This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Despite not hearing a presentation by city staff on Tuesday evening, Longmont City Council voted 5-2 to instruct staff to move forward on the next step of a feasibility study on a proposed competitive pool and ice rink center.
It is unclear what that next step is, but Mayor Bagley suggested that staff provide a "brief five-minute presentation" and "discuss additional details" of what that step would be during next week's city council meeting.
Both council members Christensen and Peck voted against the motion put forth by Mayor Bagley.
City staff was, according to city council documents, initially seeking direction from the council on whether or not to move forward with the project by evaluating potential site locations, developing the final design, updating construction and operating costs, and planning a ballot question for the 2019 election that would raise taxes in order to construct the facility.
The proposed 91,800 sq ft center is estimated to cost $40.6 million and would require an annual subsidy of $636,105, should it serve a population of over 275,000 people.
Potential site locations include Clark Centennial Park, Dry Creek Park, Montgomery Farms, and the Quail Campus, which is north of the Longmont Recreation Center.
Those details come from a study finalized in 2017 by the sports architecture and design firm Sink Combs Dethlefs.
The study also recommended a financial partnership with the St. Vrain Valley School District which could assist with the potential financial deficit.
Further discussion on this topic will be presented at the August 28, city council meeting.
