City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  April 17, 2007

Item No.:        

Recommendation:  That the Council adopt Resolution No. 10759-041707, authorizing staff to apply to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for park acquisition project for Abendschein Community Park expansion.

Background:  In 2000 the Common Council adopted the Abendschein Community Park Master Plan.  This plan was created to guide the full development of the City’s only community-scale park and to ensure that a wide range of recreational needs was served by the park.  This plan also envisioned the acquisition of a 6.3 acre wooded area adjacent to the park.  The owner of this property has expressed an interest in selling this land to the City.  In order to assist in funding this acquisition City Staff would like to apply for a Wisconsin DNR parkland acquisition grant.  

If the City is successful in receiving funding from this acquisition, we will be required to provide a fifty percent match.  Funds to cover those costs are available through the use of the community park impact fee money, as well as funds that have been budgeted for open space acquisition over the past several years.

The City is not committing to any course of action by virtue of their application for these funds.  If the project(s) are funded, the City still has the choice of whether they wish to accept that funding, and the fulfillment of any obligations that are part of that agreement.

Fiscal Impact:  There is approximately $750,000 in community park impact fees that are available to fund the City’s 50% match for any grant received.  Additional funds of $215,326  are available through the Environmental Corridor Acquisition program. 

Prepared by: Doug Seymour, AICP Director of Community Development

Respectfully submitted, Patrick DeGrave City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk