Laserfiche WebLink
<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 05/09/05 <br />Minutes - Page 17 <br /> <br />model to reduce the operating gap and make the facility <br />operational. Mayor Klausing opined that the facility was a <br />community - and regional- asset and supported moving forward <br />with the next aspect recommended in the engineering report. <br /> <br />Councilmember Schroeder opined that the depreciation and <br />capital costs consideration for the facility's operations was <br />applicable and a good business decision; and that the facility was <br />long-overdue for recognition as a regional, rather than local, <br />asset and operation that had been subsidized by the City for too <br />long. Councilmember Schroeder emphasized the "regional, <br />regional, regional," nature of the facility and responsibilities <br />thereof. Councilmember Schroeder further opined that the Task <br />Force had demonstrated their ability to-date to move forward and <br />search out answers for the long-term operation and maintenance <br />of the facility and he expressed his confidence in their <br />recommendations. Councilmember Schroeder spoke in support <br />of moving forward at this time for preparation and advertisement <br />of bids for Council consideration. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan explained her stance on tonight's request <br />and the previous Council authorization and consensus for the <br />engineering study, given contributions from the Skating Club <br />and potential grant funds from Xcel Energy. Councilmember <br />Ihlan noted that her final decision as to whether or not to award <br />the bids would be based on the final report, findings and <br />recommendations of the Task Force, and that it represented a <br />political and a business decision. Councilmember Ihlan opined <br />that, in this instance, the pressure to achieve operation of the <br />facility in the fall, provided impetus for the Council and the Task <br />Force in finding solutions for this public facility and use of <br />public dollars, on a regional and state basis for smart and feasible <br />continued operations. Councilmember Ihlan further opined that <br />the original operating costs were "underestimated," and revenues <br />were "over estimated," creating the problems being experienced <br />by the facility. Councilmember Ihlan spoke in support of the <br />motion. <br /> <br />Mayor Klausing clarified his earlier comments by opining that <br />there existed a business and political component to this decision; <br />recognizing the public policy question in determining and <br />