[00:00:03]
OK, WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME, EVERYBODY.
TODAY'S MEETING OF THE BUSINESS.
THE BUSINESS MEETING FOR THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE MEETING THAT WE HAVE PREPARED TODAY.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET UP COUNCILS DOWN HERE ON THE FLOOR JUST TO ALLOW US TO HAVE BETTER EYE CONTACT AND A BETTER DISCUSSION WITH EACH OTHER.
AS WE'VE SAID NUMEROUS TIMES, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE IN THE LINE WITH THEM.
IT'S HARD TO SEE FACES AND AND TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
SO WE PURPOSEFULLY SET THIS UP BECAUSE WE WANTED IT TO BE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR IMPORTANT GUESTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
SO TODAY'S MEETING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE CIVIC CENTER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR TO EXAMINE AND TO STUDY THIS ISSUE. AND THEY'VE DONE IT WITHOUT COMPENSATION.
THEY'VE DONE IT SOLELY AS VOLUNTEERS WHO SHARE THE COMMON INTEREST OF MOVING OUR CITY FORWARD. AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WHO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL CAN RELATE TO THAT.
SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THEIR PRESENTATION, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START OUR MEETING
[INVOCATION]
WITH AN INVOCATION AND A PLEDGE.SO IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, I'M GOING TO STAND.
Y'ALL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND WE'LL DO THAT PART OF THE MEETING.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW YOU DON'T HEAR PROBABLY THANK YOUS VERY OFTEN.
BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
LET'S PRAY. MOST GRACIOUS AND LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY FOR THE AMAZING CITY THAT WE LIVE IN, THE ABUNDANT BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE AROUND US.
GOD, THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO HAVE CALLINGS IN OUR LIVES AND TO HAVE GIFTS THAT WE CAN USE TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS STATE AND COUNTRY.
AND MAY WE NEVER TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED.
IN YOUR SCRIPTURE, GOD, YOU'VE SAID THAT CITIZENS ARE TO OBEY THEIR GOVERNING AUTHORITIES AND THAT YOU'VE ESTABLISHED AND THOSE AUTHORITIES ARE HERE TO PROMOTE PEACE, ORDER AND JUSTICE. AND AS THEY MEET TODAY, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THEM.
AND THE IMPORTANT MATTERS THAT THEY'RE DISCUSSING THAT INVOLVE OUR CITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
I PRAY YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS ROOM AND IN THE HEARTS OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED BE WITH THIS COUNCIL LEAD AND GUIDE THEM, GIVING THEM WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT IN THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE THEM AND GOD TO PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID CONFLICTING ISSUES AND DIFFERENT OPINIONS THAT SURROUND US, GIVING THEM A SENSE OF WELFARE AND LET THEM KNOW THE TRUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
GIVE THEM A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE AND RIGHTNESS, AND GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY EVEN WHEN THERE'S HONEST DISAGREEMENT AND GOD.
LASTLY, I PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES.
ALWAYS TAKES A TOLL ON THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO US.
I PRAY FOR EACH ONE OF THEM AND THEIR AND THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES.
GOD GIVE THESE LEADERS ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE IN WHAT YOU WOULD WANT AND WHAT WOULD PLEASE YOU AS THEY SPEAK AND AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS.
TODAY, IT'S IN YOUR MOST HOLY AND BLESSED NAME, I PRAY.
OK, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR MEETING TODAY WITH OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND SINCE THEY
[A. Presentation and discussion of the recommendation from the Civic Center Executive Committee; and]
HAVE GIVEN US SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AS VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM A LITTLE BACK TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO OFFER THEM THE FLOOR.SO THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT IN OUR SESSION TODAY AS THERE ARE NO ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. BUT THERE REMAIN MANY, MANY WAYS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUBMIT FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS PROJECT. AND WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS ITEM IS GOING TO COME BACK UP FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT THREE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ON JANUARY 28, JANUARY, FEBRUARY 4TH AND FEBRUARY 11TH.
AND AT ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS, A DESIGNATED PORTION OF THE MEETING WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENT AT ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE COMMENT ABOUT THIS PROJECT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO ATTEND A MEETING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK, YOU CAN VISIT WWW.CONVERSATIONCIVICCENTER.COM TO REVIEW THE FACTS OF THE PROJECT AND SUBMIT FEEDBACK DIRECTLY FROM THAT WEB SITE AND THAT INBOX IS CHECKED DAILY IN REAL TIME.
[00:05:01]
SO THAT'S A GREAT WAY FOR A CITIZEN WHO DOESN'T WANT TO COME TO THE MEETING.MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
THAT CAN BE INTIMIDATING JUST FOR YOU TO USE THAT AND GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK, GIVE US YOUR IDEAS, YOUR CONCERNS.
ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT FEEDBACK TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AT AMARILLO.GOV.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST LIMIT THAT EVEN TO THE CIVIC CENTER.
IF YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH YOUR DUMPSTER OR A POTHOLE OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN USE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AT AMARILLO.GOV.
BECAUSE THAT INBOX IS CHECKED DAILY AT REAL TIME.
ALSO, YOU CAN CONTACT ME OR ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THROUGH OUR CITY EMAIL ADDRESSES OR BY PHONE WITH OUR CITY PHONE NUMBERS AND WE'RE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY WEB SITE.
AND THOSE THE THOSE EMAIL ADDRESSES CAN'T GET THE WORD OUT ARE ROUTINELY POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. SO ALL OF THAT TO SAY THAT THE POINT IS YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME AND WE WANT IT AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE US FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS PROJECT, SUBMIT YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANY OF THOSE METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION THAT WE JUST WENT OVER. ARE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO IT.
SO WITH THAT, THOUGH, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PUSH US INTO WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY AND TO SAY WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS.
AND I'LL NOW TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD KEY ROLES IN THIS PROCESS. I WILL.
AND THEN I WILL HAND IT OFF TO.
RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, SO FIRST, THE ONES THAT WERE SITTING RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US WITH THEIR BACKS TO YOU, WE'VE GOT OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROCESS FOR A LONG TIME, OVER A YEAR WITH THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND I'VE GOT AN UNTOLD AMOUNT OF HOURS OUT OF THEM AND MEETINGS.
AND IF I COULD BOTTLE THAT UP AND JUST I NEED YOU ALL TO KEEP WORKING WITH US ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.
I'LL COUNT YOU AS A NUMBER OF FTES TOWARD OUR BUDGET BECAUSE YOU DON'T COST THAT MUCH.
BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, THESE ARE CITIZENS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE GIVEN GREAT TIME AND EFFORT AND COMMITMENT TO HELPING US REALLY GUIDING THIS PROCESS.
SO FIRST, JENNIFER GALLARDO, IF YOU JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND WAVE.
WE ALSO HAVE MIKE HUGHES AND DAVID LOVEJOY.
YOU MIGHT HEAR HIM ON THE RADIO OCCASIONALLY.
ROD SCHROEDER, I THINK, NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, ALTHOUGH HE WAS A RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT OF AISD AND AND ALSO JULIE SIMMS. I COULD INTRODUCE EVERYONE ACCORDING TO PROFESSION, EVERYTHING BUT JULIE AND JULIE SIMMS AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE IN ADDITION TO THESE CITIZENS WHO WHO GAVE, LIKE I SAID, UNTOLD AMOUNT OF TIME AND MEETINGS. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CITIZENS COMMITTEES.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF CITIZEN GROUPS THAT WORKED WITH US THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROJECT.
IN FACT, MORE THAN 80 CITIZENS WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN DIFFERENT SESSIONS, FOCUS GROUPS TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
SO IF YOU PRESENT PARTICIPATED ON ON THOSE COMMITTEES OR IN THOSE GROUPS, WOULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND JUST BE RECOGNIZED? QUICK. WE GOT A HANDFUL IN HERE, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS. AND AGAIN, WE COULDN'T BE WHERE WE'RE AT WITHOUT THAT THAT ASSISTANCE.
WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF RECOGNIZED, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON THIS PROCESS WORKING WITH US THE LONGEST AMOUNT OF TIME IS DEKKER, PERICH AND SABATINI. WE HAVE WITH US THEIR LOCAL ARCHITECT FIRM.
THEY COORDINATED ALL FOUR VOLUMES OF OUR NEED ASSESSMENT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE 2011.
I THINK EVERYONE. MANY PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE OR REALIZE JUST HOW LONG WE WERE WORKING ON THIS. THE FIRST VOLUME OF OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS ACTUALLY PUBLISHED IN 2012 AND FINAL VOLUME OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO BE PUBLISHED THIS YEAR.
BUT WITH US FROM DEKKER, PERICH AND SABATINI, WE'VE GOT BARRY TAYLOR AND WENDY MASSEY.
THERE THEY ARE. WE ALSO HAVE HVS, WHICH IS AN INDUSTRY LEADER IN STUDYING GUIDING CONVENTION CENTER SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES.
THIS IS A NOT JUST AN INDUSTRY LEADER.
THIS IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NUMBER ONE IN THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS.
AND WITH US ON THIS WE HAVE TOM HAZINSKI THOMAS OR TOM HAZINSKI.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE ALSO WELL NOT FINALLY BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE AFTER THIS.
BUT POPULOUS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, THEY'RE INDUSTRY LEADERS IN DESIGN OF STADIUMS, ARENAS AND CONVENTION FACILITIES.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THEM FROM THE RECENTLY COMPLETED HODGETOWN JUST NEXT DOOR.
SO THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THERE HE IS RIGHT BEHIND DAVID AND MARK BERTOLINO.
SO THESE GUYS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE ALSO HAVE KEY STAKEHOLDERS WHO'VE BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS FROM THE VERY START.
WE HAVE OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADER, GARY MOLBERG.
AND OUR CONVENTION INVESTOR COUNCIL, KASHION SMITH.
WE HAVE OUR WORKING RANCH COWBOYS ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION MANAGER, LEMAN WALL.
[00:10:05]
AND I THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS OF WRCA AND STAFF.IF Y'ALL CAN RAISE YOUR HANDS TOO AND BE RECOGNIZED.
YEAH. THERE THEY ARE TAKING UP THE WHOLE BACK PART OF THE ROOM.
OWNER OF THE AMARILLO OF VENOM, AS WELL AS FC AMARILLO.
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT HERE TODAY AS WELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I WANTED TO MENTION THIS HAS BEEN A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS PROCESS FOR WELL OVER A YEAR.
IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OUR VOLUMES HAVE BEEN BEING PRODUCED AND STUDIED BY DEKKER PERICH SABATINI, THEN IT'S A DECADE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME. SO WITH THAT SAID, ROD SCHROEDER, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER MILLER.
THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL JOB THAT CITY MANAGER JARED MILLER AND HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM DID IN ASSISTING THE COMMITTEE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
THEY WERE ORGANIZED, WELL-PREPARED AND EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE SUBJECT.
IF WE HAD A QUESTION THEY COULDN'T ANSWER.
THEY GOT THE ANSWER FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
CITY MANAGER MILLER HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT OUR EXPERTS.
I WON'T NECESSARILY READ WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUT I CAN SAY YOU GUYS CAN HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAD EXCELLENT EXPERTS WHO GUIDED US ALONG THE WAY AND WE WERE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THAT QUALITY BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE WORLD KNOWN AND WE'RE JUST THANKFUL FOR WHAT THEY DID TO HELP US.
AND THEY WERE PART OF THE DESIGN TEAM AND THEY RESPONDED TO OUR COMMITTEE REQUEST TO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES AND ULTIMATELY ASSISTED US IN SETTLING ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL FORMULATED THIS FIVE MEMBER CITIZEN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CHARGED IT WITH GATHERING INFORMATION AND EMBARKING ON A FACT FINDING MISSION TO FORM THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ANNUAL CIVIC CENTER'S FUTURE.
OUR PURPOSE WAS TO BRING A CITIZEN'S VOICE TO THE DELIBERATIONS.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WAS PART OF A LARGER STUDY TEAM, AS I'VE MENTIONED, CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT FACILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF NUMEROUS ONGOING EFFORTS TO BRING REVITALIZATION TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA, NOTABLY THE COMPLETION OF THE MPEV HAVE COMBINED WITH THE STATE OF THE ART GLOBE NEWS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, A NEW DOWNTOWN CONVENTION HOTEL AND A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA MAKES THIS STUDY A NECESSITY.
WE WERE NOT CHOSEN TO PROVIDE A YES RESPONSE TO ANY PROPOSALS PLACED IN FRONT OF US.
IN FACT, EACH OF US HELD PRIVATE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE IDEA.
WE WERE GIVEN TOTAL AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IN ORDER FOR US TO REACH OUR DECISION. WE WERE TO TEST IDEAS AND CONCEPTS TO FIND THE BEST VALUE FOR THE CITY.
EACH OF US FELT FREE TO CHALLENGE EACH IDEA AND DISAGREE IF NECESSARY.
AT SEVERAL POINTS DURING OUR WORK, WE ASKED STAFF AND ARCHITECTS TO PROVIDE US WITH OTHER ALTERNATIVES. THE COMMITTEE WORKED WELL TOGETHER, AND OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS. THERE WAS FREEDOM TO DEBATE EACH ISSUE WITHOUT IT BECOMING PERSONAL.
WE ALSO CONDUCTED FOR COMMUNITY INPUT CONVERSATIONS AND TO MEETINGS WITH CITIZENS TASK FORCE AT EACH OF THESE MEETINGS, MEETINGS, THE COMMITTEE COLLECTED OPINIONS, IDEAS AND COMMENTS. FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, MY SUPPORT EVOLVED OVER TIME, STARTING WITH THE SENSE THAT A RENOVATED CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE.
BUT IS IT A NECESSITY? HOWEVER, AS I CAME TO THE REALIZATION AND STUDYING THE DATA, IT IS A NECESSITY.
THIS PROGRESSION OF THOUGHT FOR ME WAS DRIVEN BY THE DATA PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE.
IT BECAME APPARENT THAT SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
BUT AFTER SEEING THE COSTS OF THE PLANS, I ATTEMPTED IN MY OWN WAY TO EXPLORE HOW THIS PROJECT MIGHT BE BROKEN INTO PHASES TO LOWER THE COST.
AFTER STUDYING THE INPUTS PROVIDED BY THE CONSULTANTS, I BECAME CONVINCED THAT PHASES WERE IMPOSSIBLE IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT NEEDS AND DEMANDS.
AND I THINK EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER FOLLOWED A SIMILAR THOUGHT PROCESS THAT ENDED WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION AS MINE.
WE APPROACHED THE WORK WITH AN OVERARCHING AWARENESS OF THE POTENTIAL TAXPAYER COSTS OF THE PROJECT. WE KNOW THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE FRUGAL AND THEY WANT THEIR TAX DOLLARS SPENT EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THEY ARE GENEROUS AND WILL SUPPORT INCREASES IN TAXES IF THE PURPOSE IS REASONABLE AND NEEDED.
OUR WORK WAS GUIDED BY THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, SHOULD WE RENOVATE THE EXISTING CIVIC CENTER SPACE? 2 SHOULD WE EXPAND AND RENOVATE THE CONVENTION CENTER SPACE? 3 SHOULD WE BUILD A NEW CIVIC ARENA?
[00:15:04]
THESE QUESTIONS SERVE AS THE GENESIS OF A NUMBER OF OTHER QUESTIONS AND ISSUES WE CONSIDER DURING OUR YEARLONG STUDY.TODAY WE ARE PRESENTING OUR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.
