PRECM 08-01-1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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f Funds for acquisition and development of regional parks are provided to the implementing agencies thro-ugh the Metropolitan Council from the state legislature. But operation and maintenance of regional parks are financed by the implementing. agencies. In 1978, the 11 implementing agencies spent nearly $14 million for operation and maintenance of regional parks. Their principal source of revenue, about 70 percent, is local property tax revenues. The rest of the money comes from fees paid by people using the parks, and from grants, from the federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) and the state Dutch Elm Disease abatement program. The Council is committed to report to the legislature in 1981 regarding operation ' and maintenance of the regional park system. This report should address current funding levels, needed funding increases, and appropriate funding sources to finance the future system. These funding sources could include user fees, special taxes, or general tax revenue available either on the metropolitan or state level. .Raising and sharing regional or state revenues for park operations would establish a new precedent in this state. It would also prompt discussion on the struct~.~re of the government to deliver the services required. 6. REGIONAL PARK DISTRIBUTION Should the policy, plan give. priority. to developing regional parks most accessible. to Metropo itan Area residents, or to protecting.."outstanding'' natural resources within the Area? The regional recreation open space system is based on two objectives. The first is to provide regional parks for needed outdoor recreation to the people of the Metropolitan Area, particularly through use of the outstanding water resources available. The second is to create park reserves to protect the seven significant landscape types in the Region (e.g. prairie, flood plain, big woods). The current policy plan gives top priority to acqui.sit.:ion and development of land in or .near the fully developed part of the Region for recreation. It places a lower priority on park reserves. The relative importance of accessibility to a regional park verses the quality of the park has been and continues to be an issue in creating a regional recreation system. Preliminary results of the Councils regional park. demand/user study` indicate that citizens strongly prefer picnic and swimming facilities together with boating on large lakes with good water quality. Most survey respondents said they travel to the regional park they prefer, not necessarily to the one located nearest their residence. Most get there by car, even when bus service to the park is available. The Council and Commission should consider these factors, and other responses to the survey, in setting priorities for future regional park investments. 8