WORKSHOP ITEM - Robert Therres, Public Services Manager/Asst. City Manager
Title
SPACE NEEDS STUDY FOR MARY ANN YOUNG SENIOR CENTER
Background
Last fall, the City Council approved conducting an updated space needs study for the Mary Ann Young Senior Center. The City entered into an agreement with 292 Design Group to review the old study from 2008, meet with Staff and the Senior Board to develop a building layout, size and preliminary cost for a future senior center. The goal is to develop a plan that fits the future needs of Blaine’s seniors. They worked under the assumption that the location of a future facility will be in Aquatore Park.
Attached is the report that 292 Design Group has put together. It calls for a 12,000 square foot facility at an estimated cost of $3.57 million. The current Mary Ann Young Senior Center is approximately 4,200 square feet.
Two options for financing a new senior center are:
- Bonding - This would involve a referendum question that would be placed on a future election. The question to be placed on the ballot must be approved by the City Council 100days before the election.
- Use of Capital Investment Fund - The City’s Capital Investment Fund (CIF) has sufficient funds to cover this project. It would take six votes of the City Council to use these funds for a project of citywide benefit.
Recommendation
Staff is looking for City Council feedback and direction.
- Does the City Council want to continue to develop plans for a new senior center? The next step would be to hire an architect to develop building plans.
- Is the Council interested in submitting a senior center question on the next election, either using CIF funds or requesting the use of bonds?
- Does the Council want to further explore the use of CIF funds to finance a new senior center?