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Park Board Meeting - October 6, 2003 <br />Minutes <br />• allocation of athletic fields with each youth sports association the <br />City currently serves. <br />• <br />• <br />Paul asked if the City has a field suitable for the Centennial <br />Baseball League noting that league requires seventy -five foot bases <br />and a mounded field. Rick stated that league has used Lino Park and <br />Rice Lake Elementary. He indicated the AAU League does not use a <br />raised mound. <br />Paul stated allocating fields is a good idea if the City had a high <br />school. He asked if staff feels the proposal is a workable formula. <br />Rick stated allocation of the fields has to be worked out. It <br />appears that the City provides an excess of fields for various <br />organizations. Due to budget constraints the City cannot justify <br />this when the users are not Lino Lakes residents. The proposal may <br />be difficult to work out but it is possible. <br />Pam stated that in her experience, Little League teams practice on <br />any field they can find. Rick stated after further investigation is <br />done, the City may be willing to commit fields for practice nights <br />with the various user groups. <br />Pam inquired about the possibility of field allocation becoming <br />political in terms of the drafting of team members. Rick stated he <br />is looking at the whole picture in terms of what participation <br />numbers are for the entire youth sports association, not team by <br />team. The City needs to make sure it is providing the appropriate <br />level of fields for Lino Lakes residents. <br />Paul stated the City also needs to consider its relationship with <br />surrounding communities and the use of their fields. <br />Rick explained the current process used for the allocation of fields <br />noting the City has not yet had to tell any organization "no" to <br />field use. The new system would be based on past year's enrollment <br />numbers. It will take quite a bit of work with the various <br />organizations to analyze the data. <br />Chair Lindy asked what would be done with the fields that are no <br />longer used. Rick stated neighborhood parks would have less <br />activity if any changes are made. Some fields may be taken out of <br />the rotations for maintenance and upgrading. The fields that are <br />being used would not be scheduled as heavily. <br />It was the consensus of the Park Board to direct Rick to move <br />forward with the letter to the Centennial Soccer Club regarding <br />field allocation. <br />3 <br />