Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutrcvd 1-21 workplan11statusPROST Recommendations and Implementation: 10.1 Parkland Acquisition Staff, in conjunction with the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board (RPAB), continues to provide recommendations in regards to parkland dedication. A number of issues have been identified: o Revamping the current cash-in-lieu system- currently on hold, due to the economic slowdown and little support from the state level. (10.1.1) o Consolidate and aggregate parkland to develop larger and more functional parks- Park staff is currently working with Planning staff to potentially revise the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to facilitate larger, more suitable parkland, potentially acquiring the parkland in the first few phases of development. (10.1.2 -10.1.3) o Provide neighborhood parks and community parks in underserved areas of the City. Continued acquisition through the development review process. (10.1.5) 10.2 Parkland Development Ensure parkland development complies with individual master plans to guide in the development of the City‟s parkland. Certain goals include: o Require improvements to parks and facilities be made in conformance with and adopted individual master plan. (if applicable) – Continued collection/evaluation of all adopted master plans through the Parks and Planning Divisions. (10.2.4) o Ensure that all new parks are constructed in compliance with the Parks Divisions design guidelines. - Continuing through subdivision review and on-site inspection and public out-reach and education in regards to the design guidelines.(10.2.5) o Ensure that all lands currently used as City parks are dedicated for that use. Soroptimist, Centennial and Burke Parks have recently been “declared” parkland. (10.2.9) 10.3 Parkland Maintenance Recommend and develop strategies to provide a high level of service for park maintenance to meet the demands of a growing community. Strategies include o Develop a GIS-based system to track park size, location, ownership and intended use. On-going work with GIS and Information Technology to develop a system and process for updated information. (10.3.1) o Continue to require developers to prepare and execute maintenance plans for any parks and trails to be maintained by the Home Owner‟s Association. (HOA) – Formalization of the process and policy within the UDO, which is continuing through the subdivision review process. (10.33 and 10.3.4) 10.4 Recreation Programs N/A 10.5 Recreation Facilities Identify areas and funding sources for facilities highlighted in the PROST plan. Examples include, but are not limited to: aquatic centers, picnic shelters, playgrounds, soccer, softball and football fields, tennis and basketball courts and off-leash dog areas. o Develop (and replace) playgrounds in all quadrants of the City and ensure playground equipment is safe. Playground equipment has been replaced at Bogert Park and installed at North Meadows Park. Requiring playground equipment continues through the subdivision review and Design Review Committee (DRC) process. Playgrounds are evaluated weekly for safety by the Park Division‟s Certified Playground Safety Inspectors. (CPSI‟s) Courtesy inspections of homeowner association-maintained playgrounds are provided by city staff.(10.5.5) o Provide additional basketball and tennis courts so that all neighborhoods are included within ½ mile service area. Evaluate proposals for new parks for appropriate tennis/basketball courts through the subdivision review process. Recent improvements include the basketball and tennis courts at Bogert Park. (10.5.10) o Create off-leash dog areas when and where opportunities arise.- Areas that have been expanded to be designated off- leash include: Cooper Park, the “Run, Dog ,Run” single use exercise facility at the Softball Complex and Centennial Park (limited hours) (10.11.10) o Provide a disc golf course in the City of Bozeman- Improvements continue at Rose Park with the parking lot installed and continued development of the course. The disc golf course is open during the summer months and is used extensively. The fifth climbing boulder is scheduled for installation in the summer of 2011. (10.5.12) 10.6 Open Space Acquisition and Maintenance Develop a public open space acquisition and maintenance program for the City of Bozeman. o Currently, there has been no new development in examining possible programs (Missoula, Helena) and funding sources. 10.7 Trail Acquisition Ensure that the trail system complies with the PROST trail map, is consistent with the adopted growth policy and continues to expand the trail system within the city in a logical and safe manner. In addition, coordinate with the County to provide a trail system that connects the city with the countywide trail system. o Review the adopted “Connecting Communities: 2001 Gallatin County trails Report and Plan” when evaluating trail proposals, especially on the edges of the city. (10.7.1) o Continue the Parks Division‟s partnership with the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) in expanding the “Main Street to the Mountains” trail system and reviewing possible trail connections and corridors through the subdivision review process within city limits. (10.7.3) o Work closely with GVLT and Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) to review proposals for new trails suitable for cross-country skiing. Recent examples include the expansion into the area east of Highland boulevard and the continued development of the cemetery land most commonly known as the “Lindley ski area.” (10.7.4) 10.8 Trail Development Continue to