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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/01/2000 BAKERSFIELD Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Patricia J. 'DeMond · Randy Rowles Staff: Alan Christensen SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE of the City Council - City of Bakersfield Monday, May 1, 2000 4:00 p.m. City Manager's Conference Room - City Hall 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 201 Bakersfield, CA AGENDA 1. ROLL CALL 2. ADOPT APRIL 4, 2000 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT · 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. ICE SKATING .FACILITY 1. Discussion and Committee direction to staff B. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION REGARDING TRAFFIC MEDIAN STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY 5. NEW BUSINESS A. ROCKIN' BY THE RIVER CONCERT SERIES 1. Presentation- Stan Ford 2. Discussion and possible Committee recommendation 6. ADJOURNMENT AC:jp S:~AC\CSCommittee\csOOmayOlagen.wpd [Ik£ COPY DRAFT BAKERSFIELD //~. ~ Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Alan Tandy, City Manager Patricia J. DeMond Staff: Alan Christensen Randy Rowles AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT SPECIAL MEETING COM M UNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Tuesday, April 4, 2000 7:00 p.m. City Hall - Council Chamber 1. ROLL CALL Call to Order at 7:01 p..m. Present: Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan, Chair; and Patricia J. DeMond Absent: Councilmember Randy Rowles 2. ADOPT MARCH 7, 2000 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. ICE SKATING FACILITY 1. Staff background information on efforts made to attract an ice rink to date City Manager Alan Tandy stated that with the closing of the only ice rink in Bakersfield, patrons who had been developing ice skating activities approached the City Council to solicit their assistance in bringing another ice facility to Bakersfield. The City Council referred the issue to the Community Services Committee who directed staff to research the possibilities. As a temporary solution, the Centennial Garden is being utilized for ice skating whenever their busy calendar allows. The Council allocated $30,000 to underwrite some of the costs of using Centennial Garden for public skating on a one-year basis. However, the Garden is very busy and is often not available for this activity. Due to the amount of interest and ice use, there is a need for a permanent facility. City staff has made many contacts with ice skating businesses and operators. Since the Bakersfield market is developmental in nature without a long history of ice skating, the ~levelopment of a profitable ice skating facility will take many years. The conclusion is that a purely private sector business venture in Bakersfield at this time would .not be profitable. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Tuesday, April 4, 2000 Page -2- The City of Bakersfield has a very tight budget and bearing the full cost of a skating facility is unlikely to be affordable in the foreseeable future. The cost of new construction of a single-sheet facility including furniture, fixtures and equipment without land is estimated to be $3.4 million. A minimum of 2 acres is.needed and ideally there should be room for expansion and parking, which would require four acres'. The issue of a land site is very much open and any creative suggestions would be beneficial. The land needs to be commercially zoned. The single most important cdteda that ice skating operators indicate as being absolutely essential to their business is that it must be a place parents would believe to be safe and where they would be comfortable in dropping off their children. Second, it needs to be a faidy visible location where passing traffic or nearby activities draw attention to the facility. Third, the location should be reasonably central to serve people from all parts of metropolitan Bakersfield and should have access from some major arterials. Staff has identified three potentially available sites. One is County property located on North Chester near the Kern County Museum by Sam Lynn Ballpark. Kern County staff indicated that an ice skating facility was not included in the Master Plan, but youth baseball and family 'related activities were, so the Plan may be flexible enough to consider land use for an ice skating facility. If this use is found to be appropriate and promising, theoretically, the land could be made available without cost. It is not certain that this site is available, only that it is potentially available if a submittal is made during the Request for Proposal process. However, this would be a competitive process, probably with review by County staff. Ultimately, it would .require approval from the Board of Supervisors. The second prospective site is between "N" and "M" Streets, it fronts California, and is posted "for sale." This parcel is'large enough to accommodate the building, but not parking, so additional land would be needed. The third is a site located off 16th Street and is posted "for sale." This is a larger parcel than needed and it is not known if the owner would .be willing to divide it. The drawback is that the site is not visible from any arterial .or collector street. There is a significant economic gap between $3.4 million with free land and what a pro forma on making an ice facility a viable business shows. It will require considerable economic assistance from the community. Areas identified where help from the community would be beneficial to getting something done included: 1) donations of free land; 2) cash donations; 3) in-kind donations of labor or material for such things as removing old buildings; and 4) any kind of favorable business loan. Also, the City is affiliated with a 501C3 organization, the