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Min 05/12/1992 43 Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building May 12, 1992 Items 1 & 2 The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in called session on the above date in the Council Room of the Memorial Auditorium Building at 8 : 30 o'clock a.m. , with the following members present. Michael Lam - Mayor David Farabee - Terrance E. Loughry - Angus Thompson - Councilors Paul Hughes - J. W. Martin - Harold Hawkins - James Berzina - City Manager Gregory Humbach _ City Attorney Wilma J. Thomas City Clerk The invocation was given by Councilor Thompson. Item 3 Mayor Lam commented that the purpose of this meeting is to receive a report from the Special Events Center Committee. Kay Yeager, Chairman, expressed appreciation to Mayor Lam Councilor Thom son for their non-political support in this andp p Pp endeavor, stating this committee worked outside the political arena of the City and County. She expressed appreciation to the various staff members who provided assistance. She also noted the support of representatives of the large events which are held here. Councilor Thompson addressed educational, cultural, and social events, stating this center is one which represents the best of what the City is all about. It will allow us to have a gem in our city. Many of the shows which go to Dallas, Fort Worth, and Oklahoma City can also stop here. The social impact will give all of us the feeling that it belongs to all of us. He stated he appreciated the work of this committee, especially Kay Yeager. Ralph Perkins explained the process of narrowing down the sites. A team of architects looked at three different sites. They all came together that this would be the site with the most potential, and fulfill the criteria they originally set out. This site is located on both sides of the Wichita River between I44 and Scott Avenue. The infrastructure is already in place. Parks and connecting trails are already in place to be expanded. There are hotels in the area within walking distance. The Sheraton would also be within walking distance with a trail system on the North side. The facility would include a coliseum, exhibit hall, and Ag/Arena/Show, with parking for 7, 000 cars. They plan an elevation of four to five feet above the level of the Sheraton. The Ag/Arena/Show would require some fill. They believe this is a wonderful opportunity to recycle an older part of town. The site has multiple parcels of land. Dorcas Chasteen reported on the number of parcels in this plan. There are 309 pieces of property. The City will be responsible for acquiring this property, which she estimates 44 Item 3 , cont'd. will take about a year. All of the comments she has received have been very positive. Councilor Hawkins asked about the number of businesses on Scott Street to be relocated. Mrs. Chasteen stated she believed there were fourteen. Mr. Perkins explained that the cost of the land acquisition is included in this report. Mr. Perkins stated that the final thing they looked at was site accessibility. In this location they have multiple ways to handle the traffic. Interstate 44 has been discussed to be elevated. There will be an off ramp on 6th, and an on ramp on 5th. Fifth and Sixth Streets and the Seymour Highway are already there for access to the West part of the County. Scott Street is an access to the Old Iowa Park Road, as well as to Old Charlie Road and Eastside Drive. There is multiple access to the North and South. This proved to be the site which provided the most access. Curtis Smith addressed the financial and economic impact for this project. It will be a 25 million facility, of which nine million will come from each the County and City, and seven million from the private sector. The City and County will equally share in engineering and architectural services. They feel a hotel anchor complex would be an advantage to this complex. This can be delayed until the last part of the project. He believes they are building a flagship center. This center will bring other businesses into the City. The tax base can be spread out. Abilene' s facility is now operating at a profit, after being open 30 years. Belton experienced a great increase in the hotel/motel tax. Abilene says they see a great number in their gates each year. Mr. Smith stated they plan to continue the Committee' s participation right through the bidding. He stated that voting on it right now is not the best way to find out what people want. He noted the low voter turnout in recent elections. Kay Yeager stated this center must be a joint venture between the City of Wichita Falls, Wichita County, and the private sector. They believe the time is right now to move forward. Mayor Lam thanked this committee for their efforts. Kay Yeager, Curtis Smith, and the architectural committee were commended for the work done, with Mayor Lam noting that the architects worked together in such a good fashion, providing services at their own costs. Councilor Loughry liked the idea, and feels we should go forward. He mentioned downtown traffic. Councilor Martin commended Mrs. Yeager and Mr. Smith and ale the Committee for this report, stating they have brought together every segment of the community. The citizens have already been involved. He noted that there are doers, and those who think it should be done some other way. Mr. Perkins stated the Committee really looked hard at the traffic. The real key issue is that we are looking to attract people here who will be walking to the area, and not be using vehicles. Councilor Hughes commented that in going to conventions you always want to be able to have the ability to walk to the events being held. This site does something for us that Abilene does not have, and we can build on it. He feels the site and the use of the assets in the area are positive. They are disbursing the traffic to Major arteries, and not into the residential areas. He suggested that we move forward. 45 Item 3 , cont'd. Councilor Farabee commented that it makes him feel good to see Council members embrace this site which is not in their district. He supported this center, stating we need to move forward. We need it for a tax base and convention center. He thanked the Committee for the report. Councilor Hawkins stated this is an excellent report. He questioned the amount of fill which will be required. Mr. Perkins stated that on the south side of the river very little fill will be required. The major portion will be on the North side. They are looking at the 950-951 range. He noted the difference in floodway and flood plain. Mr. Hawkins commented that most of the hotel rooms are closer to the Riveridge site. Mayor Lam stated that he is 100 percent satisfied that this is the right site for the multipurpose events center. Now is the time for this community to recycle. It is a time to build. We have sat idle for 30 years to our competitors. It is a time to quit talking and start to work. It is time to make a commitment to ourselves. He wholeheartedly endorses the report. He requested we all join in, and put our prejudices aside and do what is best for all. Moved by Mayor Lam that the report on the special events center be accepted in its entirety to the need, site, and financing, and that the staff be immediately instructed to bring back to the Council methods in which we can provide fund support for this project. Motion seconded by Councilor Thompson, and carried unanimously. William C. Young, 1018 Widows Lane, stated that he feels the people should be allowed to vote on how the money is raised. Judge Gipson appeared on behalf of himself and Wichita county. He stated the County voted to approve this project. This is something we all wanted to do for the community. The City and County have worked together on many projects. This project has to be a City, County, and private partnership. He believes the county can finance their part without a tax increase. He does not see it as double taxation. The project and the site have been well thought out. Mayor Lam commented on the working relationship we have with the County, stating he believes this support will continue. Roby Christie, 3309 Cumberland, represented Streams and Valleys, stating the Committee has answered many of the j questions. He believes that most of the people who live on the river and have their businesses there, would seek the opportunity to relocate their homes and businesses. He stated that they involved close to 60, 000 people all over the community in the building of the Falls. The Falls and the Wichita project will support this center. He stated there is a broad base in this community to support river development. He stated the people of this community have already voted. The Heritage Society has spent time and money downtown. This will be another thing to bring people here. He commended the Council and the Committee for their work. John Vandyke, President of the Founders Lions Club, stated they support this center for the County fair. He noted Lubbock' s and Nacogdoches ' experiences with this type of arena. He believes one of the reasons businesses have not located here is because we do not have a coliseum or arena. With this, he believes we will grow beyond expectation. B. B. Lane, 4610 Mistletoe, stated he is just a taxpayer, and he is totally in favor of it. He believed, however, that every registered voter in Wichita County should have a say as to whether they want it, and how they want it financed. 46 Item 3 , cont'd. Mayor Lam stated he has an excellent idea, and the theory is great, but in this last election only ten percent of the registered voters voted. This is a true fact of life, and it is a sad state of affairs, but that is the way it is. The City Council adjourned at 10: 10 a.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this the day oft -c , 1992 . Michael Lam, Ayor ATTEST: Wilma J. Thomas, CMC/AAE City Clerk