ITEM 5.2 Memo Lehrke Soccer Field Lights Item 5.2
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TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Nick Jacobs, Parks and Recreation Director
DATE: March 15, 2023
RE: Lehrke Soccer Field Lights
Background Information
At the February Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Boreal Futbol Club was in
attendance and presented a project proposal during open forum for 1 full size soccer field to be
lit at the Lehrke Soccer field complex. Boreal Soccer expressed the need due to increased
soccer participants and the need for games being played in proximity to many of the
participants homes. Boreal Soccer stated 60% of the organization’s participants are Otsego
residents. Boreal offered to offset the project cost by paying $12,500 each year for 10 years,
approximately $125,000 towards the project, to help cost share the project. The Parks and
Recreation Commission motioned to have staff gather pricing and information about the soccer
field lighting project.
Staff researched the lighting project and found the City was able to purchase the lights directly
from the state contract which guarantees lowest pricing. Musco Lighting is the company who
has the state contract on the field lights. A quote was obtained that reflected the price of
$178,961. Staff reached out to other communities who currently use Musco lights and all
contacted individuals agreed Musco was a reputable company. Staff proceeded to contact
Wright Hennepin Electric who provides the electric utilities at Lehrke fields. Wright Hennepin
Electric estimated the cost to bring service to the lights around $4,000. Staff estimates a
contingency budget of $2,000.
This would bring the total project cost to $184,961. Boreal Soccer proposed paying the City in
increments of $12,500 for 10 years, approximately $125,000 towards the proposed project. The
City would be paying the project cost upfront and be reimbursed over the 10 -year period. The
total cost to the City would be $59,961. The City of Otsego had included this project in the 2023
Parks Capital Equipment fund in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and budgeted $190,000.
Item 5.2
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Staff will be researching what other communities charge for field fees, for the use of lit fields.
Fees for the additional electricity usage would be charged back to the user groups, with an
increased fee to use the lit field. The additional fee would be placed on the City of Otsego fee
schedule for approval in late 2023, for the 2024 season. The City of Otsego and Boreal Futbol
Club would enter a legal contract to ensure the full $125,000 was paid back to the City within
the 10-year period.
Requested Commission Action
Staff is requesting that the Parks and Recreation Commission review the presented information
and provide recommendations for the proposed Lehrke Soccer field lights request.
Possible recommendation:
• To recommend to City Council the Lehrke Soccer Field light project for approval.
Attachments:
• Musco Quote
• Parks Capital Equipment CIP-Fund 205