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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,August 17,2015 <br /> Page 11 <br /> Councilmember Etten expressed interest in maintaining a certain level in the fund, <br /> and using anything above that level for park maintenance capital, or the old PIP. <br /> From his perspective, Councilmember Etten noted the intent was not to accumu- <br /> late a lot of things,but to provide a purposeful way to look for park and recreation <br /> opportunities, such as in SW Roseville where such amenities were sorely lacking <br /> or expanding buffer zones and connections around Langton Lake, and requiring a <br /> larger expenditure. Councilmember Etten expressed the importance of looking <br /> for solutions to problems with this fund, and not bring it down to zero, but in- <br /> creasing assets identified as needs, or things that could come up in the future. <br /> Commissioner Bachhuber noted that perspective was part of a very active discus- <br /> sion on the Finance Commission in brainstorming how to maintain and improve <br /> existing assets given the massive deficit in the current park plan in attempting to <br /> maintain those current assets. Commission Bachhuber stated it was the Commis- <br /> sion's thought that it was irresponsible to continue adding to park assets when the <br /> city was unable to take care of existing assets, and if in a different position, think- <br /> ing strategically of ways to get more done to address that deficit. With park <br /> maintenance funding, Commissioner Bachhuber opined that park dedication fees <br /> could accomplish that goal, and if the opportunity for acquisition came up, a dis- <br /> cussion by the City Council and community should be held on strategies to find <br /> dollars somewhere else versus having assets banked for acquisition of additional <br /> assets. <br /> Councilmember Etten advised that concept had gone through that filter with <br /> community discussions on Langton Lake and SW Roseville, and expressed his <br /> concern in putting the City Council in a position not to act upon community- <br /> expressed desires. <br /> While having easy access to trail systems in Falcon Heights and Lauderdale, as a <br /> resident of SW Roseville, Councilmember McGehee noted the lack of Roseville <br /> green space and/or parks available. Councilmember McGehee agreed that the city <br /> was already overextended and whether to add more assets under these circum- <br /> stances needed to be addressed by the City Council and the community, or wheth- <br /> er to acquire land coming off the tax rolls causing additional maintenance. Coun- <br /> cilmember McGehee opined that anything less than thoughtful consideration <br /> would be irresponsible on the part of the City Council whether the PIP, PMP or <br /> other area requiring maintenance of capital assets. Councilmember McGehee <br /> opined that maintenance was important and expressed her personal concern that <br /> the city had gotten into this fix by overlooking that maintenance component as <br /> part of everything it did; and stated she was heartened by the Commission's rec- <br /> ommendation. However, Councilmember McGehee clarified that this didn't <br /> mean she wasn't a staunch supporter of Langton Lake, but did represent constitu- <br /> ents from the entire community. <br />