Merriam City Council heard staff’s recommendation to move forward with a Community Center ballot initiative at its June 12 meeting. City Administrator Chris Engel provided a summary of the public outreach process.
View Engel’s recommendation to City Council.
View Engel’s Powerpoint presentation.
The City Council unanimously approved a motion to formally hear a resolution to consider approval of a ballot initiative election at its next meeting on June 26. If the resolution passes, the City would move forward with placing this issue on the ballot for voters to decide.
The conversation started many years ago but came to fruition in late 2016 and early 2017 when the Steering Committee presented its facilities master plan and recommendation for a build new option to the community and the City Council. The City transitioned into staff presentations on specific issues related to the renovation/repair and build new options, including a joint public meeting with the community in late April. Additional public input and information gathering has occurred since then.
Based on the information accumulated, Engel presented staff’s recommendation to move forward with a ballot initiative to issue $24 million of general obligation bonds to pay for a new community center and aquatic facility at Vavra park, along with a new quarter-cent sales tax to help cover debt service on the bonds. The election would take place via a mail-in ballot that would be due on Sept. 15, 2017.
The Future of Merriam's Recreation Facilities 