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<br />Councilmember Riley asked Police Chief Katers if they are looking at purchasing a hybrid <br />Explorer next year, and is that to save money. <br /> <br />Police Chief Katers explained that came out of a study they did with Connexus Energy on fleet <br />vehicles. It’s not mandated but is one of the few vehicles that is Police Pursuit Rated. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley suggested that they look for the lowest option that meets their needs. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley noted that under new additions, in the next year, was the Lake Itasca <br />observation deck and canoe rental with parking. He asked about expanding an unimproved park <br />when they are having a hard time keeping up with the parks. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood answered it has been a drought year. <br />He explained the canoe and kayak system at Sunfish Lake is really popular, so much so that they <br />are wearing out the boats from dragging them from the locker system to the lake. There are almost <br />2,000 people with proximity cards, so that is a lot of recreation at a low cost and that is the basis <br />behind it. He noted this project first entered the CIP plan as a proposed project when they were <br />speculating on where all the properties that are developed are today. He explained there are a lot <br />of users there, the City timed it right with all the new residents, and staff is trying to identify low- <br />cost recreation in proximity to the speculation that would be hundreds of new families in the area. <br />He stated the Lake Itasca project was also supposed to be developed concurrent with all the new <br />residents but instead, they did the smaller Pearson Park. He still thinks they need to develop that <br />park North of Alpine Drive, East of Lake Itasca, noting the parking would serve, not just the canoe <br />and kayaker observation boardwalk, but the future development of that park. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley suggested money would be better spent on the existing parks. He referenced <br />the park in The COR, Civic Plaza, and asked if that is $1.2 million. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood answered that is a placeholder for <br />whatever comes first. A municipal plaza, which they graded and established turf without irrigation <br />there or maybe an improvement to the waterfront such as a splashpad. He noted if they had a sale <br />of land in the northwest quadrant of The COR, they may need a lot of fill, which may be a good <br />time to advance construction of the first phase of what they are calling the Waterfront Park. The <br />splashpad is one of the single requested items from residents and would be another destination in <br />the downtown to bring people in. He noted it would be a unifying project where you can think of <br />a broad spectrum of users coming in because while some things are very specific, trails and a <br />splashpad cover a lot of the demographic. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley referenced, under opportunities, trail connections, and asked why it is so <br />low in the beginning and grows so much. He asked why wouldn’t they want to make more <br />connections earlier. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood answered, when Councilmember <br />Riley referenced it growing, is he asking about the dollar amount or the list getting bigger? <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / October 26, 2021 <br />Page 6 of 15 <br /> <br />