Councilors say farewell to departing City Manager Chad Adams

 

The undeveloped Blazing Star Landing site is the focus of renewed City Council attention as the city prepares to ask for support of an application for $20 million in state bonding dollars.

City Manager Chad Adams said $4 million of that request would be devoted to work south of the railroad tracks that cut through the 62-acre site and former home of Farmland Foods, which experienced a fire in 2001. That work, expected to cost approximately $10.7 million in total, would include the relocation of Front Street and development along Albert Lea Lake’s lakeshore. Adams said this portion of the project would not require a local tax increase.

However, the portion north of the railroad that would include not only private development but also the construction of a community center and additional site work, expected to run $36.4 million, is not in the same boat. $16 million would come from state bonding, $5 million from local fundraising and funding from land sales, Adams estimated.

“We would also need some type of local tax increase or referendum,” Adams said.

This could include mean property tax, sales tax, a food and beverage tax or some combination of tax options, Adams said. Of community groups Adams has polled, groups are more supportive of a combination of taxes rather than a property tax alone, which Adams said is estimated would raise taxes by $50 or $60 on a $100,000 home.

The proposed community center on Blazing Star Landing would be a 115,000 square foot facility, down 10,000 from a previous proposal that accounted for a private physical therapy partnership that will not move forward. The center would also house Senior Services and the Senior Center, Parks and Recreation offices, Community Education, an event space, a meeting and activity room, a three-lane suspended running track, a fitness room, studio space, aquatics, a four-court gymnasium, one racquetball court — downsized from two initially planned — an indoor play park, game room, child care, locker rooms, offices and storage.

The pool area would include a recreation and lap pool, wading pool and slide but not another slide and hot tub, as Albert Lea Family Y Executive Director Dennis Dieser said that can become more of a nightmare than benefit.

The site could also include a historical recognition of the Farmland fire and history of the site, which may be educational material on a wall or kiosk, Adams said.

Dieser said one discussion for the center would be a trade-off in which the Y’s current property would be given to the city and recreation portions of the new community center would be managed by the YMCA.

Dieser said the Y’s facilities are dated, and bringing community programming from the Y, Parks and Recreation and youth sports programs under one roof could be a benefit for the community.

“I think you have opportunities to add more quality to it,” Dieser said.

Should this occur, a Y membership would still be needed to use portions of the city center managed by the YMCA.

“We’re not here to compete against each other,” Dieser said. “We’re here to work together to raise the community up and ensure that nobody is ever denied access to programs or activities.”

Tuesday’s meeting also included consideration of ice rinks, which Adams said afterward was planned to be part of the new community center but to be added 10 to 15 years later, after taxes had paid off the facility. However, repairs needed to the ice sheets at Albert Lea City Arena may mean looking at expediting that portion of the project, which Adams said he estimated would cost another $20 million to include in the proposed community center on the Blazing Star Landing.

The arena could then be repurposed as an all-turf facility, or with batting cages or as a new space for the Albert Lea Gymnastics Club. Repairs to the city arena’s back sheet of ice would cost around $1.5 million, Adams said. Conversations will likely continue over the summer.

He said there is no sense of urgency for repairs to the arena, as the ice sheets are still safe but usable.

The City Council took no action Tuesday. Adams said the city would look for formal support for a bonding dollars proposal at the June 10 meeting.

Adams said a best-case scenario could have the community center complete by fall 2021 with potential for a special election in early 2020 requesting local taxpayer funding support. However, he said a best-case scenario timeline may not be realistic for a project of this scale.

 

City Council says goodbye to city manager

Each councilor used Adams’ last City Council meeting as city manager to thank him for his service to the city over the past eight years.

“It’s been a pleasure,” Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. said. “We’ve accomplished a lot, and you have made a difference.”

Adams thanked the community for the opportunity to serve and his colleagues who he said are fighting to make the community better.

Rasmussen said there will be a farewell party for Adams from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. June 4 at Edgewater Bay Pavilion that the public is welcome to attend.

The City Council will search for a new city manager, but in the interim appointed Assistant City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos as acting city manager. The agreement adds a $1,000 a month stipend on top of his current $91,915 salary. The agreement is effective June 5.

In other action:

• The lowest of three bids for the Newton Avenue construction and rehabilitation project bids still came in 8% higher than the engineer estimate at just under $1.18 million, Adams said. The City Council approved accepting the lowest bid, submitted by Albert Lea-based Jensen Excavating and Trucking LLC.

• The City Council approved a $35,000 purchase of a 7-acre former railway strip located within the Blazing Star Landing. The city of Albert Lea owns land surrounding the parcel, and the purchase will allow the city more property for future development, Adams said.

• Work on the new fire station meant an updated budget from March 31 showed a decrease in the total project cost of approximately $80,000. Adams said it was good news so far, but the number will likely change as work continues.

• Adams updated the City Council during its study session on Retail Strategies LLC. Over the last year, Adams said Retail Strategies was required to meet and reach out to at least 40 vendors, which he said it exceeded. He said there are three retailers interested in Albert Lea right now who have not found a site. Adams said the retail vendor had exceeded his expectations, but year two is where the city needs to start seeing deliverables.

• Paving standard ordinances were amended so those within certain zoning districts are able to use alternative methods, such as gravel, limestone or other material that will properly drain and fit aesthetic requirements for surfacing parking areas.

• Josh Orchard and Bill Howe asked the council for permission to continue the project of a proposed dock system called Bridgeport Marina to be located on Bridge Avenue across from Cabin Coffee. Rasmussen said the council was not ready to make a decision and would potentially offer formal support at the June 10 meeting, after councilors have the chance to look at the project. Ward 1 Councilor Rich Murray said he had a concern with traffic at the location with what he thought may be a potential public safety issue.

• The City Council held a second reading of an ordinance that would change rules for food truck operation in Albert Lea.

• In a consent agenda item, the City Council authorized the replacement of the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center roof. The low bid from Allweather Roof was $78,528, slightly over the estimated $75,000. The replacement is a budgeted item, Adams said, as the roof is over 25 years old.

• The City Council approved a two-year extension of its property tax abatement program for new homes. The five-year, 100% tax abatement of the city’s share of increased real estate taxes is available for those who construct a single-family home, duplex or multi-family complex who files an application and obtains formal approval.