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City of Centerville <br />Council Meeting Minutes <br />February 22, 2006 <br /> <br />Mr. Terry Johnson, Finance Manager for Anoka County, addressed the Council and <br />explained that the County is looking to sponsor expansion of hockey through the HRA <br />revenue bonds with the balance of the funding for the project coming from the sale of the <br />Columbia Arena and donations or contributions from partners in the project. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson said he feels that the great point of the project is the financing and it does <br />get confusing with the financing package. Mr. Erickson indicated it does not matter who <br />is asking for the money because all the funds go into the trustee construction account and <br />it ends up being a public recreational asset. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson said that he does not want to take the fact that the Associations are raising <br />money as a negative because the total youth hockey contribution to the first project was <br />zero. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson said that having the Hockey Association raising money is a good thing to <br />save taxpayer dollars. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson mentioned that they have met with all three cities and they have added <br />value. He then explained that there is an agreement to be approved and then outlined the <br />five benefits to the City. The benefits are each Centennial City gets two free hours each <br />year, secondly Lino Lakes suggested that the Park Program can have passes 300 passes <br />giving the City 48 passes per year, park programs not park professionals so said if City’s <br />contribute 100 of 780 that cities could have 12% of hours if want to have own learn to <br />skate program or something like that, all current programs will reserve slots for the <br />Centennial cities giving information for park information. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson indicated that when people enter the arena they will see the City’s name <br />proudly displayed. He also said that they have added values over the 40 year life of the <br />arena for $20,000 in value. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson indicated that if one City acts out of sync it affects the team play of this <br />deal. He then said that the City does not have to worry about setting precedent and <br />having to contribute to other sports as this is a truly unique type of situation. <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson indicated that there are reasons and one is that this is a public asset for the <br />community and this request is different because this is a one time contribution not <br />ongoing. <br /> <br />Council Member Paar said that the added benefits are a plus but he has been in favor and <br />was not misled on this. He then said that he has gotten 15 emails from residents in favor <br />and two handwritten cards and had no one opposed. <br /> <br />Council Member Lee indicated that he has received emails and letters and while he <br />appreciates the comments he does see that some of these opinions are biased because they <br />are from the parents of skaters. He then said that his concern is the 20 year commitment <br />Page 6 of 13 <br />