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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />August 27, 1996 <br /> <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />Council Business. continued <br /> <br />Council previously approved a request by the New Brighton Soccer Assn. to <br />temporarily develop and use a portion of the City Driving Range for soccer fields, <br />contingent on approval by the southern property owner. The property owner informed <br />the Assn. that the land is unavailable. Because the field at Irondale School will not be <br />available in 1997, the Ascn.'s first preference is the driving range. Staffresearched <br />converting Hidden Oaks Parks into soccer fields, but this will be costly and would not <br />accommodate parking. <br /> <br />Fulton said the driving range finances have never been strong, but have adequately <br />covered the original debt. There have been problems with golf balls traveling beyond <br />the netting and into the Dahlke property. A $5,000 investment is needed to correct this, <br />but he is uncomfortable with this amount when significant redevelopment may occur. <br />One temporary option might be to coexist on the site with the soccer field near the tee <br />area, facing east-west. Rearrangement of driving range hours of operation would be <br />needed and there could be conflicts on weekends. Also, it is important that all golf balls <br />are removed before soccer play. The long term solution is the potential development of <br />a joint recreational facility at the TCAAP site. <br /> <br />Paul Biedler, Driving Range Manager, said coexisting may be possible, but has concern <br />with fluctuating the driving range hours of operation. <br /> <br />Tom Trevorrow, Soccer Assn., feels the area is adequate if they lay two fields east-west <br />with a buffer between, and the bulls eye area may need to be regraded. The soccer <br />season runs mid-May to late July, 5:30-9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. <br /> <br />Fulton feels Biedler stated strong points to the effects upon the driving range. Closing <br />the driving range and allowing full use by the Assn. would impact the City at a loss of <br />$50,000. We need to clarify with Irondale what their turf maintenance plans are and <br />could the field be used in 1997. The Assn. views the driving range as a temporary use. <br /> <br />Williams feels the two uses could coexist, and asked staff and the Assn. to determine a <br />more permanent schedule, golf ball collection, and bulls eye regrading. The driving <br />range has made considerable effort in paying off the debt and provides recreational <br />activity for residents, and he feels it should continue. <br /> <br />Larson noted the need to address the problem of stray balls going into the Dahlke site. <br /> <br />Motion by Williams, seconded by Larson, to DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH <br />THE NEW BRIGHTON SOCCER ASSOCIATION TO DETERMINE THE <br />FEASIBILITY OF COEXISTENCE OF THE DRIVING RANGE AND SOCCER <br />FACILITY IN 1997; AND PRESENT MORE DETAILED PLANS TO COUNCIL. <br /> <br />4 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. <br /> <br />Mattila presented the preparation of the Hwy 8 Corridor study and evaluation of <br />requests for exemption from the moratorium ordinance. <br /> <br />On August 20, the Planning Commission recommended no changes to the ordinance, <br />and created a subcommittee of three members from the Economic Development <br />Commission (EDC) and three members from the Planning Commission. Planning <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />Driving Range/Soccer <br />Field <br />Report 96-196 <br /> <br />Hwy 8 Corridor Study <br />Report 96-197 <br />