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9.3. SR 01-17-2017 Oty')f Elk R.iver Request for Action To Item Number Mayor and City Council 9.3 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Work SessionJanuary 17, 2017 Cal Portner, City Administrator Item Description Reviewed by Park Facility Improvement Discussion Reviewed by Action Requested Discuss and provide staff direction. Background/Discussion The city has three park and recreation buildings that are at the end of their expected lifespan and require substantial improvements to continue operations. A referendum was held regarding the funding for the construction of a multi-purpose recreation facility intended to replace the buildings with expansion/improvements that were brought forward during the community engagement period of the Community Center Task Force. The referendum failed by 818 votes (6.52%). Prior to the election date, staff held a number of information sessions with local stakeholders explaining the intent of the referendum. The info sessions and meetings provided numerous insights regarding the community appetite for a new facility. The Council should discuss the referendum outcome, community engagement,referendum timeline and how they relate to the expressed desires of the community. Staff has engaged 292 Design Group to update architectural designs for an ice arena rehabilitation from a design completed in 2011. The update includes enhancements identified in stakeholder and community meetings by the Community Center Task Force and predictive prices accounting for inflation. The plan is expected to be complete within 60 days. The Council should also provide direction for the Activity Center (55+) and the Lions Park Center,both of which need improvements. Some options to consider include: 1) Contract to draw up architectural designs for Activity Center and Lions Park Center based upon stakeholder feedback from Community Center Task Force. 2) Complete designs only for Activity Center and consider demolition of Lions Park Center. 3) Complete designs for an expanded/updated building at Lions Park Center that mitigates existing issues at Lions Park, expands community space and provides for senior services. The existing Activity Center property could be marketed for residential construction. Financial Impact Costs associated with planning and design and possible community engagement if deemed necessary. Attachments ■ Election Results 2016 POWERED 6T Template Updoted 4/14 INAMIRE1 ELECTION RESULTS - 2016 (Ward Map attached below) Referendum Question 1YeS NA Precinct 710045 W1 P1A—City Hall 704 779 Precinct 710050 W2 P2A— River of Life Church 670 951 Precinct 710055 W3 P3A—Activity Center 485 619 Precinct 710060 W4 NA—Church of St. Andrew 787 795 Precinct 710130 W1 P113— United Methodist Church 725 1006 Precinct 710135 W2 P213— Meadowvale Elementary School 792 992 Precinct 710140 W3 P313— Lions Park Center 925 896 Precinct 710145 W4 P413—Twin Lakes Assembly of God 767 635 Teal 5855 6673: Referendum Question 2YeS NA Precinct 710045 W1 P1A—City Hall 570 902 Precinct 710050 W2 P2A— River of Life Church 570 1037 Precinct 710055 W3 P3A—Activity Center 386 696 Precinct 710060 W4 NA—Church of St. Andrew 646 919 Precinct 710130 W1 P113— United Methodist Church 568 1145 Precinct 710135 W2 P213— Meadowvale Elementary School 639 1115 Precinct 710140 W3 P313— Lions Park Center 709 1090 Precinct 710145 W4 P413—Twin Lakes Assembly of God 645 745 TQta1 4733 7649 YMCA : . Yes No Precinct 710045 W1 P1A—City Hall 296 167 Precinct 710050 W2 P2A— River of Life Church 138 127 Precinct 710055 W3 P3A—Activity Center 159 170 Precinct 710060 W4 NA—Church of St. Andrew 142 146 Precinct 710130 W1 P113— United Methodist Church 187 172 Precinct 710135 W2 P213— Meadowvale Elementary School 250 250 Precinct 710140 W3 P313— Lions Park Center 172 219 Precinct 710145 W4 P413—Twin Lakes Assembly of God 264 215 Vital X1606- 1466 M Rep ' ©em , Jndep, Liber Other, Precinct 710045 W1 P1A—City Hall 878 521 40 40 26 Precinct 710050 W2 P2A— River of Life Church 1070 467 28 65 26 Precinct 710055 W3 P3A—Activity Center 638 406 28 47 35 Precinct 710060 W4 NA—Church of St. Andrew 1012 529 29 84 30 Precinct 710130 W1 P113— United Methodist Church 1112 536 28 70 38 Precinct 710135 W2 P213— Meadowvale Elementary School 1132 550 41 53 42 Precinct 710140 W3 P313— Lions Park Center 1070 639 35 107 64 Precinct 710145 W4 P413—Twin Lakes Assembly of God 832 522 23 59 34 a m / PRECINCT� PRECt�]�CT e 1 / 30 PRPCI7CT PAECI t-xCT i� �-. PR�etracr WARD MAP N' i WARD 1 0 W ARD 2 ❑WARD 3 Ho WARD 4 8 P P L P ELK RIVER DEMOGRAPHICS PER THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU Total Estimated population 23,963 2015 Age