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07 21 2026 CC Work Session PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AGENDA July 21, 2026 at 4:30 PM Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights 1.Call to Order 2.Discussion a.Muncipal Campus Building Project --Civic Center Park/Mertensotto Field Replacement b.Municipal Campus Building Project --Value Exercise 3.Adjourn Alternative formats or auxiliary aids are available to individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact City Hall at 651-452-1850 or by emailing cityhall@mendotaheightsmn.gov. Page 1 of 15 This page is intentionally left blank 2.a City Council Work Session Memo MEETING DATE: July 21, 2026 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator SUBJECT: Muncipal Campus Building Project --Civic Center Park/Mertensotto Field Replacement ACTION REQUEST: Two River Athletic Association and the City Council will discuss the replacement of Civic Center Park/Mertensotto Field, should the new municipal campus building, which includes city hall and the police station, be built on the existing field site. BACKGROUND: The City's 1985 City Hall Citizen's Committee selected the existing city hall/police station site, located at 1101 Victoria Curve, based on several key factors, including its strong community presence, convenient public and police access, flexibility for future expansion, and the City’s ownership of the property at the time. In its analysis, the committee recommended reserving space on the site for potential future civic facilities, noting that the location of the new City Hall should allow for additional development if needed. In March 1986, the Citizen's Committee unanimously approved placing the City Hall on the east side of the site, and added that "any future civic facility would be located in the area of the existing ballfield." As planning for the new Municipal Campus building has progressed, questions have been raised regarding the replacement of Civic Center Park/Mertensotto field. While no replacement site has been selected and no final decisions have been made regarding Civic Center Park/Mertensotto Field, the City and the Athletic Association agreed that planning for any future replacement should occur collaboratively. The Athletic Association has suggested field replacement options (attached) which will be discussed at the work session. Should the project move forward in a manner that affects the existing field, the City's objective would be to work with the Athletic Association to identify a suitable replacement location and develop a field that continues to serve the community's youth baseball program. ATTACHMENTS: 1. TRAA_Civic_Field_Replacement Page 2 of 15 Confidential CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT REPLACE BEFORE REMOVAL Protecting youth baseball and softball capacity while investing in Mendota Heights' municipal future. 01 Equivalent replacement A park matching Civic's size, quality, function and amenities. 02 No net loss No displacement of baseball, softball, soccer or other existing users. 03 Completed first The replacement must be inspected and playable before Civic closes. 04 Guaranteed in writing A binding agreement before the municipal project is formally approved. Prepared by Two Rivers Athletic Association | July 2026 Page 3 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 2 Confidential 01 | SUMMARY OF THE ISSUE Municipal Progress Without Recreational Loss Two Rivers Athletic Association (TRAA) is not taking a position on the need for a new , larger City Hall or Police Station. Our responsibility is to protect the recreational capacity used by residents for youth athletics. If the City constructs an equivalent field, prevents displacement and completes the replacement before Civic is removed, TRAA has no reason to participate in the broader municipal debate as an organization. Why TRAA is currently involved: The City of Mendota Heights is considering a new City Hall and Police Station on the existing municipal campus. Concepts presented to date would eliminate Civic Center Park and Mertensotto Field. Two Rivers Athletic Association does not need to support or oppose the municipal facilities. Individual residents can evaluate that project independently. TRAA must become involved because Civic Center Park is an established recreational asset for youth across Mendota Heights and the broader school-district community and serves as the nicest field in Mendota Heights. Without a binding and funded replacement plan, TRAA would be obligated to oppose any project sequence that removes Civic before an equivalent replacement exists. Why the loss reaches beyond one team • Twelve and thirteen year old baseball