6/5/2018 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 6-5-2018 So, this amendment would look to address four primary concerns. The first being that the existing proposal would make North Olmsted the highest property taxed community on the west side. Second, the proposal identified up to one million dollars per year of road and sewer fund cuts to pay for higher operational costs associated with the new Recreation Center. Third, significant parks and recreation areas within the city were left out of the original plan, including Clague Road Park, the bike path, school recreational areas and other opportunities. Fourth, seniors and residents being concerned that an expanded recreation facility with membership increases or with higher property taxes would price them out of being able to participate. So, what does this amendment exactly do? The amendment would reduce the proposal funding from approximately $44.8 million to $18.5 million. $18.5 million approximately matches the amount of levies that are expiring for the library and the fire station. This is important amount because if this would pass under this amount, it would result in a net zero tax rate increase of exiting rates for North Olmsted taxpayers. Second, the proposal changes the focus from expansion of the Recreation Center to focusing on our existing facilities while renovating our parks and expanding park opportunities. By not expanding the Recreation Center, the match would go a long way towards not incurring the additional one million dollars of currently unfunded operating expenses. Third, $2.2 million of this $18.5 million measure in funds are dedicated towards projects at Clague Road Park, the North Olmsted bike path, improving connectivity and safe passage ways to our school recreation areas, and funds for the creation of a Dog Park and a Pocket Park. This would also allow for the keeping of our current skate park that was mentioned by our Scouts earlier. Lastly, by setting aside significant funds to rehab our existing pool, ice rink, and facility maintenance needs, we would be investing in our current level of programming for the next thirty years, without pricing residents out with an expanded profile. So, Madame President at this time, I make a motion to amend 2018-61 to submit to the electors of the City the question of issuing bonds for the purpose of the following. First, to retain items under phase C, E, G and H for North Olmsted Park which is about $4.9 million. Those are all the items that were associated with North Olmsted Park. Similarly, for Barton Bradly retain Phase D all items $1.5 million. For the North Olmsted Recreation Center to modify it to include portions of Phase A, B and I, which would be the ice rink, the overall maint6nance of the building. Phase B, which would be the rehab and replacement of the existing pool and Phase I which would be adding the two ball fields and outdoor path on the exterior of the building. Those three items combined would be 9.9. Then, for the new or previously unfunded items. Clague Road Park, $500,000 for safety, right of way improvements and equipment. Next, $1.2 million for the creation of "pocket park" and dog park for land acquisition, equipment and improvements to create those two items. Next, $300,000 for pathways for schools for right of way acquisition, equipment and lighting to provide better and safer access to our elementary schools, which in many ways are parks in of themselves. $100,000 for the North Olmsted bike path which parallels I-480. And then lastly, $100,000 for additional planning efforts. VA