6.1. SR 09-13-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item # 6.1. City of Elk -~-, River MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Lori Johnson, City Administrator DATE: September 13, 2010 SUBJECT: Discuss Bailey Point Property In November 2000 when the Park and Recreation Commission prioritized future land purchases for park use, Bailey Point was identified as the Commission's number one priority. At that point it was unknown if there would ever be an opportunity to acquire the property or when that occasion would present itself. Earlier this year Mr. John Babcock approached the City offering to sell the Bailey Point property to the City for park use. Following that offer, the City Council met twice in closed session to discuss the acquisition of the property from Mr. Babcock. The Council took no immediate action after the closed sessions. The Council subsequently requested that this be brought back to the Council at a regular meeting for discussion. No action is required or requested at this meeting; the purpose is for discussion of the merits of acquiring this property for park use and to give the public an opportunity to hear that discussion. Along with the main question of whether the City should acquire this property now, there are several other questions that have been raised including one from the other property owners near Bailey Point. Naturally, the neighborhood abutting the property has questions about the use of the park and how it would impact them. As I have stated previously, if this does become a park, it is understood that the park would serve as a nature area with trails and open space. Of course, a small parking lot would need to be installed, but that is the only significant change planned. The property, other than the parking lot, would remain essentially the same as it is now, but it would be open to use by the public. In planning the change to public park use, care would be taken to buffer the neighbors as much as possible. This could be accomplished with the careful layout of parking and additional screening among other things. Finally, attached is a map identifying the parcels known as Bailey Point. Mr. Babcock will be in attendance at the meeting as well as Park and Recreation Commission representatives fox this discussion.