09-18-07 PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING September 18, 2007 Page 4 Mr. Lehnhoff stated they anticipate having a plan that would be ready to share with the adjoining communities by April. Ideally he would like to start roughing a draft after the October 16 meeting and have the draft approved by the Council end of April or early May. He also indicated he anticipated changes to the zoning ordinance to help implement the new Comprehensive Plan as well as the Shoreland Ordinance. 6. BOCCE GOLF COURSE UPDATE Ms. Olson and Committee Member Baumann gave a brief update of the new Bocce Golf Course at Lindey’s Park. Ms. Olson gave an update on changes she made to the web page for trails and Bocce Golf. She is working on a project right now that provides information on the trails in Arden Hills. She added Bocce Golf on the web page under Announcements and Information, which links to the Parks and Recreation Bocce Golf page.. Ms Olson is going to check to see what the lawyer suggests be done regarding the covers being put back on the holes for the Bocce Golf in case of liability issues. She is thinking the City may want to possibly add some signage. 7. SHEEHY TENNIS COURT DISCUSSION Ms. Olson indicated that the Sheehy Tennis court was going to Council. The current fee is set at $10 per year and Ms. Olson has put together a draft on what she feels are the 4 viable options with the tennis court: Option 1 would be to either increase the fee to a number agreed to by Council or keep the lease at $10 a year but include a maintenance agreement that would require the association to be financially responsible for regular maintenance on the court. Option 2 would be to open up the area as a public park with tennis courts. The city would then need to assume liability, which is one of the reasons they didn’t want to keep the court public because then improvements would have had to be made. She would recommend that we resurface it on a regular basis and keep it up. Option 3 is to tear out the tennis court and maintain that area as open green space. In 2002 the parks, trails and open space plan did propose to remove the tennis court and maintain as an open space and explore the possibility of adding unpaved trails. The estimate for City staff to take out fencing, remove the court and seed comes to $9,000. Option 4 would be to order an appraisal of the area of the land that the tennis court is located on and offer that portion be sold to the association if they are interested. Ms. Olson has had discussions with the association and is under the impression the association does want to continue the lease and keep as a court. Committee Member Crassweller made a motion that the PTRC recommend to the City Council that Sheehy become a public tennis court. The motion carried unanimously. In addition, the suggestion was made for the City to add benches for nature observation.