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ITEM 3. <br /> <br />~;ty of <br /> <br />iver <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Park and Recreation Commission <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Admini. stratov <br /> <br />January 22, 1997 <br /> <br />Referendum <br /> <br />The city has long had a position that it would not go to the public with a <br />special bond referendum to publicly finance a park and recreation issue or a <br />community center issue until after the school was successful with its school <br />facility issue. As we all know, the school was successful this past fall and <br />now the Park and Recreation Commission is beginning to seriously discuss <br />the need for a public vote on financing some park and recreation projects. <br /> <br />The Commission has discussed the need for a successful bond referendum for <br />a number of years. It is the belief of the Commission that the only way to <br />provide sufficient and adequate park and recreation services which our <br />citizens expect is through a major influx of funding and an aggressive land <br />acquisition and development program. Experience tells us that this is how <br />most communities have proceeded in order to have comprehensive park and <br />recreation opportunities available to its citizens. Without a successful public <br />referendum for park and recreation programs and projects, the city will be <br />left to proceed as it has in the past which is to "piecemeal" the development of <br />the park and recreation system as funding becomes available. <br /> <br />The Commission has lots of desires and wishes that it feels the citizens are <br />asking for in terms of a complete park and recreation system. These wishes <br />and desires include park land development, athletic field development, park <br />land acquisition, trail land acquisition, and trail development. The location <br />of all of the trails and parks, the cost of land and the parcels to purchase, <br />along with the cost to develop parks are unknown at this time. If a <br />referendum question is put to the public, the level of financial commitment <br />from them through a bond issue will dictate how much can be done within a <br />certain time frame. <br /> <br />With this discussion it is certain that the issue of a community center and <br />community space will be raised. There has been lots of discussion about the <br />youth in the community needing a place to go, along with public meeting <br />space needs, community theater needs, Arts Council needs, senior citizen <br />center needs, etc. The Park and Recreation Commission would like to <br />proceed without dealing with the community center issue at this time, and <br />having this issue cloud the question that they want to put before the public. <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />