HomeMy WebLinkAbout8A - Town Meeting - Northwoods League
16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
August 21,2006
SA
Frank Boyles, City Manager
AGENDA ITEM:
TOWN MEETING - NORTHWOODS LEAGUE
A town meeting on the topic of considering a lease agreement with the
Northwoods league to bring a collegiate wood bat league to Prior lake will be
conducted during the course of tonight's City Council meeting for the purpose
of providing information to and soliciting input from the residents of Prior Lake.
www.cityofpriorlake.com
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Community Response to Proposed changes at Memorial Park and V..l........,s Field August 21, 2006
These are concerns that members of the community have regarding the
proposed use of Memorial Park and Veterans Field by the expansion
team of the Northwoods Baseball League.
PLANNING:
The city is becoming a business partner with the team owner.
A number ofNorthwood's teams have failed! This is public record.
Has the potential owner and business partner y.."Mmted a business plan for public review?
If so, has the business plan been evaluated by a qualified examiner?
Has the potential owner presented a marketing plan as part of any business plan?
Does the owner or league need to be repaid if the lease is not renewed or the team fails?
What is the eon..,,,,!, mal plan for this?
Have any drawings, models or descriptions been made for the new park usage and buildings?
How can the council vote on a project until adequate descriptions and plans are in place?
Have the a.t'..~....ti..:ate city agencies had the necessary input? Zoning? Planning?
Has the Prior Lake Pltltming Department or Planning Commission reviewed this .....,......,osal?
Impact planning - revenue?
Is the offered revenue sharing .aVUl the league an achievable objective?
More important will it be adequate?
Few teams in the league cu...."'....tly obtain the level of attendance required to initiate the revenue
sharing. In fact only 4 out of 12 would. This is public record on the league website.
Impact planning - community financial benefit
Does the ",.L,,,...,osed financial benefit to community """".L~sent a new source of money or just a shift
of existing money already spent in the community by Cl......"....t residents?
Are the. supposed benefits worth the cost to the city?
Are the supposed benefits worth the oost to the neighborhood?
Impact planning - home values and eminent domain ?
What will the :"ut'act on home values in the neighborhood be?
Does anyone have "U&....:rical data instead of conjecture and opinion?
Will city use eminent domain to obtain nearby !,&",...,,&:':es for parking if the team owner is unable
to use school facilities for parking?
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Community Response to Proposed changes at Memorial Park and Veterans Field
August 21, 2006
Impact planning - toffie
What is the plan to handle the increased vehicular traffic?
How will these plans accommodate a residential area late at night?
What are the plans to handle increased pedestrian traffic between the park and the various school
parking lots after dark?
Will lighted pedestrian walkways need to be added?
What are the plans to Ji~v.toot private "".Lvyerty from trespassing pedestrians?
Will Cl&u~at roads and walkways need resurfacing and/or increased budgeting for maintenance?
Who will pay for the needed improvements?
Impact planning - park neighborhood usage and history
Will this affect the community awio>,l.......ess of the meaning behind memorial park?
How will VFW POST 6208 feel about the changes to accessibility to the park and ball field
largely donated by and dedicated to veterans?
Will removal. of onsite parking discourage local usage of the children's playground facilities?
Will a larger commercial ball field discourage local usage of the chilJ.."....'s playground facilities?
Environmental?
Will there be any removal of any trees in the park to allow expansion of the ...uudstand or
parking?
Without a building plan we don't know what changes will be made to the park.
How will the drastically in",..."A5ed noise and light affect the quality oflife in the Sl..........mding
neighborhoods?
Have any impact studies been done on this at other league venues?
Impact planning - eity eosts
What other additional costs will the city incur on behalf of a commercial venture?
Extra police? Creation and ......~l.ining a police reserve?
Extra ball field maintenance due to increased usage?
Extra utilities cost for el"",t.:city, sewer and water?
Coneerts, other mise events
Will the lease reflect the neighborhoods desire to avoid concerts and other e'\o "'....~?
Will the lease prohibit noisy activities during a 6uu..e like fireworks, loud music, etc?
Who will have ultimate control over non-baseball events?
Proper usage of publie property
The eity is eODtemplating aBowing a eommereial enterprise to profit by using property to
ftmded, publiely pr&vklecl property, utilities and reseunes.. Does anyone see a problem with
this? Can anyone help us define why we think this is just plain wrong? Other city businesses do
not have this type of advantage.
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Community Response to Proposed changes at Memorial Park and Veterans Field
August 21, 2006
Parkillg:
The Cu..1o;.,ut plan is to use t'<u.ldn& at n'-<u.t...j schools. The problems and concerns with this are:
1. Has the school board given written U}'P"U val for using school district facilities?
2. What will the school district do when smoking, drinking, tailgating, littering or other rule
breaking occurs in the parking lots?
3. Who will enforce school district rules of no smoking, and no drinking in the parking lots?
4. Will on street parking be allowed in residential areas? How to }'",,,,'l~t homeowners rights to
park in street while pIli\. venting general street parking?
5. Will handicap parking consume all the available parking in the onsite parking? How many
handicap spots are required by law for a 2500 plus seat stadium?
6. How will p.:u.kt!) affect em(i1t;\;iu,-,j vehicle access? How will (ilJ.1\;i1e:>"UCY vehicle access
reduce parking options near the proposed stadium?
We sincerely hope the city council
will scrupulously and dutifully address these issues
before moving forward with this , .......l.Jre.
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