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City Council Minutes Page 8 <br />January 16, 2018 <br />----------------------------- <br />8.2 Ice Arena and Field Relocation Project Timeline <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Femrite presented the timeline. <br /> <br /> Mayor Dietz stated he would like to discuss project funding at the February 5 <br />Council meeting. He indicated discussion on this project is heating up on Facebook <br />and he doesn’t believe the city has done a good job of informing the citizens of the <br />project. He would like to see a Q&A prepared explaining the city is doing what we <br />said we would do if the bond referendum did not pass. He would also like a detailed <br />explanation of the project put out for the public. He added many citizens believe the <br />building is only for hockey and the city needs to outline the proposed uses and <br />highlight the building will also be for other groups. <br /> <br />Mr. Portner explained the only project details available is what has been approved by <br />the Council which is available to the public. He noted most of the discussion on <br />Facebook is speculation. He indicated the project has changed week to week and the <br />architect is currently preparing drawings. He explained other than recapping Council <br />meetings he is not sure what else about the project can be put out. He encouraged <br />residents to call him or stop in to city hall anytime if they have questions. He noted <br />staff is meeting with Springsted soon to discuss funding options but any financing <br />will have to be through a Council approved bond. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz questioned why the project is moving so quickly. Mr. Portner stated the <br />ice plant problems contineue and the longer we wait the more expense we have <br />replacing Freon and making repairs to an obsolete system is money we won’t ever <br />get back and because we are on a schedule for bids to ensure we don’t interfere with <br />the school year and school projects, which if we need to work around would add <br />more expense to the project. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Westgaard acknowledged the funding piece still needs to be <br />discussed. He explained this project should not be a surprise because it was stated <br />prior to the election if the referendum was voted down the condition of Lions Park <br />Center, the Arena, and the Senior Activity Center would need to be discussed. He <br />stated repairs on the Arena and Activity Center have been delayed for years and are <br />costing more and more money because parts are getting harder and harder to find. <br />He questioned how fast is too fast to move on this project adding he believes the city <br />is doing what has to be done to figure out what we want prior to securing financing. <br />He compared it to obtaining a mortgage for a house in that you don’t apply for the <br />mortgage before you know what you want. He agreed the city can do a better job at <br />communication. <br /> <br /> Mayor Dietz added he would like the city to communicate the currently proposed <br />project is completely different from the one included in the referendum. <br /> <br /> Councilmember Wagner stated she would like a marketing piece developed for <br />online and social media explaining how the city got from the 2016 referendum to the <br />current project. She would like it noted the city did indicate condition of facilities <br /> <br />