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Forest Lake staff outline master plan, funding streams and Belts Park and Manor Park projects
Summary
City staff told the new commission that parks now report to Public Works, described a near-final master plan and funding sources (general levy, park dedication, bonding), and reported a Belts Park site-work bid $50,000 under estimate and upcoming Manor Park rehabilitation on the 2025 CIP.
City staff briefed the Parks and Recreation Commission on the department’s organization, the role of a near-complete parks master plan and the sources used to fund maintenance and capital projects.
Dave Adams, public works director, told commissioners that parks operations were moved from administration to public works to improve coordination for events and maintenance. "Parks and Recreation now is under public works," Adams said, and staff will bring projects to the commission "three-quarter baked," providing budget tiers and options rather than blank proposals.
Adams outlined key funding streams: general levy dollars pay operations (public works divides out approximately $750,000 for maintenance and $250,000 for programming), while roughly $350,000 of property-tax revenue goes into a Parks Dedication Fund to support capital projects. He said the city uses park dedication dollars (land or cash), grants and, for large projects, bonding. Staff described the parks master plan (to be updated to a 2025 or 2026 final version) as the guiding document for decisions such as whether to accept land or cash from developers.
On capital projects, Adams reported that a recent bid package for Belts Park site work came in about $50,000 under the city’s estimate; the Belts project remains phased and includes playground replacement, new sidewalks and accessibility improvements. Manor Park rehabilitation is on the 2025 CIP; staff will present RFP results and equipment options at the commission’s April meeting.
Staff asked commissioners to review the master-plan materials distributed on flash drives and to send agenda items or questions to Kyle Young in advance to comply with open meeting laws and prevent serial communications among commissioners. Jolene Cheick reiterated that the commission’s role is advisory and that recommendations will be forwarded to city council for adoption.
Next steps: staff will provide digital copies of the master plan and CIP items, return to the commission in April with Manor Park plans and prepare materials to support developer dedication reviews and future policy development.