BUT FIRST I ASK THE QUESTION WHY DO WE NEED A CIVIC CENTER? A STATEMENT FROM THE PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
QUOTE, CIVIC SPACES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS SHOULD BE EXTENSIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SOME HAVE SAID THESE FACILITIES SERVE AS THE FRONT PORCHES OF OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND IF THEY FUNCTION IN THEIR TRUE CIVIC ROLE.
THEY CAN BE SETTINGS WHERE CELEBRATIONS ARE HELD, WHERE EXCHANGES, BOTH SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TAKE PLACE AND WHERE CULTURES MIX WHEN THEY WORK WELL, THEY ARE VALUED AS PLACES THAT BRING THE PUBLIC TOGETHER.
CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THRIVING CIVIC CENTERS BENEFIT FROM A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY. CONVERSELY, WHEN SUCH PLACES ARE LACKING, PEOPLE MAY FEEL LESS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY LIVE.
A CIVIC CENTER SHOULD FUNCTION IS ONE OF THE GREAT PLACES IN THE CITY.
THE REWARDS OF TRANSFORMING CIVIC CENTERS INTO GREAT PLACES ARE NUMEROUS.
THESE FACILITIES ENRICH THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE THEM, MAKE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS MORE DESIRABLE, ATTRACT INVESTMENT, SPUR REVITALIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CIVIC DISTRICT.
ENDOW THE CITY WITH CREDIBILITY AND PRESTIGE, PROVIDE A SENSE OF CHARACTER AND A FORM FOR PUBLIC ACTIVITY, ANCHOR DOWNTOWNS AND COMMUNITIES BY GENERATING GREATER LEVELS OF ACTIVITY. ACT AS A SOURCE OF SHARED IDENTITY AND PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY GROWTH.
ALL OF THIS ADDS UP TO GREATER LIVABILITY IN OUR CITY.
THESE BENEFITS DIRECTLY RELATE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN AMARILLO.
BUT WE ALSO NOTED WE HAVE A MARKET OF OVER 400000 POTENTIAL USERS OF OUR CIVIC CENTER BECAUSE AMARILLO SERVES AS A CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC HUB FOR THE PANHANDLE AND THE TRI STATE AREA. LET ME PROVIDE YOU WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FACILITY. THE ORIGINAL FACILITY OPENED IN 1968 AND HAS ONLY HAD MODEST UPGRADES AND RENOVATION. IT WAS BUILT TO CODE AND STANDARDS FOR THE NEEDS OF THE MID 20TH CENTURY.
A MARKET DEMAND ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT IF MORE CONVENTION EXHIBITION AND MEETING SPACE WERE AVAILABLE, WE COULD INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO TRACK ADDITIONAL EVENTS.
LIKEWISE, WITHOUT THIS ADDITIONAL SPACE, OUR LARGEST SINGLE REVENUE PROVIDER, THE WCR, A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO, WILL BE FORCED TO CONSIDER ALTERNATE VENUES OUTSIDE OF AMARILLO IF IT DECIDES TO EXPAND ITS RODEO PROGRAM.
THE CURRENT DESIGN AND LAYOUT IS NOW DISJOINTED, HAS BECOME OBSOLETE IN SOME RESPECTS, AND DOES NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF CURRENT AND POTENTIAL CLIENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE STEEL HEIGHT OF THE COLISEUM CEILING IS 22 FEET BELOW CURRENT INDUSTRY STANDARDS. THE FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEAT COLISEUM IS TOO SMALL AND ELIMINATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE WITH OTHER VENUES FOR ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS.
BACK OF HOUSE AMENITIES, WHICH MEAN BY THAT LOADING DOCK, STAGING AREA, ETC.
ARE EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE AND LIMITED.
THE VENUE DOES NOT HAVE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF CONTIGUOUS EXHIBIT SPACE TO COMPETE, COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY FOR MANY LARGE CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOWS.
WI-FI AND TECHNOLOGICAL AMENITIES ARE NON-EXISTENT.
SUPPORT FOR THE CATERING NEEDS OF EVENT MANAGERS IN ARE INADEQUATE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES SUCH AS DOCKS BACK OF HOUSE SERVICE CORRIDORS AND PREPARATION AREAS.
THE FACILITY LACKS A DEDICATED CENTRAL KITCHEN.
THE FACILITY NEEDS MORE MEETING ROOMS OF VARIOUS SIZES TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO MORE VENDORS, AND WE ALSO LACK IN INVITING PRECONVENTION GATHERING SPACE.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE NO ADEQUATE GREEN SPACE TO SERVE AS AN OUTDOOR GATHERING SPACE FOR CONVENTIONEERS AND PATRONS.
BELIEVE OR NOT, THERE ARE OTHER IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES OF THE CURRENT FACILITY THAT ARE FOUND IN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED IN 2012.
THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES IT IS TIME TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.
I WILL GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR ACTIONS WE RECOMMEND.
EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER WILL THEN DISCUSS THESE ACTIONS IN GREATER DETAIL.
NUMBER ONE, THEY EXPAND THE EXHIBIT SPACE TO 75000 SQUARE FEET OF CONTIGUOUS SPACE.
NUMBER TWO, BUILD A NEW STATE OF THE ART ARENA THAT WILL SEAT UP TO TEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FOUR LARGE VENUE EVENTS.
NUMBER THREE, CREATE A NEW AND LARGER BALLROOM.
NUMBER FOUR, CREATE NEW AREAS FOR PRE-CONVENTION GATHERINGS.
NUMBER FIVE, BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL FOOD SERVICE KITCHEN.
[00:20:01]
SIX, RENOVATE THE SANTA FE BUILDING TO MAKE IT AN ATTRACTIVE HISTORICAL VENUE AND ACTIVELY MARKET IT AS PART OF THE AMENITIES OFFERED TO VENDORS.SEVEN CREATE AN EXPANDED OUTDOOR CENTRAL PLAZA FOR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND PRE-CONFERENCE SPACE.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, IF APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, WILL PROVIDE THE CITY OF AMARILLO WITH A STRONGER DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC ENGINE.
THE ECONOMIES OF THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE NEW JOBS AND A POSITIVE AND SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR ITS CITIZENS.
ACCORDING TO THE HVS FINANCIAL ANALYSIS PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL NOW PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH MORE DETAILED PRESENTATIONS OF THESE MAJOR ACTIONS. I WILL NOW TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO DAVID LOVEJOY.
WHEN WE WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE CIVIC CENTER, THE INSIGHT AND COURAGE OF THE CITY LEADERS IN 1964 WAS HIGHLIGHTED AS THE GENESIS OF THIS PROJECT.
I GO BACK TO A TIME IN THE LATE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS WHEN THE DISCUSSION, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE THE MAIN RAIL HEAD FOR RAILROAD TRAFFIC TO OUR CITY FROM ITS LOCATION OF PANHANDLED TEXAS.
THAT EVENT FOR EVER CHANGED THE MISSION OF AMARILLO.
WE BECAME THE MAIN STREET FOR ALL OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHERS IN OKLAHOMA, KANSAS AND NEW MEXICO.
IT BECAME OUR DUTY TO OFFER A QUALITY OF LIFE AND AMENITIES TO THOSE WHO SOUGHT A REPRIEVE FROM THE DAILY HARD WORK.
THAT IS THE TRADEMARK OF THE GOLDEN SPREAD.
WE WERE ALL TASKED WITH BEING THE CREATOR AND KEEPER OF MILESTONES AND TREASURED MEMORIES THAT MARKED THE JOURNEY OF LIFE.
THAT MISSION CONTINUED IN 1968 WITH THE OPENING OF OUR CIVIC ARENA.
THAT STATE OF THE ART FACILITY SPARKED THE IMAGINATION OF A YOUNG GIRL FROM [INAUDIBLE] WHO CAME TO SEE THE ICE CAPADES WITH HER FAMILY.
THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND EXCITEMENT OF THE CITY INSPIRED HER TO REACH FOR HIGHER GOALS.
WHILE THE WARM HOSPITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY GAVE HER A FAMILIAR FEELING OF SMALL TOWN VALUES THAT WERE COMFORTING.
I MYSELF WAS EVEN OVERWHELMED WITH THE EXCITEMENT AND BLESSED WITH A LIFELONG MEMORY OF THE CIVIC CENTER. WHEN, AS A 12 YEAR OLD, I SAW TWO FUTURE NBA HALL OF FAMERS, MY DAD AND OLDER BROTHER ALLOWED ME TO TAG ALONG TO SEE WEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY TAKE ON INDIANA STATE FUTURE CELTIC LARRY BIRD FACED OFF AGAINST FUTURE 76ER AND BUFF MAURICE CHEEKS.
I WILL BORE MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WITH THE STORY OF GETTING TO MEET BOTH AFTER THE MATCH UP. MY EVERGROWING VERSION NOW INCLUDES ME HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH A GAME WINNING SHOT. OF COURSE, WE'VE ALL SHARED IN THE EXCITEMENT OF THE BEGINNING OF A BRIGHT FUTURE WITH OUR OWN AND COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS THEY WALKED ACROSS THE STAGE TO GET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ONE FROM AMARILLO COLLEGE.
AS WE LOOK AT THE PRESENT DAY FACILITY, CHANGES IN STANDARDS HAVE LEFT IT INADEQUATE AND OBSOLETE. THE SHORT CEILING HIKE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STAGE SIMPLE EVENTS AND LARGE SCALE VENTURES LIKE MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE, MAJOR TOURING MUSICAL ACTS, NCAA AND YOUTH SPORTS TOURNAMENT ARE OUT OF THE QUESTION.
AMENITIES THAT ARE NOW STANDARD, SUCH AS WI-FI PLUG AND PLAY SET UP FOR TELEVISION BROADCASTING FOOD SERVICE AREAS INCLUDING A FULL SERVICE KITCHEN ARE NOT AVAILABLE HERE.
AND DUE TO THE AGE OF THE BUILDING, A PATCHWORK REMODEL TO IMPROVE THOSE AREAS WOULD BE A WASTE OF MONEY.
THE BASIC DOCK SIZE OF SPACE FOR THE UNLOADING AND LOADING OF EQUIPMENT, THE LACK OF PRE FUNCTION SPACE, HOME AND VISITOR LOCKER ROOMS, TALENT DRESSING ROOMS ARE ALL HOLDING OUR COMMUNITY BACK FROM SUPPLYING A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL WHO USE THE BUILDING. THE ONCE FULL CALENDAR OF TRADE SHOWS, CONVENTIONS AND COMPANY TRAINING EVENTS ARE DRYING UP BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CONTIGUOUS FLOW.
LACK OF BREAKOUT ROOMS AND NO CENTRAL GATHERING AREAS.
IMAGINE A SPACE WHERE WEST TEXAS A&M, ALONG WITH OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
[00:25:02]
THROUGHOUT OUR REGION, FROM DIVISION 1 TO THE JUNIOR COLLEGE RANKS, CAN HOST BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL AND TRACK EVENTS.IMAGINE A SPACE WHERE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH LOVED ONES CAN ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
AND AFTER THE EVENT, THERE IS NO RUSH TO GET YOU OUT OF THE DOOR SO THE NEXT GROUP CAN GET IN. IMAGINE A GREEN SPACE OR THE SANTA FE DEPOT AS A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER TO TAKE PART IN MARKETS, CELEBRATIONS OR JUST A PLACE TO WATCH THE SUNSET WITH YOUR FAMILY.
THOSE FOLKS IN THE LATE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS DIDN'T DO IT.
NEITHER DID THE PEOPLE IN 1964.
NOW, WE MUST NOT SHIRK OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE AS THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST DIAMOND IN THE CENTER OF THE CROWN OF TEXAS THAT WE CALL THE PANHANDLE WHEN DESTINY CALLS WE CANNOT SEND IT TO VOICEMAIL.
NOW IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE.
NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD A NEW CIVIC ARENA.
I NOW TURN TO MISS JULIE SIMMS. THANK YOU, DAVID.
BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, FIVE OF US GOT INVITED TO FORM THIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE WERE REALLY SIGNING UP FOR WAS A ONE YEAR CORE CLASS CURRICULUM CALLED KNOW YOUR CITY.
ONE, A ONE. BUT ALL FIVE OF US.
WE WERE ALL IN AND WE STARTED TO MEET THE THE CITY STAFF.
WE MET ALL THE CIVIC CENTER STAFF.
WE WERE HERE TO KNOW AND LEARN.
WE BEGAN TO MEET ALL THE VENDORS.
WE MET, THE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS.
WE WE STARTED COMING TO EVERY POSSIBLE EVENT THAT WE COULD THINK OF SO THAT WE COULD SEE THE LOGISTICS.
WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT WERE THE NEEDS? WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES? WHAT WERE WE LOOKING FOR? WE WANTED TO SEE IT WITH OUR OWN EYES.
AND WE ATTENDED THE WORKING RANCH RODEO.
AND THAT WAS MIND BLOWING, TO SAY THE LEAST.
AS WE SAW THE CHALLENGES THAT THAT GROUP FACED JUST TO PULL OFF A WORLD CLASS EVENT.
IT REALLY IT SET WELL WITH US TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS THAT WE WERE FACING.
NOW, I WANT TO GO BACK IN TIME TO 1887, AND THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS BEGINNING TO GET SETTLED AND IN BY 1888 TO 18 THE EARLY 1890S.
AND THEN OVER TO THIS DIRECTION.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING CALLED AMARILLO AND IT'S CALLED AMARILLO BECAUSE OF THE SUBSOIL BY THE AMARILLO CREEK.
AND LATER THEY WOULD TAKE THAT SAME IT WAS YELLOW AND THEY WOULD TAKE THAT SAME YELLOW DIRT AND THEY WOULD LATER MAKE BRICKS FOR THE FIRST COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
BUT ALSO SOMETHING VERY KEY WAS HAPPENING AT THIS TIME IN THIS AREA THAT THE RAILROADS WERE BEGINNING TO COME IN, THAT FROM THE THE SOUTHEAST TO THE NORTHWEST, YOU HAD THE FORT WORTH AND DENVER CITY RAILROAD COMING THROUGH.
AND THEN FROM THE SOUTH EAST AND THE NORTHEAST, DOWN TO THE SOUTHWEST, YOU HAD THE ATCHINSON, TOPEKA, SANTA FE COMING THROUGH.
THE CATTLE RANCHES WERE HERE OVER TO AMARILLO, NOT SO CLOSE THE PANHANDLE OR THE WASHBURNE. SO THEY SHIFTED THE INTERSECTION AND AMARILLO BECAME THE HUB OF WHAT WE NOW KNOW. AND BACK IN THAT TIME, AMARILLO BECAME THE WORLD'S LARGEST CATTLE SHIPPING MARKET.
LET ME SAY AGAIN, WE WERE THE WORLD'S LARGEST CATTLE SHIPPING MARKET.
IT WAS EASY TO FIND 50000 HEAD OF CATTLE BEING GRAZED AND BY WATERHOLES, JUST WAITING TO BE LOADED ON RAILCARS AND TAKEN OFF TO OTHER LOCATIONS FOR BEEF, CATTLE, HIDES AND BYPRODUCTS. THIS WAS A MAJOR ECONOMIC THING OF COMBINING THE RAILROAD WORLD WITH OUR RANCHING COMMUNITY.
SOMETHING ELSE VERY SIGNIFICANT WAS HAPPENING AND IT WAS CHANGING AMERICAN HISTORY.
IT WAS BECAUSE THE IRON HORSE WAS COMING THROUGH AND THEY WERE MORE EFFICIENT AT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE CATTLE.
IT WAS TAKING AWAY THE JOBS OF THE AMERICAN COWBOY TRAIL BOSS.
