Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Voters to decide Parks bond issue - 4/2/1984
Voters to decide $4.4 million '
parks bind issue
By JEFF BURRILL Tuesday's meeting. "It basically The second question on the
accepted the commission's two- bond issue ballot will seek nearly far council will have u shift gears as parks department should the
At a special meeting held with as accepting future park land bond referendum pass.
g part proposal, in some cases ex- $1.1 million to develop 11 parks dedication goes." "The amount of acreage would
the parks and recreation com- pressing belief that we were be- and purchase 30 acres for a park "We've set 1984-85 as a time
mission 'Tuesday. March 27, the ing too conservative in our re to accommodate neighborhoods increase from 126 to 260," Vraa
} Eagan Citv Council anuroved the - -f, frame for Phase I," Vraa said. swirl Rnr tear hPSn'r mP~ 1-
t, : jJW x1011 Ui L11U By including lighting of athletic staff will double. I would an-
commission's cost request for the The bond issue ballot will city. Phase II of the bond issue fields and rinks, we'll extend ticipate an additional
full-time
upcoming parks bond reteren- feature two questions. The first would increase taxes on an
dum scheduled for May 22. As a will ask voters for a $3.3 million $80,000 home from $5 to $6 er playing time and sports seasons. person and seasonal
part time
result of the council's action, p This procedu[e and the other im workers. We would also need
package to develop or upgrade year. provements will provide us with another large capacity mower."
Eagan residents will have the op- four large community parks and Phase I of the proposed park a 100 percent status level going Wachter also expressed
con-
tion of accept ing or denying a $4.4 17 smaller neighborhood parks. improvement would run into 1985, into 1986. We've been behind so cern that
the $3.3 million being
million dollar bond issue - for This money would pay for expan- at which point Vraa stated the ci- long."
requested in Phase I and the $1.1
parks improvement. ding or upgrading athletic fields, ty would be caught upon its parks
Phase
Last year the parks commis- rinks, shelters, trails, picnic system. Phase II would probably the So begiwennincang of anticipate Phase 1986 I 1Ias
II million would be being asked ultimate for fuodi in
sion called for a bond issue, so ci- n
areas and playground equip- begin in 1986. Mayor Bea Blom uist asked. g
ty officials - in conjunction with meet. Approximately 27 percent During discussion, council q "I would rather ask for a little
the commission established a of this cost, or $825,000, would be members raised questions regar Yes, and Phase II will take us less money if it would
assure the
citizen task force to study the pro- used for actual grading of park ding how long Phase I of the "In into the the future ore"Vraa explained. bond
issue passing, Wachter
posal. Twenty-one members land. referendum would last. we'll be looking for said.
comprise the task force, which If Phase I is approved, con- "We don't dare ask for another park dedications coming from Parks and recreation commis-
was asked to represent citizens' struction would begin this fall. referendum as early as 1986," continued growth of the city, Sion member
Carolyn Thurston
feelings as to the future of park The proposal would cost the council member Jim Smith along with park site funds, e help responded by saying,
" We Feel
land in Eagan. owner of an $80,000 house bet- stated. ''So we're assuming pha p a up much of the second this is a comfortable amount. much
"The task force is a positive ween $21 and $23 in taxes annual- Phase II will carry into the late se." actually started out with much
group,'" parks and recreation ly, with the cost decreasing as the 1980s or early 1990s. But if the Council member Ted Wachter higher numbers.
And as was
director Ken Vraa explained at city grows. current referendum fails, the city then questioned Vraa as in the
y potential staff increase in the Parks, see p.12