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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 20,2011 <br /> Page 16 <br /> Further discussion included constellation system of parks and connectivity to <br /> trails and pathways. <br /> Mr. Farmer opined that this was not an independent document, and that the word <br /> was "interest" not `support," and over the Master Plan process, it was consistently <br /> heard that a community center is an attraction that draws people, and during the <br /> process, caution had been used to ensure that, while not knowing that"community <br /> center" means, when the community hears it, they have a strong level of interest. <br /> Councilmember McGehee, as a thirty (30) year resident of Roseville, and as a <br /> former long-term member of the Maplewood Community Center, suggested that <br /> consideration be given to amenities in a community center other than physical ac- <br /> tivities such as that of Shoreview, or something like the heavily-programmed <br /> Fairview Community Center. Councilmember McGehee opined that a communi- <br /> ty center, if the purpose was to attract young families to the community and en- <br /> courage community building, didn't need to replicate surrounding community <br /> centers; and suggested that partnering with other communities for outside funding <br /> (e.g. Lauderdale, Village of St. Anthony Park, Falcon Heights) for shared re- <br /> sources that didn't duplicate those other centers, but provided something different <br /> to serve and partner those communities. <br /> Mayor Roe suggested that consideration be given to potential partnerships with <br /> the private sector or other public entities as well. <br /> Councilmember Willmus suggested that if it was the intent of the Commission to <br /> come to the City Council with a package, they separate the community center <br /> component out. <br /> Commissioner Ristow opined that a local sales tax option would be "pay as you <br /> go" allowing the City to maintain and repair items, not to acquire land, and could <br /> serve to build a fund that would eventually fund a community center,possibly that <br /> would be incorporated with a school or existing facility (e.g. OVAL), while not <br /> costing the residents anything. Commissioner Ristow spoke in support of partner- <br /> ship opportunities as well. <br /> Commissioner McGehee spoke in support of pursuing partnership as well as po- <br /> tential endowments for seed money from long-term Roseville residents; but <br /> opined that a community center should be kept as a separate item. <br /> Chair Etten confirmed that a community center not be included in a package com- <br /> ing forward, but in the long-term a local sales tax option may be an excellent way <br /> to fund a regional community center, drawing from neighboring communities; but <br /> that no significant support was being considered by the City Council at this time <br /> based on survey results and City Council comments expressed tonight. <br />