HISTORY WAS BEING MADE IN OUR AREA.
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WE JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS AREA WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT THE RAILROADS AND THE RANCHING COMMUNITY ARE TO US.AND AND I WOULD DARE SAY THAT IT IS STILL A HUGE PART OF OUR ECONOMICS THAT WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN NUMB TO IT.
WE'RE SO USED TO SEEING RAILROADS WERE SO USED TO HAVING STOCKYARDS AROUND THE CITY.
WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT, BUT I BELIEVE ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.
IF YOU WOULD STOP FOR JUST A FEW MOMENTS AND LISTEN THAT YOU WOULD HEAR A TRAIN.
AND ALL OF US KNOW THAT WHEN THE WIN COMES FROM THE SOUTH, FROM THE SOUTH, THAT WE ALL KNOW THE SMELL.
WE ALL RECOGNIZE IT. AND WHAT DO WE SAY? THAT SMELLS LIKE MONEY.
SO IT IS A HUGE PART OF OUR ECONOMICS HERE.
AND SO ONE DAY I HAD THE FORTUNE, THE GOOD FORTUNE TO TAKE A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE SANTA FE DEPOT. I STEPPED INTO THAT BUILDING AND IMMEDIATELY I STEP BACK INTO TIME.
TO MY LEFT, I WAS IN THE LOBBY AND TO MY LEFT WAS THE TICKET AREA AND I COULD JUST SEE THE EXCHANGE OF TICKETS AND CASH IN, THE OLD DRAWERS ARE STILL THERE WHERE THAT WAS TAKING PLACE. AND THERE'S A MURAL OF AMARILLO FROM PAST DAYS.
IT'S STILL THERE. AND THEN AS WE WALKED OVER TOWARDS THE SOUTH.
AND IN THE FLOOR IS A HUGE SCALE AND IT STILL WORKS.
AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS GOING.
WOW. SO THEN WE CROSS THROUGH AND WE GO THROUGH THE THE THE LOBBY AREA.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE PASSENGERS WOULD SIT AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT TRAIN.
AND EVEN FURTHER TO THE BACK WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL DINING ROOM.
AND I COULD JUST IMAGINE ALL THE CATTLE DEALS THAT WERE BEING MADE OVER THE TABLES OF WHITE LINEN, CRYSTAL, CHINA AND A AND A NICE JUICY STEAK ON A PLATE.
I COULD JUST IMAGINE WHAT WAS BEING TRANSPIRED THERE IN THAT BEFORE SOMEONE WOULD GET ON A TRAIN. AND THEN AS THEY TOOK US AROUND, WE SAW THE SHOWERS WHERE THE MEN COULD SHOWER HERE. THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN COULD SHOWER HERE BEFORE THEY FRESHENED UP AND AND TOOK THE NEXT PASSENGER TRAIN.
AND THEN WE WENT UPSTAIRS AND THERE WERE TINY LITTLE ROOMS. AND I LEARNED ABOUT HARVEY GIRLS.
I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT HARVEY GIRLS.
THEY WERE THE CURRENT DAY RAILROAD STEWARDESSES THAT TOOK CARE OF THE PASSENGERS DURING ALL THE RAILROAD.
THIS WAS HISTORY I HAD NO CLUE ABOUT.
WHEN I FINISHED THAT TOUR, I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
I CAME HOME AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND, I SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I GOT TO SEE TODAY.
AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WERE SEVERAL OF US.
JESSE [INAUDIBLE] WAS THERE WITH ME THAT DAY.
AND WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, WE HAVE GOT TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO SEE THIS.
AND SO WE COLLABORATED WITH BETH DUKE AND CENTER CITY AND WE HAD A LITTLE EVENT CALLED DISCOVER THE DEPOT WHERE WE INVITED BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS.
WE ASKED FOR VISIONARIES AND MILLENNIALS BECAUSE WE WANTED THEM TO COME IN AND SEE THAT BUILDING. AND GIVE US IDEAS OF LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL.
WHAT DO YOU SEE? WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS? THIS IS SUCH A KEY, HISTORIC, SIGNIFICANT BUILDING.
I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SEE AND ENJOY THIS BUILDING.
SO WE HOSTED THAT EVENT, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.
AND AND IT WAS JUST TIME FOR US TO TO LOOK AT THIS BUILDING AND SEE THE VALUE THAT IT HAS TO OUR HISTORY OF RAILROADS AND RANCHING.
I THINK IT IS PERHAPS THE MOST UNDERESTIMATED, UNDERVALUED TREASURE IN THIS WHOLE PROJECT. IT IS A HUGE PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THE WALLS ARE 12 TO 15 INCHES THICK.
THAT STRUCTURE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
IT WILL BE HERE 50 PLUS MORE YEARS.
MY DESIRE IS TO SEE THOSE GATES AND THOSE DOORS OPENED SO THAT OUR PUBLIC CAN COME IN AND ENJOY THAT BUILDING.
MY DESIRE IS TO SEE THE BEST, THE ABILITY TO SEE THE HISTORY AND YET ENJOY MODERN CONVENIENCES AND MODERN COMMERCE IN THAT BUILDING.
THERE IS SO MUCH POTENTIAL THERE, SO MUCH.
NOW, MY SECOND PART THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE GREEN SPACE.
NOW, WHEN POPULOUS UNVEIL THEIR CONCEPTUAL IDEAS TO US, WE WERE IMMEDIATELY I THINK OUR RESPONSE WAS, OH, MY GOSH, LOOK AT THIS.
AND OUR EYES IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE ROUND ARENA WITH THE GLOWING TECH BOARD.
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OUR EYES WENT THERE FIRST AND WE WERE JUST LIKE, OH, THAT IS AMAZING.BUT I DO BELIEVE THE SECOND PLACE OUR EYES LANDED WAS ON THE GREEN SPACE.
THAT'S GENIUS. OF COURSE, YOU WOULD PUT A BIG FRONT YARD IN FRONT OF YOUR NEW BIG HOUSE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO IN A FRONT YARD.
IT'S WHERE YOU GATHER AND IT'S WHERE YOU PLAY.
IT'S WHAT YOU DO. AND IT MADE TOTAL SENSE THAT YOU WOULD PUT A FRONT YARD IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. AND I THINK ABOUT AMARILLO AND WE HAVE FOUR DISTINCT WEATHER SEASONS.
WE HAVE A WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, FALL.
AND I CAN EASILY VISUALIZE ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF OUTDOOR FAMILY ORIENTED EVENTS THAT WE CAN HOLD IN EACH SEASON.
AND THAT THAT THAT COURTYARD AREA IS OPEN TO OUR CITIZENS 365 DAYS A YEAR.
IT CAN BE ENJOYED BY SOMEONE WALKING THEIR DOGS, SOMEONE TAKING A BREAK FROM LUNCH WHO WORKS DOWNTOWN. IT IS IT IS A BRILLIANT IDEA TO PUT A FRONT YARD IN FRONT OF OUR NEW BIG HOUSE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I FEEL LIKE TODAY IS KIND OF OUR GRADUATION FROM OUR FROM OUR FIRST, YOU KNOW, YOUR CITY 101 COURSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR NEXT COURSE WORK WILL BE, BUT TODAY'S OUR GRADUATION.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'D LIKE TO HAND OVER THE MIKE TO MY NEW FRIEND, MR. JENNIFER GALLARDO.
THANK YOU, JULIE, AND THANK EACH OF YOU.
COUNCIL MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY, AS JULIE ALLUDED TO, THE GREEN SPACE AS PART OF THE CREATION OF THE GREEN SPACE.
THIS COMES FROM THE DEMO OF CITY HALL.
THE CURRENT FACILITY IS EXCUSE ME, CITY HALL WAS OPENED IN 1966, MAKING IT OLDER THAN THE CIVIC CENTER. THE CURRENT FACILITY HAS VERY LIMITED AMENITIES, SUCH AS A DRIVE UP SERVICE FOR CITY CUSTOMERS TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS.
BECAUSE THE BUILDING IS SO OLD, IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 16 MILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE REPAIR NEEDS NEEDS SUCH AS MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL ACCESSIBILITY AND ELEVATORS JUST TO NAME A FEW. IN LIEU OF REPAIRING THE CURRENT BUILDING, IT WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO RELOCATE CITY HALL TO A NEWER EXISTING BUILDING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT WOULD MAKE ROOM FOR THE CIVIC CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT AS WELL AS PROVIDE A NEW, EXCITING CUSTOMER SERVICE CONCEPT.
IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE THIS BUILDING AT THE AN EXISTING LOCATION ON SOUTH JOHNSON, SOUTH OF HODGETOWN.
WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT THIS COULD EVEN BE A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CITY CUSTOMERS. AND WE WE REALLY LIKED THAT OPTION.
I'M EXCITED FOR THAT. AS I TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT CUSTOMER SERVICE, HAVING BEEN MYSELF IN CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR MANY YEARS AT MY BRANCH LOCATION.
WE OFFER A DRIVE UP SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
IT KEEPS WITH HIGH VOLUME, HIGH TRAFFIC.
IT'S VERY CONVENIENT, ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AND DURING AMARILLO'S CERTAIN WEATHER ELEMENTS.
AND SO I PERSONALLY AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I KNOW THE CITY SHARES AND THAT SAME PASSION.
THIS WOULD BE JUST AN AMAZING ANOTHER EXTENDED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS EVEN FURTHER.
REGARDING THE PARKING GARAGE, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WE SIGNIFICANTLY DEBATED OVER PARKING GARAGES OVER AND OVER DUE TO THE EXPANSION IN THE NEW ARENA ACTIVITIES.
WE WILL LOSE PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE.
EIGHT HUNDRED EXCUSE ME, EIGHT HUNDRED PARKING SPOTS.
TO BE SPECIFIC, A PARKING GARAGE BUILT ON AN EXISTING SURFACE LOT WOULD NET US AT LEAST SIX HUNDRED SPOTS.
WE NEED MORE PARKING TO SUPPORT THE DEMAND, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS EXPANSION PROJECT AND RENOVATION. AS YOU HAVE HEARD FOR MOST OF US.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. OUR FULL SCOPE OF OUR PROJECT AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'M NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MIKE FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE ASKED ME WHAT MY MAIN OR SOME OF MY MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE WERE.
AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS WAS THE CALIBER OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED BY THE CITY TO TAKE ON THIS PROJECT, AS ROD MENTIONED EARLIER.
I'VE GOT IT MENTIONED AGAIN. EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE CITY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE, HELPFUL, HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON THE PROJECT.
THE TEAM OF CONSULTANTS HIRED IS SECOND TO NONE.
HAVING CONSULTANTS THAT HAVE WORKED ON ENTERTAINMENT VENUES ALL OVER THE WORLD AT OUR FINGERTIPS HAVE CERTAINLY MADE OUR JOB EASIER AND GIVEN US A LOT OF COMFORT IN OUR
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DECISION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER FOR US.THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROPOSED PLAN IS THREE HUNDRED NINETEEN MILLION.
WHICH EIGHTY FIVE PERCENT IS FOR THE NEW ARENA AND CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION.
THIS WILL INCREASE OUR PROPERTY TAX 15 CENTS OR ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS PER YEAR INCREASE PER 100000 VALUATION.
THIS WORKS OUT TO 5.8 TO 6.76 INCREASE IN YOUR TAXES WITH A RATE DEPENDENT UPON THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE YOUR PROPERTY IS LOCATED.
IF YOU'RE OVER 65, YOUR TAXES WILL NOT CHANGE.
HVS DID THE FOLLOWING PROJECTIONS, AND WE BELIEVE HVS WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH THE NUMBERS THEY ARE USING.
EIGHTY FIVE ADDITIONAL EVENTS PER YEAR.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES EACH YEAR.
33000 ADDITIONAL HOTEL HOTEL ROOMS ANNUALLY.
AND A 28.4 MILLION INCREASED ECONOMIC INPUT ANNUALLY.
THE NUMBERS CLEARLY SHOW THAT THIS EXPANSION WILL REVIVE THIS ECONOMIC ENGINE OF OURS.
IN JUST CLOSING, I WANT TO COMMEND THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON THEIR SELECTION OF FOUR OF THE FIVE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
DAVID, JULIE, JENNIFER AND ROD HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.
THEY WORKED VERY HARD ALL YEAR LONG.
AND TO LEARN EVERY ASPECT OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, THEY CAME TO THE MEETINGS PREPARED AND ASKED A LOT OF TOUGH QUESTIONS.
THEY REALLY TOOK THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY IN REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MAKING SURE THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY TO DO.
THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL, EXTREMELY PLEASANT TO WORK WITH.
AND IT BECAME VERY OBVIOUS THAT THEY REALLY LOVED AMARILLO.
THANK YOU, MIKE. WELL, YOU CAN SEE WHY WE HAD FUN, YOU'D SEE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES HERE. AND I MUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ON ONE SIDE, THE JULIES, THE VISIONARIES, THE STORYTELLING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND THE OTHER SIDE, MIKE AND MYSELF, WE TRIED TO BALANCE HER OUT A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE CURRENT 51 YEAR OLD FACILITY HAS SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IF AMARILLO IS TO HAVE A CHANCE, IF AMARILLO IS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT DOLLAR AFTER UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS, OUR GOAL WAS TO EVALUATE THE PLANS AND CREATE A FACILITY THAT WOULD SERVE US FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS, JUST LIKE THIS ONE HAS THIS PLAN THAT WE OFFER MOVES AMARILLO AND ITS CITIZENS DEEP INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AS WE DELIBERATED AND PONDERED THE INFORMATION BEFORE US.
WE WERE STRUCK WITH THE REALIZATION THAT IF WE DO NOT RECOMMEND MAJOR RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION, AMARILLO WILL NOT JUST STAY STATUS QUO.
A SIMPLE REMODEL CANNOT FIX THE NEEDS AND WILL NOT MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE AND COMPETITIVE FOR THE TYPES OF EVENTS OUR CITIZENS DESIRE.
IN FACT, TO DO NOTHING WILL BURDEN THE CITY WITH AN INCREASINGLY HIGH MAINTENANCE FACILITY THAT WILL NEVER MEET THE EXPANDING NEEDS OF A THRIVING CITY.
YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY COST IS THE BENEFIT THAT IS MISSED OR GIVEN UP WHEN AN INVESTOR, INDIVIDUAL OR BUSINESS CHOOSES ONE ALTERNATIVE OVER THE OTHER.
TO NOT MOVE FORWARD COSTS US THE FOLLOWING.
WE WOULD BE SQUANDERING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AS DOCUMENTED BY [INAUDIBLE].
THE MOMENTUM TO ENHANCE OUR DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC ENGINE WILL SLOW.
WE WILL INCREASINGLY BECOME LESS COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET.
ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS EVENTS, CONVENTIONS WILL SIMPLY IGNORE OUR AGING FACILITY.
WE WON'T BE TOP OF MIND FOR ANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE FACILITY WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AND BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE AS WE TRY TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE. AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE CIVIC CENTER AS THEY DO NOW IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT.
MANY WILL CONTINUE TO ASK WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? WE ARE PROUD OF THE PANHANDLE PEOPLE, WE ARE A PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN SOLVING OUR OWN PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION, WE BELIEVE IT IS UP TO US TO CREATE THE FUTURE WE DESIRE.
AS WE STUDIED THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIC CENTER, WE CAME TO APPRECIATE THE COURAGEOUS VOTE TAKEN BY THE CITIZENS IN 1964.
THAT VOTE TO INCUR THE COST TO BUILD THE CURRENT CIVIC CENTER OCCURRED IN SPITE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CLOSING OF THE AMARILLO AIRBASE.
