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Economic Development AuthoriryMinutes December 11, 2006 Page 3 YMCA will be responsible for all operating including staffing, programs, cost of operating the building, and maintenance of the grounds and parking lots. Also, the insurance cows will be charged back to the YMCA. Commissioner Farber explained that only ahalf-court gym is included in the preliminary design of the gym and that it is the Council's desire to have afull-coup gym for allow for more activities and room for spectators. He stated that he wanted it clarified in the document that the building will be designed jointly by the EDA, City Council and the YMCA. He stated that he felt the four passes per year was not enough benefit for the Elk River residents, and felt the YMCA could offer more. Councilmember Farber stated he fek that some type of discount in their monthly payment or special hours should be offered for the senior citizens. He did not feel that leaving it to the health insurance companies was the answer. He stated that he supported the YMCA, but that he felt there should have been more of a "give and take" option for the residents. Commissioner Morin stated that it is his understanding that even though the building will be designed jointly by the EDA, City Council and YMCA, the City would not be able to include specific items such as racquetball courts or tennis courts, but rather through the programming, they would have input. Ms. Johnson stated that the YMCA stated it needs to design the facility for the programs that bring in the memberships for them. The agreement with the YMCA is to design it similar to other metro facilities. She stated that the gymnasium is very important to the City and will work jointly with the YMCA to design that. Commissioner Motin stated that it is his understanding that the $2 million Legacy Grant would have to be used for items which are landfill abatement for the entire project. Ms. Johnson stated that grant would be based on using 25 percent of materials that are post- consumer or recyclable to meet the requirements. She stated that there is a timing issue and that the expanded gymnasium would likely bean "add alternate" in the bidding process. She stated that the Legacy Grant would not be for the gymnasium; it would be for designing a building that meets the requirement of the grant which include the use of "green" materials. She stated the estimate to expand the gymnasium to the size that Mr. Maertz would like to see would be closer to $750,000. Ms. Johnson stated that we will not know until the design process is worked through whether or not an expanded gymnasium could be built within the $12 million budget. Commissioner Moon stated that he will be voting against the proposal as a whole because he did not feel that enough information was given to the public regarding the pros and cons of the issue. He did not feel that 10-15 percent voter participation in the primary election was adequate to make a decision by the public. He stated pools and fitness centers are already available in the City, and a half basketball court was not adequate. He did not feel it was a good deal for the City. He questioned whether the result would be the same if all the information was available to the public, and if the question were presented at the general election. He did not feel comfortable with the project as proposed and felt a better job could have been done. Commissioner Farber asked if the building could be designed for what the people in this community want or need, rather than what is successful in other cities. Tom LaSalle, representing the YMCA, stated part of the design process is finding out what will suit the market, and that a market study has been done. He stated that over the years, those needs may change. For example racquetball was once very populaz, and since then, most of the racquetball courts have been converted to fitness centers. He explained that the YMCA does not turn arryone away because of their inability to pay, and fees can be charged on an individual's ability to pay. He stated that a huge amount of that type of assistance is given