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City Council Minutes Page 11 <br /> December 4,2017 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> and Lions Park Center is not accessibly friendly. He stated it is an important park for <br /> kids. He noted the current building is in rough shape. <br /> Mayor Dietz stated in 1995 he was the lone Councilmember who voted to allow the <br /> soccer fields. He stated the Lions have put a lot into the park but they donated it to <br /> the city and the taxpayers are paying for it. He stated the Council has to take <br /> responsibility for the park and currently it is underutilized. He felt it wasn't right to <br /> have such large park space not being utilized. He noted the Capital Improvement <br /> Plan has $500,000 of taxpayer money to fix the trails in the park and install a new <br /> playground and basketball court. He stated the two new fields would only take 10 <br /> percent of the park and doesn't feel this would adversely affect it. He stated the <br /> administrator did speak to the Lions about the park. He stated the Lions didn't <br /> express any issues when the community center would have taken the whole park. He <br /> discussed how the fields need to be kept near the schools. He noted Lions Park <br /> Center needs a lot of maintenance,which costs money. He stated the Lions <br /> representative on the task force (Harold Gramstad) felt it might be a better situation <br /> to be located at the arena to take advantage of other benefits He stated if the Lions <br /> want to take over Lions Park Center they would have to pay the expenses. He stated <br /> a lot has changed with time and the city can't stay locked in to one use forever. He <br /> stated he appreciates all John Weicht has done,but noted people always want more <br /> from the city and there is an opportunity to enhance this park. He asked the Lions to <br /> work together to do what's best to accommodate everyone's needs for a new and <br /> improved park. <br /> Councilmember Ovall stated a use of a park is directly tied to the investment made <br /> by the city. He stated this park has been operating without a vision or master plan. <br /> He noted city staff has said this park is one of the most heavily used for <br /> programming activities. <br /> Mr. Brady stated the original intent was to have a park for families to use, and once <br /> the organized sports are in the park,these families will be asked to leave because of a <br /> baseball game. <br /> Mr. Weicht stated they don't like some parts of the city's plan. He stated they were <br /> going to approach the city to build a larger, $800,000 ADA-accessible playground; <br /> but then because of the current discussions they decided to wait. He indicated the <br /> Lions didn't consider the community center a real option because of the poor soils <br /> and the cost to make corrections. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard noted the building needs major repairs. <br /> Mr. Weicht stated the Lions haven't been approached to help fix the building. <br /> A Lions member stated there are a lot of emotions,the communications failed, and <br /> they felt they deserved more respect. <br /> UREJ <br />