would lose its only irrigated field with grass infield. • Younger teams would be displaced when their fields are used to absorb older players. Each season there are 2-3 teams of players utilizing Civic field for games and practices and 2-3 more that utilize its batting cages throughout the season • Softball would face additional pressure on already-limited shared facilities due to the domino effect of displaced players • 12-13 yr old teams would lose access to two of the community's four outdoor batting cages • Practice and game scheduling would become more constrained at every age level, reducing the amount of nights teams can practice and reducing the quality of programming TRAA can provide Civic Center Park is not open land awaiting development. It is a functioning public asset built through public investment and years of volunteer support. Page 4 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 3 Confidential 02 | WHY CIVIC CENTER PARK IS UNIQUE A Critical Middle Step in the Baseball Pathway Civic combines dimensions, quality and amenities that are not available together at any other municipal field in Mendota Heights. Civic/Mertensotto Field was very recently renovated in 2023 What Civic provides • Grass infield and irrigated outfield suited for harder contact at the 12- 13 age level. • 80-foot base anchors and a permanent mound supporting a 54-foot pitching distance. • Approximately 250-260-foot outfield fences appropriate for 13-year- old baseball. • Fully enclosed fencing, high backstop and protected playing surface. • Covered chain-link dugouts, bleachers, parking and spectator space. • Two full batting-cage tunnels used by multiple age groups. Why these details matter At this age, players have outgrown the small youth diamond but are not yet ready for a full 90-foot high school field. The grass infield slows hard ground balls, while the longer fences preserve the intended balance of the game. Civic is also located away from most residential properties, reducing conflicts involving cheering, batting-cage noise, foul balls, and vehicle parking. Its fencing protects the field from unauthorized vehicle access and surface damage. Field progression by age 8-10 60-foot bases; small youth field 11-12 65-foot bases; intermediate youth field 12-13 75-80-foot bases; 250-260-foot fences 14-18 90-foot bases; full-size field OUTDOOR BATTING CAGES 2 of 4 Civic contains half of TRAA baseball's outdoor cage capacity in Mendota Heights. APPROPRIATE DISTANCES 260’ Fence & 80’ Bases Fence distances appropriate for 13-yr old age level that are not available at any other city fields INFIELD Grass Infield For 13-yr old level, a grass infield provide safer play than dirt infields intended for younger age groups and is the only location for this age level Page 5 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 4 Confidential 03 | CAPACITY AND DISPLACEMENT Existing Fields Cannot Simply Absorb the Loss Moving Civic users elsewhere does not replace Civic. It shifts the shortage to younger teams, softball and facilities already at full capacity or near full capacity. Current alternatives are constrained There are no alternatives with the right distances and grass infields. When exploring fields with the correct distance options with dirt infields, there are additional constraints with most at capacity or near capacity. Mendakota Park. Already at full capacity from existing use baseball and softball. Adding older teams displaces younger players and increases play on dirt infields and fake, portable mounds. While playable by 12-13 year olds, they are not ideal fields for 12-13 yr old baseball and increase safety risks. West St. Paul Sports Complex. Access is shared and inconsistent; near full capacity. Field 1 has quality, drainage and sun orientation constraints limiting its value as a dependable replacement. Victoria Highlands. Already at capacity with 12-year-old baseball and lacks Civic's grass infield, irrigation, batting cages and full amenity package with shorter fences not as suitable for 13 year olds. Two Rivers High School. One field is usable by 12-13 yr old baseball group. The JV Softball field is similar to Mendakota with slow pitch softball dimensions and 75ft anchors. The field is shared with softball and is already at 70% capacity with Civic in existence. Games cannot be scheduled before June at these fields due to high school season. Renovating an Existing Field to Accommodate Older Users Creates Similar Displacement If an existing site such as Victoria Highlands added irrigation and grass infields and batting cages; or Friendly Hills Park or Wentworth are renovated to include same quality field and amenities as Civic, these existing fields are currently being used