HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2008-20RESOLUTION N0.2008-20
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF BUILDING ONE GYM WITH CITY FUNDS AT
THE SITE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT #13 ON 49T'~ AVENUE
Whereas the Columbia Heiehts City Council (CHCCI has spent the last several years
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analyzing the need for additional gym space, and
Whereas the CHCC established a 3F member Activity Center Advisory Committee
(ACAC) on Aprii 10, 2006 to assess the need far this g}nn space and additional
community activity space to include swimming pools, weight room and exercise
machines, etc., and
Whereas the ACAC has spent countless hours and has done an excellent job in
assembling a number of viable alternatives and ultimately determined and forwarded its
recommendation to the CHCC on December 1?, 200?, and
Whereas the CHCC has had independent discussions with the Metro Area YMCA and,
in fact, had entered into acost-sharing arrangement to consider the viability of building a
joint facility with the City here in Columbia Heights to include a gym(s) and swimming
pools typical of other suburban YMCA projects, and
Whereas, the CHCC has had on going discussions with Columbia Heights School
District #13 over the past year about the possibility of adding one additional gyro to their
proposal to build one gyro at the Columbia Heights High School, and
Whereas, at this tune, the City Council has had adequate time and resources using due
diligence to weigh the various alternatives, and
Whereas the CHCC, in weighing its decision, has considered desired service levels of
the various alternatives, site selection, cost in order to maximize limited resources, the
timing and the immediacy of need of soiree of the basic gymnasium space that initiated
these independent studies, and
Whereas, in order to optimize all of these factors in serving the needs of all of Columbia
Heights citizens.
Now therefore, the Columbia Heights City Council agrees to proceed in the following
ways:
1. The CHCC directs the City Manager and appropriate staff (Recreation,
Public Works, Community Development, Finance) to proceed to negotiate
with the administrators of School District #13 and the consultants selected
previously by the School District to add one additional gymnasium to the
site selected by the School District at the North end of the High School
property at 49`" Avenue. The negotiations with District #13 should result
in a Joint Powers Agreement that is mutually agreeable to both parties (the
City and the District) and that ultimately accrues to the benefit of all the
citizens of Columbia Heights.
2. The CHCC directs that Mayor Gary L. Peterson be appointed as the
Council representative to the administrative team of the City and any joint
coininittee of school district and city officials to review and ultimately to
submit the Joint Powers Agreement to the City Council for approval.
3. It is the CHCC's intent to proceed as judiciously as possible to the
successful completion of this construction project for both the Council and
School District. To that end, the Council is to be kept apprised through
regular progress reports on the resolution of issues in the Joint Powers
Agreement.
4. Finally, it is the CHCC's hope and desire to see this project built.
Ultimately, the totality of the project will include two new gyms, upgraded
men's and women's locker-rooms, a relocated exercise space and
upgraded swianming pool facilities. A successful project, in the Council's
mind, would allow the most flexibility and greatest utilization in the use of
all of these facilities by the citizens of Columbia Heights. Ongoing
operational costs should be addressed in the agreement based on usage,
space, etc. Whatever ultimate oversight cormnittee structure is determined
to review and approve budgets for this combined facility, District #13 and
the Columbia Heights City Council both recognize the opportunity and the
responsibility to create and operate this space in the public's interest. We
should, and will attempt in good faith, to work through differences both
now and in the future to make this facility a source of community pride
and an example to all citizens of this successful collaboration.
Dated this 14`" day of January 2008.
Offered by: Nawrocki
Seconded by: Williams
Roll Call: Ayes: Peterson, Williams, Nawrocki, Diehm,
L.
Attest:
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'atricia Muscovitz, CMC
City Clerk -
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