Bakersfield Foundation, and any donations made through that organization would be tax deductible. Types of funding and their constraints were explained such as non-recourse bonds, federal block grant funds, job creation grantS, property tax rebates available in redevelopment areas, state credits available in enterprise zones, and the use of capital outlay funds available only by Council approval. It was emphasized that it is highly .unlikely that any of these would be enough to make a project happen. The City cannot do this alone. More assistance from the private sector or creative ideas that reduce the costs of acquisition and construction will be required. At.the request of the Committee, staff has studied the use of temporary outdoor ice facilities, such as the one in Los Angeles used for nine weeks in the winter each year. This outdoor facility costs $25,000 per week to lease without electricity costs. This proved to be non-economical for our area and would not be very functional in .our climate. AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Tuesday, April 4, 2000 Page -3- 2. Public comments and suggestions on need for ice facilities and how to accomplish the project Committee Chair Sullivan presented a letter of support for an ice facility from Cecilia Anzalone, Treasurer of the Condor Booster Club, which included signatures on a petition for an ice rink. Stephan DeBranch, president of the Kern County Hockey Club (the Bakersfield Dragons), representing youth hockey, spoke about the need for an ice facility for youth team activities. John Genter, the incoming-president of the Kern County Hockey Club, spoke about the need for an ice facility fOr their youth teams. Tanya Andrews, Bakersfield Blades Figure Skaters, spoke in support of an ice rink and the need for such a facility for developing potential Olympians. She provided information about CalWorks and how hiring from that program provides eligibility for funds not otherwise available. Ron LaValley spoke in support of an ice facility and the County location by Sam Lynn Ballpark. He stated he is willing to donate time and his engineering/construction skills. Howard Chasin, Kern County Hockey Club, asked if it were possible to obtain urban redevelopment money to build a baseball stadium and ice rink at the Sam Lynn Ballpark location? The City Manager responded that sporting facilities are exempt and not eligible for most federal and state funding sources and grants. Federal law prohibits block grants from going into arenas or stadiums or associated facilities such as parking that serve them. A skating facility depending upon location and circumstance might be eligible for some monies for clearing blighted properties or job creation if it has a reasonable relationship between the number of jobs created and the grant money involved. Jim Murkland, Bakersfield 'Dragons, spoke regarding the need for an ice facility and the benefits of having youth ice skating sports. Scott Grundhofer spoke in support of an ice r-ink and suggested contacting the City of Boise and see how they built their ice-facility, the feasibility of using corporate sponsorships and checking on the empty Payless location at Valley Plaza as a possible building. Pete Yackley, Bakersfield Blades Figure Skaters, spoke in support of a ice facility and suggested utilizing the supporters in a team effort to raise money, finding one or two large corporations for support and perhaps using their name on the facility, and getting support by putting a radio station disc jockey at the facility. Matt Riley, General Manager of the Bakersfield Condors, spoke regarding the need for an ice facility for hockey practice, being able to retain and recruit better players, and necessary in order to maintain the Condors' long-term success in Bakersfield. He stated that the Condors are prepared to provide the following: 1) rent and pay for 80 to 90 hours a year practice time; 2) transfer to the facility the right to operate the Junior Condors program, which generates gross revenue in excess of $45,000; 3) donate 300 pairs of rental skates, which were purchased in 1999 for $15,000 for public skating; 4) hold a summer hockey school generating a minimum of 20 rental · COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Tuesday, April 4, 2000 Page -4- hours; 5) offer to operate or manage the facility or at the least offer marketing assistance or a partnership to acquire sponsorships to ensure the success of the facility; and 6) provide players to serve as coaches and teachers as desired. Lou Sn°wden, Bakersfield Blades Ice Club, spoke regarding the need for an ice. facility and how good and necessarY it is for children's special education programs through the schools such as the one they had when the Ice Palace was here, "Special Kids Skate." Jack Oliver spoke regarding donation of land and funding for an ice Skating facility. Barbara Grimes, President, Bakersfield Blades Figure Skating, spoke regarding the need for an ice facility in Bakersfield, so skaters do not have to travel to the Los Angeles area. Andre Radandt, Wm. Bolthouse Farms, spoke about the amazing growth of ice skating and hockey in Bakersfield, which created a viable atmosphere for successful youth hockey programs. With the community's interest So high, he felt it would be feasible to build an ice facility if the City would make a commitment, to build a municipal ice rink, plus support from the private sector through fund-raising. He stated that Wm. Bolthouse Farms is willing to provide up to $250,000 of:matching funds, dollar for dollar for donations from the private sector. Rob Harrison, ©wnedOperator of Las Vegas Ice Gardens, Nevada, a twin ice rink facility, spoke regarding theirinterest in working with the City on building a facility and coming up with plans and operations of how that can be done. He stated he.was here with his consultant to see the interest level of the different groups and how events and activities can be line up to measure the future possible financial success of putting an ice facility here. 3. Committee direction to staff on action items Committee Chair Sullivan recognized Mayor-Elect Haryey Hall, County Museum Director Carola Rupert-Enriquez, and County Parks & Recreation Director Bob Addison who were seated in the audience and thanked all those attending for their help and commitment. The COmmittee directed staff to research all suggestions, comments, and offers of donations Staff .was directed to set up another meeting for the purpose of bringing in research and follow-up information. