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N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Commission\Packets\2019\06-12-2019 PRC Packet\Director's Report 6-12- <br />19.docx <br />Item: 9 <br />Memorandum <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Parks and Recreation Commission <br /> <br />From: Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br /> <br />Date: June 12, 2019 <br /> <br />Subject: Director’s Report <br />_______________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />This report is a monthly highlight of department activities related to collaborations, strategic <br />planning, staff changes/developments, and park operations. <br /> <br />Active Elk River Local Option Sales Tax <br />On Thursday, May 31, Governor Tim Walz signed the 2019 Omnibus Tax Bill into law, authorizing <br />the City of Elk River to impose a local option sales tax of one-half of one percent (half-cent) to fund <br />$35 million in bonding for recreation facilities, park enhancements, trail extensions and dredging of <br />Lake Orono. At the Monday, June 3 the City Council approved an enabling resolution and will <br />approve a new sales tax ordinance on June 17. <br /> <br />City staff are now preparing for a bond sale and bid opening for the multipurpose facility. The bid <br />opening is scheduled for Thursday, June 20. Demolition/construction is tentatively scheduled for <br />July 8. City staff has also been working very closely with ISD #728 leadership on the final <br />construction details. <br /> <br />Woodland Trails Regional Park (WTRP) Grant Committee <br />The Committee met for the last time to finalize the design plans on May 8. The nature playground <br />and picnic shelter will be presented to the Commission and then City Council later this summer. It <br />is expected that this project will go out to bid in January, 2020 with construction planned for spring <br />2020. <br />WTRP Great Northern Trail Closure <br />City staff members have received a number of inquiries about the potential closure of the Great <br />Northern Trail (GNT) to accommodate construction of a permanent leachate pipeline from the Elk <br />River Landfill to the city’s sewer collection system. The city and the Elk River Landfill are working <br />together to iron out some complications, therefore the project is postponed indefinitely. All signs <br />previously posted along the GNT indicating an upcoming closure have been removed. <br /> <br />Riverfront Concert Series <br />The first concert of the Riverfront Concert Series is next week June 20. It will be a “Buddy Holly”