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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA010 - Additional letters in support and against Aquatic Center f — "John Stafford" To <drice827@msn.com>, <email@jamilarson.org>, <johnstafford@mchsi.com> <ldollr@gmail.com>, <rmahayni@isu net.net>, 05/16/2007 10:06 PM <matthewgoodman@mchsi.com>, <jm@jimpopken.org>, f cc �:_ • Please respond to "John Stafford" bcc <johnstafford@mchsi.com> Subject Ames Aquatic Center Dear members of the Ames City Council and City Staff, I am writing to encourage you to help move Ames in a positive direction through acceptance of the Ames Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendation to locate a new aquatic center at the 13th street site. The commission spent a great deal of time and solicited significant public input prior to reaching the recommended conclusion. Please do not undermine the efforts of these individuals and the citizens who provided input and feedback during the analysis of options by discarding or discounting their decision. The 13th Street location will provide safe and convenient access to the aquatic center by many Ames residents. The assertion that this location will provide some sort of advantage to residents of north or east Ames because the current location of Carr Pool does not hold water. As I understand the project recommendations, Carr Pool would be closed upon the opening of this complex. Locating the complex within the city greenbelt will encourage access via foot or bicycle traffic. This would promote the environmental health of our community. If there is significant opposition to this project in our community, then let it be brought to light in a bond election in July. Please do not be swayed by vocal minority positions, let the community at large decide. Thank you for your continuing service to our community, and thank you for your consideration of this issue. Sincerely, John Stafford 2932 Somerset Drive Ames, IA 50010 515 292-0572 May 16, 2007 MAY 17 2C01 Members of the City Council City of Ames CITY CLERK CITY OF AMES,IOWA Subject: Vote Against Any Public Outdoor Swimming Facility I am very strongly opposed to the spending of any tax payer money, especially $8.5 million, on an"outdoor" swimming pool/aquatics center at"any" location in Ames. Spending this large sum of tax payer dollars on a facility that would only be used for three months of the year is a prime example of bad management of taxes. Ames does not have the kind of climate for this great expenditure. If someone proposed spending $8.5 million for a new city building that would only be used for three months per year and would be vacant the remaining nine months, he/she would be laughed out of town. If an outdoor aquatics center is such a good and viable idea, let the private sector provide the funds and construct it. However, no private institution would fund such a project, because it is not a viable project in such a cold climate with such a short swimming season. The proposed $8.5 million would be much better spent on upgrading and expanding the supply of fresh water for Ames. We came very close to rationing water last summer. We had better face the facts that Ames and the country do not have enough fresh water. With Ames growing and global warming worsening, it would be much better if this $8.5 million is spent on our fresh water supply, that"all"our citizens, "all"our businesses, "all"our institutions, such as the fire department and hospital would benefit from. Some say that nearby cities and towns have outdoor swimming facilities,therefore Ames needs to have one. But spending this large amount of public money simply for "bragging rights"is the worst reason of all to waste tax payer money. Please do not support this wasteful project, other higher priority projects need to be done. Joseph P. Mancuso 304 Washington Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010 walterjan@aol.com To drice827@msn.com, email@jamilarson.org, 05/17/2007 03:06 PM rmahayni@isunet.net, matthewgoodman@mchsi.com, jim@jimpopken.org, magelu82@iastate.edu, cc bcc Subject aquatic center I would like to go on record as favoring the Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendation to build the outdoor aquatic center at the 13th Street site. I will vote for the aquatic center in either location, but feel that if the Commission has studied the issue and has chosen the 13th Street site, the Council should accept that recommendation. We just need to get this issue to a vote so progress can begin to be made on the project. Janice Walter 2035 Country