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Confidential terms of City Park's arrangement with the Bayou District Foundation
As bad as it is for those of us currently concerned with City Park, this deal will also deprive citizens of future generations any say in what happens to half the park.

info@cityparknola.org
5/25/2009

We have obtained a copy of the "confidential" Business Term Sheet from 2007 outlining the terms and conditions of the proposed agreement between the Bayou District Foundation/Fore!Kids Foundation (the "tenant") and City Park. Most of these proposed terms have never been made public.

The highlights:

- The location is referred to as "approximately 550 acres", despite the repeated claims of "only 400 acres" cited in public.

- It is to be a lease arrangement, with the initial lease term of fifty (50) years, with four ten (10) year renewal options, for a total of a ninety (90) year lease. [Important note: a 90 year lease is considered to be almost equivalent to a sale. When a public body wants to "sell" something, but is legally prohibited from doing so, sometimes they enter into a 90 or 100 year lease.]

- Start up rent will be $100,000 per year, beginning 60 days after approval of the lease "by all responsible authorities", and base rent will be $500,000 per year, beginning either when the courses open or 2 years from lease execution, whichever is earlier. In additional rent, tenant will also pay 33% of net operating profit generated from golf operations.

- Tenant will be exempt from paying property taxes, because the property is publicly owned.

- Financing of project will be responsibility of tenant, with City Park providing a portion of the funds, some of which may be provided in the form of debt.

- In addition to the golf facilities, tenant shall construct additional recreational facilities on the former "North Course", including up to eight (8) soccer fields and eight (8) baseball/softball fields.

Attachment:   Business Term Sheet between City Park and BDF/Fore!Kids

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