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City Council Minutes <br />December 4, 2017 <br />Page 11 <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 />P01EOE1 11 <br />NATURE <br />