and players are being displaced requiring a new site to take on those younger players. Smaller diamonds serve different users Other Mendota Heights, ISD 197 and West St. Paul fields, as they currently exist, are not usable for 12-13 year old baseball based on infield size, base distances, and fence distances. Mendota Heights – Marie Park, Valley Park, Wentworth Park, Friendly Hills Park, Ivy Hills Park, and Hagstrom King Park all serve younger baseball dimensions and/or softball. West St. Paul – Harmon Park, Pelano Field, Southview Park and Haskell Park all serve younger or older baseball dimensions and/or softball ISD 197 – Friendly Hills Middle School, Mendota Elementary, Moreland Elementary, Two Rivers Varsity Baseball, Two Rivers JV Baseball, Two Rivers Softball 9A, Two Rivers Softball 9B, are not usable by 12-13 yr old baseball age groups. St. Thomas Academy – Baseball fields serve 90ft lengths and not usable by 12-13 yr old age groups Visitation – Two Softball fields are smaller fields not suitable for 12-13 yr old baseball. No net loss means preserving total capacity - not simply moving the shortage from one age group to another. Page 6 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 5 Confidential 04 | REPLACEMENT STANDARD What an Equivalent Field Must Include to be Equivalent The replacement must be judged by function, capacity and quality - not simply a backstop with some dirt. Field dimensions and playing surface • Approximately 250-260-foot outfield dimensions. • 75- and 80-foot base-anchor options. • Permanent clay mound supporting a 54-foot pitching distance. • Professionally constructed grass infield and maintained natural- grass outfield. • Irrigation and drainage comparable to or better than Civic. • Appropriate foul territory, warning areas and maintenance access. Safety and enclosure • Full backstop with appropriate overhead or extended safety netting. • Sideline and outfield fencing, gates and foul poles. • A fully enclosed design that protects players, spectators and field quality. Player and spectator amenities • Two enclosed and covered dugouts comparable to Civic. • Two batting-cage tunnels approximately 15 by 75 feet each. • Bleachers and adequate spectator viewing areas. • Safe pedestrian access, on-site parking and nearby overflow parking. • Space for field equipment, maintenance and game operations. Design and acceptance • TRAA and affected baseball representatives participate in site selection and final design. • Final dimensions and orientation are confirmed before construction. • The field is inspected, accepted and playable before Civic is taken out of service. EQUIVALENT MEANS EQUIVALENT TRAA is not asking for new amenities or improved quality that does not exist today. TRAA is for a replacement field to be at par with what already exists today. Replacement acceptance checklist ✓ Dimensions (75-80ft bases, 250- 260 ft fence) ✓ Grass Infield + irrigation ✓ Permanent 54’ mound ✓ Full fencing around field ✓ 2 covered dugouts ✓ 2 batting cages ✓ Parking + access ✓ Playable before removal ✓ No displaced users ✓ Written agreement ✓ TRAA design input ✓ Inspection + acceptance Page 7 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 6 Confidential 05 | PREFERRED NEW-FIELD CONCEPTS Sites That Could Avoid Displacing Another Ball Field These concepts offer ideas to the City on options available for immediate replacement of Civic Field Conceptual Civic-sized field placement at the city-owned Bourne Lane property Bourne Lane property The city-owned property contains approximately 507,000 square feet. A Civic-like field, including foul territory, spectator space and two batting cages, could require roughly 75,000-85,000 square feet plus parking and access. • Does not require removal of another active ball field. • Provides room for appropriate dimensions and amenities. • Preserves flexibility for additional recreation or later sale of remaining land. • Could become a permanent community recreation asset. LOW PLANNING RANGE $1.1M Aggressive assumptions and limited site complications. WORKING ESTIMATE $1.8M Useful for early planning - not an engineered estimate. HIGH PLANNING RANGE $2.9M Conservative allowance for site, utility and construction risk. Page 8 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 7 Confidential Utilize Existing Dog Park Site without loss of a Dog Park Potential Civic field site at Existing Dog Park Site Use the existing cleared dog-park area and adjacent open land for the replacement diamond. A field to support a 12-13yr old dimension like Civic field would require extending portions of the field into the adjacent uncleared property which appears to be owned by the city but would need to be confirmed. Alternatively, if