07-26-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 3 4. City Recreation and Aquatic Center - Community Development Director 89 Grochala reviewed his written report. He noted the three options studied by the 90 feasibility report for moving forward. The biggest issue related to the facility (with City 91 involvement) is the short and long term financial impact. There would be a financial 92 deficit in starting up a facility. There are opportunities through funding noted earlier: 93 money in the Closed Bond Fund and upcoming debt service (zero impact). Generally it 94 will take six months to open the facility and certainly there is a better time to open 95 (beginning of the year is best). He recommends that the City make the best decisions for 96 the right reasons. If that is not to move forward, then the discussion is disposition of the 97 building. He noted key questions in report. 98 99 Councilmember Ruhland said he’s ready to go for it and he would prefer the hybrid 100 model. 101 102 Councilmember Lyden called for a discussion of cost and financing. 103 104 Administrator Cotton said she feels the City could use ARPA funds for start-up costs 105 because it is a COVID related closure. She added that to achieve the assumptions in the 106 feasibility report, there has to be strong commitment and the right talent to make it work. 107 The gap for ongoing operations would have to be covered with either closed bond funds 108 or debt savings or moving some administrative costs through recognition of City staff 109 work. 110 111 Councilmember Ruhland added that he’d like to ensure that the City could switch to City 112 managed rather than hybrid if that is what is needed to control the facility down the line. 113 114 Councilmember Stoesz said he prefers the total city managed facility but understands the 115 reason to look at a hybrid. He supports Councilmember Ruhland’s suggestion to keep the 116 option of moving toward a city managed facility at a certain point. Also he’d like to 117 have conversation early about what the director position would look like. 118 119 Mayor Rafferty recalled the history of the YMCA in the facility and the City’s 120 investment. The City has received the facility back and there are higher costs in running 121 it. He noted possible programming and city needs. If the mission is to be fiscally 122 sustainable – what is the benefit if not? The mission should be to create an enhanced 123 benefit to Lino Lakes. He’s behind it but not sold on the idea of hybrid because he feels 124 there is information lacking. He’s all behind some type of model but isn’t there yet – 125 more information is needed. More blanks need to be filled in. The council should hear 126 from more residents also. 127 128 Councilmember Lyden suggested that the City won’t have to go it alone with a hybrid 129 model. People will come for programming and with the hybrid model you’ll be bringing 130 in people with expertise on how to run their programs. 131 132 Councilmember Lyden said he concurs that getting more of the public’s input is a good 133