HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment Ice Arena ;'a` 03%2009 11:01 FAX 530 582 1732 AMERICAN MAIL CTR
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February 3, 2009
Board of Directors
TDPUD
RE: Proposed Ice Arena
Dear Board Members;
Please consider this letter as a part of the discussion regarding the ice arena
being proposed by John Hugo.
I have been involved in only a few of the meetings where this proposal was being
considered. I am not against having an arena in Truckee, and in fact, believe it
would serve many people and provide many opportunities for the community at
large. I am not sure this is the best spot, and I do have some concerns regarding
Mr. Hugo's project.
1. Mr Hugo has been less than transparent about who his backers are and
how this project will be funded. At one point it was to be fully funded
privately. Then, he was asking for the Park and Recreation Department to
help fund a faiiy large portion of the project. Which is it, and how much as
taxpayers, will we be asked to kick in?
2. Parking is an issue at the McIver Arena. There are 150 spaces on the
south side of Estates Drive where Mr. Hugo wishes to build this project,
and during certain events the parking lot is to it's mazimum capacity. The
Rodeo, Ren-Fair, Cannibal Cruise, Wednesday night concerts, and other
events use every inch of space available. At times, more space could be
used, as it is sorely needed. The most recent plan available indicates that
they would be short only fifty parking spaces. I don't see how that is
possible with a building the size they have proposed, and I am not sure
that they would be able to find those spaces without impacting the Arena_
3. During the Truckee Championship Rodeo, all space within the grounds
and the parking lot are fully used by the public, vendors, service clubs, the
contestants, the stock contractors and the Committee. The Truckee
Championship Rodeo uses every single parking space possible in the
Regional Park. This space cannot be given up on any kind of permanent
basis. Shared, yes, but not given up.
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4. There is a group in the Reno-Sparks area promoting the construction of a
similar facilby built with both public and private funds. It has yet to be
approved. Would not a facility such as they are proposing serve our
hockey players and skaters as well?
S. As several ice facilities have failed in the Reno-Sparks area, how can we
be assured that Truckee and it's residents will not be stuck with this
project? Would the community be left holding the bag, as it were?
6. Mr. Hugo offered to buy the Truckee Meadows Equistrian Center and
build a new Equistiran Center for the Town. Wouldn't it be wiser to
purchase that property, if it is, in fact, available, and build an arena on that
site?
As stated earlier, I am not opposed to an ice arena. I am just concerned
about Mr. Hugo's efforts, and the removal of parking spaces on the site. If Mr
Hugo would be more forthcoming about the funding and the backing, and the
parking spaces were fully replaced, I might feel a bit better about this project.
leave this decision in your good hands.
Sincerely,
Carol Pauli
Cc- Mayor Mark Brown
Tony Lashbrook