06/27/96 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• and the addition of weddings, banquets, reunions, etc. would provide some revenue. Also, they wished to see the City maintain the activities of the Bel Rae either by contracting Tony and his group for supervising or finding someone that can do that work. They did not think that it should be left sitting - they thought the community would go berserk if they just saw the building sitting. None of the Commissioners have heard or received negative comments regarding the Bel Rae. Commissioner Burmeister said that he has had many questions of residents asking what is happening, but no negative comments. All other said that they have had only positive comments and that people are anxious to find out what is happening. Sherry Gunn commented that the people at Pinewood are excited about the Community Center - that they look forward to support programs such as health programs, ECSC, and other support student services. It was suggested by Gary Stevenson that perhaps DARE could be housed out of the Comm. Center, with police providing a type of teen interaction. The group as a whole was concerned about VB Diggs. Gary Stevenson voiced his opinion that VB Diggs should be on their own - they do not want the City to be dependent upon the success of VB Diggs. Gary Stevenson had the idea that the VB courts should be big enough to change to BE courts in the event that VB Diggs discontinue VB - opening the opportunity to host BB tournaments as well as VB tournaments. Sherry Gunn said that she is a leary about VB Diggs also, thinking that the community center should offer more for the community than providing VB to persons outside of the community. All concurred with these comments. Frank Silvis suggested that the stage area be retained - not so much for MVCT productions but for other smaller productions, concerts, presentations, or other events that would benefit from a stage presence. The full kitchen was seen as a plus - providing the opportunity for community groups to use the Community Center for fundraising events such as pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, etc. The Commissioners were in full agreement with each other. Their perspective is very community orientated. I asked them about the willingness to subsidize the operations of the community center and they commented that subsidization is expected. I asked them how much and they did not know. The Commission was united in the philosophy that community support activities be first and foremost - over and above brokering the facility out for revenue even though that means more subsidization. The only element unknown undefined is the amount of subsidization that is comfortable. I offered a scenario for contemplation - $191,000 operations cost with only S71,000 revenue leaving a $120,000 subsidization cost annually. There was no comment pro or con. This seems to be the element that needs to be defined - the thresh-hold of subsidization that the community will bear. The other factor is - services that the community is willing to subsidize - seen as a benefit to the community and their lives in general - what are these services? Dave Long asked what community service/support activities were suggested in the Focus 2000 process. Dave Long wanted to to review the Focus 2000 report - I was asked to mail copies to a