implement the PROST Trail Map and edit the UDO to provide a high level of accessibility and safety to and from City parks, and between other community facilities such as the library, schools and downtown. Specific examples include: o UDO requirements under review by staff and the RPAB subdivision review committee: 25 foot wide (minimum) linear parks and easements for trial construction; not applying detention/retention ponds and water course setbacks towards parkland dedication credit. (10.8.2) o Ensure that all new trails are constructed in compliance with the Parks Division‟s design guidelines for trials. Again, on-going and implemented through the subdivision review process. (10.8.3) o Include standardized trail signage on City trails. In conjunction with GVLT, the Parks Division is working to increase visibility, accessibility and safety though consistent signage (totems) that identify trials and trail heads. This process has been on-going and continues to be implemented. (10.8.4) 10.9 Trail Maintenance Continue to require developers and subsequent homeowners‟ associations (HOA‟s) to maintain newly developed trails within their development until/if there is an adoption of a citywide parks maintenance district. While continuing to provide maintenance on trails maintained by the City‟s Park Division. o Attempt to address the status-quo of maintenance of the expanding trail system through formalization of the above policy though the UDO (10.9.1 and 10.9.2) o Attempt to establish the City‟s capacity to finance and maintain trails the Park Division is responsible for. Currently, there is no formal policy or budget to expand maintenance of the trail system. (10.9.5) 10.10 Other 10.10.1- Ensure City Parks, facilities and trails are accessible to the greatest extent possible 10.10.2 – Work with the school district to secure agreements related to use of school facilities by the general public during non-school hours. No movement in this area 10.10.3- Obtain user group contracts with all user groups that provide organized activities on a regular basis, and intend to continue the activities for the foreseeable future. The Parks Division has contracts of all known user groups operating within City Parks. 10.10.4- Provide materials, instructions, signage, etc. in other languages, Spanish in particular, as necessary. 10.10.5- Address issues related to dogs in city parks and trails. In August of 2009, ordinance 1764 was passed by the City Commission to address some concerns pertaining to dog-related issues. Highlights included: addressing areas that are “dog-free” (no dogs allowed), areas that are “restraint free” (off-leash areas) and civil versus criminal offenses. 10.10.6 - Address vandalism and graffiti in City Parks. The implementation of a “Graffiti Task Force” and the Police Department closing up park restrooms has reduced some of the vandalism and graffiti. 10.11 Top Ten Capital Facility Recommendations 1. Complete Rose Park- on-going- as the parking lot is complete as is the landscaped berms, native grass and well installation. Climbing boulder #5 will be installed within the park in the summer of 2011. Estimated costs for the restroom, including impact fees, approximately $350,000. 2. New aquatics center 3. Community recreation center 4. BMX facility at Westlake- project currently is currently on hold. Concerns were with the Police Department potentially moving into this area. 5. New outdoor pool located on the west or northwest side. 6. Tennis courts to increase the City‟s level of service- through HB 645 (stimulus)- the City‟s Park Division was able to re-tile the dilapidated courts (tennis and basketball) at Bogert Park with Versacourt® 7. Off-leash dog parks- Formalized Cooper Park and Centennial Park (limited hours) as „off- leash” dog parks, as well as the “Run, Dog, Run” individual exercise areas located at the Softball Complex. 8. Playground equipment so all homes are within ¼ mile of a playground.- Through the subdivision review process and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) within the City‟s budget, the City has acquired over thirty playgrounds within the city-limits with 18 that are actively maintained by city staff. The Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI‟s) within the Parks Division provide courtesy safety inspections on all homeowner association- (HOA‟s) maintained playgrounds. 9. Multi-use athletic fields (football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, etc) – start exploring the costs associated with artificial “in-filled” turf to provide a safe, consistent surface throughout the year. 10. Basketball courts- Courts have been installed within the Sandan subdivision, Baxter West subdivision and the most recent improvement at the courts at Bogert Park. Two “half court” courts were designed and tiled with Versacourt® 10.12 Top Ten Non-Facility Recommendations 1. Evaluate and implement new methods of acquiring and improving parkland 2. Revise the City‟s cash-in-lieu valuation system 3. Fund a new Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator position 4. Evaluate and implement a citywide parks maintenance district or its equivalent. 5. Prepare individual park master plans for all City Parks- on-going 6. Prepare and adopt an open space plan for the Bozeman planning area. 7. Improve and maintain detailed GIS-based inventories of parkland, open space and trails in the City- on-going- with the assistance of graduate student 8. Create a new City advisory board for pet-related issues and activities 9. Prepare City Park and trail maintenance standards- continuing and evolving 10. Expand the recreation programs offered by the City.