Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Amendments to the Project Budget and Financing Plan for the Battle Creek Regional Parks Waterworks Facility Renovation
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Recommendation
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Approve the amended project budget and financing plan for the Battle Creek Waterworks water park renovation of $5,393,223.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County owns and operates the Battle Creek Waterworks water park facility located at 2401 Upper Afton Road East, Maplewood, MN 55119. The water park was constructed in 2000 to serve the community as a family water park within the Ramsey County regional park system. As the facility is nearing 25 years old there are several maintenance needs including needed repairs to mechanical systems, American Disability Act accessibility upgrades, energy efficiency upgrades, pool improvements, and new amenities needed to enhance the user experience. If maintenance issues are not addressed at the water park the facility could experience business interruptions.
During the 2023 state of Minnesota legislative session general obligation bonds and modernization funding were approved by the legislature to support infrastructure projects within the regional parks and trails system. In order to formally obtain this funding, the Minnesota Management and Budget office requires evidence of the intended use of these funds by the governing body of the agency receiving these funds. This board action will provide the required authorization to allocate these funds to Ramsey County for the Battle Creek Waterworks renovation. In February, 2024, the Ramsey County Board authorized the county manger to establish a project budget for the Battle Creek Waterworks remodel.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The Battle Creek Waterworks facility is located within a racially diverse community and the majority patrons utilizing the facility are racially and ethnically diverse. Parks & Recreation (Parks) staff conducted community engagement prior to the planning phase of this project to ascertain resident’s desires for this facility. Engagement results found that community members greatly valued having a water park at this location and were very much in favor of addressing maintenance needs and investing in enhancements to the facility.
Community Participation Level and Impact
As was mentioned previously Parks conducted community engagement with residents during the 2023 to obtain feedback from residents about their deserves for improvements to the water park facility as well as user experience. Parks staff were able to incorporate feedback from residents into the renovation plans for the facility.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Project spend for the Battle Creek Waterworks Renovation Project Budget is estimated at $5,393,223 and includes $2,425,635 of funding from the state of Minnesota General Obligation Bonds and Metropolitan Council Bonds, $1,077,068 of Legacy grant funds, $577,000 of Operation and Maintenance funding from the state of Minnesota and $1,313,520 state of Minnesota Modernization Funds. The project is expected to take place during the non-operating months so there should not be a fiscal impact to the operation of the facility.
Last Previous Action
On February 6, 2024, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners authorized the County Manager to establish a project budget for the Battle Creek Waterworks remodel (Resolution B2024-021).
Attachments
1. Project Budget and Funding Source