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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-06 HRA Regular Meeting • MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HELD AT CITY HALL JULY 6, 1998 - 7:00 P.M. ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Commissioners Faust, Hovland, Maetzold, and Chair Smith. Commissioner Kelly entered the meeting at 7:08 P.M. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED Motion made by Commissioner Hovland and seconded by Commissioner Maetzold for approval of the HRA consent Agenda as presented. Rollcall: Ayes: Faust, Hovland, Maetzold, Smith Motion carried. *MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 15, 1998, APPROVED Motion made by Commissioner Hovland and seconded by Commissioner Maetzold approving the Minutes of the Regular HRA Meeting of June 15, 1998. Motion carried on rollcall vote -four ayes. • PRESENTATIONS GIVEN BY KUNZ/LEWIS PROPERTY USER GROUP Manager Rosland commented staff recommended the Kunz/Lewis property be used for, 1) a Senior Center and 2) a new Hennepin County Library as well as development approved by the Council. It has been suggested to 1) purchase the library, 2) move the Police Department into that facility, and 3) gut and renovate City Hall. A need exists in the City for basketball and swimming facilities and staff feels it should be included within an educational site. Both Valley View Junior High School and the High School would be good sites but a referendum would be required to get those built. Funding for the Senior Center and Library could be accomplished through Tax Increment Financing while the library purchase and renovation of City Hall would be the responsibility of the City. With the possibility of the sale of the property at Highway 169 and Highway 494, the City could have funds with which to purchase the library and remodel City Hall. Resident Comments Greg Keane, 5105 West 56`h Street, of the Edina Community Organizations, explained the Edina Community Organization will present their proposed use for the Kunz/Lewis site as a multi-use facility for the millennium to fill un-met needs in Edina. Who is represented by the Edina Community Organization? • Senior Advisory Council (one third of our community) • Edina Basketball and Volleyball — EBA, EGTA, EGAA (approximately 2,000 athletes) • Edina Football — EFA (approximately 500 athletes) • • Edina Swimming — Edina Swim Club (approximately 500 student athletes) 1 • Balance of the Community . Why are facilities important? • Productive use of time for children and adults • Access and competitiveness for student athletes • To support Edina's vision of a progressive community • To support property values for excellent schools and facilities • Aging existing facilities require action now What is the concept of the facility? • A truly wonderful community facility that enhances the existing facility base and meets multiple existing needs • A community gathering place • A multi-generational interaction • A place that meets current and future community requirements • To seize the opportunity to utilize the Kunz/Lewis site for Edina community needs What are the specific needs for the facility? • Activity and workout area for Seniors • Community Resource Center— Family Link • Weight room • Indoor running and walking track • Gymnasiums (minimum of 4) • Pools for both students and adults • Offices and meeting rooms • Indoor soccer, football and baseball capabilities (optional if TAGS site is acquired) Community Testimonials Kay Bach, 6625 Dakota Trail, Senior Citizens Advisory Council, pointed out the proposal is a win-win visionary proposition both for the Senior Center/Library and the City. The proposed plan would allow for passionately needed space on an ideal site on ground level, is close to the freeway and accessible by bus. The Grandview area has abundant senior housing, is close to shops and grocery stores and membership would grow. The plan fits the vision of Edina. Laurie Black, 5805 Dale Avenue, Boys Basketball Board, said after living in the City for eleven years, it is apparent that City leaders make good decisions about how the City should look, the delivery of services and the tax base. She asked for another good decision to be made to expand the proposal to create a community building for a sports facility. Adequate gym space is at a premium in Edina and the youth are playing ballgames when they should be in bed. The gym crunch has reached City Hall because parents are unable to solve it. The only available land in Edina is owned by the City and would offer a solution to the lack of gym space. When the gym shortage is combined with other needs, an excellent case is made for a new civic building on this choice • property that meets a wide-range of needs. 2 f • Terry Lynner, 6505 Shawnee Circle, Edina Swim Club, asked that a bold, expansive initiative be taken in developing the site. Pool time is at a premium and the facilities in Edina are antiquated. Competitive swimmers from Edina must travel to other cities for meets because there are no facilities within the City to hold competitions. The proposed development would offer an opportunity now for Edina to leapfrog the other communities and build a 50 meter pool providing functionality. A 50 meter pool would provide 16 lanes of 25 yard swimming plus diving. Mr. Lynner believed the pool could be profitable in a short time and presented a plan depicting revenue sources to prove this point. Additional uses for a pool including the Edina Swim Club would be, firefighters practicing search and rescue training, event rentals, other swim clubs, United States/National/Zone/State swim meets, masters swim club, diving swim club, canoe/kayak club, etc. He concluded this is a once in a lifetime chance to think broadly and to take advantage of an available site to build a state-of-the-art community center that will serve the citizens