04-10-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Funding is an issue I know. Who's going to pay for this? For the first issue, funding for our development's local park should be the developer's responsibility. Our City Council only approved the development contract back in 2003, because it included park land dedication and over $103,000 in park dedication fees. Lino Lakes never collected that money because the developer "Gary Uhde" had a lawyer submit an appraisal a year later stating that the 8 acres of total park land (including wetland) he was dedicating was worth way more than the city had valued it at the time. Unfortunately, this was never questioned by the City. If that is still the case, then before the last phase of development is complete we urge the city to accept less park land, because half of it is unusable, not contiguous land and instead, to receive more cash to develop. We recommend the city pursue the originally agreed upon developer improvements such as trails and obtain the stipulated park dedication fees by negotiating for less park land, if necessary, and enforcing the Development Contract. I have included the Developer Agreement and referenced sections useful for enforcing this. For reference: Developer Agreement section XV. "Park Dedication" using the Guarant ee clause under section II,A,21,a(1) and the Reimbursement of Costs clause under section V,A,7 and V,B and the Violations/Building Permits clause under section XIV,A to withhold building permits and/or Certificate of Occupencies. Funding for the second issue - a linking trail to connect Century Farm North with the rest of the city - could be achievable via appropriation of funds, park dedication dollars, and undedicated park dollars. Our community feels that our 257 homes have contributed funds in the form of taxes for 14 years with little progress being made toward the Century Farm North Park Plan or toward connecting the area north of 35W of Lino Lakes to the rest of the city. Home values have also increased dramatically over the last ten years, helping t he city's bottom line, and the city's population has increased dramatically - increasing the tax base. In conclusion, we respectfully ask you to consider our proposal and seek our involvement in pursuing these goals. These items would greatly enhance our community and increase safety for children and adults. Thank you for your commitment to the citizens of Lino Lakes including those of our development. Sincerely, Robert Sibell of Century Farm North (763)486-5369 rsibell@gmail.com PS: Entrance monument signs have never been installed at street connections to Sunset Road off the right of way similar to signs constructed as part of the Behm's Century Farm along Lilac Street, as per narrative dated Nov 22, 2002 from the Dec 2nd 2002 Park Board Packet.