Blaine City Council members were again presented with the Aquatore Park master plan Sept. 11; the plan was brought before them for feedback and to discuss issues that the master planning process has created.

Aquatore Park, at 9191 Lincoln St., is a potential location for a proposed curling arena, senior center and/or community center.

At a council workshop in March, City Manager Clark Arneson suggested developing a master plan for Aquatore Park, which would help determine the council's long-term plan for the site and what the site could support.

Public Services Manager Bob Therres said the council has previously discussed the master plan and asked for additional information.

"There are a lot of moving pieces with Aquatore," said Arneson. "We need to figure out the box."

Curling facility

Therres told the council that the Fogerty Arena Board of Directors' ideal location for the curling facility would be to attach it to the south side of their current arena in Aquatore Park.

"It makes the best sense for them," he said, but added that it would require an existing softball field to be relocated to the east of the Fogerty Arena.

Construction of the curling facility on the south side of the building would also include the addition of an athletic field for sports such as football or lacrosse.

Therres said the relocation of the softball field and the addition of an athletic field is estimated to cost $500,000.

Councilmember Dick Swanson asked that if the City chose to move forward with the curling facility, whether Fogerty would help finance the relocation of the softball field.

"I believe that Fogerty would need to participate in the cost of moving the field," said Councilmember Dave Clark, who serves on the Fogerty board. "That discussion is on the table.

"I don't think it's appropriate for them to pay the entire cost because the City is getting better efficiency out of the layout and an extra field," he said. "It's a win-win for both parties involved."

Senior center/community center

Pam Bakken Anderson of Ankeny Kell Architects (AKA) presented a study during a council workshop in March about a possible senior center in Blaine.

A joint facility that would hold both a senior center and a community center was also proposed.

Mayor Tom Ryan said the senior center was proposed to the council before the curling facility, and brought up the $500,000 it would cost to relocate the softball field and add an athletic field.

"If you start moving half a million into that park and then saying we're going to build around it, we're going to have trouble explaining that to seniors," he said.

Councilmember Wes Hovland said it's difficult for him to justify the cost of moving the field to build the curling facility.

"The priority in my mind should be the senior center without a doubt," he said. "It's sorely needed. It's first come first serve in many ways."

Therres asked the council if they wanted Aquatore Park to be the site for a new senior center and/or community center.

"I'm fine with saying if we ever have a community center, this (Aquatore Park) will probably be where it is," said Councilmember Kathy Kolb.

Swanson said he is fine with the community center ending up at Aquatore Park, the City Hall site or a third site.

"At this point all I see us doing is tying the land up and saying this land is going to stay for public purpose in the park," he said.

Councilmember Clark said he wasn't comfortable committing to a concept plan that shows a community center at Aquatore Park. He suggested getting the community together to figure out the best site, which could end up being next to City Hall.

"I want to keep our options option," he said.

Arneson told the council that the goal is to reach the point of adopting a concept plan for the Aquatore Park master plan, which can be amended.

He added that the concept plan could indicate there is potential at Aquatore for a public building and that a senior center/community center would be discussed in the future.

Another step would be for the council to appoint a task force to conduct further research for the potential facility and at an appropriate time move forward with a referendum.

Old City Hall, billboard revenue

Staff also asked the council if they were interested in involving the old city hall site as part of the Aquatore Park master plan.

Therres told Sun Focus that the former City Hall was very overcrowded and there had been no room for expansion. Staff moved into the new City Hall, at 10801 Town Square Drive N.E., in 2002.

Therres told Sun Focus that the budget for the construction of the new City Hall was about $15 million, and $1.3 million of funding into that was to equal the sale of the old city hall property.

"We promised we were going to sell the property and use the proceeds to fund the new City Hall," Therres said.

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) put money up for the $1.3 million and was going to get reimbursed when the property was sold.

However, Therres said the economic effects of 9/11/01 caused the City's one-time plans for the former city hall site to fall flat.

Because the site is potentially going to be part of the Aquatore Park master plan, the City now needs to figure out how to pay back the EDA.

During last week's workshop, the council was presented with billboard proposals from two companies that provide outdoor advertising.

The council chose to go with Clear Channel, which currently has 11 billboards along Highway 65. They proposed to remove three billboards if three signs are placed on the Highway 10 frontage road.

