-----Original Message-----
From: Jack G. Conrad [mailto:jackgconrad @ earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 10:06 PM
To: Organizer@FriendsoftheEaganCoreGreenway.org
Cc:
Subject: Caponi Art Park on Track to be Secured in 2005
Dear Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway,
Good evening all,
The City Council meeting went very well tonight for the Caponi Art Park with approval of a "memorandum of understanding" for acquisition of a 60 acre parcel in the Caponi Art Park possibly as soon as January, 2005.
Tony and Cheryl Caponi were there with board members Cary Felbab (chair) and Chip Lindeke, the board attorney Steve Cox, Richard Schieffer (Caponi attorney) and Bob McGillivray for the Trust for Public Land and me--on behalf of Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway.
The Eagan City Council members involved with the lengthy and not-yet-over negotiations were Mike McGuire and Peggy Carlson. Mike Maguire noted that this is a "step forward", that there is still "some process to go," but Peggy Carlson followed with "this is a memo of understanding" and I "just wanted to star that." She also remarked that there still is a "lot of discussion." The Mayor cheerfully said this is a "huge, huge step" and addressing Tony: "You had a vision, we're getting there. Merry Christmas."
Much credit goes to the successful efforts to secure good people for the Caponi Board. I knew this but was particularly reminded after listening tonight to several hours of the Council in somewhat acrimonious interaction with developers and citizens due in large part, I thought, to misunderstanding either innocent or willful. Our good guys had gone well past that stage in discussions so the Council was pleased to pass the resolution.
---John Ward
Friends of the Eagan Core Greenway Board Member