04-02-2018 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 2, 2018 APPROVED 181 of designating park dedication funds from the St. Clair Estates development. Staff is 182 looking for further direction. 183 184 Mayor Reinert remarked that nearby Shenandoah Park hasn't been updated for many 185 years so there is a need there. He is not in favor of the funds going to the school facilities. 186 As he has mentioned previously, the school district has a huge budget for their facilities. 187 188 Council Member Manthey asked about where the park dedication funds would go if not 189 to the school? Mayor Reinert said it could go toward improvements at Shenandoah Park. 190 191 Jeremy Stimpson, area resident, told the council that many people can't access 192 Shenandoah Park without going across Birch Street. As a parent in the area, he can state 193 that he uses the Rice Lake Elementary facilities. He doesn't believe Shenandoah would 194 serve the St. Clair Estates development very well. He's surprised and maybe 195 disappointed when the same voices that said a new park wasn't needed in his 196 neighborhood (because of the school facilities) now say that the school playground 197 improvements aren't necessary. He sees the benefit of collaboration and getting more by 198 joining resources. 199 200 Mayor Reinert remarked that the school district just spent $44 million on improvements 201 but didn't buy a swingset for this school. 202 203 Council Member Manthey said he isn't comfortable putting that neighborhood's park 204 funds into Shenandoah Park because of access concerns. If there was property within the 205 developing neighborhood, that would be best, but that isn't possible. He realizes that the 206 school has not been helpful to the city but he sees that residents of the area seem to want 207 to use the Rice Lake Elementary facilities. 208 209 Council Member Maher argued that the safety concern is real in her opinion. She 210 doesn't see Shenandoah as a possibility. 211 212 Residents present in the audience explained that they had spoken with the school district 213 board. They heard that there is not funds for park improvements at Rice Lake 214 Elementary school. They spoke about how much the Rice Lake playground facility is 215 used and not just during the school day. They feel improvements would benefit the entire 216 Lino Lakes community. The improvements are not just swing sets but important 217 improvements for accessibility. They hoped this would be a good partnership possibility 218 along with the other partnerships they are seeking. Further the school district did not 219 reach out to them suggesting a collaboration; they actually heard about this from city 220 staff. 221 222 Council Member Stoesz noted a map he has seen that indicates what parks serve what 223 areas. He has seen that Shenandoah serves a great many houses. 224 225 Council Member Manthey remarked that since the funds would come from the St. Clair