4.2. SR 07-28-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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u~ty of iver MEMORANDUM Item # 4.2. TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor & City Council Pat Klaers, City Admin~s~trator July 28, 1997~'~ Outdoor Recreation Bond Issue For a number of years, and especially since the beginning of 1997, the Park and Recreation Commission has been working towards submitting to the public an outdoor park and recreation bond referendum proposal. Recently a Community Survey that concentrated on Park and Recreation issues was conducted. Results of this survey has helped encourage the Commission to pursue an outdoor park and recreation issue but also has helped create some confusion by way of indicating that the public would also support an outdoor pool and a community center. The Community Survey results also identified some concerns and contradictions between what people wanted and what people were willing to pay for regarding a community center. (Unfortunately this same question was not asked regarding an outdoor pool.) The Park and Recreation Commission believes that they have a proposal to recommend to the City Council which is: identical to what is needed in the community; is supported by the community; and is matched by what the community is willing to finance. This proposal from the Commission excludes a pool in the September 23, 1997, referendum. However, the Commission supports a pool being pursued as an independent issue for a possible referendum in 1998. The Park and Recreation Commission has been pursuing the outdoor recreation issue from two different angles. These two angles are; what are people willing to pay versus what is the minimum amount of money needed in order to complete improvements of any significance. Question 31 of the Survey (see attachment) indicates that a typical Elk River resident is willing to increase their taxes by $22 yearly to fund park and recreation improvements. We originally believed that this would generate about $2 million and the Commission believed that for this amount it could get many, and a great variety of, improvements that would make an impact on the community. However, this initial information was based on net tax capacity and we now realize that bond issues must be based on market value. This market value basis paints a completely different picture and indicates that it will be about $31 per year per household ($100,000 value) over 20 years to 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 ° TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425