City Commission Special Meeting (CIP/Assessment/Goals) - January 28, 2025

The meeting began with a presentation by Mark Smith regarding the phased renovation of the old Polar Palace 3:25. The project aims to transform the former ice arena into a multi-use community hub featuring turf for soccer and lacrosse, court spaces for pickleball and volleyball, golf simulators, and a spa 4:11. The presenter outlined a plan to open the facility in phases, starting with the turf area 5:12.

Following the presentation, City Manager Mike Womack led a comprehensive review of the 2025-2026 budget and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 24:42. Department heads presented various funding requests, including a new vehicle for the building department 26:52, ADA accessibility upgrades for City Hall 34:25, and road improvements such as the Nepping Street project 35:26. The discussion also covered the potential development of the 18 Nepping property 55:03 and the need for expanded fire services and EMS training 48:29.

The meeting concluded with a significant discussion regarding the city's Special Assessment Policy 1:24:00. Commissioners expressed concerns regarding the financial impact of the current policy on property owners during road improvement projects. The Commission ultimately agreed to form a subcommittee to work with staff to review and potentially modify the policy to ensure fairness and mitigate the burden on residents.

• Polar Palace Renovation: Plans to convert the ice arena into a multi-use community facility 4:11.
• 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): Department-specific budget requests for equipment, infrastructure, and vehicles 24:42.
• 18 Nepping Property: Discussion regarding the demolition or restoration of the contaminated property 55:03.
• Special Assessment Policy: Review of the 1989 policy and the financial burden of assessing property owners for roadwork 1:24:00.
• Goals and Objectives: Strategies for community engagement and public participation in long-term city planning 1:58:02.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor.
• Mike Womack: City Manager.
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner.
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner.
• Melissa Petrie: Commissioner.
• Mark Smith: Presenter regarding the Polar Palace renovation 3:25.
• Slusher: Representative from the Department of Public Works (DPW) 34:25.

• Polar Palace Project: A phased approach to opening new turf and court spaces 5:12.
• Budget Requests:
  • Building Department: Request for a new vehicle for the building official and new office furniture 26:52.
  • DPW: Plans for ADA accessibility at City Hall 34:25, Nepping Street resurfacing 35:26, and new sewer camera equipment 39:40.
  • Fire Department: Request for a new parking lot/driveway at the apparatus bay 48:29, fire hose replacement, and hiring a full-time Fire Officer 49:11.
  • Police Department: Implementation of the Flock camera system (license plate readers) 1:11:49 and ballistic protection for the lobby 1:12:53.
• 18 Nepping Property: Discussion of whether to demolish the site for a public space or seek bids for restoration 55:03.
• Special Assessment Policy Review: Evaluation of the 30% assessment rule and the impact on corner lots and residents 1:24:00.

• Polar Palace Phase One Opening: Targeted for the end of the current quarter (March/April) 8:42.
• 2025-2026 Budget Season: Currently underway 25:26.
• Next Budget Workshop: Scheduled for April 24th and 28th 1:17:32.

• Polar Palace: To provide a user-friendly space for various sports and community activities 4:11.
• EMS Training: To ensure the city is prepared for mass casualty incidents 53:35.
• Special Assessment Revision: To address resident concerns regarding the high cost of road improvements and to find a "fairer" way to handle assessments 1:24:00.

• Pickleball Expansion: Residents requested more outdoor courts, specifically at Krampton Park, due to overcrowding at the community center 12:54.
• 18 Nepping Redevelopment: Debate between the cost/risk of cleaning up contamination for restoration versus the benefits of demolition and creating new public space 1:01:46.
• Special Assessment Fairness: Debate over whether the city should use other revenue streams (like marijuana or solar revenue) to cap or eliminate assessments for residents 1:47:29.
• Public Engagement: Discussion on how to effectively use surveys and forums to gather community input for long-term goals without overextending city resources 2:04:06.

• Subcommittee Formation: Commissioner Brady, Commissioner Petrie, and staff to form a subcommittee to review and suggest modifications to the Special Assessment Policy 1:53:16.
• 18 Nepping Bids: The Commission suggested obtaining a bid for restoration to compare against demolition costs 58:55.
• Public Engagement Plan: Staff to develop a plan for gathering public input through surveys and community outreach for the new Goals and Objectives 2:34:57.

The community showed high enthusiasm for the Polar Palace renovation 4:51 and the expansion of pickleball facilities 12:54. However, there is palpable concern and frustration regarding the financial burden of special assessments for roadwork 1:30:38 and the need for better communication from the city regarding ongoing projects 1:41:02.

• On Youth/Community: "It takes a village to raise a village... whenever we do something like this... it's always great when you can get people in the city who are behind it" 4:31.
• On Pickleball: "Today pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States... your grandmother can play and your grandkid can play" 12:54.
• On Special Assessments: "I don't want to be the commission that just tears everything down because we think it's of no use" 58:55.

• Vehicle Needs: Whether the Building Department truly needs a truck or if an SUV would be more appropriate 27:36.
• EMS Liability: The potential liability and cost of the city providing EMS First Responder training 51:45.
• 18 Nepping Contamination: The potential for environmental contamination to impact drinking water or health if the building is renovated 1:02:08.
• Assessment Fairness: Whether the city should assess based on property use (zoning) or property frontage (foot) 1:45:01.