04/06/2005 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APRIL 6, 2005 APPROVED • 1 draft policy also addresses street maintenance, municipal utilities, street design and 2 special assessment deferrals. 3 4 The Council directed staff to move forward with the Draft Pavement Management Plan. 5 6 City Engineer Studenski distributed a memo outlining a list of proposed projects for 7 street maintenance and reconstruction for the next five years. The identified projects 8 were determined by utilizing the selection criteria as established in the draft policies. He 9 noted that adjustments would be necessary as the program is implemented and directly 10 dependent on the funding levels identified in the PMP. 11 12 LEASE OF CITY PROPERTY TO AMERICAN LEGION — GORDON HEITKE 13 14 City Administrator Heitke stated at the last work session, Council discussed a request 15 from the American Legion to lease approximately 50 feet of City property that is adjacent 16 to the Legion for use as horseshoe pits. Council directed staff to contact the City of 17 Circle Pines, which has horseshoe pits connected to a local bar, to find out what types of 18 issues can arise from this activity. 19 20 City Administrator Heitke advised that he had contacted Jim Keinath, Circle Pines City 21 Administrator. Mr. Keinath said the horseshoe pits posed problems for the neighborhood, 22 leading to excessive noise and the potential for underage drinking. 23 • 24 City Administrator Heitke explained the Legion wants to have four horseshoe pits and 25 hold games on weeknights until dusk, and also on weekends. They have not proposed at 26 this time any specific schedule. Approximately 12-16 people could be playing at one 27 time, with additional spectators. No outdoor lighting would be required. The Legion has 28 offered to pay $500 per month for 12 months out of the year, although only using the 29 property for about 5 months out of the year. 30 31 City Administrator Heitke advised the Council may want to consider the neighborhood 32 response to noise that would accompany this operation, both from the number of people 33 that would be outside the building and the sound of horseshoes clinking. The Legion has 34 indicated that it will not allow drinks to be brought outside, but that may be difficult to 35 enforce. Police Chief Pecchia has indicated he would not be in favor of this activity for 36 these reasons. 37 38 City Administrator Heitke reviewed the other issues to consider with the proposal noting 39 the City Attorney has advised that any restrictions the City wishes to impose could be 40 addressed in the lease, as well as anything else the Council may want to include if the 41 decision is made to lease the property. 42 43 City Administrator Heitke noted the Legion could be required to apply for a Conditional 44 Use Permit and submit a site plan showing location and boundaries of the horseshoe pits, 45 and address any restrictions such as fencing or screening the City may wish to impose. 46 • 47 48 The Council directed staff to prepare a response to the Legion indicating the City does not want to lease property for the purpose of horseshoe pits.