THAT CLOSING REALLY SIGNIFIED AN EROSION OF THE POPULATION BASE IN AMARILLO BECAUSE THAT
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WAS WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERSTANDABLE IF THOSE 1964 VOTERS WOULD HAVE SAID THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME. INSTEAD, THE MAJORITY STEPPED UP WITH VISION AND APPROVED THE BOND.
AND WHEN WE COMPARE THE COST OF THIS BOND TO THE 1964 BOND, IT IS VERY SIMILAR AS A PERCENTAGE OF PROPERTY VALUES.
THUS, ONE COULD ARGUE WE ARE ASKING TODAY CITIZENS TO TAKE ON A SIMILAR, SIMILAR OBLIGATION AS THOSE CITIZENS DID IN 1964.
WE STAND AT THE THRESHOLD OF A FUTURE THAT PERHAPS IS NOT AS BLEAK AS THE FUTURE THAT THE VOTERS FACED IN 1964, BUT WITH A SIMILAR SIGNIFICANT COSTS FOR THE RENOVATION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PLAN.
WE REALIZE THE EXPANSE, BUT NOTE THAT THE TOTAL COMBINED TAX RATE FOR ALL TAXING ENTITIES WILL INCREASE SLIGHTLY AROUND 60 PERCENT OR A LITTLE BIT MORE AS MIKE POINTED OUT.
SO IN THE SPIRIT OF COURAGE DEMONSTRATED BY THE 1964 VOTE, WE AS A COMMITTEE URGE THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WILL THIS NEW TAXPAYER MONEY BE PUT TO GOOD USE? ABSOLUTELY. IT WILL NOT BE WASTED.
HISTORY SHOWS US HOW THE 1964 FINANCIAL DECISION TO BUILD THE CURRENT FACILITY HAS BENEFITED AMARILLO.
THE PLANS PROPOSED WILL INDEED PROVIDE A MODERN FACILITY THAT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THE BROADER SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DECISION IS THAT THIS ACTION SPEAKS OF A CONVICTION THAT AMARILLO WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VIBRANT, GROWING, SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITY THAT FOSTERS A STRONG, HEALTHY, FAMILY ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT.
THIS WILL ENHANCE THE IDENTITY OF AMARILLO IN THE MINDS OF ITS CITIZENS AND THE THOUSANDS WHO WILL VISIT THE CITY BECAUSE OF ITS PRESENCE.
THE COMMITTEE STANDS CONVINCED AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THIS PROPOSAL AS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR CITY.
WE AS A COMMITTEE ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENCOURAGE THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS TO JOIN WITH US IN A YES VOTE FOR THE FUTURE WELFARE OF OUR CITIZENS AND AMARILLO.
WE WOULD NOW LIKE FOR YOU TO VIEW A QUICK FLYOVER THAT GIVES YOU A VISUAL OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN.
AND AFTER THAT, WE WILL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
WOW. FIRST, I KNOW WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO
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TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS WE WANT TO TAKE ON QUESTIONS, COUNCIL.BUT I THINK FOR THE FIVE OF US, I WANT TO SAY THANKS.
THERE'S JUST NOT ANY WAY FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME, THE DEDICATION, THE ENERGY, THE STUDY.
YOU EACH BROUGHT YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE EACH OTHER.
YOU LIVE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY.
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF REPRESENTING US AS CITIZENS.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
SO I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU AND EXPRESSING OUR GRATITUDE.
COUNCIL ANYBODY WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
THAT WAS IT. THERE'S YOUR PAYCHECK.
WELL, I KNOW WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A SYSTEM FOR US TO DO THAT.
WHO WANTS TO START? AND YOU CAN EITHER GO THROUGH YOUR WHOLE LIST OR WE CAN KIND OF TAKE TURNS HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO THAT. LET'S START, I'LL START.
I'M JUST GONNA BE ALL OVER THE PAGE SO I WON'T ASK ALL MY QUESTIONS AT ONCE.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
COULD YOU EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THE VALUED ENGINEERING IN REGARDS TO THE 15 MILLION DOLLARS AND IN KIND OF WHAT THAT MEANS SO THAT OUR CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER? OKAY.
AND SET THE SET THE STAGE JUST A LITTLE BIT.
JARED, GIVE THE BACKGROUND ON WHAT SHE'S ASKING.
YOU KNOW, FROM A MUNICIPAL FACILITY STANDPOINT, WHEN WE VALUE ENGINEER, INEVITABLY.
SO WHAT SHE SAID IS THE COST IS THREE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT. ABOUT WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS $15 MILLION DOLLARS, THAT COULD BE VALUE ENGINEERED. AND NOW SHE'S ASKING FOR A SPECIFIC EXPLANATION ON HOW WE CAN SAVE 50 MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH VALUE ENGINEERING NOW.
THANK YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE DON'T KNOW AS WE GO INTO THE PROJECT.
AND FROM A VALUE ENGINEERING, WHEN WE SAY VALUE ENGINEERING WE MEAN, WE'RE GONNA REDUCE THE COST. WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE TIGHT TO GET THE PROJECT DONE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE BUILT IN INFLATION BECAUSE THE WHOLE PROJECT WON'T BE BUILT.
IF IT IF IT'S APPROVED, IT WON'T BE BUILT NEXT YEAR.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN PARTS THAT WE BUILT NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER. SO WE HAD TO BUILD IN DIFFERENT RATES OF INFLATION BASED ON THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT WERE BEING BUILT.
WE ALSO KNEW THAT AS, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE HODGETOWN CONSTRUCTION, THAT PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED.
THE PRICE CAME IN ABOVE SIGNIFICANT MILLIONS OVER WHAT WE HAD TO BUILD IT AND WE KNEW THERE WAS NO MORE NO MORE MONEY AVAILABLE.
SO WE WORKED VERY HARD WITH OUR ARCHITECTS AND WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO GET THAT PRICE DOWN. THE WAY YOU GET IT DOWN IS YOU EITHER REDUCE SQUARE FOOTAGE, YOU REDUCE FINISH OUTS, YOU REDUCE CERTAIN, SELECT LESS EXPENSIVE MATERIALS WITH A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO IN THIS PROJECT THAT THE SCOPE WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THAT'S GONNA BE A DAUNTING TASK.
PULLING 15 MILLION OFF THE TOP THROUGH VALUE ENGINEERING IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'RE CONFIDENT WE CAN DO IT.
WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO DO IT.
AND I THINK THE BEST INDICATOR OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE IS PAST PERFORMANCE.
WE DID A GOOD JOB MAKE SURE WE STAYED WITHIN OUR ESTABLISHED BUDGET ON PREVIOUS PROJECTS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. YOU SEE IT ON FIRE STATIONS.
YOU'VE SEEN IT IN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF RECENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
SO WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'LL BE ABLE TO TO VALUE ENGINEER THAT.
SO SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS FROM THAT $319 MILLION, OBVIOUSLY IS THE VALUE ENGINEERING.
THANK YOU. IN REGARDS TO THE ARENA, IS IS THE SEATING TEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEATS? IS THAT ENOUGH? AND IF SO, WHY? AND I'VE GOT I MAY HAVE KEVIN STARBUCK OR HVS.
WITH HVS AGAIN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS AS THE LEADING CONSULTANT IN THE NATION ON THIS TYPE OF TOPIC. GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMEMBERS THOMAS HAZINSKI WITH HVS.
WE INITIATED THIS WORK SOME EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO WITH A MARKET STUDY WHICH LED TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF SEATING CAPACITY.
WE REALLY WANTED THE PROGRAM TO BE MARKET DRIVEN AND WHAT WOULD REALLY WORK BEST IN THE MARKET FOR EVENTS AT THE ARENA.
SO WE LOOKED AT THE EXISTING CAPACITY.
WE LOOKED AT HISTORICAL BUSINESS.
WE LOOKED AT THE BUSINESS THAT WAS BEING LOST.
WE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC EVENTS THAT WERE LOST BECAUSE OF LACK OF CAPACITY.
WE ALSO DID A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT COMPARABLE CITIES AND WHAT THEIR ARENAS ARE.
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AND WE LOOKED AT THE PROFILE OF POTENTIAL EVENTS FOR THE ARENA, WHAT SIZE THEY ARE.AND WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT CAPACITIES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS.
IT TEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED C CAPACITIES OF MAXIMUM.
YOU WOULD HAVE FOR AN END STAGE CONCERT, RIGHT.
SO WE TALKED TO EVENT PROMOTERS AND ASKED ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
AND WE FOUND THAT NEARLY ALL EVENTS COULD BE ACCOMMODATED WITH THESE CAPACITIES AND THE SPORTING EVENTS WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED WELL THE RODEO WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED WELL.
SO THIS IS REALLY THE SWEET SPOT.
IF YOU BUILD IT LARGER, THERE MAY BE A ONE OR TWO EVENTS EVERY FEW YEARS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN THAT COULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS SPACE.
BUT IT'S NOT WORTH THE COST TO BUILD IT FOR EASTER SUNDAY.
SO WE FEEL LIKE THAT RECOMMENDATION IS REALLY THE SWEET SPOT THAT'S REALLY DICTATED BY BY MARKET DEMAND AND AND BY PAST EXPERIENCE.
SO WE GAVE A PROGRAM THAT GAVE GENERAL SEATING CAPACITY AND DESCRIBED CERTAIN AMENITIES.
BUT THERE'S THE FACILITY IS WHAT IT IS FOR LOTS OF OTHER REASONS.
YOU KNOW, MARK, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT IT HAS IN TERMS OF.
YOU KNOW, SWEETS AND OTHER AMENITIES THAT ARE IN IT THAT REALLY ALSO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FROM ITS IN TERMS OF ITS MARKETABILITY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS APPRECIATE BEING HERE.
I'M MARK BERTOLINO WITH POPULUS IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL CAPACITY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT A TYPICAL ARENA, THESE THINGS HAVE TO SORT OF FUNCTION AS A SWISS ARMY KNIFE. WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT A HOLD OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT VENUE TYPES.
AND SO WE LOOK AT DESIGNING THESE AS HAVING THE ABSOLUTE MOST FLEXIBILITY WITHIN REASON TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE WHOLE RANGE OF DIFFERENT EVENTS.
NOW, THE LARGEST CAPACITY THAT WE STARTED LOOKING AT WAS ACTUALLY AND THIS IS TYPICAL FOR ALL ARENAS AS A CENTER STAGE CONCERT CONFIGURATION, WHICH IS OVER A LITTLE OVER 10000 SEATS. AND THAT'S A CENTER FOCUSED STAGE AND THAT'S MAXIMIZING ALL THE SEATING ON THE FLOOR TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING AND THAT WE WOULD DESIGN ALL OF OUR CODE DRIVEN TOILET RATIOS AND ALL THAT SORT OF FUN STUFF.
THAT'S AN EGRESS BASED ON THAT HIGHEST CAPACITY.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN END STAGE CONCERT CONFIGURATION OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CONFIGURATION LIKE THAT, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ACCOMMODATE ANY TYPE OF CONFIGURATION.
SAME FOR HOCKEY. SAME FOR BASKETBALL.
FOR COMMENCEMENTS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO AN END STAGE.
WITH THAT GOES THE LOCATION OF A LOT OF THESE PREMIUM AMENITIES.
SO CLUBS AND SUITES AND ALL OF THESE TO HELP SUPPORT ALL THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS BECOMES CRITICAL AND IN THE VENUE AS WELL.
AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST AND FOREMOST PART IS ACTUALLY GETTING IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S FITTING ON THE SITE AND LOOKING AT THE CAPACITY THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND SORT OF WORKING FROM THE THE BOWL OUTWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN THE BUILDING.
LET'S STAY ON THAT TOPIC FOR A SECOND, THOUGH, ABOUT SEATING AND CAPACITY.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? YEAH. SO I HEAR SEVERAL.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH CITIZENS THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT.
WHAT ABOUT A 15 THOUSAND SEAT CAPACITY? BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMPARISON TO LIKE SPIRIT ARENA IN LUBBOCK.
BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COST THAT GOES IN JUST FLAT OUT UP FRONT.
IS THAT CORRECT STATEMENT? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT INCREASING CAPACITY, YOU START TALKING ABOUT INCREASING OVERALL SPAN OVER THE SEATING BOWL.
AND THAT MEANS MORE STEEL COST, MORE SPACE WITHIN THE BUILDING TO HEAT AND COOL.
SO IT'S IT'S SORT OF AN EXPONENTIAL INCREASE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT INCREASING CAPACITY. SO THAT'S KIND OF NEBULOUS TO SOME DEGREE.
SO LIKE HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE ARE WE TALKING? DOUBLE THE COST OF THE ARENA? FIFTY PERCENT MORE ON THEIR COST OF THE ARENA.
WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS YOU CAN'T JUST SAY IT'S, YOU KNOW, $2000 A SEAT.
AND SO IF YOU WANT 5000 MORE SEATS, THAT'S ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT'S NOT THE MATH IS IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK LIKE THAT.
SO WE LIKE TO USE A RATIO OF, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THAT'S GOING TO RANGE JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT THE FINAL PROGRAM OF THE ARENA IS.
BUT WE CAN USE A RANGE OF 24 SQUARE FEET PER PROCEED ALL THE WAY UP TO 40.
[01:00:02]
BUT AGAIN, THERE'S SO MANY OTHER DIFFERENT VARIABLES, JUST DEPENDING ON WHAT THE FINAL PROGRAM IS DECIDED TO GO INTO THE ARENA.AND THAT ALL GETS BACK TO WHAT THE ARENA IS ACTUALLY HOSTING.
AND SO IT'S NOT SORT OF A ONE TO ONE.
THERE'S ALSO SITE CONSTRAINTS AND UTILITY CONSTRAINTS AND OTHER PARAMETERS THAT THEY'RE FACTORED INTO THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THE COSTS, I THINK THERE'S OTHER DANGERS OF OVERBUILDING, ESPECIALLY IN IF YOU GET INTO THE MINDSET OF A CONCERT PROMOTER, THEY REALLY WANT TO GENERATE MAXIMIZE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ATTENDEES AND THEY WANT A FULL BUILDING.
SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT BE USING A HALF HAUL CONFIGURATION, BUT THEY THEY WANT THE SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AND SO ON AND SO THAT THERE BE ACTUALLY MORE ATTRACTIVE IF IF THEIR EVENT IS GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 10000 ATTENDEES.
THEY WANT TO BE IN A 10000 SEAT VENUE.
AND IN OUR VIEW, THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY EVENTS THAT WILL ATTRACT 15000 PEOPLE.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLAYING IN A IN A IN A HALL THAT'S NOT FULL AND IT'S GOING TO DETRACT FROM THE EXPERIENCE AND THEREFORE DETRACT FROM THE MARKETABILITY.
SO YOU ADD THAT TO THE COST PICTURE IS REALLY A YOU KNOW.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO GET MUCH LARGER THAN.
RIGHT. BUT I THINK WE'RE KIND OF AT THAT SWEET SPOT AND THAT THAT IS RIGHT FOR THE MARKET. THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY CREATING AN EXCITING AND ATTRACTIVE VENUE.
ANYTHING ELSE ON SIZE OF THE ARENA? MS. POWELL. OH, YES, JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS ON CURRENT ARENAS THAT ARE BEING BUILT ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
KIND OF COMPARABLE SIZE IS WE'VE HAD REPORTS ON THOSE IF SOMEONE COULD COMMENT ON THAT, THAT WE ARE SEEING MORE KIND OF BEING BUILT IN THIS SIZE.
