08-02-1988 PR MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . Page 4 Recreation Board Minutes August 2. 1988 the boards is not a budgeted expenditure. the issue facing the City is how to finance these boards. If Youth Hockey organization is approached to help finance this expenditure. then it would be difficult to not allow organized hockey practices on the Lion's Park Hockey rink. Mr. Hals indicated that it was possible to use Park Dedication Funds for this type of Park Improvement purchase or that it may be possible to simply use General Fund monies if they are available within the 1988 budget. 8. Telephone Proposal at Salk Athletic Field Since Community Education Director. Charlie Blesener. was not in attendance a this meeting this item was tabled till a future Recreation Board meeting. 9. Discussion on Recent Park Tours and on City-wide Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan The Recreation Board briefly discussed the Hillside Park tour and possible future activity at the Woodland Trails Park. Most of the general discussion by the Recreation Board centered on the desire of the City to obtain the abandoned Burlington Northern Railroad bed running north and south through the community. This railroad bed runs along the eastern side of the Woodland Trails park. The City is attempting to purchase this abandoned railroad bed and utilize the area as a walking or cross country skiing trail. The Staff indicated that the City has experienced a great deal of frustration in dealing with the Railroad because of how slow the Railroad is to respond to the City's proposal. The City has received verbal confirmation that the offer for this property (approxiamtely $40.000.00) is "in the neighborhood" of what the railroad would find acceptable. However. in spite of repeated attempts by Phil Rals to obtain a written response from the Railroad on the City's proposal. none has been received at this point in time. The City has indicated to the Railroad that if this abandoned bed was not sold to the City in its entirety. that the City would not be interested in this purchase. Since in order for any of this trail to be sold to individual property owners an administrative subdivision must be received by the City. and no such administrative subdivision application has been received by the City. that this trail remains intact from the core village to the northern City limits. Overall. the City feels confident that it will be able to obtain this abondoned railroad bed. but the City has no clear sense as to when actual ownership will take place. 10. Discussion on September Agenda It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that a tour of some of the parks within the core village area take place prior to the next Recreation Board meeting. This tour would take place at 6:30 p.m. and the regular Recreation Board meeting would begin at 7:30 p.m. at City RaIl. Items to discussed during the Recreation Board meeting include the 1989 Budget. the Softball Lighting Complex. continued discussion on the Comprehensive Plan for Park and Recreation within Elk River and the Community Education Update from Director Charlie Blesener.