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City Council Minutes April 22, 1998 • Page 5 3 Hoffoss stated that the University is open to meeting with a city task force regarding the stadium but that the project must get approval from the University Regents before any further steps can be taken on the project. There are no Regents meetings scheduled in July or August, so the issue is scheduled to be heard at the June meeting. Councilmember Hustad asked about the consequences to the soccer program if the stadium were not begun this year. Tom Hoffoss replied that the University would lose some money because the project design is being done in conjunction with another and there would be added design costs if there was a delay. There would also be debt service costs. Donna Olson added that recruitment for the women's soccer program will be harder without the promise to student-athletes of a new stadium. Councilmember Kuettel asked why the University is not planning to rent the stadium to outside groups. Donna Olson answered that long term maintenance of the fields is difficult with heavier usage and therefore the plan is to use the game fields as little as possible. The budget for the new stadium is not based upon rental revenue for operating costs. Councilmember Gibson Talbot asked the University officials to comment on the resident's concerns regarding noise and parking. Donna Olson replied that the current • temporary sound system is a horn. The new system would be more directed and better sounding, although she could not guarantee that neighboring properties would never hear it. As for parking, traffic control has not been an issue in the past. Mayor Gehrz then asked members of the public for their comments. Florence Chambers, 1666 Coffman Street, stated that she supports the women's soccer program. She feels that the women's soccer program should not have to have their locker rooms on the Minneapolis campus and be bused to a separate facility. Chambers stated that although she has witnessed problems with soccer spectators cutting across private property, she does not like the idea of an eight foot high fence around the soccer field. Akiva Pour-EI, 1666 Coffman Street, noted that the U of M police don't control for trespassing and illegal parking on soccer game days. Fran Slagle, 2117 W. Hoyt Avenue, spoke in favor of equity for women's sports, but noted that she sees significant problems in increasing the seating capacity at the field without increasing available parking. Ann Mullholland, 2129 Folwell Avenue, asked who will be responsible for maintenance at the site (sewer, trash, etcl. Mayor Gehrz answered that this will be the University's responsibility. Mullholland expressed concern over the development of a permanent • structure surrounded by a fence.