FOR THOSE REASONS, IF YOU COULD COMMENT ON THOSE AND IF YOU WOULD ADDRESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HEAR, I THINK SOMETIMES THE CONCERN ON BUILDING TOO SMALL IS THAT SOME OF THOSE CERTAIN ACTS WOULD NOT COME TO THE SMALLER.
AND TOM KIND OF ADDRESSED THAT.
IF YOU WOULD STILL JUST ADDRESS THAT, WHETHER THAT.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PERFORMERS OUT THERE ACTUALLY WOULD STILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS SIZE? KEVIN STARBUCK, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
SO RELATED TO OTHER EVENT VENUES THAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN TEXAS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF BAYLOR AND WACO AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN ARE BOTH BUILDING ARENAS RELATED TO BASKETBALL DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE BEING SIZED IN THE 10000 SEAT RANGE.
SO IT'S FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THE LARGER COMMUNITIES WITH DIVISION 1 SPORTS VERY SIMILAR. ALL WE HAVE AT TECH ARE CONFIGURING THEIR FACILITIES AT A SIMILAR SIZED WHAT WE ARE WHAT THE MARKET ANALYSIS AND WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED, SUPPORTS THAT'S BEEN FURTHER SUPPORTED IN OUR OWN RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE WITH WITH SHERMAN [INAUDIBLE], OUR DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIC CENTER AND VISITING WITH EVENT PROMOTERS AND CONCERT PROMOTERS AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE ALL INDICATED TO US THAT AN EIGHT TO TEN THOUSAND SEAT ARENA IS THAT SWEETSPOT.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND I THINK A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS LUKE COMBS.
LUKE COMBS HAD APPROACHED US AT ONE POINT AND EXPRESSED SOME INTEREST IN HAVING A TOUR DATE HERE IN AMARILLO.
ULTIMATELY DUE TO A LOT OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT ROD AND THE COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED PASSED BY AMARILLO AND ENDED UP PERFORMING IN LUBBOCK.
THE SHOW THAT HE IS PERFORMING IN LUBBOCK, EVEN THOUGH THAT THAT ARENA HAS A LARGER CAPACITY, IS BEING RECONFIGURED DOWN TO ABOUT A NINE THOUSAND SEAT CAPACITY FOR HIS CONCERT, WHICH IS RIGHT WHERE AMARILLO WOULD BE WITH THE NEW ARENA.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE MARKET RELATED TO PERFORMERS IS DRIVING US AND WHAT THE MARKET ANALYSIS THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY HVS AND CERTAINLY THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY BRING AND WHAT POPULOUS BRINGS TO THE TABLE INDICATES TO US WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
NOW, RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY HOW MANY ACTS COULD WE GET OR NOT GET, THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGING QUESTION AND ONE THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH.
WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL VERY POPULAR ACTS IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE NATION WHO WOULD LOOK TO AN AMARILLO.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE BLAKE SHELTON, TWENTY ONE PILOTS AND OTHERS THAT WE FEEL WE WOULD BE VERY COMPETITIVE TO BRING HERE TO AMARILLO.
IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE. I'M LOOKING SPECIFICALLY ON HOW WE WOULD ADDRESS THAT.
AND AND AS AS SHERMAN HAS DONE HIS RESEARCH AND TALKED WITH PROMOTERS, THERE'S A BREAKPOINT FOR THESE SUPER ACTS.
THE KATY PERRY'S OF THE WORLD OR WHOEVER THAT IS.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN EIGHTEEN THOUSAND PLUS SEAT ARENA TO GET THOSE
[01:05:04]
TYPES OF ACTS. AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY PROBABLY ARE NEVER TRULY LOOKING FOR. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTED ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS. AND THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTING THE FACILITY WOULD NOT JUSTIFY THAT THAT TYPE OF TRANSITION.SO HOPEFULLY THAT KIND OF ADDRESSES YOUR QUESTION AND PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK OF WHERE THAT EIGHT TO TEN THOUSAND SEAT TRULY IS.
THAT SWEET SPOT IS SUPPORTED BY THE MARKET ANALYSIS, IS SUPPORTED BY WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS, IS FOCUSED ON AND I THINK PROVIDES US A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS FOR THE LONG TERM, FOR OUR FACILITIES, SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ABILITY FOR US TO TO RECRUIT AND BRING IN THOSE THOSE THOSE TOP TIER CONCERTS THAT ARE OUR COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS AN IMPROVEMENT QUALITY OF LIFE.
MAYOR, WE DEBATED THIS HEAVILY AS A COMMITTEE, SO THIS WE SUPPORT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE JUST SIT AND TAKE THIS AND SAY, OK, WE ADOPT IT.
WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS LONG AND HARD.
IN FACT, I THINK THE FIRST PROPOSAL TO US WAS LIKE SEVENTY FIVE HUNDRED SQUARES.
AND WE BUMPED IT UP A LITTLE BIT TO TEN THOUSAND ONE.
NOW, SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR QUESTION, TO GO UP ANOTHER TWO THOUSAND, THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.
YEAH. YEAH, THAT'S I WANT WHAT I WANT.
I KIND OF WANT SOMETHING THAT'S HARD THAT YOU CAN HOLD ONTO AND SAY, LOOK, YOU WANT THIS MANY SEATS. IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COST THIS MUCH MONEY.
JUST UP FRONT, I REALIZE ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.
SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE WE COULD GET GEORGE STRAIT TO COME TO AMARILLO.
THAT'S NOT IN THE RECOMMENDATION.
OK. AND IN REGARDS TO THE TO THE BOND FOR THIS PARTICULAR BOND PROPOSAL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
ARE WE LOOKING AT LIKE A 15 YEAR BOND OR 30 YEAR BOND OR.
MICHELLE? CAN YOU GIVE US THAT? YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT A 30 YEAR BOND.
AND THE REASON I THREW THAT TO MICHELLE, SHE'S OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
SHE'S ALSO RUN THAT QUESTION THROUGH WITH ALL THE BOND COUNCIL.
AND AND WE KNOW A LOT OF DETAIL ON ON HOW SUCH A DEBT ISSUANCE WOULD WORK.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS IS THE ONE THAT WAS CHASING ALL THAT DOWN RATHER THAN.
WELL, WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF COST OF THE BOND.
I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, WELL, IF WE PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND IT HAS A THREE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG ATTACHED TO IT.
CAN THAT CHANGE AFTER THE ELECTION? IS THAT A MICHELLE QUESTION? WELL, WHAT'S BEING APPROVED BY THE BOND IS TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE MILLION DOLLARS.
THE TOTAL PROJECT, THE 279 PLUS THE DELTA BETWEEN THE THREE NINETEEN AND A 279, NOT INCLUDING THE 15 MILLION FOR THE VALUE ENGINEERING IS THE 15.1 CENTS THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
SO THAT INCLUDES THE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT AND THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION DEBT.
SO TOTAL PACKAGE IS THAT 15.1 CENTS, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT ISSUED WOULD NEVER GO ABOVE WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE APPROVED. HOWEVER, THERE IS A COMPONENT OF IT THAT IS CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION AND THE COMMIT FROM THIS COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY THE COMMIT FROM THE STAFF IS THAT IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE THAT. BUT THERE'S THERE'S THERE'S DIFFERENT LEGAL GUIDELINES THAT APPLY TO A CERTIFICATE ABOUT ISSUANCE OF HOW A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION IS ISSUED VERSUS A GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ISSUED.
BUT THESE ARE VERY PUBLIC COMMITMENTS.
AND I FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND AND THAT COUNCIL WOULD ENDORSE GOING ABOVE THE AMOUNT THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED.
AND AGAIN, THE BEST INDICATOR OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE IS PAST PERFORMANCE.
WE LIVED AND DIED BY THE BY THE BUDGET WE HAD ON THE ON THE CIVIC CENTER.
I'M SORRY, ON HODGETOWN. AND WHAT ABOUT SPENDING LESS THAN THAT? IF WE HAVE A WAY TO DO THAT, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY EXPLORE ALL THOSE OPTIONS.
UNDERSTAND WE ALREADY HAVE A 15 MILLION DOLLAR OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US.
BUT IF I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, IF THE DESIGNERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH PUSH BEYOND
[01:10:01]
THAT, WE OBVIOUSLY WE ABSOLUTELY WILL.I DON'T WANNA SAY OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TO BRING THAT PROJECT IN AS FAR UNDER BUDGET AS POSSIBLE. MY FIRST GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE UNDER BUDGET.
AND THEN IF I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH EVEN HARDER AND FARTHER, WE WILL.
OK. SO SOME OF THE CITIZENS ARE ASKING IF WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE TICKET PRICES TO SUPPORT THE NEW RENOVATION OF THE CIVIC CENTER.
WELL, THE PRICE OF TICKETS ARE GOING TO BE A DRIVEN BY THE MARKET.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMMAND BIGGER ACTS, BETTER ACTS.
SO THERE IS A SCENARIO WHERE WHEN YOU BRING IN A BIGGER, HIGHER PROFILE ACT, THERE WILL BE SOME MORE EXPENSIVE TICKETS.
THAT SAID, WE WON'T I DON'T I DON'T SEE US FOR YOUR RUN OF THE MILL DAILY THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. I DON'T SEE TICKET PRICES CHANGING SIGNIFICANTLY.
NOW WE HAVE TENANTS INSIDE THE BUILDING AND A LOT OF EVENTS THAT GO ON INSIDE THE CIVIC CENTER ARE DRIVEN BY TICKETS THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY CONTROL THE PRICE OF THOSE TICKETS.
SO I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT, ESPECIALLY IF THOSE NEW IF THOSE TENANTS ARE UTILIZING THE BIGGER, NEWER SPACES AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE COST OF THEIR ACQUIRING AND USING THOSE SPACES ARE GOING TO BE A FUNCTION OF WHERE THEY'RE AT.
SO IT'S THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD INCREASE THEIR TICKETS.
BUT IF THEY'RE USING EXISTING SPACES, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOWER THEIR COST OF OPERATIONS CAN BE VERY SIMILAR.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T SAY THAT TICKET PRICES WOULDN'T GO UP.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE WOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE TICKET PRICES UP.
THAT WOULD BE A FUNCTION OF THE MARKET.
YOU KNOW, JUST FOR EVERYONE'S BENEFIT.
KEVIN STARBUCK, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HE'S BEEN LEADING THIS PROJECT.
I KNOW. I APPRECIATE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
GAVE ME A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT.
BUT IF I GET ANY CREDIT, IT'S BECAUSE I'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE TO PUT IN CHARGE OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT. APPRECIATE IT.
YOU KNOW, RELATED TO THAT, JARED, SPOT ON.
TICKET PRICES FOR CONCERTS AND EVENTS THEY'RE HOSTED AT THE CIVIC CENTER ARE SET BY THE PROMOTERS, BY THE PATRONS.
SO THAT IS A FUNCTION OUTSIDE OF OF CITY PURVIEW ON HOW THOSE ARE ARE ESTABLISHED AND SET. NOW, CERTAINLY WE WORK WITH THEM, BUT THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A MARKET THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HIT. SO IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND AND OUR PRICES, THE MARKET, THEY'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE TO SELL TICKETS AND THOSE DYNAMICS EXIST.
AND THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS WORK TO EDUCATE THEM ON WHAT THE MARKET SUPPORTS. BUT JARED IS SPOT ON IS THAT AS WE BRING IN LARGER ACTS, MORE MAYBE ACTS THAT ARE MORE CONTEMPORARY OR THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN ADDED EXCITEMENT FOR YOU HAVE THAT DYNAMIC OF TICKET PRICES BEING HIGHER.
THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT, THOUGH, IS THAT WE HAVE OPERATED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS A CIVIC CENTER. THE CIVIC CENTER IS 70 PERCENT OR MORE OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HOSTED.
THE CIVIC CENTER ARE CIVIC BASED ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IS THE MAKE-A-WISH CAR SHOW, THE GOOD SCOUT LUNCH, THE THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST.
THESE ARE DRIVEN BY OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT WE WE ARE GOING TO EFFORT AND WE'LL ALWAYS WORK TOWARDS TRYING TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE OF HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND MAKE OUR FACILITY A VIABLE OPTION FOR THOSE NONPROFITS, FOR THOSE CIVIC ACTIVITIES THAT ARE THAT ARE JUST GREAT ACTIVITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND AT THE SAME TIME STRIKE THAT BALANCE WITH THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN CONVENTIONS AND TRADE SHOWS WHERE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DRAW A HIGHER PREMIUM AS FAR AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE FACILITY.
SO IT'S FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE TO ESTABLISH RATES AND THE LIKE ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AS A STAFF WE ARE VERY AWARE OF AND WE'LL ALWAYS WORK TOWARDS.
HOW DO WE STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THOSE CIVIC EVENTS THAT ARE HOSTED AT OUR CIVIC CENTER AND AT THE SAME TIME GROW IT AND EXPANDED INTO TRULY BEING A CONVENTION CENTER WHERE WE CAN BRING IN THOSE THOSE OUTSIDE EVENTS AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO TO PROMOTE OUR COMMUNITY, PROMOTE INDUSTRY, PROMOTE, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT IS IT IS A BALANCE AND THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT HOW WE POSSIBLY ESTABLISH DIFFERENTIATED PRICE STRUCTURES FOR CIVIC ACTIVITIES VERSUS NON CIVIC ACTIVITIES OR CONVENTIONS THAT MAY BE BROUGHT IN.
BUT WE ALSO WILL WORK WITH OUR CBC AND OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ESTABLISH A PROPER MARKET AND BASELINE FOR HOW WE DO THAT.
SO THOSE ARE MORE OPERATIONAL AND WE'LL COME DOWN THE PIKE.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY AWARE OF AS STAFF RELATED TO HOW WE OPERATE THE FACILITY IN THE LONG TERM.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME OF OUR CIVIC CENTER USERS IN THE AUDIENCE JUST IN INTEREST OF THEIR TIME. I'M WONDERING IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO GIVE THEM THE MICROPHONE.
WELL, I KNOW THAT, I KNOW LEMAN'S HERE.
LEMAN, WILL YOU JUST COME UP, SHARE JUST A MINUTE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON BOTH THE PROCESS
[01:15:04]
BECAUSE YOU'RE ONE OF THE USERS OF THE CIVIC CENTER.SO GRADE OUR PAPER A LITTLE BIT.
COMMITTEE. I'M HOPING YOU'RE GONNA GET AN A-PLUS.
BUT IT WAS THEIR JOB TO ENGAGE WITH YOU.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW, WAS THAT PROCESS DONE? HOW WAS IT DONE? HOW WELL WAS IT DONE? AND THEN JUST FROM A USER'S PERSPECTIVE, SOMEBODY WHO DRIVES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN OUR CITY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL? SURE. AND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JUST WOULD START WITH SAYING THANK YOU. I'M REPRESENTING WRCA, MY BOARD, STAFF.
WE'RE HERE SHOWING SUPPORT AND AND ALSO LEARNING, YOU KNOW, AS ALL CITIZENS ARE.
I CAN TELL YOU, YOU GUYS IN THE AUDIENCE, THIS IS FOR Y'ALL.
WE HAVE BEEN IN AMARILLO FOR THIS WILL BE OUR 25TH YEAR, RIGHT.
2020, WE'RE AND PRODUCE THE 25TH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RANCH RODEO.
THIS IS OUR HOME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CITIZENS KNOW THAT WRCA IS NOT TRYING TO LEAVE AMARILLO. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LEAVE OUR CITY IN OUR HISTORY.
