02/19/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 2/19/2008 represented in the survey. She would like a profit analysis done before a final decision is made. In addition, it is important to know which services are profitable so we can have a Rec Center that meets the needs of everybody and is profitable from the first year. As a community, we do not want higher taxes and higher memberships. A key issue fora $20 million Rec Center is representation and strong fiscal management. Mayor O'Grady said the issues Ms. Harmon brought up are things that have already been taken into account. Those things are important to the administration also. He thinks, when she hears the proposal the administration is going to bring forward to Council, she is going to see the administration has been innovative in how they approached this and how it is to be funded. Further, they have been very innovative on addressing the cast of operating a facility. Recreation costs money. Generally every year we take money out of our General Fund to subsidize recreation in the city. That can't continue. We have to change the way we do business. So we are. What he has heard is that citizens would like the administration to get more infornlation out to them, and they would like to provide more input to the administration. That's very welcome. He did take those comments to heart. He appreciates the citizens being here and their involvement. Thank you for being part of the process, and he welcomes citizens to be present when the presentation is made. Councilman Gareau said, while the city was progressive in building the Rec Center in the 70's, the leaders lost their way at a point. They chose to build toboggan chutes which didn't work out and which were part of the original borrowing and were being paid for long after they were torn down. The opportunity to build a recreation center only comes along once in a generation. You have to get it right. Council is going to give residents the forum and the opportunity to make sure that their questions are answered. He promises they are going to do the very best they can to make good decisions and not build today's toboggan chute Ms. Harmon said that was good to hear. What she is hoping is this is a partnership between the community and the surrounding communities and the city for the Rec Center. Because she does feel that's what is needed to sustain a good, solid plan and then to continue to operate it profitably, or at least break even. A lot of the people in the community do use the services. People with a number of kids can't afford to pay skyrocketing membership costs for programs like ice skating, tennis, or gymnastics. President Kennedy noted that ultimately the plan will go to the voters, so it is in the administration's best interest to get the voters onboard. Councilman Ryan noted the voters turned down the original Rec Center several times, and it was built by inside millage at the vote of the City Council at the time. Mayor O'Grady said Mr. Ryan's comments were correct. The important point he wants to make was that was one of the mistakes of the past. This administration will not go that direction. He knows this Council won't. It will go to the voters. 7