Loading...
1987-12-01 Joint Council-Parks Comm minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission Tuesday, December 1, 1987 The special joint meeting of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:15 o'clock A.M. at City Hall, 750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order at 7:25 o'clock A.M. The following members were present: Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers, Blesener, Cummins, Hartmann and Witt. Parks and Recreation Commission members: Stein, Lachenmayer, Owens, Katz. Also present were Bob Doffing, School District 197 Board Member and City Administrator Kevin Frazell. Parks Chair Stein said that he felt that the Council had made a bad decision in choosing the Southeast Area site for the Parks Bond Referendum, in essence trashing a three year study process by the Commission. He indicated that the Commission probably would not be helping on the Referendum, and asked how the Council intended to handle the marketing. Councilmember Cummins responded that he had agreed to work on the Sibley site because of the economic benefits. However, he had been concerned about the ability to work with School District 197, and also thought it would be better for the City to have its own site. He felt that the School Board really wanted to control the facility, but not put much into the project financially. He disagreed with Stein that this meant dropping a three year process, and said that he did not see it as repudiation of the work previously done by the Parks Commission. Parks Commissioner Lachenmayer said that she felt personal pride and politics had taken over a rational decision. She felt that the Southeast Area site was not safe for children trying to bicycle to activities, and thought it was preferable to have it near a school with which children can identify. Councilmember Hartmann responded that he thought adults were important too, and that the Sibley site was primarily for children. Jim Stein responded that he did not think that was the case. Councilmember Cummins said that he thought the entire Council was united in endorsing the need for a park, and that there were only two alternative sites left. Commissioner Lachenmayer said that she felt like the Council was dealing with the desires of a special interest group, with which Commissioner Katz agreed. Bob Doffing said that the School Board was receptive to the City's proposal in continuing discussions. Mayor Mertensotto said that selling the bond referendum was always tough, and that it was important to get a facility established somewhere. Stein responded that he thought there was a real question whether the City could possibly sell a bond issue to the voters. He indicated that last Spring everyone seemed to be united on the Sibley site, and now there was no concensus at all. He said that he had equal questions as to whether a referendum for the Sibley site would pass, and raised the possibility of not including the athletic complex in the upcoming bond issue. Councilmember Blesener said that she couldn't personally support the Southeast Area for the complex, and agreed it was probably impossible to pass a referendum on any site now. She agreed that perhaps we should just do the trails and parks. City Administrator Frazell added that it would be possible to divide the question on the referendum ballot, separating neighborhood park and trail improvements from the athletic complex. Councilmember Cummins said that he supported going with the Southeast Area site now, and that if that failed he would be willing to work toward an athletic complex at the Sibley site. Councilmember Witt recognized the Park and Recreation Commission efforts, and supported their recommendation. She expressed her support for the Sibley site as a wise expenditure of taxpayers money. Commissioner Katz said that she thought the whole process looked rather absurd to the public right now. Mayor Mertensotto suggested that a blue ribbon promotions committee be appointed, consisting of people who have not participated in the discussions to date, and so are not caught up in the controversy. Chair Stein pointed out that the Council itself is less than unanimous on the proposal. There was then some general discussion about the role the Parks Commission, and its recommendation in the process. It was noted that the Council would be voting that same evening (December 1) on development plans for the Southeast Area, but that those development plans had been construed such that it would not foreclose possibilities for either constructing or eliminating the Southeast Area park site. Chair Stein indicated that that put everyone under less time pressure, and perhaps there was still an opportunity to take a look at both sites. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 o'clock A.M.