04-24-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

WOVfif-,,,.REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DATE: April?8|f 1^9| ITEM N^Vr^. 1 ii.* ' •’'•i Department Approval: Name Ron Moorse Title Cirv Administrator Administrator Reviewed: i/M Agenda Section: City Administrator ’s Report item Description: Saga Hill Park Land Grant Public Hearing The Saga Hill park land grant application public hearing is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. during the April 24 Council meeting. Because this hearing will follow the Old Beach Road hearing, the starting time for the hearing is likely to be delayed. Most or all of those interested in this public hearing are aware that the^Old Beach Road hearing is likely to delay the Saga Hill hearing. Purpose of Public Hearing The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain comments from the public regarding the acquisition of 11 acres of land in the Saga Hill area for use as park land. Background Several months ago the City Council made the decision to acquire a 9 acre parcel in the Saga Hill area through a tax forfeitur** ^Tjceduie. This parcel was available to the city as a result of a foreclosure process. More recently, the residents of the area, working with the Miimesota Land Trust-a non-profit organization whose purpose is to preserve open space-have obtained an option on the remainder of the property involved in the foreclosure. This property is now owned by the bank which had the mortgage on the property. The property involved is approximately 11 acres adjacent to the 9 acre parcel to be acquired by the City through tax forfeiture. The residents of the area are working with the Minnesota Land Trust to raise funds to purchase the 11 acres. One part of this fund raising effort is an application for a grant through the DNR’s Natural and Scenic Area Grant Program. This grant is proposed to be $100,000 which must be matched by $100,000 from other sources. The application for this grant must be made by the city rather than by the Saga Hill group or the Minnesota Land Trust. Key Issues The decision regarding whether to move ahead with the grant application involves two mam issues. 1. Should the land involved in the application be preserved as open space/park land, 2.Will the Saga Hill group and Minnesota Land Trust be successful in raising the $100,000 required to match the grant amount.