HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 23, 2006 Work Session
590 40th Avenue N.E., Columbia Heights, MN 55421-3Hn (763) 706-3600 TDD (763) 706-3692
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Mavor
Gary L. Peterson
Councilmembers
Robert A. Williams
Bruce Nawrocki
Tammera Ericson Dielun
Bruce Kelzenberg
City Manaqer
Walt Fehst
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
ADMIN/STRA TlON
NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
************
to be held in the
CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
as follows:
Meeting of:
Date of Meeting:
Time of Meeting:
Location of Meeting:
Purpose of Meeting:
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2006
6:00 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM 1
WORK SESSION
AGENDA
1. Activity Center Advisory Committee update
2. Liquor Store update
The City of Columbia Heights does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or
employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodation will be provided to allow individuals with
disabilities to participate in all City of Columbia Heights' services, programs, and activities. Auxiliary aids for handi:apped
persons are available upon request when the request is made at least 96 hours in advance. Please call the City Council Secretary at
706-361], to make arrangements. (TDD/706-3692 for deaf or hearing impaired only)
THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
City of Columbia Heights
Memo
To:
Mayor, City Manager, and City Council Members
Kirsten Partenheimer, Community Development Specialist
Robert Streetar, Community Development Director
1 0/17/2006
From:
Through:
Date:
Re:
Activity Center Advisory Committee Update
In March of 2006, the City Council proposed the idea for an advisory committee to help obtain public input
and assist the Council in establishing the need for a new community facility and reviewing different options
for any proposed facility. The Council followed through in April by appointing a number of Columbia
Heights residents, civic leaders and business owners to an Activity Center Advisory Committee (ACAC) (see
attached list). The Council also retained the services of Ehlers & Associates and JMS Communications to
handle the public participation process.
During the first stage of the process, the ACAC established the need for a new facility that would meet the
needs of a diverse community. It mailed a newsletter to the entire community and its chair hosted a cable
news segment to introduce the process. An invitation to attend an open house, where community members
had the opportunity to talk with committee members and share their thoughts on the need and the process,
yielded a large turnout.
The next stage of the public participation process calls for the committee to retain an architect to produce a
feasibility study, which entails site evaluations and preliminary building conceptualizations, as well as capital
cost estimates. In preparation for this process, the committee prioritized amenities they would like an
architect to include in the feasibility study and narrowed the number of sites to be studied to three. They
include: N.E.l., the high school and Heritage Heights.
Victor Pechaty from BKV Group will assist the ACAC in the next stage of the process. Pechaty was the lead
architect on the Andover YMCA Community Center project and has extensive experience with public
projects in the region. He plans to meet with the ACAC on November 9, 2006 to present an initial draft of
the concept plans and obtain feedback from the group.
While the architectural team finalizes the concept plans and capital cost estimates, the ACAC will prepare for
the second open house, where the community will have the opportunity to view the building alternatives and
cost estimates and learn about the opportunities and constraints of the three sites. As with the first open house,
every household in the Columbia Heights School District will receive a newsletter before the open house,
which is tentatively scheduled to occur in February or March.
1
Chronology
March 6, 2006 - Consultants from Ehlers & Associates and JMS Communications present the Activity
Center Public Participation Process; Council proposes idea for a citizen advisory committee.
April 10, 2006 - Council appoints members to the Activity Center Advisory Committee (ACAC).
April 26, 2006 ACAC meets to learn about the public participation process and their roles as committee
members; nominated Dan Thompson as chair and Denny O'Connell and Gerry Herringer as Co-Vice Chairs;
discussed a market research report; discussed the advantages and disadvantages of several proposed sites.
May 6,2006 - Tour of the Andover YMCA Community Center and the New Brighton Family Service
Center.
May 24, 2006 Recapped the May 6 community center tour; discussed the advantages and disadvantages of
including a library in any recommendations for a community center; reviewed the draft communications plan
and timeline; began planning for first open house.
June 5,2006 - Dan Thompson, ACAC Chair, updated Council on the committee's work to date; Council
directed members to continue with the activity center study process.
June 20, 2006 - ACAC reviewed drafts of the presentation boards and comment sheet for the first open
house; reviewed draft newsletter; finished preparations for open house; a member of the Columbia Heights
School Board reported that the School Board would like to be viable partner in study process and a potential
financial contributor.
July 26, 2006 - First open house is held in Murzyn Hall; nearly 100 community members attended.
August 24, 2006 - ACAC discussed impressions of the open house; reviewed the open house comment
forms; group discussed the pros and cons of including each proposed amenity for further study.
September 13, 2006 - Prioritized amenities and sites for further study; group agreed on two options to be
studied for feasibility on three sites: former site of the N.E.I., the high school and along Central Avenue in
Heritage Heights.
September/October 2006 - List of amenities and sites passed along to an architect to test feasibility.
October 11,2006 ACAC learned about city and school financing options and restrictions.
November 9, 2006 - Architect to meet with ACAC regarding feasibility study.
December/January - Architect to meet with ACAC to review feasibility study and obtain feedback.
January - ACAC plans for second open house.
January - Council update on feasibility study.
February/March - Second open house.
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Activities Center Advisory Committee
- Member List -
Name
1 Anabel DeJuan Gomez
2 Aurora Johnston
3 Barb Goodwin
4 Barb Miller
5 Bob Lyndes
6 Bob Surbrook
7 Brian Harper
8 Catherine Veslev
9 Christina Dobon
10 Dan Thompson (Chair)
11 Denise Gordon
12 Denny O'Connell (Vice Chair)
13 Dorothv Pen ate
14 Gary Maver
15 Gerry Herringer (Vice Chair)
16 Jeff Bahe
17 Jessie Hart
18 Joe Wolney
19 John Gordon
20 Joseph Sturdevant
21 Kay James
22 Kay Maver
23 Keith Windschitl
24 Kellv James
25 Kim Trombley
26 Leland Stauch
27 Liz Brav
28 Lynette Thomson
29 Mark Corless
30 Marsha Stroik
31 Matt Schoen
32 Matt Townsend
33 Michael Laabs
34 Mike Peterson
35 Shirely Barnes
36 Steve Craiq
37 Ted Landwehr
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