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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: 11/04/2025 <br /> Consent <br /> <br />TO: CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM: Lake Elmo Pickleball Friends Donation <br />SUBMITTED BY: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director <br /> REVIEWED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director <br /> <br /> <br />CORE STRATEGIES: <br /> <br />☒ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☐ Efficient, reliable, innovative services <br />☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future <br />☐ Managed Growth ☐ Resilient Infrastructure <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Lake Elmo Pickleball Friends has offered to donate several items to the pickleball courts in Pebble <br />Park. Jennifer Watters recently reached out to the city with a suggestion to donate several items handmade <br />by members of the pickleball club. The items include 2 wooden benches, paddle rack, drink rack and a <br />portable fence to divide the North and South courts. <br /> <br />ISSUE BEFORE CITY COUNCIL <br />Should City Council accept the donations offered by the Lake Elmo Pickleball Friends Club? <br /> <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: <br />The Lake Elmo Pickleball Friends Club wish to donate several hand-crafted items for park improvement at <br />Pebble Park. Several wood items were crafted and would aid users of the pickleball courts. <br /> <br />Items donated to the city should consider the following: <br /> <br />(1) Is the gift of lasting value to the community? <br />(2) Does it create potential liability issues for the City? That is, will people walk on it, sit on it, or <br />under it? Will construction be inspected, is construction up to current standards (ADA accessible, <br />for example?) Are the materials used acceptable for public construction? <br />(3) Will some member of the public find the item offensive; can it be construed as having a religious <br />content, or offending members of a protected class? <br />(4) What will the potential annual maintenance cost of the gifted object be? Do the costs outweigh <br />the value of the gift? <br />(5) Does the gift carry implied duties that the City must perform? What is the cost of performance of <br />such duties? Does the cost exceed the value of the gift? <br />(6) If costs, direct or indirect exceed the value of the gift; acceptance of the gift may still be <br />warranted if a public purpose is being served and all understand the costs as well as the value of <br />the gift.