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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 02-08-1977 SpecialPage 30 M I N U T F S SFECIAL COUNCIL. MEETING February 8, 1977 A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Hilde at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Public Works Building, 14900 Twenty- third Avenue North, on February 8, 19?7. PRESENT: Mayor Hilde, rouncilmen hunt, Neils, Seibold and Spaeth, ManaSar Willis, Planner Diilerud and Park Director Born. ABSENT: None. Mayor Hilde opened the meeting by welcoming memO!rs of the planning Commission. Park and Recreation Advisory Commission and Citireins for Plymouth Progress Committee to the special Council meeting. He reviewed the history of planning for a balanced community and the outlook For the future of the city. Due to the fiscal restraint practiced by the Council over the years and balanced development, PI. -Mouth has reached a good state of development which provides for a balanced tax base with A sound living environment. The Downtown Plymouth owcept Is an integral part of the future balanced growth of the community. It is &signed to provide For recreation and liesure time activities, shopping, medical and service needs of community residents, governmental services and post office, as well iA housing for senior citizens, moderate income persons and others. CITY HALL. Mayor Hilde instoduced representatives of Thorsen and Thorshov Associates, architects, who reviewed the development of the proposed City Hall plans. The Mayor andc..;., Manager reviewed the financial aspects of the proposed City Hall. Mryor Hilde indicated that the Cour;ci1 was pleased to be able to report that the Cito Hall could be constructed with monies currently on hand or projected to be received through 1979 and that the residents did not have to go into debt !:o build the new City Hall. The City Council on Monday. Febr6ary 7, had decified to proceed with the development of the new City Hall without the issuance of bonds using the mooies that are available. NEW COMMITMENT TO PARKS Mayor Hilde reviewed the new emphasis being give•,- to existing as well as proposed parks in the City, noting that parks should be attra "ive, aesthetic and safe. Maintenance was to receive a very high priority cf the Cou icil. CENTRAL PARK Mayor Hilde noted that the Council was -onsidering a very largo taking aril that it was possible ;.o under sake a part of that prc time, eaferring the balance to some future date. He indicated the audience were going to be asked to make comments to the CoL their views following the presentation by the park planners. N introduced representatives of Wehrman, Chapman Associates, Inc. the planning process and several alternatives which were being 30- park under- ject at this that those in iici i regarding avor Hilde who reviewed vonsidered for r Special Council Meeting February 8, 1977 Page 31 Central Park development. They reviewed in detail the park plan w5ich had been adopted by the Council. Mayor Hilde and the Manager reviewed the financing aspects of the park, nating the various sources of funds and the amount to be- required to be bonded. The Mayor noted that. Option 1 would cost a $50,000 homeowner apprr,ximately $21.60 Per year, while Option 2 would cost the same homewner approximately $30.00 per year. At this point Mayor Hilde opened the meeting to input from the public regarding how the Council might proceed with the park develnpment. Numerous citizens in the audience commented on the park development plan. It was the general consensus that the community was deficient in cc.,*Ietrd parks at present and that not only would existing parks need to be upgraded and completed, but that any new park should be built and completed as opposed to stringing it out. If the park was not completed, it might be difficult later on to obtain voters' approval to complete it. Several citizens noted the present lack of adequate ballfield facilities for the youth and older citizens of our community, as well as other sporting facilities. It was felt that the park development plan as contemplated did not provide for overbuilding of ballfields and other facilities because we are already deficient in these areas and that the growth ir the community will likely require additional facilities in ether community parks in the years ahead. Mayor Hilde acid members of the Council indicated their desire to proceed with a park development program which would meet the needs of the public yet would not provide more facilities than they needed nor less than are required. The consensus of the audience was that the park development program as proposed should be taken to the ci*izens with an appropriate public informational effort so that they might have an opportunity to approve it. Following the above lengthy aiscussion, the Mayor and Council discussed the mr,tter of the park needs, the effect of the bonded indebtedness upon the property taxpayers and the prospects of additional increases due to inflation in the years ahead. MOTION was made by Councilman Hunt, seconded by Councilman RESOLUTION NO. 77-82 Neils, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 17-82, A RESOLUTION APPROVING APPROVIFG HNFLOPMT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED CENTRAL PARK. OF CENTRAL PARK MOTION TO AMEND was made Councilman Seibold, seconded by Councilman Spaeth, to change paragraph 3 cf the resolution to read "WHEREAS, the total estimated cost for the development and utilities in Central Park is $4,625,751" and paragraph 4 to read "WHEREAS, the Council has concluded that the costs for the de:felopment of Central park will require general obligation bond financing" ar.d further amend paragraph 5 by deleting the words "acquisition and." Councilman Seibold expiaine i that it was his desire that the cost of the land Mcquisition for the Central Park not be included in the bond Issue as the :ost of the acquisition could be almrost completely financed Through monies projected in the Man.-iger's report from rimer sources. He felt that the land will be needed for a Centras Park at some point in time even though we may not be able to develop it should the voters not approve a development bond issue, and at least the public would have the valuable resource for future development. 3'. Special Council Meeting February 8, 1977 Page 32 SUBSTITUTE MOTION to the amendment was made by Councilman Neils, seconded by Councilman Spaeth, to include all the changes in the previous motion to amend but revise the figure in paragraph 3 to read $4,900,000 and provide in paragraph S. section 4, the figure E49 900, coo. Substitute motion carried, five ayes. Notion to adopt Resolution No. 77-82 as amended carried on a hell Call vote, five ayes. Mayor Hilde thanked the audience for their attendance and their contributions to assisting the Council in arriving at this important decision. He indicated that the work was now going to begin and that the public had to be infonied of the importance of this matter in order that they could intelligently vote or, April 19. He briefly reviewed the timeitask schedule which lay ahead indicating that Dick Williams had agreed to step down as chairman of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission temporarily to assume the duties of chairman of the Citizens for Plymouth Progress Committee. The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 P.M. te Loretta Garri ty City Clerk 32- 1 0