The Albert Lea City Council is considering possibilities for an updated or new sporting complex with fields for baseball, softball and other sports.

The council briefly discussed options during the work session prior to the regular City Council meeting on Monday.

Phil Wacholz, assistant director of public works, said city staff and consultant firm WSB & Associates Inc. started with a list of 12 possible locations and narrowed that list down to three for new sites and are also looking at what it would take to renovate Snyder Field, which the city leases from Riverland Community College.

Wacholz said at a previous meeting the first three of the five existing fields were built in 1979, along with the concession stand, and two additional ones were built the next year. The city has provided perpetual maintenance of fences, lights, parking lots, dugouts and drainage, among other improvements.

Properties being considered for a new complex were on land across from Home Depot bordered by Blake Avenue and Southeast Marshall Street, land off of Lake Chapeau Drive and a hybrid site consisting of the existing Snyder Field plus property east of Northbridge Mall.

He said the city would ultimately like to have five softball and baseball fields, ample parking and rectangular fields for soccer, rugby and lacrosse, along with volleyball courts, a pavilion and concessions area, and a maintenance facility.

Wacholz and the council discussed pros and cons for each of the locations, including proximity to amenities such as food, lodging and retail areas for people to access coming in for tournaments from out of town.

The other option is to update the existing Snyder Field site, though it would not have room for rectangular fields for other sports that were included in the new-build options, Wacholz said.

A few councilors said if the city were to build a new complex that the site off of Lake Chapeau Drive was their least favorite choice because it was away from food, retail and lodging opportunities.

Several expressed support for the site near Home Depot if the city decides to move forward with a new complex.

Wacholz said WSB plans to provide more information at future work sessions, including 3-D renderings. Cost estimates were not yet available.

In other action during the regular meeting, the council:

• Approved plans and ordered advertisement of bids for the neighborhood improvement overlay and James Avenue reconstruction street projects slated to take place this summer.

The project includes the bituminous overlay and sidewalk and curb improvements on portions of Sunset Street, Campus Drive, Campus Lane, Trollwood Drive, Meadow Lane, Seath Drive, Westwood Drive, Hale Drive, Crystal Drive, Silver Lane, Quisley Street, Plaza Street, Ekko Avenue, Frank Hall Drive and 10th Street.

Complete reconstruction will take place on James Avenue from Eighth Street to Seventh Street.

Bid opening is slated for April 7.

• Ordered preparation of plans for the reconstruction of Clark Street from Ermina Avenue to First Avenue this summer.

The project includes removal of existing concrete, repairs to existing utilities, storm drainage improvements, sidewalk replacement and reconstruction of the road with bituminous pavement.

The engineering department has recommended narrowing the street from 45 feet wide to 40 feet wide for the whole length.

A few of the residents living in the stretch of the project questioned why the project was necessary and said they were concerned about narrowing the street.

• Approved the application of a loan from the Public Facilities Authority’s Drinking Water Revolving Fund Loan Program for the construction and demolition of the city’s central water tower.

Firm Bolton & Menk will assist the city with preparation of the application, which is due in March.

• Approved an agreement for pesticide spraying for the 2020 and 2021 summers with Mosquito Control of Iowa for $19,250 for each year.

Spraying will be done from the ground and will include treatment of residential and park spaces, including special treatments of Fountain Lake Park and the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

• Approved the replacement of a 2006 Case 430 wheeled skid loader used by the Utility Department.

The skid loader is being replaced with a 2020 CAT 259D3 tracked skid loader.

The item was budgeted for $75,000 and will cost about $43,000 after trade-in allowance.

• Approved a resolution of support for the state to study the South Central Minnesota Passenger Rail Corridor. The state will use $500,000 in state funds for the study.

• Accepted a $200 donation to the Albert Lea Fire Department after firefighters responded to a citizen’s needs after falling. The donation will go to support the kitchen at the new fire station.

• Heard an update from Shell Rock River Watershed District Administrator Andy Henschel about projects happening with the Watershed District.