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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 02-03 City council delays action on park charge THE REVIEW n TUES., FEB. 3, 1976 City co ell delays 0 action on park charge by Scott Carlson Councilman Donald Wiegert, while match the economy. We're not even A recommendation from City Manager supporting a review in six months,.was trying to correct what is a discrepancy in Michael Miller and the Parks and skeptical that an increase would be that the formula as to the realistic prices of Recreation Commission to increase the unduly hard on the citizens."Is that much costs." park availability charge (PAC) has been more going to kill a house?"he asked."I Miller stated that the park charge has set aside by the Maplewood council until don't know where to put the handle on raised $33,358.88 in cash for the at least June. this. Where do we stop it?" development of Playcrest Park and a new The:councii by a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Greavu, as he has at other council lighted skating facility at Gladstone Park. Robert Bruton and colleague John meetings, suggested that the city hold a This money is coming in at a time when Greavu dissenting,decided the figures for Park referendum. the park development budget has dropped calculating the charge will remain at the But Wiegert contended, "A bond issue to its lowest point in more than seven same rate established 21 months ago; merely says 'how would you like your years, according to Miller. The total is $4,000 per acre for acquisition and $7,500 taxes to go up?'We're supposed to be here $46,375. per acre for park development. to recognize what things need to be done." Anderson suggested that the council The park charge was established as a Mayor Bruton was in support of the refrain from increasing the figures in the means for the city to have the ready funds increased park charge. "We're putting in park charge formula at least until June. available to build parks for developing less to park development and acquisition "If we are going to have development at neighborhoods. because we have less and less from the that time we probably can get more input Miller,plus Asst. Community Services general fund to put in.; from other people who will be building," Director Bruce Anderson and Bernie "We'll do less and less unless we find an Anderson said. "If there is not a lot of Grover, chairman of the Parks and alternative source of financing and this is objection we can still put it in in June." Recreation Commission, contended that it," Bruton continued. "There is nothing 1 new increases for the park charge were. else but this and I challenge you to show needed to try and keep up with in- me any piece of land we've bought in 1975 flationary increases on land and that we bought at$4,000 an acre or$4,500 a development. Proposed was a $4,500 per an acre. `: acre total for acquisition and $8,250 per Bruton added,"All we're trying to do is acre for acquisition.That would represent 12.5 and 10 percent increases respec- tively. These charges are still below actual development costs," Miller said. ;` . �' But councilmen Burton Murdock and 1 '" Norman Anderson wondered whether developers and citizens could take an ,'',4'''' ,�'' increase when the economy has not / ";.� recovered. The building industry cannot afford any more increases until it gets out of the -` ` u doldrums," Murdock contended. 1 But Bruce Anderson indicated that building is not at a standstill in Ma lewood. He said three big projects, f _ p .. . --which total 352 housing units and, representing an added population of 1,400 BERME GR®VER, chairman of the people,are in the preliminary plat stage. Maplewood Parks and Recreation, last "It was the contention of the Park and Thursday night urged the city council to Recreation Commission that what we're increase the park availability charge talking about is a great influx of people,n (PAC).But the council decided to hold off Anderson said. "We're talking about an any increase until at least June to immediate demand that will have to be determine whether citizens and builders met." Murdock responded, "I'm for a park can afford any increase.Grover said that charge.But at this time where building is the city would not be in its bind of trying to just hurting,young and old people cannot scrape together money for parks if it had afford this." followed recommendations that the Commission made some years ago.