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Staff attending: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager Alan Christensen; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; and Assistant City Clerk Rhonda Barnhard cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council S:~AC\CSCommittee\cs00apr04summary.wpd BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM April 27, 2000 TO: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITT,~ ~/ FROM: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER ~'// SUBJECT: ICE RINK On April 4~, the Community Services Committee held a public meeting on the need for a new ice rink in Bakersfield. The meeting had excellent turn out. Several items were identified for investigation. A separate memo from Alan Christensen on those issues is enclosed. Land The meeting also generated follow up discussion on possible sites which might be obtained without cost. While nothing is certain, we have had discussions on several sites, one owned by the North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks District and one owned by Mesa Marin. The best of those, from a business perspective, would seem to be on the North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks District site off Coffee Road, south of Hageman, at a point where eventually the intersection of Riverlakes Ranch Boulevard will intersect Coffee. The North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks District has discussed the concept with their Board and they, in concept, seem agreeable. Another concept that has arisen as a new possibility is at the proposed City Center site. An original location that has been considered was next to the City Center at California, between M and N streets. Under the revised concept, the ice facility would become part of a large recreational complex on a pad within the City Center itself, due south of the Centennial Garden on what is now, for the most part, a City parking lot. That expanded concept would also include basketball, volleyball, a fitness center and, through multi use of space, convertible areas for teen dances, convention space needs, etc. If this concept was pursued, the parking spaces lost would have to be replaced, either by the City or the developer. Again, this is an exploratory concept at this point in time, not a certainty. The other possibility for free land at the Metropark facility on North Chester is also "out there" and should be kept alive as a possibility. It may be a competitive process to get that particular site. Community Services Committee April 27, 2000 Page 2 Cash The April 4th meeting was also successful in generating some significant contribution offers. The Condors put up an offer that would include operating help. Bolthouse Farms put up a $250,000 challenge match.* In other words, if the community raises $250,000, Bolthouse will match it. Recommendation The potential of land availability, plus up to $500,000 in community contributions, is very significant. Staff is recommending that the City of Bakersfield put forward a match of its own. It is recommended that the Council release up to $50,000 for preliminary work on economic feasibility, cost.estimating and generation of concept drawings for such a facility. If the full $500,000 is raised by the private sector, the City should also put up a $200,000 match for a total of $250,000. A memo is enclosed showing how this could come from one time monies currently in hand. This is reasonably commensurate with the amount the City paid for the skateboard park. It is also rare that $500,000 could be raised by the private sector. That certainly justifies the City match. If these pieces fall together - free land, plus $750,000, we would be getting close to economic feasibility of the project. * Note: An offer was made to fully fund the project. Funds for such a donation, however, are not yet in place. If ever they are, that, of course, would be pursued. AT:rs Attachments BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM April 26, 2000 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Alan Christensen, Assistant City Manager~'~ SUBJECT: Issues Related to a Proposed Ice Skating Facility At the Community Services Committee meeting on April 4, 2000, several ideas and suggestions were offered during public statements on how to make a public ice skating facility a reality in Bakersfield. The following are responses to those statements: 1. CalWorks and Enterprise Zone Programs - Tanya Andrews suggested that the CalWorks program would provide an inexpensive source of labor to a private operator of the proposed facility. She also suggested use Of the enterprise zone to provide tax advantages to an oPerator. CalWorks employees could be available to an operator if they chose to use that program. Also, if the proposed facility were to be located within the Enterprize Zone boundaries, then the tax benefits of that program could also be available to the operator; again, if they chose to take advantage of them. 2. City of Lawndale Facility - Barbara Grimes stated that some years back the City of Lawndale used a UDAG grant fund from the Dept. of Urban Development (HUD) to construct a recreation center. This grant no longer exists. Ms. Grimes suggested that CDBG Section 108 funding might be used for such a facility. EDCD staff indicates that to qualify for the Section 108 program, the project must create jobs for Iow and moderate income persons. The maximum amount of funding that HUD will consider is $35,000 per Iow and moderate income job created (full-time equivalent). 