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City Council Study Session —10/18/04 DRAFT Minutes - Page 20 the vessel; pressure dropping when the brine solution was recharged; age and stability of the steel tubes; consideration of stainless steel tubes for replacement (retubing) at an estimated cost of $175,000 -$200,000 and a six-week waiting period after placing the order; different options for brine; corrosion issues; and further consultant expertise required to find a solution. Further discussion included options considered and technologies used to-date to correct the problem; impacts to user groups; and options to delay refrigerating the OVAL this year, or eliminating operations until a solution, and/or additional funding, becomes available. Skating Center Superintendent Bill Olein and OVAL Maintenance Worker John Brown were also available at the meeting for input. Further discussion ensued regarding specific options and details completed to-date. Councilmember Maschka noted the political issues, as well as physical plan problems, and opined his support for putting the OVAL in mothballs until user-groups could return to the State Legislature to insist that the facility be incorporated into the Sports Commission, as was originally intended and promised. Councilmember Maschka further opined that this facility was a regional facility and should be operated as such. City Manager Beets noted additional liability concerns related to speed skaters using ice affected by temperature fluctuations. Councilmember Schroeder spoke in support of mothballing the OVAL at this time until a solution was found, and the legislature committed to funding for future maintenance of the regional facility. Parks and Recreation Director Brokke provided pictures of the actual construction process at the OVAL and the tubing being discussed. Further discussion ensued regarding timing issues; make up of a