#09 - Lake Elmo Baseball Donation

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STAFF REPORT DATE: 03/06/2024 CONSENT TO: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Lake Elmo Baseball Donation FROM: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director REVIEWED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director BACKGROUND: At the January 2023 Parks Commission meeting, Brad Adams along with Todd Bruchu presented on behalf of the Lake Elmo Baseball Association. The association has made a proposal to help fund the needed improvements to the Reid Baseball field. With a donation of $35,000 the association is seeking to install a new backstop with foul line fencing to include dugouts, add additional infield Red Ball Aggregate, purchase player benches, bases and a pitching mound. The following proposal was brought in front of the parks commission in the spring of 2023 by the Lake Elmo Baseball Association. At that time the non-profit organization was asking the Parks Commission to use park funds to make the requested upgrades to the field. No further action was taken by the commission. Staff presented potential upgrades to Reid Park to City Council in April 2023 as part of an overall site improvement. Improvements included additional fencing, hooded backstop, outfield fencing, lighting and irrigation. Council’s decision was to seek land in lieu of any upgrades to the current facilities. ISSUE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL: Would City Council like to accept the donation of $35,000 from the Lake Elmo Baseball Association for the improvements of the Reid Park baseball field? PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: The Lake Elmo Baseball Association wishes to make a donation of $35,000 to upgrade the baseball field at Reid Park. At the request of the donor, they ask that the association be granted the use of the ball park during the months of May – July for scheduled evening and weekend events. The improvements to the park will be limited to the baseball field area and will include a new backstop, foul line fencing, dugouts, benches and bases. The Parks Commission reviewed the donation materials at its February 21, 2024 meeting. The parks recommendation was: “ Move to recommend to the City Council to accept the donation of $35,000 from the Lake Elmo Baseball Association for the improvements of the Reid Park baseball field, excluding bases, with the intent that improvements be made for the 2024 season but with reservations of Reid Park following existing City policy.”