WE'LL TELL YOU THAT THIS CITY, ITS GOVERNMENT AND ITS LEADERS HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF US BEING HERE, THE CIVIC CENTER STAFF CONVENTION OF VISITORS CHAMBER.
EVERYONE HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE AMARILLO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR US TO BE FOR THE EVENT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT ON CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT NEVER IN OUR HISTORY HAVE OUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS INVOLVED US AND ASKED US FOR OUR INPUT TRULY LISTENED TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AS A USER.
NEVER IS THAT HAPPENED MORE THAN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO TO YOU GUYS, TO THESE FOLKS SITTING RIGHT HERE THAT WERE BESIDE ME, TO YOU GUYS. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
YOU HAVE YOU HAVE ENVELOPED US IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU HAVE GONE DOWN TO SEE THE BELLY OF THE BEAST AT TIMES, THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PUT ON THE EVENT THAT WE DO.
AND A WONDERFUL FACILITY, SHERMAN.
THE FACT IS THIS FACILITY IS 50 PLUS YEARS OLD.
I'M REPRESENTING THEM ALSO WHEN I GET THIS CHANCE TO SPEAK.
YOU HAVE USERS THAT WANT TO BE HERE.
THE FACTS ARE OTHER CITIES ARE INVESTING.
THEY HAVE INVESTED AND THEY ARE INVESTING IN THEIR FACILITIES.
THEY START CALLING US. THEY START CALLING OTHER CONVENTIONS, OTHER OTHER SPORTING EVENTS.
AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT'S OUT THERE.
THOSE CHALLENGES ARE BEING MET WITH THIS NEW COMPLEX.
WE SAY WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWENTY FIVE.
AND WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING OUT ON THE TABLE IS GOING TO ENABLE A GROUP LIKE US TO STAY HERE AND IT SHOULD ENABLE OTHER GROUPS THAT AREN'T HERE IN AMARILLO TO BE ABLE TO COME AND MAKE THIS THEIR HOME AS WELL.
SO, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WE'RE JUST PROUD THAT YOU HAVE INVOLVED US IN THIS AND LISTENS TO US AND WE ARE NOT TRYING TO LEAVE.
LET'S MAKE THAT KNOWN. JUST WANT THAT TO BE KNOWN.
AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT'S BEING DONE.
AND WE ARE PROUD THAT AMARILLO HAS BEEN OUR HOME FOR 25 YEARS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR LEMAN? LEMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
SO CAN I ASK BASED UPON THAT? SO THAT MEANS WRCA IS GOING TO.
WRCA IS GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD TIGHT, PARTLY BECAUSE THEY REALLY NEED THE FULL FUNCTIONALITY OF THE WHOLE PROPERTY TO BE COMPLETED.
WHAT'S OUR TIMEFRAME? IT'S A KEVIN QUESTION.
WHAT'S DOCUMENTED IS WE HAVE THE PROJECT DIVIDED UP INTO FOUR PHASES SO THAT THE CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX STAYS FULLY FUNCTIONAL THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT PIECES COME ON LINE AT DIFFERENT DATES. BUT RIGHT NOW, THOSE FOUR PHASES ARE ARE TIMED TO WHAT WE HAVE
[01:20:01]
DOCUMENTED. WHAT WE'VE COST ESTIMATED IS OVER FIVE YEARS.AND SO RIGHT NOW, HVS IS SHOWING 2025.
IS THE WHOLE FACILITY BECOMING FUNCTIONAL? OTHER TALKS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH CITY STAFF, JERRY DANFORTH, WHO HELPED MANAGE THE IMPACT PROJECT, AS WE DO BELIEVE THERE IS A WAY TO SPEED IT UP, WHICH DOES HELP WITH THAT DELTA AS FAR AS NOT INCURRING MORE INFLATION OR OF ANOTHER YEAR.
SO AND THAT'S THAT'S A BIG FACTOR.
SO. I THINK FROM A TIMING STANDPOINT, A GOOD EXPLANATION OF WHY THE PROJECT WILL TAKE AS LONG AS IT WILL.
AND AS BARRY SAID, WE DO THINK WE CAN SHAVE OFF SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT THERE WILL BE A SEQUENCING BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO STILL HAVE A HOME FOR ALL THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE, AS MANY OF THE EVENTS AS POSSIBLE.
THE EXISTING CIVIC CENTER WON'T ACTUALLY BE STARTED UNTIL THE NEW EXHIBIT SPACE IS COMPLETE SO WE CAN PUSH IT FUNCTIONS OVER TO THAT NEW EXHIBIT SPACE.
THEN WE CAN START RENOVATING THE EXISTING CIVIC CENTER JUST FOR THE SAME REASON.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO START THE NEW ARENA UNTIL WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED THE NEW CITY HALL SPACE AT AN EXISTING BUILDING DOWNTOWN OR REALLY A COUPLE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT DONE, WE CAN DEMOLISH THE CITY HALL, START CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ARENA. SO THERE'S SOME SEQUENCING THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE IN SOME OF THESE MAJOR COMPONENTS. SO WE WILL PUSH THAT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, MAKE IT HAPPEN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE UNDERSTANDING ON A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE AND MAGNITUDE.
A DELAY OF EVEN A FEW MONTHS HAS REAL COST SO WE CAN SAVE MONEY BY MOVING QUICKLY OVER AS QUICKLY AS WE REALISTICALLY CAN.
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE RODEO, CAN WE PLAN IT SO THAT THAT CAN CONTINUE DURING THIS FIVE YEAR. RIGHT.
THEY'LL NEVER HAVE TO MISS A RODEO WITHOUT YOUR ASKING.
YES, THAT'S THE GOAL OF WHAT WE'VE SAID.
NOW WOULD BE WORKING OBVIOUSLY WITH LEMAN AND ALL OF OUR BOARD WITH WRCA.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR KEEPING ALL OF THAT, ALL THE ALL THE EXISTING SPACE THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY USING. THEY WILL STILL BE ABLE TO USE NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO WE'LL NEED A LOT OF PATIENCE AND GRACE FROM THEM BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR MAIN STAGING AREAS AND PARKING AREAS WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY HAVE THE YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AS QUICK AS WE HOPE TO MOVING POSSIBLY NOT NEXT YEAR OR THIS YEAR, RATHER, BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR SURE, THEY'LL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE EXHIBIT HALL WHILE THAT WRC EVENT IS GOING ON.
SO BUT WE'RE STRUCTURING THE TIMING OF THE PROJECT AND THE SEQUENCING OF THE PROJECTS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH MAJOR EVENTS LIKE THAT, LIKE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, LIKE OTHER THINGS THAT THAT ARE BIG SIGNATURE EVENTS HERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STILL DO THAT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE'RE SEQUENCING IT.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO DO AT LEAST WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING WITH THAT CARROT OUT THERE THAT YOU JUST STICK WITH US FOR JUST TWO OR THREE MORE YEARS.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY BLOW IT UP AND MAKE IT HUGE.
MAYOR, I HAD ONE MORE COMMENT RELATED TO THE BOND ISSUE AND THE SIZE AND THE COST.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I GET ASKED ON IS ARE THERE OPTIONS? WERE THERE THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT IT SHIFTING SOME OF THE COST IN OTHER WAYS IN A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP COMES UP, ASKED A LOT.
AND WHILE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TICKET PRICES, I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD TIME TO KIND OF BRING THAT UP, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME PRIVATE DOLLARS TO COME INTO THIS PROJECT, NAMING RIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, MORE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES THAT A FULL FLEDGED PARTNER IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS THAN THAT, THAT PRIVATE SECTOR IS LOOKING FOR A PROFIT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT JUST COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND SO IT ABSOLUTELY WOULD AFFECT THE ISSUE.
WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT TICKET PRICES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE STRUCTURING IS SO THAT WE ARE STILL ABLE TO THAT ALL OF OUR CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO STILL AFFORD THE USE OF THIS FACILITY.
PROFITS, NONPROFITS AND FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS AND NOT HAVE THE INCREASE IN TICKET PRICES THAT A FOR PROFIT PARTNERSHIP WOULD REQUIRE.
YEAH. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT, AND I NEGLECTED THAT THE FIRST OF THE MEETING TO POINT OUT THAT COUNCILWOMAN HAYS HAS SERVED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE CIVIC CENTER FOR THIS ENTIRE TIME.
AND SO REALLY UP UNTIL FIRST OF NOVEMBER, SHE WAS ATTENDING THE MEETINGS AND GOING ON THE TOURS AND DOING ALL THE SMELLY HOCKEY ROOM ANALYSIS AS MUCH AS ANYONE.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE DEEP DIVE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN INTO THE NUMBERS ON THIS, AS WELL AS WHAT WE NEED IN A COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME.
YES. TO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ON COST OF OPERATION WITH REGARD
[01:25:05]
TO THE THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN CONTROL.COST OF OPERATION WON'T GO UP AS A FUNCTION OF CONSTRUCTING THE FACILITY BECAUSE AS WE'RE CURRENTLY ENVISIONING IT, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY WILL BE PAID FOR THROUGH THE DEBT ISSUED BACKED BY PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO THAT WILL BE FULLY TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX.
COST OF OPERATION, HOWEVER, WILL DRIVE CERTAIN COSTS FOR TICKETS.
DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE SIGNIFICANT.
IN FACT, I DON'T EXPECT THE COST OF OPERATION IS GOING TO CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY.
MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON AVAILABILITY OF HOT REVENUE.
CERTAINLY IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS AFTER WE CONSTRUCT FACILITY, MAJOR REMODELS, EQUIPMENT FAILURES, YOU KNOW, ROOF ROOF REPLACEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT WON'T BE HAPPENING.
SO THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL CAPACITY INSIDE HOT.
NOW WE ARE OPERATING A LARGER FACILITY, SO WE'LL NEED TO KEEP THAT FACILITY FULL ALL THE TIME, BRING IN AS MANY EVENTS AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE'RE GENERATING REVENUE FOR THAT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT OUR CIVIC CENTER TEAM IS ALREADY DOING.
IT WILL BE GETTING VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH THAT TEAM TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EXERCISING AND UTILIZING ALL THE MOST MODERN TOOLS, TRAINING CAPACITY FOR BOOKING EVENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING IT AS FINANCIALLY VIABLE AS POSSIBLE AND RELYING AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE UPON THOSE HOT REVENUES FOR OPERATING COSTS.
AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS ONE OF COUNCILMAN POWELL'S EARLIER QUESTIONS, KIND OF ALONG WITH THAT'S MR. CITY MANAGER ON, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE COME UP WITH SOME OF THAT REDUCTION, WHERE WE MOVE FROM THE 319 TO THE 279 MILLION.
AND PARTLY THAT JUST SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAT ARE IN THERE IN MOVING RELOCATION OF WATER MAINS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY IN OUR LONG TERM BUDGETING.
AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INCLUDED.
AND IN THIS BOND, IT IS A COST.
IT IS AN ACTUAL COSTS. WE NEED TO IDENTIFY AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH OTHER REVENUES IN THE CITY.
AND THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER AREA OF OF HOW WE GET THAT NUMBER DOWN.
SO, MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU'VE JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION, BUT TODAY, HOW ARE WE? HOW ARE WE FUNDING THE OPERATIONS FOR THE CIVIC CENTER? I MEAN, YOU BASICALLY ANSWERED IT, BUT CAN YOU JUST BE VERY SPECIFIC AND DIRECT IN THE INTEREST OF SPECIFICITY? EITHER KEVIN OR SHERMAN, I THINK WOULD BE THE BEST PEOPLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SHERMAN. SHERMAN BASS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIC CENTER.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE CURRENTLY OPERATE AT ABOUT A 70 PERCENT REVENUE RECOVERY AND THAT 30 PERCENT THAT HAS NOT RECOVERED FROM RENTAL FEES, CONCESSION CONTRACTS, ETC.
IS SUPPLEMENTED BY HOT TAX REVENUE.
AND THE PRO FORMA FOR THIS PROJECT BY THE YEAR OF STABILIZATION, WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER EVERYTHING IS OPEN.
ACTUALLY SHOWS OUR PERFORMER THAT OPERATING LOSS CUTTING IN HALF.
SO WE ARE PROJECTING WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE A LEANER MACHINE WITH THE EXPANSION AND WITH ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TIED TO THAT EXPANSION AND NEW ARENA IN.
A LOT OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS WITH A BIGGER FACILITY THAT CAN HOST A LOT MORE PRIVATE SECTOR EVENTS AND EVENTS OTHER THAN CIVIC IN NATURE WHERE WE'RE NOT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR NON-PROFITS AND OTHER THINGS.
BUT RIGHT NOW THEY CONSTITUTE A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF OUR OPERATION THAN THEY WILL GOING FORWARD. AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE NON-PROFIT PARTICIPATION.
IT'S JUST WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ENHANCED CAPACITY TO HAVE OTHER CONFERENCES AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CARRY THEIR CARRY THEIR WEIGHT, MUCH MORE SO THAN, SAY, A CIVIC EVENT. CORRECT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SHERMAN.
NONE OF THESE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED YET.
THESE ARE CONCEPTS, THESE PICTURES.
ASSUMING THE PUBLIC DECIDES TO DO THIS, THEN THAT'S WHEN THE DESIGN PHASE WILL START.
NOW, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT TIMELINE FOR JUST A SECOND.
MAYBE KEVIN STARBUCK, WHERE YOU COME AND JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMELINE OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED. I MEAN, THE COMMITTEE'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A YEAR.
IN SEPTEMBER, THE COMMITTEE OPENED IT UP, BROUGHT ON ANOTHER 80 COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND THAT'S BROUGHT US HERE TODAY TO A FORMAL PROPOSAL FROM THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE FROM HERE? SO THAT'S SORT OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, HOWARD.
[01:30:03]
WELL, THE CITY COUNCIL, AS THE STATE STATUTES OUTLINE, HAS UNTIL FEBRUARY 14TH TO CALL AN ELECTION FOR MAY 2ND.THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH WOULD BE PART OF THE NOVEMBER 2020 ELECTION.
SO TWO TIMES A YEAR, MUNICIPALITIES ARE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL AN ELECTION SO THAT THAT TIES IN WITH YOUR YOUR CURRENT OPPORTUNITY IS IN THE CURRENT TIMEFRAME.
SO YOU HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 14TH TO CALL AN ELECTION.
AND WE HAVE GEARED THE RECOMMENDATION PROPOSAL PRESENTED TO YOU AND BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THIS BEING THE RIGHT TIMING AND A LOT OF THAT FOCUSED ON, WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD ALL THE ANSWERS THAT THEY FELT COMFORTABLE BRINGING A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.
SO SO IT TOOK US TIME TO PULL THAT TOGETHER, TO GET THEM ALL THE INFORMATION AND PUT US IN THIS FRAMEWORK. SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THAT SHOULD A A VALIDATE AND BE PUT ON THE MAY 2ND ELECTION AND THAT BALLOT ITEM ASSUMING IS IS PASSES WITH VOTER APPROVAL.
AT THAT POINT, WE WILL INITIATE A DESIGN PHASE AND THAT DESIGN PHASE WILL TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 10 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS DEPENDING ON THE TOTAL SCOPE.
IT WILL REQUIRE US TO BID OUT THE DESIGN WORK, ETC.
AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THAT AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT THAT WE WOULD WORK TOWARDS TRYING TO GET THOSE CONSTRUCTION PORTIONS ISSUED EARLIER IN THE PROJECTS SO THAT WE COULD START THE BALL ROLLING. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS NEEDING TO NEGOTIATE AND COMPLETE A DEAL RELATED TO RELOCATION OF CITY HALL.
