Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/13/2005

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Parks/Utilities Supervisor Riverblood stated that bituminous prices are up, and he didn't know what that meant from 2004 to 2005, but probably .20 percent. Case #3 Tax Forfeit Properties Chair Johns asked whether these were things they ar~.buying because somebody didn't pay their taxes on it. Civil Engineer E Linton stated that nobody had paid taxes on them for a period of time, and the City gets the first right of refusal. Chair Johns asked if the City would be purchasing them from the landowner. Civil Engineer 12 Linton stated it would be from the County. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Riverblood stated that these parcels are almost always wetland. He stated the City has picked up marginally usable parcels in the past for park purposes. He stated that the City typically picks up tax forfeit properties, and unless there are unusual circumstances on any of these parcels, he saw no reason why the City wouldn't want to pick them up. He stated that by purchasing them and not desig-nating them as park land, it would give complete flexibility, which may include deeding a small portion to a property owner if there was some change of land use that necessitated an additional 15 feet or whatever the case may be. Chair Johns asked whether any of these pieces had any high ground. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Riverblood stated that based upon his general familiarity of the area, he would be surprised if any of this wasn't wetland, but it was his opinion that it would be in the City's best interest to own them. Civil Engineer H Linton stated that it would be his recommendation to delay this until December in order for him to take a look at the properties and take pictures, so they could intelligently discuss what was there. Motion by Chair Johns, seconded by Commissioner Ostrum, to table this item until the December meeting. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Johns, Commissioners Ostrum, LaMere, Olds, and Pontius. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioners Lehman and Shyrock. Case #4 Mississippi Recreation District Parks/Utilities Supervisor Youngblood stated that it had been determined by the Commission to analyze one or more of the Recreational Districts each month, and that this review and analysis would not only likely generate revisions and updates to the Commission's Park and Trail Plan map, but may provide a framework for a Park's Master Plan. t-Ie stated he had completed the Park and Recreation Commission/November 18, 2004 Page 4 of 6