Minutes - 2006/03/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council March 27, 2006 Regular Meeting Page 9 • Proposals (RFPs) to see who can come up with something that might bring in a viable alternative instead of changing the Community Center to a fitness center. Councilmember Stigney stated his concern with Launching ahead with something without knowing what the dollar value is. He stated this is the wrong approach on the Community Center altogether. He stressed the City should go out for RFPs to get different options instead of doing the fitness center route. Councilmember Thomas stated the Community Center Task Force compared very closely to what was going on in North St. Paul and why the rates were used and whether it would be appropriate for Mounds View. She stated the City is not running a strip mall and is not trying to find who is going to make the most revenue in the building. She stated the issue is if it is going to be made into a serviceable Community Center for residents. She stated the 50/50 was the original 1996 proposal that was based off the concept of the revenue-making side being the banquet center and the Park and Recreation Commission replacement to have them running that. City Administrator Ulrich stated that in North St. Paul, it was found that they were very successful in bringing in additional revenue. He stated this is one of the things that convinced the Task Force that it would be a viable solution to the revenue issues that the Mounds View Community Center had. He stated the North St. Paul Community Center currently brings in $140,000 of revenue, so it could be a very viable source of additional revenue and help supplement the Community Center, but still have it focused on the community and provides community services that it traditionally has. Councilmember Stigney stated he heard a lot of projections on how much the golf course would bring in. He asked if there are any guarantees that those revenues will come in. He stated if it does not happen with membership, then the City would need to contribute the rest. He stressed the City should go for RFPs to get other viable alternatives. Councilmember Gunn stated the whole purpose was to bring the Community Center back to the community. She stated the City tried to bring in private businesses to run part of Community Center several times and it did not work. She stated people have commented about the small exercise room and how much more they would use the Community Center if there was decent equipment. She commented even the kids at school have been talking about a cheaper place to go to exercise. Councilmember Gunn stressed these kids cannot afford to buy a whole membership at the YMCA, Northwest, or Lifetime Fitness, and this would be a place where they could come and use the facilities at a reasonable price. She stressed the building should be brought back to the community and offer things to hopefully bring in more people. She stressed nothing can be guaranteed in the building. Councilmember Stigney stated it can be guaranteed with a contract. He stated the recommendation by the Task Force will turn it back on the taxpayer. He stated the goal is to make the Community Center self-suff dent. Councilmember Gunn stated that many years ago when the Community Center idea came forth, and one person made a comment that the Community Center would be self-supportive. She stated this has been brought up over and over. She stated the rest of the people on that committee