HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-08 MINUTES (SPECIAL MEETING)JOINT COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL/
PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMISSION
J 7516 80 Street South
City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Special Meeting
August 8, 2012
CALL TO ORDER — Special Meeting
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a
special meeting on August 8, 2012 at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80 Street South.
Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Derrick Lehrke, Council
Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Jeri Peterson, and Council Member Dave Thiede.
The following were absent: None.
Staff present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator; Caron Stransky, City Clerk; Robin
Roland, Finance Director; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; Les Burshten, Public
Works Director; Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director; and John Burbank.
Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resource Commission Members Present: Douglas Butler,
Mark Nelson, William Schumal, Rod Hill, Erich Nollan.
Representatives of the Cottage Grove Athletic Association were also present.
Mayor Bailey presided over the special meeting and noted that the purpose of the meeting
was to arrive at a consensus on whether to proceed with a referendum and what projects to
include on the ballot.
Parks and Recreation Director Dockter provided a brief overview of the four (4) projects
proposed: (1) Outdoor aquatic facility; (2) Hamlet Park facilities; (3) Indoor play /party
center; and (4) Land acquisition for future athletic complex, river access and trail
improvements. He stated that based on the survey results, the survey consultant
recommends that we not move forward with the acquisition of land for a future athletic
complex.
Parks and Recreation Director Dockter stated that a final decision needs to be made by
August 23, 2012 on which projects to place on the General Election ballot.
Joint City Council /Parks Commission
August 8, 2012 Special Meeting
Parks and Recreation Director Dockter turned the meeting over to the City Council and the
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission.
Council Member Olsen read aloud the results of the survey noting that the larger the turnout,
the better the passage of a referendum. Construction of the Aquatics facility and Hamlet Park
improvements were the top two (2) projects.
Mark Nelson of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission stated that the
Commission supports three (3) projects but he had mixed feelings about the acquisition of
land.
Representatives of the Cottage Grove Athletic Association were in attendance in support of
the improvements at Hamlet Park but informed the City Council that something was needed
for the girls who play softball. They stated that the girls need a facility to host tournaments,
especially for their traveling program.
It was suggested that the ball fields be constructed with removal mounds so that the mounds
can be installed /removed by the coaches before each ball game.
Council consensus was to ask two (2) questions on the ballot, one for $6.5 million to finance
a family aquatics center and the second for $7 million to finance an indoor /outdoor youth
play center and expansion of Hamlet Park.
Council Member Olsen suggested buying down the costs by utilizing Fund Balance.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER LEHRKE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
THIEDE, TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING TO THE REGULAR MEETING.
MOTION CARRIED. 5 -0.
Special meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Prepared by,
Caron M. Stransky
City Clerk