2003-08-23 Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1895 August 23, 2003 makes the decisions that should be made by a master plan. She stressed the importance of choosing a site and of designing the first building as an incremental step leading to the next step. As the City has already determined a site, site-selection cannot be an incremental step. There is no space to build a large facility unless the baseball diamond is removed. The first step of an incremental program must demonstrate vision and the ability to grow. A building cannot be shown as designed for growth in the forthcoming five or ten years without prior planning. She acknowledged the Council's desire to move forward, but asked members to be clear about the first step in an incremental approach and how it will affect the future. Mayor Adams said the Parks Commission never viewed these improvements as part of a program for growth nor considered how they would affect these measures under discussion. Ms. Welsch suggested the building might require growth or retro fitting in the future. Mr. Lieberman assumes that if the Council proceeds, the design will include features agreed upon by the Parks Commission and Proposition K: the staff and volunteer offices, the meeting rooms, the kitchen, the storage space, etc. Mr. Wagner see the incremental approach as the sensible expansion of already existing entities with problem areas, such as consolidating the soccer dome, improving the basket ball court and the fitness center, and installing the track. He noted that this building is the last to be added to Heman Park. The existing three functions need to be expanded and improve, and then a master plan can ensue. Mr. Sharp asked about expanding upwards as part of the design. Mayor Adams said upward expansion must be reflected in any original design, and Mr. Ollendorff reiterated that Elsie Glickert had contributed this point at an earlier meting. He stressed the need to share this view with the design teams. Mr. Munkel referred to the construction of the soccer field as an historical example, advising that it was originally an ice-skating rink with no walls which was converted for use by the soccer teams in an effort to serve the needs of the citizens, but that it was never considered to be an adequate facility. Plans to improve it are now the next step. Mayor Adams asked for recommendations. Although there is not unanimity, there is consensus to construct a new facility with these features; 1. an elevated track wide enough for six lanes 2. a fully-equipped locker room Page 7