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Mounds View EDA April 25, 2005 Regular Meeting Page 8 where The Bridges is located. He stated that it is not a Par 3 course but is one of the longer courses in the metro area. He stated that he enjoys The Bridges due to the length of the course. He acknowledged that the project would bring some revenue to the City adding that it would also bring an increase in traffic. He expressed concerns about the amount of traffic this project could generate noting that for a company of this size, there a many nice locations along the highway that are already vacant and available for purchase. He expressed frustrations stating that it was his thought that the City wanted green space and it appears that with this project they are now getting rid of it. He encouraged the Commissioners to consider the value of open space adding that he does not see this project creating any jobs specifically for Mounds View. He stated that the park Medtronic proposes to develop appears to be for their employees and asked if the public would be able to take advantage of the park too. He stated that access to the proposed park would be difficult and encouraged the Commission to keep the golf course. He stated that he couldn’t see giving away the store to one of the wealthiest companies in the country. Shannon Meyer, 11363 ?? Lane, President of the Twin Cities Local Chamber of Commerce, stated that the facts show that golf courses provide a quality of life not found anywhere else. She stated that the State of Minnesota has one of highest number of golf courses, per capita, in the nation noting that the supply of golf courses has been outpacing the demand for play and this trend is expected to continue. She explained that the Twin Cities North Chamber collected information on the courses in the north metro and found, over a five-year period, that the number of rounds played has declined by 19.5-percent, on average. She noted that The Bridges is 50% more, on an average; over the other courses adding that part of the information shows that 27- percent of the golfers come from Mounds View. She stated that there are enough golf courses throughout the metro area that address all golfing needs noting that the National Sports Center recently built a youth golf course and experienced a total of 7800 participants last year, with 67- percent of that total being youth golfers. She provided the Commission with a brief overview of the curriculum. Dick Timmer stated that his daughter, Katie Timmer, is a special Olympian. He stated that his daughter, along with friend Mike Madden of St. Anthony Village, have found a true home at The Bridges. He stated that the golfing community at the Bridges has been very good to both Katie and Mike noting that they are both State Champions in the State’s Top Division. He explained that they have both practiced at The Bridges for the past four years noting that some things are priceless and it is his belief that The Bridges is one of those things. He urged the Commission to keep the golf course noting that the environment has always been a very welcoming to them. Katie Timmer stated that The Bridges is a huge part of her life and relationship for her and her father. She stated that there is a really great guy at The Bridges that always makes if fun for her to golf and practice. She stated that golf is a good, but difficult sport adding that she does not want to see The Bridges leave because she loves to golf. Bruce Foley, 662 Village Parkway, Circle Pines, stated that the Blaine golf course is fabulous but doesn’t compare to The Bridges. He explained that what makes The Bridges so special is the