Parkland ordinance explained to commission

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- In reviewing the recently approved parkland dedication ordinance, Park and Recreation commissioners Monday agreed it's a step in the right direction but it will need continuing maintenance.

Community Development Director Dave Schnobrich went through the ordinance section by section in order to give the commission a better understanding of its major points.

The major point, Schnobrich said, "is that the ordinance establishes for the first time that the dedication can be made in cash or land or a combination of the two."

It also establishes a yardstick for determining how much land is needed for parks, Schnobrich said.

"It establishes a standard that for every 1,000 residents, there will be five acres of park dedication. It also assumes an average household size of 3.1 persons will require 675 square feet of parkland dedication," Schnobrich said.

The ordinance also provides that credit will be given for prior dedication or payments in the case of a subdivision developer who develops subsequent subdivisions.

"We need to be sure that the park dedication fee keeps pace with land value," said Schnobrich, in response to a question from Commissioner Jim Unke.

"There has to be a revisitation of the parkland dedication fee on a regular basis so we don't end up with a big restructuring like we did this time," Unke said.

The city council also approved a change in the parkland dedication fee schedule, with the fee for residential, single-family unit construction being raised to $640 and the addition of a industrial and commercial building fee schedule.

"That's a part of the city's fee system, and that's approved by the council every year," Schnobrich said.

"But, you're right. someone needs to keep an eye on the fees, and that would be staff, the council and the [park & rec] commission," Commissioner Clark Tuttle added.

"I'm just glad we finally have this ordinance," Director Tom Schmitz said.

In other action, the commission took the first step in possibly having New Ulm declared a "fit city" as a part of the Governor's Fit City Program. It forwarded the program with its recommended approval to the city council for adoption.

The city then must meet the two required criteria and at least five of the remaining eight optional criteria to earn the designation of being a "fit city." The city must adopt a resolution affirming "activity-friendly commitments by city leaders and elected officials," and it must agree to advertise and display the "Fit City" designation.

Optional criteria range from the city adopting a work site wellness policy for city employees to building community awareness about locations, services and organizations dedicated to fitness/physical activity. Assistant Director Cheryl Kormann told the commission the city already meets all but two of the nine criteria.

Schmitz told the commission the new compressor in the Civic Center is in and running well, and he expects the Angel fountain in German Park to be repaired and on-line by spring.

Ron Larsen can be reached at rlarsen@nujournal.com