|
•
<br /> Center for Community Committee
<br /> Minutes of Meeting on Thursday, February 28, 2002, 4:00 p.m.
<br /> Lions Park Center, Elk River, Minnesota
<br /> Present: Don Heinzman, Charlie Blesener, Louise Kuester, Rachel Leonard, Sharon Tracy,
<br /> Anthony Mikols, Barb Kreuser, Harvey Schroeder, Mary Lou Gillette, Jim Boyle, Gene Rick,
<br /> Suzanne Kostanshek, Lois B. Swanson, Jim Stanley, Pat Klaers, Sara Hartman, Lyla Aaland,
<br /> Nancy Gongoll, Darlene Solberg, Cliff Lundberg, Tony Darkenwald and guest Dan Frank,
<br /> Initiative Foundation.
<br /> The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Don Heinzman. The minutes of the last meeting
<br /> on November 29, 2001 were approved as printed.
<br /> Don Heinzman introduced new people, including Dan Frank, of the Initiative Foundation, who
<br /> has been the sponsor of Operation ER. Don thanked Michele Berg, Elk River Community
<br /> Recreation, for hosting our meeting at the new Lions Park Center. Michele gave details of the
<br /> building. The cost of the new addition was approximately $240,000, raised by the Elk River Lions,
<br /> and the city provided about $80,000 in furnishings. The room we m et in seats about 170 and
<br /> there is children's seating for 40. Space also includes offices for Elk River Community
<br /> Recreation, and a temporary office for the YMCA. There are full catering kitchen facilities and
<br /> additional meeting rooms. Michele distributed rental information to the group.
<br /> Don gave a short historical summary of events since the Operation ER Center for Community
<br /> ! was formed. Projects that relate to community gathering space include the Lions Park Center,
<br /> the YMCA, the new high school auditorium to be completed by next fall, the city saving the
<br /> "Little Theatre"with a donation of$500,000, the Boys and Girls Club (already established) and
<br /> the Family and Art Center. Don noted that the Family and Art Center has been put on hold
<br /> since the school district is not in a position to pass a bond referendum for it in the near future.
<br /> The Center's planning committee is currently looking at other options such as Handke School
<br /> and the Historic Downtown redevelopment.
<br /> Boys&Girls Club: John Fitzgerald described the Boys & Girls Club facilities for the group. It is
<br /> approximately 13,000 sq. ft. with a gym that is 54' x 70'. There is a games area, cultural arts
<br /> room, educational center & library zone, a computer lab, a commercial kitchen (almost),
<br /> meeting room for 25 people (that holds a daycare center now). There are between 1300 to 1500
<br /> members. Their hours are 6:30 am to 6:00 p.m. five days a week. Their hope is to expand to
<br /> weekends as funds allow. They serve about 100 children each day. Their next step, once soundly
<br /> established, is to provide space for teens. A teen specialist has recently been hired.
<br /> Land 0 Lakes Choir Update: John said that it is nearly certain that they will build on the
<br /> remainder of their current site after the highway taking (about 6 acres.) They plan to have joint
<br /> parking with the church. Plans include (2) 30 x 30 practice rooms, 4-5 offices, a common space.
<br /> Phase II will have a small performance stage with seating up to 450. Acoustics will be a
<br /> priority, but the room will be multipurpose, a "sactinasium." Phase III would be their school.
<br /> April 29 they are moving their office next to the fire station and will be using Union Church for
<br /> practice.
<br /> Redevelopment of Central Business District: Tony Mikols, chair of the Rivers Edge Business
<br /> Association, reported that his organization has been involved in giving feedback to the HRA
<br /> • during their process of establishing guidelines for developers. He said his organization is active
<br /> and has grown in membership. The HRA and the City Council are having a preproposal
<br /> meeting for developers on Tuesday, April 2.
<br /> Family and Art Center. A discussion ensued about the site for the center and the inevitability of
<br /> the Center not being new construction. It was reported that several from the planning
<br />
|