4.1. SR 06-16-1997.,y of
MEMORANDUM
Item #4.1.
TO: Park & Recreation Commission
Planning Commission
FROM: Pat Klaers, City Administrator
DATE: June 6, 1997
SUBJECT: Area Learning Center
The School District is requesting an informal review and discussion of their
current Area Learning Center (ALC) proposal. Much like the first proposal,
the current building concept is located at the Oak Knoll youth recreation
complex which is on property that is owned by both the city and the School
District.
I would like to frrst indicate that I am concerned about losing any youth
recreation fields. I am especially concerned about losing youth baseball fields
when the youth baseball organization has volunteered to be partners in
financing the development of the Cass recreation fields. On the other hand,
the youth soccer group has chosen to not be partners in the development of
this new youth recreation complex. At this time it appears that the youth
soccer group and the City Council have been successful in convincing the
School District to pursue another building option other than their first choice
which was to locate a facihty on their property (soccer field(s)).
With that being said, and without the benefit of seeing a detailed layout for
how the facility and parking will function in the area described in the
attached 5/26/97 letter, I would like to indicate that I support the School
District's current proposal and concept. The overriding factor for my support
is that this proposal provides the city with the opportunity to control the
balance of the property (all of the soccer fields) at a fair market price. The
city hopes to pay this fair market price to the School District over time as
sufficient funds are not currently available in the park dedication reserve. It
is estimated that we are talking about purchasing up to four acres.
If this most recent concept from the School District is rejected, we may again
see the School District pursuing theft original proposal as they own this land
and have some rights to use the land in a reasonable manner. If the school
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
finds that it cannot use its property in what they view as a reasonable
manner, they may sell this land to another party. Conceivably, this other
party could then sell the land to the city for recreation purposes at a higher
price than what we are currently discussing. If another party were to
purchase the property they could also pursue a rezoning to residential and
ask the Council to consider a residential development proposal in this area.
All in all, it seems very beneficial to the city to obtain as much control as
possible of this property. An option that the city suggested to the School
District was not acceptable to them and this option was to simply pay cash
for all of the school's property in this Oak Knoll complex and then have the
School District pursue another site.
As I understand the proposal, the youth complex would not be disrupted
during the 1997 season. In 1998, the Cass fields (is this our official name?)
should be in playable condition. Ultimately, the Oak Knoll complex would
have a decrease in youth baseball (and softball) fields, but an alternative
should be available when the four Cass fields are completed for the 1998
season.
While I am not overly excited or wild in my support for the proposal, I do
believe it is reasonable and, in balancing all of the issues, the current ALC
proposal from the School District has my support.
_.-
Independent School District 728
--~ ADMINISTRATION OFFICES
400 School Street DAVID M. F~NNERY
Mr. Pat Klares, C~ ~~s330 Su~rintendent of Sch~ls
(612) 241-~ F~ (612) 241~7
David Flannery
Superintendent of Schools
Date: May 26, 1997
Securing a site for the Area Learning Center
The following is a proposal that has the support of the Elk River Area School
Board and District administration.
We are purposing to build an Area Learning Center on the site of an existing
softball field at Oak Knoll Park. The field is labeled Field 4 on the attached
drawing.
We are suggesting this site because it meets our criteria; it is affordable; it is
in walking distance to the High School and the junior highs; and, it is
somewhat isolated from city residents and businesses. This particular site
has the added advantage of preserving the existing soccer fields while using
the smallest, least functional, existing field.
As succinctly as possible, the School District is proposing to trade a parcel of
existing soccer field equal to the size of the softball field for Field 4. In
addition, the District would be willing to sell the City the remainder of the
three soccer fields at fair market value. The School District would gain a
good ALC site and the City would own and control the soccer fields they
helped develop and value.
In addition, the School District would need help with zoning issues and with
items like the number and location of parking places. The School Board is
aware that future expansion on the site would be limited to what is currently
the Community Education Building and its surrounding area.
The administration and School Board are willing to talk about this proposal
and variations of it. Please share these ideas with the City Council and staff.
While we are willing to take the time necessary to work through issues or
concerns, we do need to move ahead on a facility for the Area Learning
Center. Thank you for your consideration of this important proposal.
Approved for Release: ~-; ~-~---~.
c Members of the School Board
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