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1984-04-10 Council minutesPage No. 2003 April 10, 1984 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Special Meeting Held Tuesday, April 10, 1984 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special meeting of the City Council, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:30 o'clock P.M. at the City Hall, 750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Mayor Lockwood called the meeting to order at 7:30 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Mayor Lockwood, Councilmembers Blesener, Hartmann, Mertensotto and Witt. KRAJNIAK It was immediately announced that the Council would convene LITIGATION in a closed door session to continue discussion on pending litigation regarding the Krajniak storm drainage easement. In addition to the Mayor and Councilmembers, City Attorney Tom Hart and City Administrator Kevin Frazell were also present, as well as Public Works Director Jim Danielson. JOINT PARK & REC SESSION The closed door session was completed at 7:50 o'clock P.M. At 8:00 o'clock P.M., the Council convened in joint session with the Park and Recreation Commission. Commission Chair- person Jim Stein expressed appreciation to the Council for the joint meeting, and indicated that the purpose for the meeting was to ascertain Council interest in acquiring two large parcels in the City for development as community playfields, along with development of a bike trail system. Those parcels are the Wachtler property, and the School District #197 property. The group had some brief discussion about the need and feasibility of conducting a survey of community need and interest. City Treasurer Larry Shaughnessy then presented updated cost figures for acquisition of the two parcels, along with the tax impli- cations of bond issues of various sizes to fund the acquisitions and development of the bike trail system. Councilman Hartmann stated he felt the most important thing was to lock in a price on the Wachtler property, since it was the parcel that the City was most in danger of losing to private development. Park Commissioner Mary Jeanne Schneeman said that she had talked to a member of the Wachtler family, Mrs. Eileen Kennedy, who had told her that the family had no interest in selling at this time. Mayor Lockwood said that he thought the City should also look into the possibility of obtaining a formal first right of refusal on the School District property, although the School Board has indicated that they are not intending to sell the property in the near future. Councilman Mertensotto said that he thought it would be very Page No. 2004 April 10, 1984 difficult to pass a bond referendum on the general election ballot in the fall, given the high voter turnout. He also said he thought it was important to resolve any problems with the Wachtler family, since it would be difficult to pass a bond issue if it had a cloud over it that the landowners did not wish to sell to the City for park development. It was decided that the most appropriate route would be for Mayor Lockwood and City Administrator Frazell to make more formal contact with Mrs. Kennedy, to express the City's interest in acquiring the property, and pointing out that this site had been designated as potential park development for a number of years in the City's Comprehensive Plan. It was also agreed that the Commission and the Council need updated cost figures for development of the two parcels once they are acquired. The Commission and Council then discussed the need for ballfields in the community. Park Department representative Terry Blum said that being a softball player himself, he could attest that if the fields were available they could probably be filled up every night. Councilwoman Blesener said that she felt development of the bike trail system was top priority, and she hated to see it tied to acquisition and development of the Wachtler property, in case the latter becomes difficult to acquire. City Administrator Frazell indicated that there might be other possibilities for funding bike trail development, since the Mendota Heights system probably ranked very well in competition for state grants, should the state program ever be funded. Treasurer Shaughnessy also indicated that the Park fund is estimated to soon have approximately $300,000 in fund balance. It was agreed that Mayor Lockwood and City Administrator Frazell would make further contact with the Wachtler family, that the City engineering department would give updated cost estimates for development of the Wachtler and School District sites, and that the groups would then reconvene to consider further steps. Councilman Mertensotto said he thought a professional needs assessment would be important in selling the bond issue. Public Works Director Danielson gave a report on a portion of a bike trail which had been developed by Mn/DOT in connection with the I-35E right-of-way. The bike trail currently runs from Rogers Lake Park along Wagon Wheel Trail up to a vacant lot in Curley's Addition, between Lexington Avenue and I-35E. The issue was brought up, because neighbors abutting the vacant property have recently .asked if and when the City intends to complete the bike trail. Public Works Director Danielson said that the extra lot has been set aside and dedicated to the City as part of the plat for the Curley's development. He suggested that the City sell the lot ADJOURN Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 ATTEST: Page No.2005 April 10, 1984 for development, retaining an easement to complete the bike trail on through to public streets. The proceeds of the lot sale could be used for trail development. The Council and the Commission agreed that this would be a sensible use of the property, and would provide a good example in the community of what could be done for bike trails, to generate more enthusiasm for a parks bond issue. The Commission and Council also discussed the fact that this bike trail align- ment might be a potential alternative to expensive development of a bike trail along Lexington Avenue. Mr. Danielson indicated that the City engineering department is looking at that option. The meeting ended by a viewing of a parks bond promotional slide show program which was prepared by Howard Dahlgren and Associates for the City of Burnsville. There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilwoman Witt moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilman Hartmann seconded the motion. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:50 o'clock P.M. 120.471-4 Robert G. Lockwood Mayor 1447 thleen M. Swanson City Clerk