Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Minutes Page 6 <br /> August 7,2017 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> Mr. Portner further stated the arena needed to move forward now due to school <br /> district timing needs with their facility improvements. He noted the activity center <br /> options will be brought to Council at a later date. He stated the arena is in bad shape <br /> and needs large expenditure repairs. He stated decisions are needed now on the arena <br /> so the city is not paying for quick fix repairs knowing a remodel may soon happen. <br /> Mayor Dietz stated the newer portion of the arena is structurally sound and should <br /> last for many more years. He stated it makes the most sense to keep the current ice <br /> sheet and add one more. He stated he is willing to spend funds on architectural <br /> drawings but the finished product will come down to funding. He stated he is willing <br /> to have another election at a lower dollar amount in November 2018. He asked if <br /> there has been any thought of selling the arena to youth hockey for$1. <br /> Mr. Portner stated he asked the school district about purchasing the arena and they <br /> had no interest. He stated youth hockey most likely would have no interest in <br /> maintaining a facility, noting it needs a lot of capital improvements in order for it to <br /> continue to operate. He discussed past funding efforts provided by youth hockey. <br /> Mr. Portner stated the arena can be value engineered and the city can get alternate <br /> bids for wants/needs but the costs will be approximately$25 million. He discussed <br /> how the impacts to tax payers can be manipulated, such as once the police station is <br /> paid off, taking those funds and putting them towards the arena payment. <br /> Councilmember Ovall expressed concerns with taking these funds from the <br /> government building fund for the arena because there could be additional city <br /> services needed in current growth areas, such as a fire station on the east side. <br /> Councilmember Ovall questioned if the Parks and Recreation Commission endorses <br /> the plans for the softball field movement at Lion John Weicht Park and whether this <br /> move is consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. <br /> Mayor Dietz commented Lion John Weicht Park doesn't get much use for being in <br /> the center of the city. He stated the fields would not have an adverse effect on the <br /> park. <br /> Councilmember Ovall questioned if the park didn't get use because of the lack of <br /> investment in it;noting there is high density housing and schools surrounding it. He <br /> noted the fields would be a significant investment and questioned what would be <br /> better for the general population for this specific park. <br /> Councilmember Olsen concurred with Councilmember Ovall. <br /> Mayor Dietz noted the school may not be willing to swap the land needed for the <br /> arena expansion if they didn't get the fields in the park. <br /> Moved by Councilmember Westgaard and seconded by Councilmember <br /> Wagner to authorize drafting of a request for proposal for architectural <br /> P 0 W I R I D 9 Y <br /> otm§A UREI <br />