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Eminent domain, also known as condemnation, is only used to require an owner to sell land to a city. This procedure requires a formal court action, and a city must pay an owner for the value of the land. The Minnesota Legislature has limited a city's power of eminent domain to a defined public use or public purpose including: • The possession, occupation, ownership, and enjoyment of the land by the general public, or by public agencies. • The creation or functioning of a public service corporation. • The mitigation of a blighted area, remediation of an environmentally contaminated area, reduction of abandoned property, or removal of public nuisances. Eminent domain can be a costly and lengthy process, so it is often used as a last resort. The City has the ability to purchase land from a willing seller if they choose to do so. Can the $150,000 mitigation fund for losing lots 1 and 2 park land be used for this purpose? Please see comment above. Has Bethel University ever proposed to sell any additional land besides lots 1 and 2? No, Bethel has stated that they are committed to preserving the remaining property as natural. During the 2013 approvals Bethel provided the City in writing that they are committed to continuing to share their private trails and natural amenities with the community. The original agreement will not be modified as a part of this proposal. Another sign that Bethel is committed to preserving the area is that they are consolidating a 4.5 acre parcel in the southwest corner of their site into one lot of record with the principle structure. The original intent of the 4.5 acre parcel in the southwest corner of the site was to construct four residential parcels around a cul-de-sac at the end of Dunlap Street.