04-03-03 Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment

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i Contmtttte Ztport rks, Itartation, (Cultural grto au4 eutertaGtum txt Commttt e The April 3, 2003 meeting of the Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Entertainment was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Sean Coleman at 3:32 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Aranowski, Coleman and Kuspa; City Controller Rick 011ett, Park Superintendent Phil St. Clair, Park Board Member Bob Goodrich, Fiscal Officer Bill Carleton and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney. Council Member Coleman noted that a present of the Committee was present. He noted that yesterday he unveiled a publicly his 21st Century Parks Investment proposal. He stated that the city has made tremendous capital improvements and credited the efforts of the Park Superintendent, Park Board and the Park Department. Council Member Coleman stated that true vision and fiscal discipline is most evident, however there are still tremendous capital needs. He contended that it is right to address longer term capital needs by investing now. He then asked the Park Superintendent for his comments and presentation. Phil St. Clair, Park Superintendent, noted that it is important to review where the Park Department has been fiscally for the past five(5) years. He provided a 6-page handout which reviewed each of the park funds by focusing on three (3) areas, namely: maintenance & upgrades, fleet & miscellaneous equipment, and new construction (copy attached). Mr. St. Clair stated that approximately $38 million is needed to address capital needs which include some quality of life issues. Mr. St. Clair noted that estimates for zoo upgrades range from $7 million to$30 million and$5 1/2 million is needed for various upgrades in the neighborhood parks. He stated that the biggest complaint of the department is that it lacks an aquatic center. He stated that he receives many complaints about this and sees it as the weakest link in the park department program. The Park Department is considering moving the maintenance garage from the banks of the St. Joseph River and developing an amphitheater there instead. Discussions have taken place on enlarge the Howard Park Senior Center,and perhaps developing it into a multi-service facility. A study would be necessary to see what the needs are in this area. He stated that Leeper Park needs upgrades, with proposals of developing it to the original way it was under the George Custer days. He noted that the King and Black Centers are in"good shape",with playground apparatus being added to the Black Center this year. New roofs are needed at O'Brien and Newman. Mr. St. Clair stated that O'Brien and the skatepark are doing well and that they are looking at expansion possibilities for both. He concluded his remarks by stating that he would compare our parks to any other cities of comparable size,however he would like to be on the front-end of new developments overall. Council Member Coleman stated that the capital improvement budget in 2002 was $421,000; and that$850,000 has been budgeted for 2003. He noted that if the park department would bond today it could make improvements in today's dollars. He contended that "now is the time to make something happen". He then called upon the City Controller for his presentation. Rick 011ett, City Controller, provided a 4-page handout to the committee (copy attached). He stated that today's investment climate has the lowest rates in over forty (40) years. Rates range from 1.3% to 5.1% with 4.6% being the average. He then reviewed the data on financing principal in the amount of$2 million, $5 million and $10 million (see handouts). Mr. 011ett stated that the "bond investment process" would require a bond ordinance to be drafted which would be either a lease-type or debenture-type. Public notice of thirty(30) days is required,with the overall