SO THOSE ARE ASPECTS THAT WE WOULD START AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY COULD.
SO YOU WOULD SEE SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE SOONER.
BUT THEN AS AS OUR OUR TEAM HAS ALREADY OUTLINED, THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WOULD BE PHASED OUT AND WOULD LAY OUT FROM THAT POINT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE HOPE THAT WE COULD HAVE THE TOTAL PROJECT COMPLETED AND BROUGHT ONLINE BY 2024.
SO THE PLAN IS THE DPS AND THE TEAM IS LAID OUT AS 2025.
BUT AS WE AS AS BARRY INDICATED AND AS WE'VE WE'VE TALKED, OUR INTERNAL TEAM FEELS THAT IN WORKING WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND MAXIMIZING THOSE EFFORTS, WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHORTEN THAT TIMELINE AND BRING THE FACILITY ON, ON ON ON BOARD EARLIER THAN THAN THE PROJECTIONS.
SO I DON'T KNOW. ABOUT ABOUT A YEAR OF DESIGN? 2 TO 3 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU. LET ME ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.
NOBODY'S GOT A CRYSTAL BALL CAN ANSWER THIS.
FIFTY YEARS AGO, THE CEILING HEIGHT THERE WAS 38 FEET.
NOW 60. SO WHO CAN PREDICT WHAT IS GOING TO BE 20 YEARS FROM NOW GOING TO BE 80 FEET OR WHAT? YEAH. LET'S LET THE ARCHITECTS TAKE THIS ONE.
SO LET'S JUST USE NCAA BASKETBALL AS AN EXAMPLE.
SO OUR MINIMUM HEIGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THAT ANY OBSTRUCTION WOULD BE 35 FEET.
NOW, TYPICALLY FOR A CONCERT, YOU WOULD WANT THAT.
THE SCOREBOARD USUALLY HANGING DOWN THE LOWEST RIGHT? SO 35 IS YOUR MINIMUM FOR A CONCERT.
YOU WOULD WANT TO NEST THAT SCOREBOARD UP INTO THE MAIN STEEL.
SO MIGHT PUT YOU AT ABOUT 55 FEET.
AND THAT'S THAT'S SORT OF A STANDARD FOR THIS SIZE ARENA IN THIS 10000 SEAT ARENA MARKET MIGHT BE 55 TO 60 FEET.
SO HOW CAN YOU ASK THE FOLLOW UP QUESTION? HOW CAN WE KNOW 20 YEARS FROM NOW THAT'S THE HEIGHT WE NEED? BASKETBALL PLAYERS DON'T GET ANY TALLER.
WITHOUT PUTTING WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, YOU TELL ME IF I'M RIGHT.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN KNOW THAT.
HOWEVER, BY UTILIZING THE INDUSTRY TRENDS AND DEMANDS OF THE INDUSTRY, WE CAN SATISFY ANYTHING RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO COME TO THIS SIZE MARKET WITH THE CEILING HEIGHT. AND SO WE'RE WORKING TO BALANCE.
WE COULD BUILD IT HIGHER, BUT THERE'S A, THERE'S SUCH A BIG COST FOR GOING HIGHER.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT, GIVING OUR BEST SHOT AT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE VIABLE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE LIFESPAN OF THIS PROJECT WITH NOT SO OVERBUILDING IT THAT THAT WE SPENT MONEY.
MAYBE WE DIDN'T NEED TO, BUT ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WILL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO SATISFY RIGHT NOW AND INTO INTO THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE 50 YEARS FROM NOW THAT THAT IS A VALID QUESTION, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE RAN INTO WITH THIS OLD COLISEUM.
NO, I CAN SPEAK TO OF THINGS LIKE RIGGING CAPACITY.
LET YOU KNOW THE STANDARD 20 YEARS AGO WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS.
[01:35:02]
MOST TOURING ACTS ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.THEY WANT TO HANG A HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT FROM THE STEEL.
THAT STANDARD IS NOW ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND BECAUSE SHOWS ARE JUST GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND THEY WANT TO HANG MORE STUFF.
SO THE COST OF GOING FROM ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND CAPACITY IS REALLY NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT.
HOWEVER, ADDING VOLUME TO AN ARENA TO MAKE IT LARGER, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO ADD, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL HEATING AND COOLING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO WE ARE KEEPING UP WITH THE STANDARDS AND WE CAN'T PREDICT THAT THAT THINGS LIKE CAPACITY ARE GOING TO INCREASE.
BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A MAGIC, MAGIC CRYSTAL BALL FOR EVERYTHING.
AND WE HAVE GOT TO ASK IT ANYWAY.
SO, MAYOR, JUST TO CLARIFY ON THAT, BECAUSE I ALSO GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS KIND OF ALONG THAT SAME LINE.
SO IT'S LIKE IF VOTERS APPROVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, IT'S LIKE THEN THEN WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IT OUT FOR DESIGN. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.
AND PEOPLE CAN TAKE THAT SHAPE OF CLAY AND FIGURE OUT WE NEED IT TO MEET ALL THESE SPECIFICATIONS. WE NEED THIS MANY SEATS.
ALL THESE THINGS AND THAT SHAPE THAT IS PUT OUT TO BID OF HOW THAT'S DESIGNED.
AND THEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO ACTUALLY DRAW THOSE PLANTS TO TO FIT THAT NEW PIECE OF CLAY.
AND THE REASON WE DON'T DO ALL THAT FINALIZED BEFOREHAND IS BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE.
AND IF THE VOTERS AREN'T APPROVING IT, WE DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SPECIFICALLY SHAPE THAT CLAY AND BE STUCK TO THAT DESIGN.
AND THEN IT'S JUST WASTE WASTED DOLLARS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE BUILT THE BALLPARK, WE USED HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX DOLLARS.
WE VOTERS DID NOT APPROVE A BOND.
WE DID NOT RAISE TAXES TO DO THAT.
SO IN SOME WAYS, THE PROJECTS AREN'T SIMILAR WHEN IT COMES UP TO THIS ELECTION.
THERE WAS AN ELECTION ABOUT THE MPEV.
IT WAS A NON-BINDING REFERENDUM.
IT WAS NOT TO APPROVE BOND FUNDS TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE TAX RATE AND DO THE PROJECT.
SO THAT'S A NUANCE IN REALLY ONLY PEOPLE WHO WERE REALLY WATCHING CLOSELY THEN MIGHT EVEN CARE. BUT I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, THAT IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE'VE JUST DONE A BIG PROJECT. WE SET WE DREW A LINE IN THE SAND AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND AND WE'RE NOT GOING OVER IT.
AND THE EXPERTISE AND DILIGENCE AND LEADERSHIP OF JERRY DANFORTH AND THE CITY MANAGER MADE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY CAME IN UNDER BUDGET AND WE STAYED ON TIME IN THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
BUT THAT IS APPLES TO ORANGES COMPARING TO THIS BOND ELECTION, BECAUSE WE WILL BE SET ONCE THE VOTERS APPROVE THE AMOUNT OF THIS BOND AND WE WON'T GO OVER IT.
BUT I WANT TO PROVIDE THAT EXPLANATION.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT BOND.
THIS IS GOING TO TAKE MAYBE FOUR YEARS.
SO IF THIS PASSES THE COMMUNITY VOTE TO DO IT, WHEN WOULD THE BONDS BE SOLD AND WHERE WOULD THAT START THE TAX INCREASE? WE WOULD DO MULTIPLE BOND ISSUES OVER CORRESPONDING WITH THAT CONSTRUCTION.
SO YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING THIS SUMMER SO THAT YOU HAVE DOLLARS TO BEGIN YOUR A&E.
ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN.
YES. IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A GOOD PART OF A YEAR.
SO THEN YOU WOULD FOLLOW UP ONCE YOU GOT YOUR BIDS FOR YOUR PROJECT WITH THE NEXT PIECE.
CORRECT. IT WOULD TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO REALIZE THE FULL IMPACT OF THE APPROVED TAX INCREASES. WE WOULD ISSUE THAT [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL WITH WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO SPEND IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION OF THE CITY MANAGER OR THE ATTORNEY OR BOTH.
ABOUT WHAT? I'M TOLD THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE THIS AFTER WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
IS THAT RIGHT OR WRONG OR EXPLAIN THAT? I AM CONFIDENT THAT I CAN ANSWER THIS VERY THOROUGHLY AND ACCURATELY, BUT I AM GOING TO THROW IT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY SO THAT WE GET A VERY EXACT AND POTENTIALLY CONFUSING ANSWER. NO, AND WON'T BE CONFUSING.
HE WILL GIVE YOU A VERY EXACT ANSWER.
YES. YOU ARE FREE TO ADVOCATE AS LONG AS PUBLIC RESOURCES AND PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE NOT SPENT ON THAT ADVOCACY.
[01:40:03]
THAT'S THE STRAIGHT, SIMPLE TRUTH OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO AFTER THE ELECTION IS CALLED. SO I CERTAINLY COULD TALK WITH YOU ON SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IF YOU WANTED TO, BUT THAT'S THE GENERAL RULE.IF THE VOTE IS TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, THEN I'D LIKE I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DO A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL SO THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON THAT.
SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE BRINGING THAT UP POWER.
AND IF WE WERE TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT AND BE IN THAT SITUATION, I HAVE ALREADY ASKED THEM TO BEGIN PREPARING THAT PRESENTATION JUST SO THAT WE WOULD BE READY TO GO WITH IT. AND WE WOULD BE EDUCATED.
OK, SO I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT CITIZENS ARE ASKING ME, SO I MIGHT TIE THIS BACK TO THE CIVIC CENTER JUST SO I DON'T GET IN TROUBLE WITH BRIAN.
INITIALLY WHEN WE STARTED THE CIVIC CENTER CONVERSATION, WE WERE GOING TO DO WHAT WAS CALLED AN INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE CIVIC CENTER. SO WHY ARE WE NOT GOING TO DO THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT? THAT IS A PROJECT THAT WE AT THE TIME THAT THAT WAS ON THE BOND IN 2016 WAS PRIOR TO US WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TO DO A STUDY THAT WOULD IDENTIFY WHERE THE LOGICAL PLACE FOR A TRANSIT HUB FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO, GIVEN OUR ROUTE STRUCTURE, WOULD BE TO WOULD NEED TO BE PLACED TO BEST SERVE OUR RIDING PUBLIC.
SO ONCE WE HAD THAT STUDY DONE, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE THAT LOCATION NEEDED TO BE FARTHER TO THE WEST AND A LITTLE BIT NORTH WAS A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF WHERE THAT LOCATION IS. SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED A VERY NARROW AREA.
WE'VE ACQUIRED PROPERTY FOR THAT PROJECT TO BE DONE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S NOT A COMPONENT OF THIS.
THAT'S THE PRIMARY REASON IT REALLY HAS AS IT RELATES TO WHAT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAS DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR.
BY THE TIME THEY WERE THEY WERE UP AND RUNNING ON THIS.
WE ALREADY HAD THE DATA BACK FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION STUDY THAT THAT SHOWED THAT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS LOCATION OR WOULDN'T WOULDN'T APPROPRIATE, GIVEN OUR ROUTE STRUCTURE AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE US DO FOR TRANSIT. CORRECT.
CORRECT. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT. SO I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD THE FIRST PART, AND I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP AGAIN TO BE SURE, BECAUSE AT FIRST WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING IS THAT ORIGINALLY IF WE HAD INCLUDED IT WITH THIS, THEN IT MEANS THAT LOCAL TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT AND IT'S GOING TO BE PAID OUT OF PROPERTY TAX.
BUT WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT SPECIFIC PART OF THE PROJECT PAID FOR FROM FEDERAL DOLLARS, NOT ON LOCAL TAXPAYER AND PROPERTY.
SO IT'S PART OF THE DESIGN, PART OF THE THE USABILITY OF IT, BUT ALSO THE THE PAYING FOR IT. IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE AVAILABLITY.
WE'RE WORKING ON A GRANT THAT WOULD PAY FOR AT LEAST 80 PERCENT, POSSIBLY MORE OF THIS PROJECT. SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
WE EXPECT WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT ABOUT THAT IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER.
AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T INCLUDE THAT IN THIS PROJECT.
AND IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS DRAMATICALLY LESS EXPENSIVE TO TAXPAYERS THAN IF WE WERE TO JUST PUT IT ON THIS PROJECT.
SO, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
SO KIND OF TAKE A SEGUE IN OTHER DIRECTION.
SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T EVEN REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT MUCH IS.
SURELY THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY BY DOING THIS, JUST LIKE DOING HODGETOWN ACTUALLY HAD A HUMONGOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT OR HAS ON OUR COMMUNITY WHAT IS PROJECTED IF WE GO THROUGH WITH THIS PROJECT.
SURELY WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE DIRECTLY RELATED OR INDIRECTLY RELATED.
SURELY WE'RE GOING TO SEE OTHER THINGS THAT ACTUALLY COME OUT OF THAT THAT ACTUALLY IMPACT EVERYBODY THAT LIVES REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE OF AN INFLUX OF SALES TAX, HOT TAX, ETC..
I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON JUST ON A HIGH LEVEL, GENTLEMAN, THROW IT TO KEVIN AND POSSIBLY ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS AS WELL.
THERE'S MIKE KIND OF TOUCHED ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRENDING DOWNWARD ON A NUMBER OF EVENTS.
WE'RE TRENDING DOWNWARD ON THE ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THIS WILL CHANGE OUR TREND SIGNIFICANTLY IN OTHER DIRECTIONS.
WELL, LET KEVIN TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS THERE.
IF YOU GO AND STEP OR, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER NEEDS TO STEP UP THERE.
[01:45:01]
BUT WHILE YOU ARE DOING THAT, I WANTED TO ALSO MENTIONED THAT FROM A ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, FROM A JOB STANDPOINT, IT'S NOT JUST THE JOBS THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS FACILITY.A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYERS, AS THEY'RE TRYING TO COMPETE FOR PEOPLE TO BRING IN TO OUR CITY TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE DOING.
ONE OF THE BIG FACTORS THAT PEOPLE CONSIDER IS QUALITY OF LIFE.
WHAT DO I GET TO DO? WE'VE SEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT WE'VE HAD THROUGH THE THROUGH THIS LAST BASEBALL SEASON, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THE YEAR THAT'S COVERED.
I HAVE HEARD FROM FROM LARGE BUSINESS OWNER AFTER LARGE BUSINESS OWNER.
THIS WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE IN WAYS YOU CAN'T MEASURE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE FOR THAT EMPLOYEE THAT'S DOING SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T MAYBE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE CAN BRING THEM IN.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE TO EMPLOYERS AND TO EMPLOYEES AS A COMMUNITY.
NOW, KEVIN CAN GO THROUGH THE EXACT METRICS THAT WE'VE WE'VE GONE THROUGH EXHAUSTIVE TAKE AN EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY.
AND CERTAINLY MIKE TOUCHED ON THESE NUMBERS.
THOSE NUMBERS WERE GENERATED BY HVS.
SO THOMAS HAZINSKI AND HIS TEAM AT HVS WERE THE ONE WHO DID THE ANALYSIS RELATED TO THAT.
BUT AS INDICATED, ARE CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES RELATED TO IT AS THE CIVIC CENTER WILL WILL HAVE A MINIMUM OF 85 ADDITIONAL EVENTS ANNUALLY, WHICH WILL EQUATE TO ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES AT THOSE EVENTS.
SO JUST GROWTH IN THE OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO EVENTS WHICH WILL EQUATE TO 33000 ADDITIONAL ROOM NIGHTS IN HOTELS AND MOTELS.
