Laserfiche WebLink
Curti, Carolyn <br /> From: Tom Blooming <br /> Sent: Friday, July 1 2, 2002 1: 5 AM <br /> To: carolyn.curti@ci.roseville.mn.us <br /> Subject: Community Center <br /> I saw the request for community input on a possible new community center. So here is some input... <br /> I don't want a community center. Well, of course I'd like one. But I don't believe that it would be worth the <br /> money if it's anything like those of neighboring community centers. It is my understanding that in neighboring <br /> community centers they do not cover the costs of the community centers with user fees. That is, the taxpayers <br /> of Roseville who would not use the community center would be subsidizing those that would. That's not a good <br /> way to run a city in my opinion. Governments exist to provide for the common good, that which benefits all <br /> citizens. This is not an example of a common good. <br /> If a community center is built, I'm not sure what it should include. I'd be more inclined to want to have those <br /> features that people are willing to pay for. For example, swimming and fitness facilities. <br /> The idea of having space for the Roseville Arts Council, Historical Society, etc. seems ridiculous. Will these <br /> groups be willing to pay market value for their s p a c e? And if so, why do we need a community center for them <br /> to have space? And what's wrong with the Fairview Community Center providing space for these groups? This <br /> strikes me as one of those situations where these groups, among others, would expect to get space for a very low <br /> price from all of us taxpayers, whether we support that group or not. Now if there are meeting rooms that they <br /> would occasionally occupy for meetings, that is not as big a deal. They could rent a room just like any citizen <br /> could. But let's not go crazy and extract money front everyone for the benefit of these groups. That's the <br /> government taking our money and deciding how to spend it. <br /> Roseville should pay for a community center, if one is built, primarily with user fees. As I said above, it is <br /> simply not fair to those who would not use it to make them pay for it. But I fear that if the user fees truly reflect <br /> the costs of the service then few will want to use it. If that is true, then that is evidence that we should not build <br /> a new community center. <br /> If a community center is built, of course it should also be for surrounding communities. If we can build it in <br /> Roseville we'd be foolish to exclude people from other communities. Hopefully we could get those <br /> communities to contribute some money to build such a community center. Or better still, get a neighboring city <br /> to build a community center and pay for a small part of the construction costs so that Roseville residents could <br /> pay "resident" fees to use it. <br /> Don't build a community center out of jealousy, just because neighboring communities have them. And don't <br /> build it if we're going to require those who will not use it to subsidize those who will. That is a classic example <br /> of something that is NOT a common good and therefore not a proper role of government. <br /> P.S. What's wrong with the Fairview Community Center? How many community centers do we need anyway? <br /> Thomas M. Blooming, P.E. <br /> Roseville. Minnesota. USA <br />