09-24-07 Item 8B, Sheehy Property Recommendation

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Sheehy Tennis Court Future Options Page 2 c. Keep lease fee at $10.00 per year but include a maintenance agreement that would require the association to be financially responsible for a resurface to the court on the City's 6-8 year schedule. Staff did receive an estimate from one vendor for $6,470.00 to resurface the court (quotation is attached - Attachment 8B-3). Staff has concerns regarding a City owned court being offered for use exclusively by a private group. If a new lease agreement is considered, Stall recommends at a minimum that the maintenance of the court be sTJecificallv addressed within the agreement. 2. Open up this area as a public park and leave the tennis court. Currently, the court has a padlock and is available only to association members. If this land was designated as a public park, the court would be open to the general public. The City would then assume all liability for the site. This would be a simple process of adding the Sheehy property to our insurance. Benches could be added near the site for enhanced nature viewing. If the City decides to designate this as a public park, staff does recommend that this court be placed on the City hard court maintenance schedule. Ajier speaking with the vendor that examined the court, it was their opinion that the court could be maintained in a safe and playable condition with regular resUlfaces. There are some areas of the court that are in need of leveling due to the subgrade. However, these areas could be managed by resurfacing on a regular schedule. Reconstructing the courts would be problematic and costly due to the soil conditions under the court. 3. Tear out the tennis court and maintain the area as open space. The 2002 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan proposed to remove the tennis court, add benches near wetland, maintain as open space, and explore the possibility of adding unpaved trails (Attachment 8A-4). Ajier site observations and research, staff has concluded that it seems highly unlikely that a walking trail could be built in this area. The soil conditions and the wetland would require a floating bridge or board walk and that would be a velY high cost to construct. The estimate cost for City Staff to remove the tennis courts is approximately $9.317.60. A breakdown of costs for this is includedfor your review (Attachment 8B-5). 4. The City could order an appraisal of the area of the land that the tennis court is located and offer to sell that portion to Arden Hills #3 Association. There is no guarantee that the Association would be interested in purchasing this portion of land. The Arden Hills #3 Association has expressed that their first choice is for the tennis court to remain and for the Association to have use, exclusive or not.