The Albert Lea City Council Monday night unanimously approved Brookside Park as the location for a dog park.

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the 1 1/2-acre site could be open to the public in June.

A 5-foot high fence is planned to encompass the park with 10-foot wide access gates for maintenance.

Albert Lea Assistant City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos said dogs and their owners will be expected to enter through the access area.

Separate spaces are planned for large and small dogs. Wheelchair accessibility, solid terrain and Brookside’s capacity as a high-use location have been cited as benefits.

Rotary Club President Sheila Schulz will give the money that has been donated to the Rotary Club for the project to the city at the next council meeting May 9.

The council recommended the location south of the Brookside Boathouse in February.

Third Ward Councilor George Marin thanked people for donating to the dog park, noting it will be a “great addition” for the community.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. thanked the Rotary Club for its work during the fundraising process, noting the park will be a “good amenity” for the community.

Schulz previously said the dog park will promote responsible dog ownership and reduce the likelihood that dogs will be let loose in neighborhoods, on streets or in park and trail areas where they interfere with walkers, bicyclists and joggers.

The other space considered for the site was off of Frank Hall Park.

In other news, the council:

• Unanimously approved the building of a monarch park in Edgewater Park.

The 1/2- to 1-acre site will be east of the new Edgewater Park Pavilion. The city will donate the land for the park.

Organizer Carol Hegel Lang said planting should begin in late May or early June 2017, noting she expects it to take two to three years for the park to be in bloom for insects and pollinators. The project is expected to cost $3,000 to $4,000.

She thanked the council for listening to her and backing her in the process, noting the council took a critical step in approving the plan.

Approved a first reading of an amendment to an ordinance prohibiting private wells for domestic use on properties within the city that are served by Albert Lea’s water system.

Adams said significantly restricting or banning the use of private water wells for domestic use on properties served by the city water system is important to keep the water system safe and provide clean water supplies for the city and its residents. Existing private wells will be allowed to remain.

Authorized city staff to participate in Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, meant to help cities achieve quality of life and sustainability goals.

Approved an amendment to last year’s development agreement and purchase agreement between the city of Albert Lea and Cohen-Esrey Affordable Partners to redevelop the Jacobson and Freeborn National Bank buildings.

Adams said Cohen-Esrey plans to pay $400,000 for the buildings, contingent on being awarded tax credits. The upper floors are planned to be converted into 24 affordable housing units consisting of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments of mixed use development with residential units and first floor rentals.

Accepted the terms of an agreement with Houston County for Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement non-primary entitlement funds for Albert Lea Municipal Airport. The city will receive Houston County’s entitlement funds for the construction of an arrival and departure building at the airport, which is planned to be paid back by Dec. 31, 2019. Adams said the agreement was made because the city was short of federal funding for the project, noting Houston County does not have a 2016 federal project planned.

Approved  an agreement with Grizzlies Football Inc. for 2016. The Grizzlies negotiated an agreement for use of property at Frank Hall Park for this year. The city will maintain the field, but the Grizzlies will be responsible for striping and field preparation for games.

Approved a car agreement for the Albert Lea airport. The agreement allows pilots to use an older, city-owned vehicle as a courtesy car to go eat or shop in Albert Lea during layovers.

Approved an agreement for 21950 733rd Ave. to connect to the city’s water main and sanitary sewer, which was recently installed to service the new St. John’s on Fountain Lake facility.

Adams said the city may want to accept the request and allow connection but not start the annexation process until other properties are ready to be annexed.

Approved resolutions supporting Bent Tree Trail and Riverland Community College bonding requests.

Freeborn County has requested $1.5 million in state bonding for design, site grading and bridge work to develop Bent Tree Trail from Albert Lea to Hartland.

Riverland has requested $7.5 million to attract truck driving and collision programs from Austin to Albert Lea.

Abated assessments on 316 Railroad Ave. and 114 Charlotte Ave.

Declared May as National REACT Month in Albert Lea.