1986-05-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 1986 Anderson stated this is only park in the city has which has a significant number of spectators. Williams stated, at the Park Board meeting, two future client groups were represented (church and residents). In looking at the plans, they had certain preferences for facilities; believing the facilities were more important than the configuration of the park itself. Williams stated the neighbors would like to see the ball diamond (spectators), Third Avenue open, a pond (providing the pond was neat, clean, safe, and well-maintained), paths for walking (not so enthusiastic about biking paths), and an interest was expressed for skating, and, if space permitted, a soccer field; the church would like a ball diamond and a tot lot, and expressed concern about the cost of the newly designed park. Benke asked if enough youth games are scheduled to justify a smaller diamond at Veterans Park for spectators; Anderson indi- cated there is enough activity, but it would displace some adult teams that play at Veterans Park and the city would end up with empty diamonds elsewhere. Brandt asked if there was anywhere else nearby where a full- sized diamond could be located and, if Third Avenue was not vacated and additional parking was needed for city hall, can we reconfigurate the city's parking lot toward the north. Anderson stated that the city has checked other nearby areas for another ball diamond but had come up with nothing; Proper stated that, because of poor soil conditions, the city's parking lot could not be reconfigurated toward the north. Schmidt asked if the property on the southwest corner of Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue could be used for overflow parking for city hall; Sinda suggested additional parking may be available on that site and that staff is looking at that possibility with rezoning; Anderson stated it would be easier to find extra park- ing space than space for a ball diamond. Williams asked if major work would be required on the existing ball diamond if Option 5 of the park plans were adopted; Anderson stated it was hard to know without a grading plan because drainage would have to be taken into consideration, and felt that once city hall was completed, sod would have to be re-established anyway. Williams asked about the schedule for the pond; Proper indicated there was no critical time for the pond; Anderson stated that if any work on the park is to be done in 1986, a decision on the ball diamond would need to be made within three weeks. Gunderman asked for demographics of the neighborhood as to age, and .felt gerhaDs a councihltdecision should be delayed so the proJect c uld De done rlg . Page Seven