As a result of the accepted proposal, the council agreed that the billboard revenue would go toward paying back the $1.3 million to the EDA.

"We have to pay off that money," said Kolb. "We promised that."

In a memo to the council, Community Development Director Bryan Schafer said with the selection of Clear Channel, the City could repay the EDA the $1.3 million for the construction of the new City Hall in just under 10 years.

On a 20-year lease, the total revenue projected from three signs is about $3.4 million.

Council members didn't decide how the generated billboard revenue would be used after the EDA is reimbursed.

The council directed staff to continue to work with the Fogerty board and continue to work on the billboard revenue stream.

The Aquatore master plan will come back to the council for further discussion and review.

"I don't think it's appropriate for them to pay the entire cost because the City is getting better efficiency out of the layout and an extra field," he said. "It's a win-win for both parties involved."

Senior center/community center

Pam Bakken Anderson of Ankeny Kell Architects (AKA) presented a study during a council workshop in March about a possible senior center in Blaine.

A joint facility that would hold both a senior center and a community center was also proposed.

Mayor Tom Ryan said the senior center was proposed to the council before the curling facility, and brought up the $500,000 it would cost to relocate the softball field and add an athletic field.

"If you start moving half a million into that park and then saying we're going to build around it, we're going to have trouble explaining that to seniors," he said.

Councilmember Wes Hovland said it's difficult for him to justify the cost of moving the field to build the curling facility.

"The priority in my mind should be the senior center without a doubt," he said. "It's sorely needed. It's first come first serve in many ways."

Therres asked the council if they wanted Aquatore Park to be the site for a new senior center and/or community center.

"I'm fine with saying if we ever have a community center, this (Aquatore Park) will probably be where it is," said Councilmember Kathy Kolb.

Swanson said he is fine with the community center ending up at Aquatore Park, the City Hall site or a third site.

"At this point all I see us doing is tying the land up and saying this land is going to stay for public purpose in the park," he said.

Councilmember Clark said he wasn't comfortable committing to a concept plan that shows a community center at Aquatore Park. He suggested getting the community together to figure out the best site, which could end up being next to City Hall.

"I want to keep our options option," he said.

Arneson told the council that the goal is to reach the point of adopting a concept plan for the Aquatore Park master plan, which can be amended.

He added that the concept plan could indicate there is potential at Aquatore for a public building and that a senior center/community center would be discussed in the future.

Another step would be for the council to appoint a task force to conduct further research for the potential facility and at an appropriate time move forward with a referendum.

Old City Hall, billboard revenue

Staff also asked the council if they were interested in involving the old city hall site as part of the Aquatore Park master plan.

Therres told Sun Focus that the former City Hall was very overcrowded and there had been no room for expansion. Staff moved into the new City Hall, at 10801 Town Square Drive N.E., in 2002.

Therres told Sun Focus that the budget for the construction of the new City Hall was about $15 million, and $1.3 million of funding into that was to equal the sale of the old city hall property.

"We promised we were going to sell the property and use the proceeds to fund the new City Hall," Therres said.

The Economic Development Authority (EDA) put money up for the $1.3 million and was going to get reimbursed when the property was sold.

However, Therres said the economic effects of 9/11/01 caused the City's one-time plans for the former city hall site to fall flat.

Because the site is potentially going to be part of the Aquatore Park master plan, the City now needs to figure out how to pay back the EDA.

During last week's workshop, the council was presented with billboard proposals from two companies that provide outdoor advertising.

The council chose to go with Clear Channel, which currently has 11 billboards along Highway 65. They proposed to remove three billboards if three signs are placed on the Highway 10 frontage road.

As a result of the accepted proposal, the council agreed that the billboard revenue would go toward paying back the $1.3 million to the EDA.

"We have to pay off that money," said Kolb. "We promised that."

In a memo to the council, Community Development Director Bryan Schafer said with the selection of Clear Channel, the City could repay the EDA the $1.3 million for the construction of the new City Hall in just under 10 years.

On a 20-year lease, the total revenue projected from three signs is about $3.4 million.

Council members didn't decide how the generated billboard revenue would be used after the EDA is reimbursed.

The council directed staff to continue to work with the Fogerty board and continue to work on the billboard revenue stream.

The Aquatore master plan will come back to the council for further discussion and review.