a different existing ball field is chosen as the 12-13 yr old site, this site could accommodate 2 smaller fields for those displaced. Potential relocated dog park Relocate the dog park to the former archery area near the trail leading up to Mendota Plaza area just east of Dodd Rd and south of 62. The size of this dog park would be roughly 2 acres, which is considered a reasonable sized dog park still capable of supporting separate large and small dog areas, double gated entrance, walking loops, water and waste stations, and within walking distance on existing walking trails to connect more of the community to the dog park. Conceptual illustration only. Estimated Costs of Baseball Field at Existing Dog Park: LOW PLANNING RANGE $1M Aggressive assumptions and limited site complications. WORKING ESTIMATE $1.6M Useful for early planning - not an engineered estimate. HIGH PLANNING RANGE $2.7M Conservative allowance for site, utility and construction risk. Estimated Costs of Moving Dog Park to old Archery Site along trail: LOW PLANNING RANGE $400k Aggressive assumptions and limited site complications. WORKING ESTIMATE $750k Useful for early planning - not an engineered estimate. HIGH PLANNING RANGE $1M Conservative allowance for site, utility and construction risk. Page 9 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 8 Confidential Church of St. Peter Property in Mendota St. Peter property Located in Mendota, there is an open piece of land owned by St. Peter that has an old backstop that hasn’t been used in many years. If that land was leased and a long-term agreement made to use that land for a Civic-like replacement field, it would likely come with similar significant costs as there is a road and embankment on the east side that would need to be dealt with. Irrigation, fencing, dugout covers, batting cages, electrical, infield material, grass infield, new sod would have significant costs. LOW PLANNING RANGE $850K Aggressive assumptions and limited site complications. WORKING ESTIMATE $1.3M Useful for early planning - not an engineered estimate. HIGH PLANNING RANGE $2.1M Conservative allowance for site, utility and construction risk. + Cost of Lease Agreement with Church of St. Peter Page 10 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 9 Confidential 06 | OTHER CONCEPTS AND SUPPORTING CAPACITY Options Requiring Renovation of Existing Field These options require extensive renovations to existing field sites that may have the room renovate to a larger ball field with grass infield and 250-260ft fences but displaced players from existing smaller fields would need to find new fields. Friendly Hills Park Existing site has the space to renovate the existing field into a larger equivalent field and amenities provided at Civic, but would be a tight squeeze Costs would potentially be lower than a new site like the Bourne property but still significant to update fencing, irrigation, grass infield conversion, pitching mound, 2 new batting cages and likely new sod in outfield to match quality of Civic. Would displace current baseball and softball use as well as soccer use in the fall with additional costs to consider to replace those users. LOW PLANNING RANGE $750K Aggressive assumptions and limited site complications. WORKING ESTIMATE $1.25M Useful for early planning - not an engineered estimate. HIGH PLANNING RANGE $1.75M Conservative allowance for site, utility and construction risk. +Replacement Costs for Existing 10-11yr old baseball players and softball players displaced Page 11 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 10 Confidential Wentworth Park Existing site requires rotating the field for proper drainage. Without impacting existing parking lot and other structures already at the park, the dimensions of a 12-13yr old field would extend into existing wooded areas. Uncertain if City owns all land necessary to extend, and may potentially be expanding into wetland areas. Would require much more investigating but less obtrusive to nearby residents than Friendly Hills Park site. Would displace current 5-10 yr old baseball players utilizing this smaller field at full capacity. Conceptual illustration only. Placement, boundaries, grading, drainage, utilities and environmental conditions require professional review. OW PLANNING RANGE $1.25M Aggressive assumptions and limited site complications. WORKING ESTIMATE $1.5M Useful for early planning - not an engineered estimate. HIGH PLANNING RANGE $3.0M Conservative allowance for site, utility and construction risk and risk of wetland scenarios +Replacement Costs for 6-10 yr old baseball players displaced Page 12 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 11 Confidential Options for Displaced