07-10-1997 Charter Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Charter Commission July 10, 1997 Page 2 REPORTS AND OLD BUSINESS FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN Staff member Mary Vaske was unable to attend this meeting but will be scheduled for the October meeting. VISION STATEMENT Presentation by Mr. Brian Wessel A great deal of effort has been spent on projected commercial growth. The focus of commercial growth is in District 1, and a final plan will be submitted for Council approval in 1998. Commercial businesses that have been approached have expressed concerns about numbers. The Town Centre concept is an effort to give definition to a commercial growth area in the City. The City has received proposals and hopes to acquire Rehbein property for a quality industrial park. There is also a variety of retail interest as well as restaurants and small hotel possibilities. He anticipates that planning efforts for utilities and marketing the area will begin to bring commercial and industrial growth as early as next year. The most recent Town Centre plan for retail and professional development also includes a community center. The community center has been moved to public park land to accommodate a full scale YMCA. He indicated on the map changes that will occur to the area including roads, utilities, and various sites for business and retail development. A complicating factor to these plans are the two land owners in the area. These development plans are long range, and the City is working with them to be sensitive to their issues. Interested business developers have begun to ask about future housing development for their employees, and the City is considering possible financial assistance to address this need. The City Council has approved a contract with Leonard Parker Associates to design public facilities for an early childhood center (12,000 square feet) to be built by the City for the Centennial School District who will lease it for 10 years and a Police Department building (15,000 to 20,000 square feet). The Council is debating about a new City Hall, as there would be many benefits to including a new City Hall with this complex. One of the strongest criteria for the selection of Leonard Parker is their expertise with environmental concerns. They are working with the Rice Creek Watershed District. One Commissioner asked about commercial incentives and the level of financial commitment for the City for these projects. Mr. Wessel estimated that the public facilities portion would cost in the range of $3 to $4 million. Mary Vaske is knowledgeable about the financial details and will report to the Commission at the next meeting. Commissioner DeMotts asked if the new City Hall would include a senior center. Mr. Wessel answered, yes.