AND WHERE THAT COMES FROM, AS ROD ALLUDED, IT'S PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE PANHANDLE COMING TO AMARILLO TO THOSE EVENTS, STAYING IN HOTELS AND MOTELS, SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS AT RESTAURANTS, THAT GOING TO STORES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS TO EQUIP THEMSELVES WITH THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE BACK TO THEIR HOME.
ULTIMATELY, WHAT THAT RESULTS IN IS A TWENTY EIGHT POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CIVIC CENTER.
SO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IS 36 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE CIVIC CENTER EQUATES TO $36 MILLION ANNUALLY TO OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THAT INCREASES TO 64.4 MILLION DOLLARS WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO A A 28.4 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE.
AND WHERE THAT COMES INTO PLAY IS THE REALITY IS, IS THAT SIX MILLION OF OUR 36 MILLION TODAY IS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRCA RODEO.
SO ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE IS OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND MAINTAIN AND KEEP THEM HERE. AND AS AS LEMAN AND HIS BOARD OF DISCUSSED WITH US, THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO LEAVE AMARILLO, BUT THEY ARE CAPPED AT WHAT THEY CAN DO.
THEIR RODEO LITERALLY USES EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE CIVIC CENTER IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION TODAY, AND IT LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO GROW THE RODEO, TO CONTINUE THEIR PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES, TO SUPPORT THE WORKING RANCH COWBOYS ACROSS NOT ONLY THE GOLDEN SPREAD BUT BEYOND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
SO SO THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE OUR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR BRAND, CONTINUE TO GROW THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO SO THEY EQUATE TO THAT THAT $6 MILLION OF THAT $36 MILLION.
SO SHOULD A DAY COME WHERE WE'RE WRCA HAS TO LOOK FOR OTHER PASTURES, I WON'T SAY GREENER PASTURES, BUT OTHER PASTURES.
WE POTENTIALLY WILL GO FROM A 36 MILLION DOLLAR IMPACT TO A 30 MILLION DOLLAR IMPACT AND SEE A CONTINUED DEGRADATION OF WHAT THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT THE CIVIC CENTER REPRESENTS. SO AS OUR ENGINE STARTS TO SPUTTER, IT CREATES GREATER CHALLENGES AND AND SHOWS DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE LOSE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY. SO RELATED TO THIS PROJECT, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO CAPTURE WHAT WE HAVE, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY GROW WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS REPRESENTED BY THE CIVIC CENTER.
IN ADDITION, AS JARED ALLUDED, HVS HAS DONE SOME SOME ANALYSIS RELATED AS THEY INDICATED, A MINIMUM OF TWO HUNDRED TWENTY TWO ADDITIONAL JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY DIRECTLY TIED TO THE CIVIC CENTER NOW. THOSE ARE AT THE CIVIC CENTER, A PORTION OF THEM.
WELL, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO EXPAND THE STAFF ASSOCIATE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATE WITH THE CIVIC CENTER WITH A LARGER FACILITY.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE JOBS ARE RELATED INDUSTRIES THAT ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE CIVIC CENTER. SO SO WHILE THAT'S THAT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER, BUT IT IS.
SO YOU ALSO BETWEEN THE DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE INDUCED ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM JUST ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CIVIC CENTER TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE ADDITIONAL JOBS, IT TRULY IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE, OBVIOUSLY.
ANYBODY ELSE? HAD A COMMENT I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON.
IF I COULD I COULD COMMENT ON THE METHOD THAT WE USE TO ESTIMATE THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT,
[01:50:03]
BECAUSE OFTEN ECONOMIC IMPACTS SITES ARE CRITICIZED FOR BEING OVER INFLATED AND WE'RE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DO THAT.SO OUR BASIC ASSUMPTION IS OR QUESTION THAT WE TRY TO ANSWER IS HOW MUCH NEW INCOME IS GOING TO BE IMPORTED INTO AMARILLO BECAUSE OF THIS.
SO IF SOMEONE FROM AMARILLO GOES TO AN EVENT AT THE CIVIC CENTER AND SPENDS MONEY, WE DON'T COUNT THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY MONEY IN THE COMMUNITY.
DISPOSABLE INCOME THAT MIGHT BE SPENT ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
RIGHT. SO WE'RE ASKING THE QUESTION HOW MUCH NEW MONEY IS COMING IN.
SO WE'RE VERY CAREFUL TO ONLY WHEN WE COUNT VISITOR SPENDING, WE'RE COUNTING VISITORS WHO COME FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE GET. WE BUILD UP ALL THE NEW DIRECT SPENDING THAT IS CAPTURED FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN WE ASK THE QUESTION, WELL, HOW DOES THAT MONEY CIRCULATE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? SO LET'S SAY SOMEONE COMES INTO TOWN FOR A CONVENTION AND GOES TO A RESTAURANT. THAT RESTAURANT HAS TO BUY FOOD THAT PEOPLE WORK AT THE RESTAURANT HAVE MORE INCOME. SO THAT'S INCLUDED IN THOSE ESTIMATES AS WELL.
SO IT'S A IT'S A METHODOLOGY THAT WE'VE USED IN A LOT OF CITIES IS WIDELY ACCEPTED.
WE USE SOURCES OF DATA THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO AMARILLO.
IT'S NOT SOME NATIONAL FIGURES ON WHAT PEOPLE SPEND AND WHAT THEY SPEND HERE.
AND IT'S BASED ON THE MODEL WE BUY DATA THAT MODELS THE ECONOMY.
SO IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO AMARILLO AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHY WE GET FROM THAT 36 TO 64 MILLION DOLLAR NUMBER.
BUT I I WANT TO ADD, I THOUGHT WHAT ROD SAID AT THE OPENING WAS A BRILLIANT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL IMPACT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IS.
AND THAT'S ON YOUR CIVIC LIFE.
AND THAT COUNTS EVERYBODY FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT IT IT CREATES CONNECTIONS AMONG PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
AND THE VALUE OF THAT, THE VALUE OF HAVING THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER THAT IS REPLICATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE PEOPLE INTERACTING AND TALKING WITH EACH OTHER AND AND BUILDING BONDS AMONG EACH OTHER.
I THINK IT IT'S IT'S YOUR LIVING ROOM.
IMAGINE YOUR HOME WITHOUT LIVING OR MORE WITHOUT A KITCHEN.
YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN'T WORK AS A HOME.
YOU WOULDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT, IS CREATING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE AND A BETTER COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THOSE DOLLAR NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT AND I'D LOVE TO ESTIMATE THEM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE GET PAID TO DO IT.
BUT I REALLY THINK THIS INTANGIBLE IMPACT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF AS A PRIMARY MOTIVE FOR DOING THE PROJECT.
I CAN TELL THERE'S A STORYTELLER TRYING TO GET OUT THROUGH THAT ECONOMIST'S SKIN.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYTHING.
I HAD JUST A FEW QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL WRAP IT UP DIRECTING MIND BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION THAT SHOULD BE ASKED OF THE YOUNGEST PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT I'M GOING TO THROW IT TO ROD INSTEAD, NOT JUST DEFINING, ROD.
I THINK IT'S OUR JOB UP HERE TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYER.
AND YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF ANALYZING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
WE HAVE TO ANSWER FOR HOW TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE WE ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE THE TAXPAYERS. SO SOME OF THE TAXPAYERS THAT I THINK THE MOST ABOUT ARE THOSE THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOMES AND MANY OF THEM ARE OVER AGE 65.
SO HOW DOES THAT IMPACT SOMEONE WHO'S OVER AGE 65 FOR THIS PROJECT? NO IMPACT.
NO IMPACT. YOUR TAXES WILL NOT CHANGE.
OK. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HERE IN THE CITY YEARS AGO APPROVED A TAX FREEZE AT AGE 65.
SO AS FAR AS CONSIDERING TAXPAYERS WHO ARE ON A FIXED INCOME, THAT THEY HAVE THE USE OF THE FACILITY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGE IN THEIR TAX.
AND YOU PICK THE RIGHT PERSON TO ASK QUESTION.
WELL, I THOUGHT IT'S A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.
YOU MIGHT LET ME DO A JOKE ON YOU.
I DON'T THINK IT AFFECTS THAT.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH. THAT'S YOUR HOMESTEAD, YOUR HOMESTEAD TAXES ARE FROZEN, WHICH FOR MOST PEOPLE ON A FIXED INCOME THAT'S THAT'S THE MAIN ONE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.
OK. JUST TO THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE.
I HAVE HEARD OUT IN THE COMMUNITY OR ON FACEBOOK OR SOMEWHERE, I SAW SOMEBODY WAS ASKING WE SHOULD PUSH THIS ELECTION BACK TO NOVEMBER.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE NEED SIX MORE MONTHS TO STUDY THIS? IS THERE ANY MORE DATA THAT WE COULD GET BY PUSHING IT BACK SIX MONTHS?
[01:55:04]
NO, NO. OK.I'M THINKING THAT'S PRETTY RESOUNDING.
WRCA. DON'T THEY RENEGOTIATE THEIR AGREEMENT THIS SUMMER? YES. WRCA IS UP AGAIN TO TO EXTEND THEIR LEASE IN AUGUST.
THE WRCA NEGOTIATED THEIR AGREEMENT AGAIN THIS SUMMER.
THEY GAVE US AN EXTENSION OF, WHAT, TWO YEARS THE LAST TIME.
AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT, JUNE? JULY. THAT WOULDN'T BE VERY NEIGHBORLY OF US TO PUSH THEM OFF AGAIN AND MAKE THEM DELAY.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE GO FOR IT. IT'S IMPRUDENT TO PUSH COST.
IT'S GONNA COST YOU MORE IF YOU WAIT SIX MORE MONTHS.
AND WE REALLY THINK WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
FOR THE CITIZENS TO MAKE A DECISION.
ANYTHING ON THAT, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON THAT? SO WHAT I'M HEARING.
WE DEFINITELY DON'T NEED THE TIME FOR DATA, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY MORE RESEARCH COSTS IS A DRAWBACK. AND SO ON THE ISSUE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER POINTS OF THAT STOOL IS THEN TIME TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR COMMUNITY OF WHAT EXACTLY IT IS THAT WE ARE THAT WHAT WE WOULD BE VOTING ON. AND SO JUST AS THE COMMUNITY PREPARES TO TO HAVE THREE WEEKS OF OPPORTUNITY COMING UP IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS AND GIVING FEEDBACK, ASKING QUESTIONS, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND THROW IT OUT. OTHER SUGGESTIONS OF HOW WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION OUT.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTING EVERY AVENUE WE KNOW TO TRY AND GET FACTS AND INFORMATION OUT. BUT I JUST ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY, IF THEY HAVE IDEAS, IF THEY HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON ANYTHING.
DOTS, YOU KNOW, I'S WERE NOT DOTTING TO GET AN ACCURATE INFORMATION OUT.
PLEASE BE PREPARED TO BRING IT BEFORE US AND LET US KNOW THAT.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, I'M GOING TO SHOOT IT TO MIKE HUGHES.
MIKE, I THINK HAVING LOOKED AT THE ECONOMIC DATA, THAT WAS YOUR PIECE OF THE PRESENTATION AND I APPRECIATED WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
TOM, THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU ARRIVED AT PREDICTING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU DIRECTLY, MIKE, HAVING BEEN DEEP IN ALL OF IT, DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE CAN JUST STAY THE SAME? IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT OR IF VOTERS CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE FOR IT, WILL THE CIVIC CENTER JUST KEEP BEING WHAT IT HAS BEEN FOR US? IT'LL JUST KEEP GOING ON ITS HORIZONTAL LINE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DIED A SLOW DEATH.
IT'S JUST NOT VERY FUNCTIONAL ANYMORE.
SO IS THE LINE HORIZONTAL EVEN NOW OR DOES IT HAVE A DOWNWARD CURVE? I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A DOWNWARD CURVE.
OK, SO WHAT WE HAVE THEN ACTUALLY IN FRONT OF US IS A CHOICE TO TRY TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE CURVE OR WE IF WE DO NOTHING, THE CURVE CONTINUES TO PROBABLY ACCELERATES ON A DOWNWARD TREND IS THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.
IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE AFTER LOOKING AT IT? IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I THINK WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
WE HAVE TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY.
OK. WELL, I THINK THEN THAT YOU'VE BEEN VERY PATIENT TO LET US SIT UP HERE AND THINK OF EVERY QUESTION WE THINK WE CAN ROLL AROUND IN OUR HEADS.
JARED, ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW? OK, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
AND WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME FOR COUNCIL TO RECEIVE VOLUME 4 OF THE FACILITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT? AND WILL WE HAVE THAT BEFORE THE ELECTION, BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 11TH MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE ELECTION? WE PROBABLY NEED IT BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 11TH MEETING.
I WOULD THINK THAT IF NOT AT LEAST BEFORE THE ELECTION.
OK, SO TO TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, WE DO HAVE A DRAFT COMPLETED OF A VOLUME FOR THIS WHOLE TEAM REPRESENTED HERE TODAY HAS WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY.
AND AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ANALYSIS WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WE'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED THEIR FULL SCOPE OF QUESTIONS, WHICH IS PUT US IN A POSITION TO NOT NECESSARILY RELEASE A FINAL VERSION OF THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT UNTIL WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS AND MADE SURE THAT WE'VE DONE ALL OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE RELATED TO TO THEIR DATA NEEDS AND THE LIKE, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME DATA POINT WE MISSED THAT DAY THAT WE WOULD WANT TO INCORPORATE INTO THAT. SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUBLISH SOMETHING PREMATURELY THAT DID NOT HAVE THAT. SO TO TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE DO HAVE A DRAFT THAT WE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING TO THE CITY COUNCIL HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK AND BE MAKING AVAILABLE ON THE WEB
[02:00:02]
SITE, THE CONVERSATIONCIVICCENTER.COM WEB SITE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WILL HAVE THE PREVIOUS THREE VOLUMES, PLUS THE NEW VOLUME 4.AND THEN A NUMBER OF ALL THE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE USED IN THE IN THE CONVERSATION CIVIC CENTER PIECE OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
SO THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU. ANY FINAL COMMENTS FROM OUR COMMITTEE? ONE THING, JENNIFER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS WAS IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE. THE PRAYER IS THAT IT IT GETS APPROVED, OF COURSE.
BUT LIKE MIKE SAID IN THE BOARD, WE'VE MADE NEW FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCITING JOURNEY. AND YES, AMARILLO 101.
AND IT GIVES YOU EVEN MORE PRIDE AND GRACE FOR YOUR CITY.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE LEADERSHIP.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU.
WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME COMMITMENT.
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THE PATIENTS THAT WE'VE DEFINITELY SPENT AND INVESTED TIME HERE.
BUT I THINK IT'S OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE TIME THAT THE COMMITTEE SITTING IN FRONT OF US HAS SPENT OVER THE LAST YEAR STUDYING AND COMING TO THEIR TO THEIR CONCLUSIONS.
WE'LL BE IN TOUCH OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
OK. SO I'M GOING TO EXCUSE YOU GUYS.
AND AT THIS TIME, THE COUNCIL DOES HAVE ONE MORE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
[A. EXECUTIVE SESSION: City Council may convene in Executive Session to receive reports on or discuss any of the following pending projects or matters: 1) Section 551.072 - Discuss the purchase, exchange, lease, sale, or value of real property and public discussion of such would not be in the best interests of the City's bargaining position: (a) Discuss property located in the NE quadrant of the Central Business District.]
IT'S AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.SO, MR. CITY ATTORNEY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.