of Edina into the future. John Dile 5608 Interlachen Boulevard a member of the Edina Football Association, y, , said most youth in Edina are involved in multiple sports. He believes that 'idol hands are the work of the devil' and keeping youth involved is extremely important. He noted the law of supply and demand determines value and Edina needs adequate facilities to fill that demand.. He suggested the Council visit facilities in surrounding communities and see what Edina is up against. He encouraged the Council to seriously consider the • proposal presented. Chuck Mooty, 4615 Moorland Avenue, said he has always been impressed with the community support and vision in Edina, in providing some of the best facilities and programs for its constituents. The vision needs to be continued. A safe recreational environment is essential for the growth and health of Edina's young people. Mr. Mooty said he believes Edina has enough supporters and benefactors willing to help support a facility and minimize the City's concern with operating such a facility. He and his wife, Liz, offered for a limited lifetime membership, $100,000 to subsidize operating costs for the facility. Edina is a wonderful place and should be kept a wonderful place for our kids. Greg Keane concluded with the preliminary design including: Senior Center • Four Basketball Courts • Running and Walking Track Meeting rooms and Offices • 50 Meter Competition Pool Multi-purpose Fitness Center Lockers, Toilets, Showers • Leisure Pool • Football/Soccer/Baseball Dome (optional) • • Other uses as specified by the Council How will the facility, at the estimated cost of$20 million, be financed? 3 .y • 25 year financing — Annual payment stream required at $1.6 million at • 6% interest • Method of financing after referendum approval could be by Industrial Revenue Bond or City Council recommendation What will the operating expenses be? • Estimates for the Annual Operating Expenses at $1.0 million to $1.6 million • Offsetting net operating losses: 0 Commitment from EBA, EGAA, EGTA, EFA and Swim Club at approximately $100,000 per year 0 Minnesota Developmental Basketball TAGS Gymnastics, Soccer Club involvement Who would operate the Multi-Use Facility for the Millennium? The City of Edina Park and Recreation Leadership What is the total view of costs? • Combined Annual Payment Stream Required. A capital investment plus operating loss combined would equal approximately $1.8 million annually for 25 years (then operating expense only after 25 years) • Community cost of $40.00 per member per year or $1.8 million per year over 45,000 members equals $40 per member per year) Conclusion: The Need - both Community and City . The Opportunity - Site The Required Actions Required to Go Forward: 0 Commit the Lewis/Kunz site for community facilities 0 City Council takes leadership role with community organizations and establish a joint committee finalizing the proposal using necessary professional resources Council Comment Chair Smith suggested the organization submit financial information to staff for study and further evaluation. Edina has hockey and outdoor facilities but it is true, the need exists for additional facilities. He voiced concern with, 1) finance, 2) what is the best location, and 3) who are the best partners, etc. He sees the issue as 'how do we fit the mosaic together'. Chair Smith said he would be willing to visit other city's facilities. Commissioner Hovland asked why a common facility would be better rather than use of the Valley View School for a pool. Terry Lynner said the number one priority is to build a pool and this may need to be accomplished with public funds either through the school or City. Building at Valley View School would put the responsibility on the school. The school voiced concern with costs and equated pool operation costing as much as building another elementary school. The pool being included in with the proposed plan would be 'opportunistic' and would be operated on a break-even basis. Commissioner Hovland asked if consideration had been given to having the 'world's greatest fund- • 4 raiser' as opposed to a referendum. Mr. Keane said that had not been considered as of now. Commissioner Maetzold asked clarification of what the leisure pool would be like. Mr. Keane explained it would be benchmarked off other community centers where the largest money maker is the leisure pool. Commissioner Kelly pointed out he has worked with other athletic clubs in the past and offered two suggestions, 1) consider looking into a public/private partnership for the facility and 2) reconsider the proposed parking on the site. Chair Smith noted he has been notified by a commercial company in the recreational facilities business about their interest in the site. During the conversation, he realized they were inquiring what the City's partnership portion would be. He invited them to attend a Council meeting to discuss their ideas. Chair Smith said adding recreational facilities will help strengthen the infrastructure of the community but the missing element is what the partnership would be. He voiced his hope that we don't get tied up in the geography and forget the need. He reminded the community group there is a Park Board, Planning Commission and City staff and following study, staff should be back before the Council within a reasonable time with a comprehensive report. Commissioner Kelly suggested he has access to a copy of the developers agreement for the City of Plymouth and believes good information could be gleaned from it as pertains to the public/private use of a facility. Following a brief discussion, consensus was to schedule a Council tour of local city recreational facilities and to be back before the Council at the August 3, 1998, regular meeting with a staff report . There being no further business on the HRA Agenda, Chair Smith declared the meeting adjourned. Executive Director 5