HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/24/92CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
August 24, 1992
4:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Manning, Fox, Angel, Wright, Budak, Lemke.
Members absent: Dell, Buck.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a proposed resolution
calling for an election on the question of whether the City should
increase its hotel/motel tax from 5 percent to 7 percent. Mayor
Manning noted that the current 5 percent tax is used to fund the
Tourism Bureau at the Chamber of Commerce, with the remaining
monies used to retire the debt on the construction of the Five
Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. The Mayor recommended that
the additional money could be used for a variety of purposes,
including: 1) funding current tourism items in the City's general
fund budget, 2) funneling additional monies to the Convention &
Visitor's Bureau, or 3) creating a match to attract state and
federal funding for the Cedar Valley Chain of Lakes program. He
stated that it is not necessary for the Council to make a decision
on the exact uses of the money, but should decide if the issue
should be placed on the ballot on November 3, 1992. A citizens'
committee will continue to meet between now and the election to
determine specific priorities and uses of the additional money.
This information will be provided to voters in a timely fashion.
Larry P. Burger, Clerk/Auditor, noted that the last payment on the
construction of the Civic Center is due in the fall 1992 in the
amount of approximately $500,000. In addition, the City utilizes
its current hotel/motel tax money to fund the Convention &
Visitor's Bureau with a cap of $210,000 per year. Tourism
activities currently funded out of the general fund which could be
shifted to the hotel/motel tax fund include: subsidies to the
Waterloo Community Playhouse, Grout Museum, Municipal Band, Cedar
Valley Lakes and various activities of the Parks and Recreation
Commissions. Councilperson Angel suggested using the additional
money for defraying the cost of police officers during parade
events. It would be the Council's decision on what items remain a
part of the general fund tax levy or funded through the hotel/motel
tax.
Don Temeyer, Planning and Development Director, reported that
additional money to the Cedar Valley Lakes would be used for many
activities, including providing access, picnic facilities,
restrooms, development of bike trails, acquisition of additional
property and various other recreational facilities. There is no
steady funding mechanism available to the lakes project and federal
and state monies have been drastically cut to develop this major
recreational facility.
Councilperson Fox stated that he agreed with Councilperson Angel's
statement that the City should consider putting the additional
monies to other tourist attractions in the City. Mr. Burger also
suggested that the City consider utilizing $60,000 to $80,000 per
year of additional revenues to establish an ongoing maintenance
fund at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Mr. Burger
also noted that a customer does not pay the 1 percent local option
sales tax on a bill in addition to the hotel/motel tax.
Regardless of the final decision on the use of the hotel/motel tax
proceeds, it would be necessary to educate the electorate prior to
November 3.
No official action was taken at this time. A resolution calling
for an election will be discussed at the regular meeting of the
Waterloo City Council of August 24, 1992.
With no further business before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
August 24,_ 1992
5:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Manning, Dell, Fox, Angel, Wright, Budak,
Lemke.
Members absent: Buck.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss efforts of the Waterloo
Recreation & Arts Commission, the metro ice users and the Waterloo
Black Hawks in planning a new ice arena.
Interested persons, including Tom Varney, Mike Brown, Clyde Thomas,
Liz Petersen, Pam Klima, Scott Brand, Rita Swanson, Tom Reardon and
Dave Tyler, were introduced. The purpose of the meeting was to
solicit input from the Council and provide a direction on pursuing
this facility, including site selection and cost.
Tom Reardon, Assistant Recreation Director, identified the ice
arena needs, which include appropriate size, adequate parking,
expansion potential, access, accessible utilities, Olympic size
sheet of ice, seating for 3,000 people, adequate locker rooms,
equipment storage, concession area, zamboni storage, and public
restrooms. A projected cost analysis with various levels of
funding and debt service was reviewed. The ice users have pledged
$200,000 to the facility per year for three years. It was noted
that the City currently subsidizes the ice operation at a cost of
$81,000 per year. If the City were to continue subsidizing the
operation at this level and projecting an operating profit of
$65,000, this combined amount would service an arena cost of
somewhere between $2 million and $2.5 million. Seven sites have
been reviewed in the metro area for the location of the facility.
Some were located in urban renewal areas. Each area must be
evaluated in terms of cost for site preparation and availability of
services.
Councilperson Dell questioned why this issue would not go to a
public referendum. Larry P. Burger, Clerk/Auditor, noted that this
issue would be subject to a reverse referendum if the site was
within an urban renewal area.
It was noted that there is growing enthusiasm in the community for
hockey, and that the commitment to raise $600,000 of private
donations is an indication of that commitment.
Dave Tyler, President of the U.S. Hockey League, noted that hockey
has not typically been a sport accessible to all segments of the
community; however, with the growing popularity of rollerblades,
this facility could be used year round.
If a final plan is presented to the Mayor and Council within 60
days, a new ice facility for 1993 could be possible.
Councilperson Fox reiterated his support of ice but cautioned that
the operating revenue must be sufficient to cover expenses so that
the City would not have to subsidize the operation of the facility
through taxation. He also questioned how expenditures of funds for
this facility ties in with improvements at Municipal Stadium.
Councilperson Dell stated that we must prepare a long-range plan- to
improve all recreational facilities in the community and make a
commitment like the City has made a commitment to improving the
transportation system.
It was noted that there is an urgency to this situation in that the
condition of the ice at McElroy is in a very precarious position.
It was agreed that the supporters of this facility continue their
work to formalize plans for an ice arena and present a final plan
to the Mayor and Council within 60 days.
No official action was taken by the Council at this Work Session.
With no further businessbefore the Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor