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Memo-Joint Meeting Of The Park Board And City Council . Administrative Services - Office of the City Manager Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Members of the Park Board Steve Stadler, Public Works Director Ray Vogtman, Parks and Forestry Superintendent From: Steven C. Mielke, Hopkins City Manager ./ 14, Date: October 13, 2000 Subject: Joint Meeting of the Park Board and City Council . The purpose of this joint meeting I to discuss the use of Park Dedication Fund dollars, and to discuss future improvements to the park and trail systems. Attached are letters regarding these subjects. One is from Mark Kuhl, the other is from me in response. I anticipate a discussion on the need for a set-aside of funds in the Park Dedication Fund and a discussion between the council and the Park Board on expectations and relationships. . . MARK KUHL . Home: (612) 935-2917 24111th Ave No, Hopkins, MN 55343 Work: (612) 352-:9719 July 17, 2000 Dear Mayor and Council . This letter is over: due but it is needed to inform Hopkins City Council of the Hopkins Park Board eJ.."Pectations, goals and shared vision. I would like to review the Park Dedication Fund. The objective ofthe Park Dedication Fund was to allow the fund to grDW slowly to $100,000 through income from permits and contributions to Hopkins Parks Dept. This goal of $100,000 would allow the fund to grow on its own through interest earned. The Park Dedication Fund originally was set up when Maetzold Field was developed. In the past, expenditures of the fund were discussed and approved at the Park Board Meetings and Hopkins Park Dept. The Park Board was making sure the Park Dedication Fund was' growing and monitoring it at the Park Board meeting. As discussed at the council meeting a few months ago the Park Dedication Fund was debited for $25,000 (unbudgeted) for Shady Oak Beach. This brings the balance . down to approximately $23,000. This expense was originally budgeted for the general fund. This debit to our fund has set us back by several years in achieving our goal of$100,00O. In order to achieve our $100,000 goal, I need the support ofthe council and staff. The Park Board would like to reaffirm our goal and ask your support in raising and maintaining the $100,000 level for the Park Dedication Fund. I would ask the city staff to approach the Park Board prior to any unbudgeted expenditures. Finally if the city of Hopkins would help the Park Board replenish the $25,000 debited, this would reaffirm your support to achieving our goal of $100,.000 for the Park Dedication Fund. I look forward to your response and thank. you for your support. ,#~J{;/ Mark Kubl Park Board Chairman . CityofJ[opl?j!tS ~~ 1010 Pirst Street Sout/i · J-fopfjns, :M!N 55343-7573 · (P/ione: 612-935-8474 · Pa.:x; 612-935-1834 . July 25, 2000 Mr. Mark Kuhl 241 - 11th Avenue North Hopkins, MN 55343 Re: July 17 Correspondence to City CoUncil , Dear Mark: I have had a chance since receiving your letter, to research some of the points of your letter and wish to respond to you with some initial thoughts. In speaking with Ray Vogtman, I was informed that the concept of a $100,000 goal for the Park Dedication Fund was discussed at the Park Board but was never officially voted on, nor was it forwarded to the City Council for approval. Therefore, there is no official goal in place of trying to create such a fund. . I also learned that the Park Dedication Fund was set up as a requirement of a granting process through the Department of Trade and Economic Development, at the time when Maetzold Field and Central Park were experiencing renovations. Apparently the fund was necessary prior to applying for the funds and was therefore created at the time. Interestingly enough, Central Park did receive funds through that granting process, but Maetzold Field did not. You allude in your letter to the unbudgeted expense of $25,000 for Shady Oak Beach. In fact, those monies were budgeted through the City Council, with the full knowledge and consent of the City Council. However, as we have all come to realize, there was no discussion with the Park Board regarding that decision. Furthermore, the staff is not allowed to make unbudgeted expenditures. All of our expenses must be done within an approved budget through the City Council process. Having said all of the above,. these items are good topics for a joint City Council/Park Board meeting. I will be working with Ray Vogtman and Mayor Maxwell to schedule such a meeting so that these issues and others can be discussed. Should the Council and the Park Board wish to create a dedicated fund of $100,000 they certainly have the authority to do so. I know the Council wants to encourage the Park Board to be planning for the future of parks, and to . look for and ask for revenues to improve the parks, as the Park Board sees fit. I )In 'EqlJ4f Opportunity 'Empfiryer , - would encourage you to discuss with the Park Board the kinds of improvements . that they would like to see in the parks, and to forvvard those requests to the City Council regardless of the status of the Park Dedication Fund. Park improvements like Shady Oak Beach and Maetzold Field can be achieved when the Park Board and City Council come together to realize the necessary and beneficial improvement. I look forward to the joint meeting. Sincerely, /L_vC? ~.Vec Steven C. Mielke City Manager Copy: Mayor and City Council Members of the Park Board Ray Vogtman marl\kuhlparkded . . ._ _ .:' ." ,.;,~;.,c..::",:~: ". .';-_~;.,~ 'c~ .: ... . . . . would encourage you to discuss with the Park Board the kinds of improvements that they would like to see in the parks, and to forward those requests to the City Council regardless of the status of the Park Dedication Fund. Park improvements like Shady Oak Beach and Maetzold Field can be achieved when the Park Board and City Council come together to realize the necessary and beneficial improvement. I look forward to the joint meeting. Sincerely, I~-A-~ (? )~-fk Steven C. Mielke City Manager Copy: Mayor and City Council Members of the Park Board Ray Vogtman . markkuhlparkded .