HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.11.16 Work Session Minutes City Council Workshop
Minutes
January 11,2016
Mayor Larson called the workshop to order at 7:50 p.m.
Present: Larson,Bartholomay, Bonar, Donnelly, Pitcher
Also Present: David McKnight, City Administrator;Robin Hanson,Finance Director;Randy
Distad, Parks and Recreation Director; Cynthia Muller,Executive Assistant
Recreational Facility Discussion
Councilmembers requested some time to discuss recreational facilities and placing a referendum
question on the November 2016 ballot.
Council has heard presentations from youth hockey, soccer and lacrosse groups,baseball and
softball groups. Councilmember Bonar asked if Council should consider a question on the
November ballot that would give these groups the opportunity to work together on a question for
the public to consider. Council has not determined the amount of money or specific facilities.
Mayor Larson stated we would give the group a budget number, such as $10 million, and ask
them to figure out what they can do with it.
Council agreed with forming a task force. Council will need to determine an amount and a date
for their recommendation.
Councilmember Pitcher asked if the task force would look at facility, land, funded through
bonds,public or private funding. The land would be either the land next to the ice arena or Jim
Bell Park. So the task force would not have to determine the land.
City Administrator McKnight suggested as far as the task force,he would recommend Parks and
Recreation Director Distad,and have the school district provide a representative for them to be
co-chairs,and give them 90 days with a dollar amount and what would this look like. They
would report back to Council on the May 2,2016, City Council meeting. For a November
question on the ballot,the deadline would be August 1, 2016. Councilmembers were in favor of
this plan.
As far as a dollar amount,the city hall bond is$9 million, and the payment is$700,000 per year.
It is a 20-year bond.
Parks and Recreation Director Distad noted the task force will also have to include people who
use the pool. Maintenance and operational costs will also have to be considered.
Councilmember Pitcher noted voters would need to consider supporting an amenity that could
bring in development around it or do they want to stay with the lower taxes.
Staff noted if the city sets$10 million and groups want to bring in additional funding,they could
do that. Staff asked if the group brings back a recommendation will council support bringing it
to the voters. Councilmembers agreed they would put the question on the ballot.
City Administrator Update
Council will host a thank you reception for boards and commission members on February 29,
2016.
Regarding snow plowing,the state does salt brine testing. This will be done on Third Street.
The material is put down before a snowfall.
MOTION by Bartholomay, second by Pitcher to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. APIF,MOTION
CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Muller
Executive Assistant