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7. Community Center Needs AnalysisDate: 8-7-19 To: Scandia City Council Members From: Mayor Christine Maefsky Community Center Task Force Committee Re: Scandia Community Center Needs Assessment Request On June 10th the Council appointed Community Center Study Task Force Committee held its first meeting. It determined the need for an update to the 34-year-old building to maximize its use and effectiveness going forward. The committee agreed that the first step should be a needs assessment study to best plan for the Community Center’s place in Scandia’s growth and development based on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. After appraisals by three architectural/engineering consultants, estimated costs for such an assessment were determined. Following the July 16th Council meeting, Council members received the reports from these consultants. The recommendations of the Committee were presented to the EDA who supported the Committee’s findings. Scandia is looking to invigorate its Village Center as a focal point for business development in the city. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan creates a vision for Scandia of a small-town city with rural character and appeal – large lots, dark night skies, around a vibrant Village Center. This past year the City engaged in a tourism study with the University of Minnesota. Their recommendations included capitalizing on our historic, cultural, and environmental assets. We see one way the city can assist in drawing businesses that will build on those assets is to add to that appeal aspect of the Village Center. For tourism attractions at present, the direct Village Center consists of the historic Elim church and cemetery, the Scandia Market and Mercantile general store, the Scandia Café, Meisters bar and grill, Gammelgarden Museum and the Community Center. With recent state legislation, we are getting closer to having the Gateway Trail come directly into the Village Center from William O’Brien State Park. Scandia is already a popular bicycling destination in the metro area. We are working to increase that draw in a variety of ways including adding a bicycling gathering spot by our ice rink warming house, and extending the year round open hours of the warming house. The City has taken steps to assess the possibilities for adding to wastewater treatment and water resources for the Village Center. We are also already welcoming a new business to the Village Center, one that will honor the historic aspects of its location (a n early 1900’s bank building) and appeal to the tourist market. Further, the Scandia Heritage Alliance community group is currently exploring rebuilding Scandia’s historic Water Tower Barn on a site by the Community Center in the Village Center. This barn and its intended use will add to the draw for businesses to locate here. As we are looking to see ways we can increase business development in Scandia, there are opportunities to draw new businesses that honor its heritage into the Village Center by updating and redesigning the Community Center. The center can act as a potential magnet that will assert the city’s viability as a business location and draw new businesses that want to be a part. At present the Community Center, both inside and out, is generic. It could be in any city, anywhere. It was built in the mid 1980’s with a commercial kitchen added in 1999. It has suited a limited purpose up to this time, but as the city grows, the needs of the Community Center, and its potential for supporting businesses will grow also. We would like to assess the future needs of the center while we are looking at ways to make the Community Center uniquely Scandia in order to draw those businesses that will support Scandia’s Vision as put forth in our Comprehensive Plan. The redesigned Community Center also has the potential to offer brick and mortar support for Scandia’s many home-based businesses. As businesses want to test the feasibility of establishing their own locations, using Community Center facilities can be a transition phase for them, for example: use of the commercial kitchen, use of the high speed internet, conference facilities for meeting with clients. In addition to an updated Community Center building up the economic strength of the Village Center, the city’s growth as described in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan also calls to attention the need to assess the future use of the Community Center as a growing city hall. What will staff needs be in the next 20 years? How will the center accommodate those needs? The Council is being asked to authorize a needs assessment study for redeveloping Scandia’s Community Center to make it a support structure for existing businesses, an economic draw for new businesses, and an adequate city hall for future city growth. Resolution 08-20-19-XX Resolution Authorizing Community Center Needs Assessment Study WHEREAS, The Scandia Economic Development Authority, upon the recommendation of the Council authorized Community Center Task Force Committee, recommends that a needs analysis study be done as a first step in updating/revitalizing the Scandia Community Center; and WHEREAS, With the Community Center having been built over 34 years ago, the study will look at what expectations and expansions would meet the needs of the community going forward in the next 20-30 years, and offer pre-design work based on the needs analysis; and WHEREAS, Updating the Community Center, besides planning for future growth is also seen as providing a clear economic boost for the Village Center, a magnet that will assert the city’s viability as a business location and draw new businesses that want to be a part; and WHEREAS, Both the Comprehensive Plan and the 2018 Tourism Study recommended the importance of Scandia’s capitalizing on its historic, cultural, and environmental assets; and WHEREAS, The potential economic benefits a redesigned, refocused, and repurposed Community Center could have as a catalyst for the downtown businesses is noted. A more vigorously used Center would draw people in, add vitality to the Village Neighborhood and Village Mixed Use districts, and spur economic development in town. WHEREAS, Estimates for that study proposed by three different firms puts $10,000 as a reasonable cost for such an assessment; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City approves the allocation of $10,000 from the general fund for a needs analysis study for Community Center updating for future needs. Adopted by the Scandia City Council this 20th day of August, 2019. Christine Maefsky, Mayor