10.2. SR 06-04-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Listening Session Recap May 2018 Since our incorporation as a city, community leaders have acquired park land, natural open spaces, trails, and recreation facilities to serve the diverse leisure desires of a growing community. During this time, recreational and leisure programming has also been added to improve Elk River’s quality of life. Issue The City of Elk River has three recreational facilities (Elk River Ice Arena, Lions Park Center, and Senior Activity Center) in need of costly repairs/investments to continue operations and to meet the needs of a growing community. In 2016, the City Council engaged a community task force and JLG Architects to review existing facilities, work with youth athletic associations, local not-for-profit organizations, community leaders, and residents of all ages to identify future needs, and make recommendations on how those needs are best met given our current available facilities. In August of 2016, the Council accepted the task force findings which included three options, 1) repair/upgrade the facilities in place, 2) combine the uses of two of the three facilities by expansion and upgrade, and 3) construct a single facility community center. The Council chose to ask the voters to consider a single, multi- use community center facility by referendum. The referendum failed by 816 votes out of over 12,000 cast. The task force recommendations did not propose closing or eliminating existing facilities. Following further discussion, the Council decided it was in the community’s best long-term interest to combine the uses of two of the facilities, the Elk River Ice Arena and Lions Park Center, which include on-ice and non-ice activities, and meeting/event room space. The combined use would more efficiently utilize staffing, increase revenue potential, decrease utility and operational costs, and provide a longer-term solution for community growth. In 2017, the Council considered the remaining task force options and directed city staff to engage the Elk River YMCA for a senior services programming collaboration and the development of a smaller-scale, multipurpose facility to replace the Lions Park Center uses and maximize ice arena revenue. As the multi-purpose facility planning neared completion, community feedback to council members and through social media resulted in a requested project pause to further review community needs and desires. On February 5, 2018, the Council approved, by motion, a council-led community listening session initiative. Purpose/Desired Outcome Five community feedback listening sessions were scheduled to solicit feedback regarding the status and future of city recreational facilities. Sessions were held at varying times, locations, and days of the week to ensure an opportunity for the largest and most representative turnout of participants. 13065 Orono Parkway Elk River, MN 55330 Phone: 763.635.1000 www.ElkRiverMN.gov