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
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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
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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