A Forest Lake City council member raised concerns about a $5,500 annual lease payment to Saint Peter's Catholic Church for parking that serves Belts Park and suggested the Parks and Recreation Commission review whether the city needs the arrangement.

Council Member (Speaker 2) told the council they had “come across a check number 100 and 18528 lease payment … to Saint Peter's Catholic Church for some parking lot uses at Belts Park” and questioned the need for the expense given available street parking and recent striping near the park. “I just thought it was something that I'm not sure when this was put into place, but maybe the parks committee could review that lease…to see if that's something we really need to be spending $5,500 on,” Speaker 2 said.

City staff (Speaker 6) and other council members reviewed the lease's recent history. Staff said the council reviewed and considered the contract in November 2024 and that the current invoice on this week's bills reflects an automatic annual renewal. Staff noted the contract contains termination and reimbursement provisions; in the discussion staff referenced a termination-notice window and a reimbursement provision for prepaid rent. Council Member (Speaker 1) recommended honoring the current year's invoice while directing the Parks and Recreation Commission to review the arrangement going forward. “It would be my suggestion to honor the contract and make the payment of this invoice,” Speaker 1 said, adding that honoring the payment “doesn't preclude us from having a discussion going forward.”

Speaker 4 and others described the practical basis for the agreement, saying the church parking has been used by park visitors and that the parties negotiated a formal agreement allowing public use of the tennis and basketball courts. Multiple council members suggested the Parks and Recreation Commission — which was not seated when the contract was approved last year — should review whether the lease remains necessary now that other parking improvements have been made.

Council Member (Speaker 2) moved to refer the lease with Saint Peter's Catholic Church back to the Parks and Recreation Commission for review and recommendation; Speaker 5 seconded the motion. A council member proposed approving the city invoices with the condition that the Parks Commission consider the lease and return a recommendation. The transcript does not record a final roll-call outcome for the referral motion in the excerpt provided.

Next steps: staff and council members indicated they will bring the Parks Commission’s recommendation back to the council for a future decision. The current-year invoice was on the council's bills for payment.