The north part of Albert Lea’s Edgewater Park is on track to become a new six-field soccer complex.

The Albert Lea City Council on Monday unanimously approved a license agreement with the Albert Lea Youth Soccer Association to develop the property, across from the new pavilion, and turn it into the complex. The site is the former location of a landfill.

“We’re really excited about making a site out there that will be a beautiful green area that will have literally thousands of visitors every year,” said Greg Wilson with the association.

Under the agreement, the Albert Lea Youth Soccer Association will construct the fields — everything from leveling the land, and then tiling, grading and seeding it for use — with donations and in-kind labor. The city will approve the final plans and oversee the work, which must be completed prior to August 2014.

After the project is completed, the city will maintain the fields, with the association essentially leasing back the property for 20 years.

The fields will be used by children ages 9 to 17 and will range in size to accommodate different age groups.

Organizers are hoping the association will be able to run tournaments at the site and bring people into the community.

Outgoing Youth Soccer Association President Sophie Ehrhardt said there are currently more than 200 children who are a part of the association, and she thinks soccer is a growing sport.

Part of the agreement calls for the city to be paid $10 per player by the association for the first year of soccer at the site. The fee will assist the city with maintenance costs of the fields. City Manager Chad Adams estimated the annual maintenance costs to be about $7,000.

The agreement also calls for the city to provide parking stalls for the fields. The agreement can be revisited by both parties annually.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen thanked the members of the association and said he looks forward to seeing the project completed.

In other action, the City Council:

• Approved a 1.75 percent cost of living increase for Adams.

With the increase, he will make $113,163 annually.

• Voted to table the vacation of the roadway easement between Sykes and Westron streets in front of a proposed $5 million Kwik Trip development. Discussion on the issue will continue Jan. 28.

• Voted to allocate police and fire pension fund interest earnings to pay for the final payment for the Law Enforcement Center lease, the Fire Department study and capital expenditures for the police and fire departments.

• Rezoned the Hills Garden area that was annexed into the city in August.

• Rezoned the Overhead Door Co. property at 77893 209th St. as a B-2 Community Business District.

• Named the Tribune as the city’s official newspaper for 2013 for matters required by law to be published.

• Established appointments of the council and members of the community to various city commissions.

• Established the rules and procedures for the council to follow when conducting business throughout 2013.

• Designated the depositories for city funds as U.S. Bank of Albert Lea, UBS Financial Services Inc. of Rochester and the Minnesota Municipal Money Market Fund.

• Approved a lawful gambling permit for the American Legion Post 56 at Holiday Lanes.