Agenda - Council - 03/27/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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estimate how much it will cost beyond the $325 filing costs with the court. He clarified the City does not get the property; it has to go back to the person/company that dedicated the property and/or its heirs. Councilmember McGlone stated the estimated costs have a $66,000 swing and asked if all of the properties can be handled in one action before the judge. He stated the motivation for this consideration was to gain revenues, wherever possible, to put back into the Park Dedication Fund to enhance other City parks. Councilmember McGlone felt a case could be made to the judge that the City has 51 parks and needs to reevaluate its park system moving forward. He noted that when the pocket parks came into existence, Ramsey was a developing community so small parks served isolated neighborhoods. However, that has changed and the City now has miles of trails. He supported having only five parks and selling whatever land possible. City Attorney Goodrich stated it may be possible to combine the lots into one District Court action but it would require investigating all of the parcels and, in the end, the property goes back to the dedicators and the City will not receive title. Councilmember McGlone suggested staff determine who the property would go back to and ask if they would be willing to pay for the cost to cover that process. Then the City would get tax dollars from those properties. Councilmember Backous agreed the context of the discussion was pocket parks, the strain on staff with maintenance, costs to the City, and how to get the property back on the tax rolls. He supported staff investigating first to try and locate the dedicators and ask if they axe willing to buy back the property. This will result in lowering the City's maintenance costs and getting the property back on the tax rolls. Councilmember Backous asked about the dedicated versus restricted parcels and how many are involved. Planning Intern Brama explained the types of restrictions on donated property, such as for park dedication. City Attorney Goodrich explained that dedicated property is generally received through a plat for a specific use and restricted property is received through a deed process. Councilmember Strommen asked whether the investigation is worth doing since the court needs to first determine whether the property can be returned. She stated she also wants to know the location of the parcels, maintenance costs on those parcels, and how developable are the parcels. If containing significant wetlands, they City may not receive any revenue on them, and it is expensive to resolve title issues. Councilmember Strommen stated she wants to assure the benefits being assumed will actually be received. She would also like to see a balance sheet that includes estimated revenue in taxes. She stated the younger neighborhood children use the pocket park on her street a lot and asked what the City's maintenance costs are. Parks Supervisor Riverblood indicated the City has no maintenance costs on that pocket park. It was noted this type of pocket park results in constant complaints because the park is not mowed or maintained. City Council Work Session January 17, 2012 Page 2 of 1