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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09/19/1947147 September 19, 1947. 5 oiclock P.M. Special meeting of Council of the City of Petaluma called to,order by Mayor Woodson. ROLL-CALL: Present Councilmen Dei oema er, and Mayor Woodson. READTNG'OF THE CALL: The CT read the call for to holding of the meeting., and of said meeting. The call stated was for discussing and acting upon Park to the 4th Dist,. :r. Assc. 3s, King, Minogue, Myers, Seidell, the Special Meeting, the consent the certificate of mailing of notices that the purpose of the meeting a long term lease of Kenilworth Mr. Eric Nisson addressed the Council stating that the Fair Board had requested this special meeting in order to avoid the possibil- ity of a misunderstanding with the Council; that they were present to formally ask the Council to enter a lease agreement with them for a term of 50 years or for 25 years with an option to renew for an additional 25 years that the Board of Public Works is ready to get started on the grading and draining of Kenilworth Park but that they will not act until a lease is executed or in the process of being executed., He asked that the matter be taken under consideration now. A lengthy discussion was held between the members of the Council and the Fair Board, Councilman King reporting'information received from Mr. Miller of the'State Board regarding the lease, stating that Mrr. Miller had informed them that the-State would accept a lease with the condition that the mile track be retained; that if, in order to retain said mile track it would be necessary to change the layout design this would admittedly result in delaying the project up to a year but Mr. Milder was the authority for the Council's belief that they would not be losing much anyway, inasmuch as Mr. Miller had stated that not more than one building could be completed within that time; that it would not be necessary to take any action before the 15th of October when Mr. Snyder and Mr. Hampton of the State Board would be available for a joint neeting with the Council and Fair Board. It.was pointed out by members of the Fair Board that they wished to begin their building program at once; that they did not wish to be sub;jected'to the- criticism that they received this year and which they would be - likely t'6' receive if no improvements were -made this year; that if the mile track were retained it would be necessary to change the master plan which would mean that no improvements could be made this year; that they (the Board) feels that if anything acts to prevent them advantage of their opportunity to start spending the money now that there is a real possibility that the Department of Finance may transfer the funds to some other project and that Petaluma may suffer indefinitely as a result of that - in other words, the way to get the fundz is to take them when they are available; that under the present master plan in order to provide for adequate parking area, children� playground,'etc. it would be necessary to construct some of'the improvements on the mile track' area© Councilman King suggested that an additional 16 acres of land be purchased either by the City-or the Fair Board in order to retain the mile track; that his mother is the owner of said 16 acres and that at any time the Fair Board or the City wishes to buy it, it is avail- able at 'a very satisfactory price. The members of the'Fair Board stated that if the Counci, would give them a lease they would do everything possible to preserve the mile track, but inasmuch as it was apparent that if the present plan improvement to the park is followed, permanent buildings Would be constructed on the mile track, this was not satisfactory to all of the members of the City Council. Mr. Nisson pointed out that the Board has some three- quarters of a million dollars to spend and that the Board is free to ask for a Tease from some other part of the Sonoma Marin District. ADJOUH%& - The meeting was adjourned without act' n pending a lure 7.e ATTEST TY CLERK. MAYOR ng with members of the State Board. 77�� ;k�. .„ _.CI i 3