§ 1. Background; findings.

1.01.

The City Council has approved Bill No. 1998-5, which upon its effective date, will amend the Richfield City Charter by adding a new Section 8.04. The proposed Section 8.04 would require that any capital improvement on City-owned property that has an estimated cost exceeding $500,000.00 or expenditures for design or engineering costs exceeding $75,000.00 must be approved by Ordinance after a public hearing.

1.02.

It is proposed that the City Council approve a capital improvement project on City-owned property located at various parks as proposed in the ball field improvements plan.

1.03.

The capital improvement project consists of ball field improvements and additions as indicated in the ball field improvements plan (the "Ball Field Project").

1.04.

The estimated construction cost of the capital improvement, excluding design and engineering costs is $1,800,000.00. The estimated design and engineering costs are $200,000.00.

1.05.

A public hearing was held on May 11, 1998. Notice of the public hearing was published on May 13, 1998, and May 20, 1998, in the City's official newspaper.

1.06.

The Council finds and determines that it is in the best interest of the City and its inhabitants that the Ball Field Project be approved.

1.07.

The City has received a grant from the State for $2,000,000.00 to develop and improve ball fields at various parks to replace ball fields currently in use on Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) property. The ball field improvement plan was developed by the Ball Field Task Force and recommended for implementation by the Community Services Commission. As the grant is only half of the estimated cost of the total plan, implementation of the plan will be based on meeting the needs of as many user groups as possible.