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stated she thinks having larger regional parks with amenities will attract people to the <br />community. <br />Mayor Ramsey stated he is not opposed to constructing the building but in hearing this <br />discussion he has always been concerned about who controls the building. He would prefer that <br />NLS not make any contribution toward the building's construction but, rather, to use those funds <br />for ancillary costs like rental of porta - potties and helping with maintenance. Otherwise, he <br />feared this could become the soccer building and a soccer park, which he does not want to <br />happen. Mayor Ramsey stated he wants to take the time for a thorough investigation whether <br />hockey, snowmobiling, boy scouts, or others will fit. <br />Bret Fields, Northern Lights Soccer President, indicated it already has $40,000 to contribute <br />towards the proposed Elmcrest Park building. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated he would also like to see a building in this location as long as it <br />is multiuse. He noted the City has an inventory showing it owns 270 properties, and earlier <br />tonight the Council considered sale of a parcel that had $50,000 in value so he believed the <br />Council can find "low hanging fruit" and come up with funding. <br />Councilmember Backous stated he also supports selling unneeded City - owned parcels and <br />reducing unused parkland; however, the money collected from developers happened long ago <br />and it is in the Park Trust Fund. He stated for years he had helped organize State - sponsored <br />tournaments that bring thousands of people into Ramsey. However, it is becoming harder to get <br />the tournaments without having amenities. Councilmember Backous stated he has invited <br />Council members to attend a district tournament held in Ramsey to see what is involved and the <br />benefit it brings to Ramsey but no one has taken him up on the offer. He stated there is an <br />economic benefit to having parks with amenities to win tournament bids and those tournaments <br />are harder to get without a building. <br />Mayor Ramsey stated it is the consensus of the Council to construct the Elmcrest Park building <br />but he does not want to use $40,000 from NLS towards the building design or construction <br />because he does not want anyone to say it is a soccer -owned building. Mayor Ramsey stated he <br />also favors both playgrounds. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated it was mentioned the fees were collected from developers and <br />are in the Park Trust Fund. He asked if those funds were available for use. <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated Councilmember McGlone <br />had referred to an e -mail received several years ago from several residents. He stated he does <br />not think the intent of the e -mail was malicious and explained the City received a $100,000 State <br />grant to initiate the first phase of Elmcrest Park that cost $400,000. The membership of the <br />Youth Association changed and they remembered that there was a grant to fund the project and <br />the Elmcrest Park building remained in the CIP, so they suggested there was money for this <br />scheduled project but the Council would not move it forward. Parks and Assistant Public Works <br />Superintendent Riverblood clarified the City spent beyond the $100,000 grant that was received <br />for the first phase. <br />City Council Work Session / July 31, 2012 <br />Page 16of18 <br />