3. Boise, Idaho Ice Facility - There is a privately owned ice skating facility that is available to the public for hockey teams, figure skating, and general public skating. The Idaho Steelheads hockey team practices at the public skating facility. Recently they were very close to a deal with a private operator for a second skating facility. That project never materialized. 4. Old Payless Buildinq - Staff researched the feasibility of using the empty building located near the Fashion Fair Mall, formerly occupied by Payless, as a possible site for an ice skating facility. Unfortunately, the dimensions of the .building are .not large enough to serve an ice skating use. 5. Santa Clarita Ice Rink - A private ice skating/entertainment facility called "The Ice Station" is being constructed in the City of Valencia. It is a privately owned business that is projected to open in June 2000. Among other entertainment attractions, there Page 2 are three sheets of ice planned: 1) Olympic size, 2) NHL size, and 3) a smaller practice size. The City of Santa Clarita has not participated financially in the project. 6. Mr. Oliver Contribution - We have yet to confirm whether or not Mr. Oliver's offer of a significant contribution to the project will materialize. We have contacted Mr. Oliver by phone. He states that funds are forthcoming. 7. Fundraisin,q - Several individuals have volunteered to .help raise private donations. The City has offered to use the Bakersfield Foundation as conduit for collecting donations from individuals and organizations. The volunteers I have spoken to have responded in positively to using the Foundation. The next step will be for a fundraising committee to have a kickoff meeting. Also, attached is a copy of a letter from Andre Radant representing Bolthouse Farms, which has offered a matching grant of $250,000 if the City builds the ice skating facility. 8. North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Property - The NBRP Board is open to the idea of pursuing a facility located on one of their undeveloped park sites. The concept is that they would lease us the needed property, which is on their proposed park site seast of Centennial High School near Coffee Road. 4-20-2000 2:48PM FROM WM BOLTHOUSE FARMS 661 366 8072 WM. BOLTHOUSE FARMS. 1NC. · 9200 EAST BRI. J'NDAGE LANE · BAKERSFIELD, CA 93307-3009 ~61/366-7205 - FAX: 66.1/366-2834, April 20, 2000 Mr. Alan Tandy City Manager 1501 Truxtun Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93301 Dear Alan: A municipally owned ice rink would be a terrific addition to our community. The enthusiasm for ice based activities in 'Bakersfield has grown tremendously with the addition of the Centennial Garden and the opening of the Ice Palace on Rosedale Hwy. The closing of the Ice Palace has left a real hole in the recreational opportunities for many members of.the COmmunity. In an effort to bring a municipally owned facility to our community, Wm. Bolthouse Farms, Inc. would like to offer $250,000.00 in the form of a matching .gift to the city of Bakersfield, in an effort to contribute $500,000.00 of pdvate funds toward this project. The matching gift will match dollar-for-dollar all designated gifts for this project and be paid in June 2001. The gift would, of course, be predicated on the city building an ice rink in Bakersfield. Sincerely, Andre Radandt Executive Vice President Wm. Bolthouse Farms, Inc. ...... CITY OF BAKFRSFIFL[, ZONING MAP 102-20 --- SEC. 20 T. 29s R. 27c ~"~' [ ~ 0 "- EG ENO ~. .-3 C__.~/~ ./~ ,.... ..,o,.,,. ,~,.--., ~-,~,~' R'I R'~r / m~ WCL~ ~ R'2 P) EC D. ,. BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM April 11, 2000 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: John W. Stinso~n,~A~istant City Manager SUBJECT: Possible Matching Funds for Ice Rink This memo is in response to your inquiry regarding possible funding sources for a potential $250,000 city contribution to match the $250,000 offered by Bolthouse and other public contributions for the proposed Ice Rink. As you will recall the city received a one-time ERAF payment from the state subsequent to the adoption of the FY 1999-2000 budget. In addition we received greater than anticipated motor vehicle license fee revenues, which were treated as a one time revenue due to the cyclical nature of this revenue source. The majority of these additional revenues and a reimbursement of booking fees from the state were appropriated to the Gas Tax Fund to eliminate the need for the $2.1 million loan for road repairs and improvements. There still remains approximately $250,000 of these funds remaining from the ERAF and motor vehicle revenues which could be used for the proposed ice rink project. Since these funds are essentially one-time in nature it would be preferable to use them for capital projects rather than ongoing expenditures. For your information I have attached a spreadsheet prepared by the Finance Director which shows the sources of these funds. S:~.IOHN~.TPROJ~Ice Rink Funding. wpd CITY OF BAKERSFIEL[,, ZONING MAP 102-20 SEC. 20 T. L:'9, R. Z7c ,'. EG ENO City of Bakersfield One-Time Revenues 1999 , Previous Revised Increase Description Estimate Estimate (Decrease) ERAF 88,190 87,204 (986) ERAF (Population) 313,133 512,514 199,381 Sub-Total 401,323 599,718 198,395 Booking Fees 714,431 714,431 - M.V. in Lieu 984,246 1,035,851 51,605 Total 2,100,000 2,350,000 250,000 S:\Darrin\Gregory\Notebk2.QPW 04i10/00