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City Council Minutes Page 3 <br /> February 5,2018 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> 7. Public Hearings <br /> There were no public hearings. <br /> 8.1 Reconsider Recreation Facility Referendum <br /> Ms. Wagner stated she would like to pause on the current arena project. She stated <br /> she would be making a motion against the bond sale, the next item on the agenda. <br /> She stated one of her goals as Councilmember was to change public perception of <br /> citizens that their voice is not heard and the Council does what it wants to do. She <br /> stated this is why she volunteered to be on the original facilities task force,which <br /> ultimately recommended a multipurpose facility to create efficiencies and expand city <br /> services for already owned city buildings. She stated after hundreds of hours of work <br /> she felt the multipurpose facility was the best use of tax dollars to fix ailing buildings <br /> that wouldn't consider our future service level needs or bring any additional <br /> economic prosperity to the city. She noted this led to a failed referendum which has <br /> brought us to where we are today with Plan B,the arena project. <br /> Councilmember Wagner stated she takes responsibility for voting for Plan B even <br /> though she always felt the original multipurpose facility, along with the other <br /> improvements,was the right thing to do for the community. She stated after <br /> discussions with many people who supported the differing plans she feels there is <br /> need for Council to step back and have a thorough discussion to make sure Plan B is <br /> truly the right answer. <br /> Councilmember Wagner stated she would like staff to prepare a preliminary draft <br /> 2019-2020 budget to show how bond service payment would affect the overall <br /> budget and subsequent levy. She stated she was very uncomfortable with capital <br /> expenses and future needs during the last budget cycle and she feels Council hasn't <br /> done an adequate job looking at the big picture and how it affects taxpayers. <br /> Councilmember Wagner feels past process has created a loss of public trust: the very <br /> thing she hoped to restore. She stated the city needs to do a better job at <br /> disseminating information to the community. She further stated the public needs to <br /> do their part. She stated typing and spreading false information and making harmful, <br /> slanderous accusations is quite reckless. She stated Council meetings and city hall are <br /> open to the public and the Council is here to serve the community,not keep secrets. <br /> Councilmember Wagner reiterated she would like to take a few days to think about <br /> the project options. <br /> Councilmember Olsen noted a lot of money has been committed to Plan B and <br /> questioned how to retreat from that expense. <br /> Councilmember Wagner agreed further stating she takes responsibility for her own <br /> decisions on this project. She stated it is a lot of money but not a reason to stop a <br /> $20 plus million dollar project. She stated she is not asking for the plan to go away <br /> P 0 W I R I D 9 Y <br /> otm§A UREJ <br />