria Road from 86th Street to Hwy 5 ($440,000), at Hwy 7 from the LRT to Smithtown ($750,000), at Co. Rd. 43 from Co. Rd. 11 to Watermark ($400,000), and connecting a trail from 78th Street to Kochia ($200,000).

Also, if the sky is the limit, another project might be an Urban Town Square with Bandshell ($200,000), acquisition of land for a Large Urban Park ($1 million), and a Swimming Pool ($4 million).

Current funding sources/balances for Park & Rec projects include: Park Dedication Fund ($456,461), Park Improvement Fes ($625,238), Trail Fund ($69,484), and Charitable Gambling Fund ($70,725).

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