You could vote on rec center

Posted: Feb. 3, 2010

Is a new community center a want or a need? That's the question Alderman Dave Nold wants put to a referendum. The Common Council agreed to put the issue on its next agenda.

"How much money are we going to keep spending (downtown)?" Nold asked. "Will a community center bring more business downtown?"

Nold asked for input from the rest of council members on how they felt about putting an advisory referendum for the community center on the April 6 ballot. That is the best time to bring the referendum to the community because there will already be a turnout expected to vote for officials seats up for re-election.

"The district has to have a referendum to build a school, but this would be advisory," Nold said. He said that while many voters likely have strong opinions for or against spending money to build a new community center, they may not feel comfortable voicing those opinions at public hearings or to officials.

"This gives voters the opportunity to keep their opinion private," if the majority think it is needed, the referendum should pass easy, he said.

An economic feasibility study put the cost at $14 million and even though Nold pointed out this is only an approximate estimate of the total cost to rebuild the community center, expand city beach and reconfigure the boat launch, it gives voters a jumping off point. He said simple wording asking voters, "should the city invest $14 million for a new civic center, boat launch and beach expansion," could give council more information on which to base their decision.

District 1 Alderman Scott Antonneau said he liked where Nold was headed but suggested splitting the referendum into three separate items: the boat launch, beach expansion and community center. He said if someone opposes one portion of the project they could vote no and it would be a shame to see the community center's construction not happen because of that.

Fellow District 1 Alderman James Larsen agreed and said he could see why someone who doesn't own a boat would not support of reconfiguring the launch and would vote the entire project down.

District 3 Alderman Mike Miller disagreed with Nold and said he thinks a new community center is one of the top things needed downtown. However he agreed the boat launch and city beach are still effective and did not want to risk the community center getting shot down in referendum because voters would be voting against those pieces of the project.

Nold asked City Clerk Diane Coenen if there was an extra cost associated with putting three items up for referendum and she said no.

After discussion concluded, Nold made a motion to have council vote at the Feb. 16 meeting to put three referendum items on the April 6 ballot to ask for community to vote for or against investing tax dollars in a new community center downtown, reconfiguring the boat launch and expanding city beach.

Miller and Larson voted no, and the remaining six voted for the item to be placed on the next council agenda.

However, the situation could get complicated for the city because it has to submit everything needed to put the referendum on the April 6 ballot 42 days prior to Election Day.

This means the city must have everything mailed by Feb. 19 while the council will not vote to place it on the ballot until its Feb. 16 meeting.

"We have a couple busy weeks ahead," said City Attorney Bill Chapman.

Fast facts

→ Alderman Dave Nold thinks the city should put construction of a new community center to advisory referendum.

→ Council discussion led to the referendum being split into three items: community center, boat launch, beach expansion.

→ Council will decide whether or not to have the referendum at its Feb. 16 meeting.

→ To have the referendum, everything must be filed by the city by Feb. 19.