and Sex Persons under 5 years old 8.1% 2010 Persons under 18 years of age 28.5% 2010 Persons 65 and older 9.3% 2010 Persons between 18-64 54.1% 2010 Men 50.2% 2010 Women 49.8% 2010 Race White 93.4% 2010 African American 1.9% 2010 Asian 1.7% 2010 American Indian/Alaska Native 0.4% 2010 Hispanic or Latino 3.1% 2010 Housing, Families& Living Arrangements Housing Units 8,542 2010 Owner-occupied housing rate 77.3% 2010-2014 Median value of owner-occupied housing units $204,000 2010-2014 Households 81122 2010-2014 Persons per household 2.8 2010-2014 Education High school graduate or higher at age 25 years+ 95.3% 2010-2014 Bachelor's degree or higher at age 25 years+ 30.4% 2010-2014 Income and Poverty Median household income (in 2014 dollars) $74,772 2010-2014 Persons in poverty 5.8% Referendum Outcome Didn't need a referendum to bond for improvements Council direction to add Park Improvements and turf/dome option to increase interest Stated improvement expenditures would occur without recommended course and referendum Huge turnout, 12,528 votes cast — 593 registered voters didn't vote. Lost by 818 votes (small percentage <7%) Lost nearly every precinct (8 of 10) What did Referendum outcome mean? Didn't want turf/dome space? Didn't want additional $2M in previously planned park improvements? Saw/understood little value in added space, amenities, or programming opportunities Saw little value in multipurpose facility Not enough time or commitment to get out the vote? Not enough commitment from stakeholders? ER resident participation not consistent throughout orgs. Bitterness over city policies, YMCA, and Pinewood What did stakeholders say? Consistent social media discussion Need more details\Want more input Often asked questions that were too detail -oriented, beyond scope of study Why only hockey? Want swimming pool/rock climbing wall/workout rooms 1+e .3 _&nd,% nl0a-7 Location concerns seniors didn't want to move far displace ballfields not on east side of town traffic Stakeholder Discussion information Youth turf groups, excluding football have competing community interests ERYHA didn't understand the issues with ice arenas Seniors didn't understand facility issues and upcoming investments Task Force Recommendation Multipurpose facility best bang for buck Considered individual facility improvements that meet stakeholder expectations ($23M) Did not consider building band aid improvements taxpayer friendly Post mortem Continue with Option #2 — updating 292 Design Group's ice arena improvements; and - Contract for design on Activity Center and Lions Park Center; or - Design on Activity Center and demo Lions Park (school space trade); or - Design on Lions Park for enhanced community/senior space and demo Activity Center for sale for private development. Take proposed designs back to stakeholder groups via community engagement? Myrhan o u II /1 Elk River Community Center Issue • Abandon the idea of building a banquet room. I have had a lot of push back on that part of the referendum from people. Leave that issue to the private sector. The new restaurant in the western part of the city will have a small banquet room and a potential restaurant/banquet room is still a possibility on the old bowling alley site. • Sell Lions Park Center back to the Elk River Lions Club for $1. The building is in need of a lot of repairs. It doesn't make sense for the city to spend a lot of money on a building that doesn't get much use. • Use the Great River Energy fund to make necessary repairs to the Activity Center. The cost of this would range from $750,000 to $1 million. • Tear down the Barn portion of the Ice Arena and build sheet of ice along with replacing the ice making machine in the Olympic arena. Also redo the front entry of the arena. This would be funded in several ways. Use the difference between the repair cost of the Activity Center and $2 million to betaken from the Great River Energy fund. This amount could range from $1 million to $1.25 million. • The levy amount now collected for the Public Safety Building expires in 2023. We should continue that levy after 2023 and use the funding to pay off bonds for the revamped ice arena. If we needed a total of $12 in bonding for the arena, the additional tax per year on a $200,000 would be between $30 and $40 per year. • This plan updates the two main facilities we are concerned about—the Activity Center and the Ice Arena without a significant impact on taxes. • Timing would be crucial for the ice arena. The Barn would have to torn down early in March and construction completed on the new facility by October. • $1 million for Parks (from failed referendum) put off for a few years until we decide to have a park referendum.