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07/02/1991 - City Council Special SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING 5:00 P.K. JULY 2, 1991 I. DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED FINANCING FOR ICE ARENA & OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL . (NO FORMAL ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED) II. OTHER BUSINESS • MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS FROM: CITY ADMINISTRATOR HEDGES DATE: JULY 1, 1991 SUBJECT: SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING/JULY 2, 1991 The Eagan Recreational Advisory Committee met on Wednesday,June 26 to further receive an update on the City's five (5) year capital improvements program and progress the executive committee has made these past several months in reviewing financing options for construction of an ice arena and outdoor swimming pool. The meeting was well attended by Committee members, in addition to City Councilmembers Gustafson and McCrea. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee reached a consensus that the City Council appropriate $2.5 million for an ice arena facility and schedule a bond referendum during the month of August to vote on an outdoor swimming pool. The Committee is recommending that the City Council consider these actions at a July City Council meeting. City Councilmembers Gustafson and McCrea have recommended a special City Council meeting for Tuesday, July 2, 1991 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss both recommendations, realizing that a formal action would be scheduled for a future regular City Council agenda. Mayor Egan was advised of the Committee's recommendation and the request for a special City Council meeting and has authorized the City Administrator to schedule the special City Council meeting for 5:00 p.m. to discuss and consider these recommendations. If time permits, the City Council could consider, as a part of Other Business, informative items that would require their discussion. The City Administrator will be prepared. For additional information and background on the Committee's recommendations, please refer to the attached memo prepared by the Director of Parks & Recreation. Please contact Karen no later than noon on Tuesday to indicate your choice of sandwich from Apple's Restaurant. /S/ Thomas L. Hedges • City Administrator TLH/vmd MEMORANDUM TO: TOM HEDGES, CITY ADMINISTRATOR FROM: KEN VRAA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION DATE: JUNE 28, 1991 RE: CITIZENS RECREATION FACILITY AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE: A RECOMMENDATION TO PROCEED WITH A REFERENDUM Attached to this cover memorandum are the minutes of the June 26, 1991 meeting of the Recreational Facilities Advisory Committee meeting. I am certain that the minutes of that meeting do not reflect all of the conversation that transpired during the meeting. However, the conclusions of the Advisory Committee was that there should be a "package" bond referendum proposed to the residents of Eagan. The Bond Referendum would be for an ice arena, swimming pool and community athletic field development. It is proposed that the bond referendum be reduced by approximately $2.M from the community investment fund. The "recreational facilities" package will have the residents conclude that it would be appropriate for the council to put the $2M towards the ice arena (other funding would come from private sources) together, with the sale of bonds to finance the swimming pool and athletic field development. Council Members Gustafson and McCrea suggested that this item be brought to a work shop session of the City Council prior to the July 2nd Council meeting. Despite the short time frame, the committee concluded that it would also be desirable to have such a referendum in August of this year, due to the feeling that a referendum on a swimming pool would have the greatest chance of success during the summertime. Further, a referendum late in the year would preclude the timely construction of an ice arena. I believe that you have already spoken to Council Members Pam McCrea and Gustafson regarding the committee's conclusions. I am sure they have filled you in on the conversation as it transpired Wednesday evening and the thoughts the committee had. If I can provide you with additional information, I would be happy to do so. KV/bls Attachment MINUTES OF THE JUNE 26, 1991 CITIZENS RECREATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Present at the meeting were: Floyd Hiar, Alan Menning, Dick Hansen, Jim Runkle, John Scharfbillig, John Glenn, John Lee, Tom Kranz, Brian Karrick and Gary Fuchs. Also, present was Council Members Pam McCrea and Dave Gustafson, Park and Recreation Director Ken Vraa, City Finance Director Gene VanOverbeke, and Bob Rosene of Bonestroo, Rosene and Anderlik Associates. Director of Parks and Recreation Vraa said the meeting was called in order to bring the Advisory Committee up to date on the progress that had been made, as well as to inform them of the various capitol needs the City has. He added that the Committee will have an opportunity to comment on the site plan for the "Y", as submitted with their request for land to construct a "Y" facility. Also, to discuss the committee's feelings regarding a phased approach to the eventual construction of an ice arena and swimming pool. Director of Finance Gene VanOverbeke was introduced and he reviewed the City's C.I.P. as prepared by the City staff. This was previously presented to the City Council in the Spring of this year. He then reviewed a revised plan which had a reduction in the five year C.I.P. needs, a referendum for $2.5M for an ice arena and expenditures in the amount of $4.5M from the community investment fund. After his presentation, there were numerous questions concerning the community investment fund such as: why a swimming pool did not appear in the Five (5) Year Plan, why an ice arena was proposed for the referendum and not another facility, etc. Council Member Gustafson explained that the Council was trying to keep the capital needs number down to a manageable amount. He went on to say that the public has different perspective for the use of the community investment fund, and there may be a perception that those funds should be used only for necessities such as Police and Fire facilities, or to be used to reduce taxes. There was considerable discussion by the Committee concerning such issues as a time for a referendum, cost figures for construction of facilities, the progress of locating a "Y" facility, potential for a school district referendum, City Hall and Police space needs and packaging an approach to the public to explain the City's total capital needs. Bob Rosene indicated that the months of June, July and August were the best times to have a referendum where the issue of a swimming pool is concerned. His firm will have some cost figures for August. After distribution of the site plan as prepared by the "Y", there were questions as to why the swimming pool was not proposed at the same time as the ice arena. Floyd Hiar suggested the City needed to know what the needs were and go to the public indicating the needs in order to sell the referendum. Member Runkle suggested the City apply the $2M that was previously committed to the community center to an ice arena. Further, he wondered why the City couldn't have a referendum on a pool and ball fields, because the community really needs and wants these most. Dick Hansen commented that he seriously doubted whether a referendum for an ice arena would ever pass, but with a pool and ball field added there was a greater chance of success. Council Member Pam McCrea, noted that with the "Y" MINUTES OF CITIZENS RECREATIONAL COMMITTEE PAGE TWO facility progressing and the capital fund drive to begin soon, many of the needed facilities would be complete with this new plan. The City could gain from this positive approach to meeting the needs of the community and show support for the ice arena, pool and fields. After considerable discussion, the committee concluded that a package referendum should be proposed to the public that would show a commitment by the City to put at least the $2M once committed to the community center towards an ice arena and that additional dollars be solicited from the private sector to help meet the construction costs, but that the referendum include a swimming pool and ball field development. The committee felt that August would be an ideal time to have such a referendum. Dick Hansen noted that members of their committee felt that a simple approach to the referendum may be best. Council Member McCrea and Gustafson said that if that was the committee's recommendation, then this should be brought to the attention of the Council Members. It was then suggested that a Council workshop should precede the July 2nd City Council meeting to discuss the ideas and give direction to staff. Members of the committee were invited to attend that workshop session. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:45 P.M. KV/bls