Users if Smaller Field is Renovated If Friendly Hills Park or Wentworth Park is renovated, that will require approximately 12 hours of weeknight field time to be found elsewhere, either through the creation of a new field, renovation of less used fields or providing more usage of fields that are not already permitted 4 nights per week to TRAA. If Friendly Hills Park or Wentworth Park is renovated, options include: Church of St. Peter – Smaller Ball Field A smaller ball field on Church of St. Peter’s lot would be less expensive and no irrigation for equivalent replacement. Because of smaller field, existing backstop can be utilized with extending foul fencing, covered dugouts and outfield fence at 200-220ft would work in this space A lease and use agreement with the Church would be necessary Likely cost: $200k-400k Alternative options to discuss in the absence of building or renovating fields: Eliminating Adult Softball at Mendakota on Tuesdays and permitting all 4 fields at Mendakota to TRAA on Tuesdays This would provide TRAA with all 4 fields at Mendakota Monday-Thursday and allow TRAA Baseball and Softball to shrink some of the scheduling on Mondays and Wednesdays with more being scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the ability to use Mendakota on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. This would open up additional use at Wentworth Park, Friendly Hills Middle School Fields and at Mendakota Park, likely alleviating the loss of a smaller ball field. It does not eliminate the loss of Civic field. Page 13 of 15 CIVIC CENTER PARK REPLACEMENT DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION Two Rivers Athletic Association | Mendota Heights, Minnesota PAGE 12 Confidential 07 | TRAA FORMAL REQUEST A Written Replacement Agreement Before Project Approval The cost and timing of replacing Civic must be included in the municipal project - not deferred until after the existing field is lost. 1 Civic Center Park will be replaced with a field of equivalent size, quality, function, capacity and amenities. 2 The replacement will not create a net loss of baseball, softball, soccer or multipurpose recreational capacity. 3 If an existing field is converted, an additional replacement will be completed for the displaced teams and activities. 4 The replacement field will be fully funded, constructed, inspected and playable before Civic is removed from service. 5 TRAA and affected baseball representatives will participate in site selection, orientation, dimensions and final design. 6 The agreement will identify the site, minimum standards, funding responsibility, project schedule and contingency plan. 7 Any future decision regarding the remainder of the Bourne Lane property may be made separately from the immediate replacement obligation. THIS IS REPLACEMENT - NOT EXPANSION TRAA is not asking the city to add a field simply because another facility would be helpful. The city is considering removing an existing public asset to make room for a separate municipal priority. The full cost of that decision must include an equivalent replacement. Mendota Heights can modernize its municipal facilities while preserving the recreational infrastructure already built, maintained and used by its families. Equivalent replacement No net loss Completed before removal Guaranteed in writing Two Rivers Athletic Association | Building Athletes. Developing Leaders. Strengthening Community. Page 14 of 15 This page is intentionally left blank 2.b City Council Work Session Memo MEETING DATE: July 21, 2026 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator SUBJECT: Municipal Campus Building Project --Value Exercise ACTION REQUEST: The City Council will participate in a brief facilitated discussion (approximately 10 minutes) centered on the following question: What value are residents receiving for their property tax increase? The objective is not to reach consensus, but to better understand how each Council member defines the value provided to residents through City services and investments and the Municipal Campus Building Project. BACKGROUND: Council members are encouraged to consider the question broadly, including both tangible and intangible benefits, such as: •Public safety and emergency response •Street and infrastructure maintenance •Parks, trails, and recreational amenities •Preservation of community character and quality of life •Financial stewardship and long-term planning •Customer service and accessibility of City government •Investments that reduce future maintenance costs or improve operational efficiency •Maintaining and replacing aging public facilities •Environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives ATTACHMENTS: None Page 15 of 15