Club Blvd. Ames, IA 50014 292-9212 AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com • t "Matt&Alisa Frandsen" To <bobanncamp@aol.com>, <drice827@msn.com>, s` <m.frandsen@mchsi.com> <email@jamilarson.org>, <1dollr@gmail.com>, 05/18/2007 11:10 AM <rmahayni@isunet.net>, <matthewgoodman@mchsi.com>, cc "Jessica Brandon"<brandonjessica@hotmail.com>,"sakina ` husain"<sakina_ch@yahoo.com>, "angie Strotman" <angiestrotman@msn.com>,"Jessica Loecke" bcc Subject Outdoor Aquatic Center Dear Mayor Campbell and Members of the City Council, As young families of Ames, we ask the City Council to approve the Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendation for an outdoor aquatic center and allow our community to vote on July 24`h. The time has come for the Ames Community to pull together and support this exciting initiative! The proposed outdoor aquatic center provides many benefits that will enhance the community in which we live. The design offers recreation for all ages, and as the growing needs of children change, the various features can evolve to accommodate those needs. The centralized location makes it accessible to all community members. With the enhancements of bike trails through this area, many of our children will be able to access the aquatic center by bike or foot. Furthermore, the presence and location of the center will entice new families as they consider Ames as their home. Opportunities for community collaboration are endless with the proposed aquatic center. The 13`h street location allows the school district to develop additional athletic fields for their programs and the city to extend their current bike and trail system. Additionally, it provides all ages the chance for relationship building and growth, developing a healthy sense of community. On behalf of our children and countless others in Ames, we ask the City Council to approve the recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Our families love calling Ames home, and desire for our children to have fun, safe activities as we continue to develop a stronger sense of community. Please allow our community the opportunity to unite behind this initiative and vote YES on July 24`h1 Jon, Jessica, and Charlie Brandon 1323 Jefferson St Brent, Beth, Emma and Elijah Brungardt 4902 Clemens Blvd Chad, Jill, Jensen, and Ava Harms 1713 Northwestern Ave Ali, Sakina, Aaliya, and Humza Husain 509 Smiley Ave Joe, Brenda, Lauren, Josh, and Christopher Fisher 829 Douglas Matt, Alisa, and Ali Frandsen 919 Gaskill Dr Jeri Fraterrigo, and Jim and Guthrey Miller 925 Gaskill Dr Glen, Laura, Claire, and Garrett Galvin 2614 Yorkshire St Matt, Jessica, and Eliza Loecke 2536 Somerset Dr Carolyn Steckelberg and Nathan Kalvik 505 Smiley Ave Ben, Athena, Alyssa, Alexa, and Bradley Strotman 2384 212th St Joe, Angie, Katie, and Jackie Strotman 4820 Hemingway Dr Ben, Jen, and Kylie Zeigler 3316 Preston Circle "Tom Durkin" To <drice827@msn.com> <tom.arfc@mchsi.com> cc <dvoss@city.ames.ia.us> 1 w. 05/18/2007 04:36 PM bcc Subject pool Dear Mr. Rice, I received your e-mail address from Dave Benson. I have been talking to Mr. Benson for the past year about the proposed outdoor aquatic center. In 2003 the last time this was proposed I was part of the business community that was against the so called Rec Plex, I thought 23 million was way to much to ask the tax payer to carry and also in my case it takes business away from me, it competes with my business. However this new plan of and outdoor pool at 13th street location we do support and feel it is very important, for the business community to get behind it and move forward. The price of 8.5 million is a reasonable dollar amount to expect to pay and the amount of tax dollars it will cost us seems much more reasonable then the last proposal. So on behave of Ames Racquet and Fitness Centers we do support the new plan of and outdoor pool and hope it passes in July. