09-10-2007 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 10, 2007 7:00 o'clock p.m. (Funding for Gillespie Center, Continued) increase once more people become aware of their services. Smith requested the City Council give serious consideration to their request. Bremer inquired about whether the Cities of Independence and St. Bonifacious have agreed to the plan. Smith stated they would be meeting with the City of Independence at their council meeting tomorrow night and that Independence did attend the meetings in May and July. Smith noted Independence is being asked to contribute $3 per resident and that the amount the Gillespie Center is requesting from Orono would amount to approximately .50 cents per month per resident. Dave Osmek, Mound City Council Member, noted the City of Orono is already contributing to the Gillespie Center and that this would not create a precedent. A portion of the money would go towards the cost of the building but that there is no way each of the cities in this area could afford to fund a senior center. Osmek noted there are certain thresholds that the Gillespie Center has to reach as it relates to their fundraising and that once the center reaches the required three million dollar mark, the cities would no longer be required to contribute. Osmek stated this is not a one -time problem but something that will occur on a yearly basis and that this is a problem that requires a solution. This proposal gives the Gillespie Center a stable mechanism to fund their services. Osmek requested the City Council take a hard look at the proposal, which would help to solve the problem. • Bremer inquired if only half of the cities committed to this plan, what the outcome would be. • Osmek stated it would not allow the Gillespie Center the ability to reach the point that they need to sustain the center in the long -term and it would not help resolve the funding issues. Osmek stated in his opinion the funding cannot be placed on just one city. Osmek noted the City of Mound has already allocated the money for the center in its 2008 budget. Bremer inquired what stance the City of St. Bonifacious has taken on this matter. Osmek indicated St. Bonifacious has not taken a formal vote on it at this point. Smith indicated she did speak with the City of St. Bonifacious today and that they will be re- appearing before their city council again. Smith stated in her view they will be supportive of the plan. Murphy asked what the other cities are contributing versus the City of Orono's contribution. Whithart stated the other cities do not contribute as much. Whithart noted at one point the City of Mound was contributing up to $50,000 but that their contribution has been reduced over the years. Hanus stated annual contributions in cash and in kind contributions are around $14,000. Murphy stated he would like to leave out the in kind contributions. Whithart stated Mound contributes approximately $4,500; Spring Park contributes approximately $4,500; and Independence currently contributes funds to the Delano Center. Whithart stated when the . PAGE 4