May 2, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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Joan Ziertman asked what type of park we are going to have and agreed that the City was putting the cart before the horse. She said the City should decide if we want a park there. She voiced her concern on the amount of money paid for a park for Oakdale residents and maybe we should think about where we would want parks for our residents. These items should be discussed before we enter into an agreement. Bob Helwig, Planning Commission Chair, stated that this proposal is the tail wagging the dog. The City does need ball fields, but let us get the right land. He suggested looking in the Old Village Area plan to place 4-5 new fields. He noted that the site proposed is sizable, and would support many houses toward the mandated 2030 population of 24,000. Council member Smith said there would be 12 houses on the 26 acres of the proposed site. Council member Conlin said she observed that 3M owns the land in Oakdale, and they could give land to Oakdale for the playfield instead of Lake Elmo land. She said that the Oakdale Athletic Association is a powerful force and will dictate what they want in a joint playfield, including lighted fields. She said she views this to be primarily an Oakdale park for its ballfields. Terry Arrons asked why this Lake Elmo land was being donated when 3M has so much other land in Oakdale. He asked why the City can't update the existing parks we have now. Mayor Johnston said you better decide what you need, define it and work it down; and that it would be an error to rush to judgment on the proposal without the benefit of a Lake Elmo needs analysis. He said the City should restart the process regarding the playfield proposal. Council member Johnson said she doesn't quarrel with the high need for fields, but feels the City should do a need assessment, and then decide where we are going to place multi- use fields. She observed that if the City can't meet our playfield needs now, what we are going to do when we are 24,000 population. The Administrator said that this needs to go back to the parks commission to determine the need for playfields, and where would they be. Council member Smith pointed out the Parks Dept. talked about a possible skating rink/winter activity in the Sunfish Park area and asked what about the 20 acres in front of Sunfish Park to use as temporary fields. Planner Dillerud said he has provided the Parks Commission a needs assessment done by Oakdale that could act as a process guide for the Lake Elmo Park Plan update. He noted that you don't do an updated park plan before you do a land use plan. Now that the 2030 land use plan is all but completed, the Parks Commission is on their way with the Park Plan update —including community playfields. In response suggestion that the LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 14, 2006