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, cell 290-2900. Thank you for your time. Tom Durkin. "Marie McCuskey" To <drice827@msn.com>, <email@jamilarson.org>, <mariem@isunet.net> <1dollr@gmail.com>, <rmahayni@isu net.net>, 05/20/2007 10:08 PM CC <matthewgoodman@mchsi.com>, <jm@jimpopken.org>, bcc Subject Outdoor Aquatic Center City Council Members, I strongly support the Parks and Recreation commissioners recommendation for an outdoor aquatic complex at the 13th St. location. Why? *The decision was made by the commission after careful fact finding and a tremendous effort to reach out and solicit public input. * It is centrally located, on the city bike path and will provide addition recreation space with soccer practice fields ***Most importantly, our city needs to move forward and provide amenities that will continue to attract young families and provide all of us with new, vibrant opportunities. Having lived in Ames for 20 years, I am looking forward to a wonderful facility for residents of all ages. Thank you, Marie McCuskey 2204 Fillmore Ave. Ames, IA 50010 232-0170 `• - "MICHAEL&JILL" To drice827@msn.com,email@jamilarson.org, <mjguffy@msn.com> ldollr@gmail.com, rmahayne@isunet.net, ' 05/21/2007 08:12 AM matthewgoodman@mchsi.com,jim@jimpopken.org, • cc bcc Subject Parks and Recs recommendation City Council Members, The Parks and Recreation Commission has done its homework, they held public forums, they have made a recommendation to build a new pool at the 13th Street site. Ames needs this new pool now. Please support this recommendation. Thank you, Jill Guffy, 2915 Forest Hills Drive, Ames "Donohue, Linda" To <drice827@msn.com>, <email@jamilarson.org>, <Idonohue@mcfarlandclinic.c <1do11r@gmai1.com>, <rmahayni@isunet.net>, i om> <matthewgoodman@mchsi.com>, <jm@jimpopken.org>, 05/21/2007 10:52 AM cc bcc Subject Aquatic Center Support from Steve Koger McFarland Clinic PC Memo To: Ames City Council Members From: Steve Koger Date: May 21, 2007 Re: Aquatic Center Recommendations I'm writing to express my support for the recommendations the Park and Recreation Commission has made concerning a new aquatic center for Ames. I believe the aquatic center will serve to significantly benefit this community. I am confident a center as proposed would greatly assist McFarland Clinic in its constant efforts to bring new providers to Ames. An aquatic center would add greatly to the many attractions of our city and help us recruit physicians in what has become an extremely competitive national and international marketplace. I am hopeful this project will be able to move forward within our community and am very pleased to see the City Council leadership giving this matter its consideration. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This E-mail (including the attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C.§§ 2510-2521, is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete it. Thank You. r• — Gary Botine To dvoss@city.ames.ia.us <gbotine@sauer-danfoss.com cc �1r 05/21/2007 10:03 PM bcc Subject Email to City Council Members Diane, I forgot to cc: you on this email that I sent to the City Council members earlier today so that you could include a hard copy in the council packets for tomorrow night. Here is the full text of what I wrote to them. Dear Members of the Ames City Council and Mayor Campbell: I know that you will be voting on the proposal from the Ames Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the Aquatics facility at your meeting tomorrow evening. I am writing to you as both a tax-paying resident and as an executive with one of Ames' largest private employers, Sauer-Danfoss. I am asking for each of you to vote in favor of the aquatics center proposal that will be brought before you tomorrow evening, including its location on 13th street. My reasons for supporting this are as follows: You are each aware of the expansion plans that Sauer-Danfoss has in Ames. We are in the process of adding 150-200 jobs in Ames over the next two years. Our ability to recruit people to fill these positions is greatly improved when our community has amenities that families are looking for, such as a family-friendly aquatics center. The additional property taxes that our business will have to pay for the proposed cost of this facility is minimal compared to the cost to recruit one person to Ames. We also feel that families will be more likely to locate within the Ames city limits if Ames can offer this type of aquatics center rather than having them live in one of the surrounding communities that already provides such an amenity. Having families locate in Ames will also be beneficial to the Ames Community School District through increased enrollment. As a father of two children, I have already experienced driving to Boone and Nevada and even purchasing summer passes to those facilities. Even though one of my children will already be out of high school by the time this aquatics facility is built under the proposed timeline, I am more than willing to pay a little extra in property taxes for future generations. After all, older generations of Ames residents had the foresight long ago to provide us with the quality of life we all enjoy today. It's time for this generation to"Step Up- Dive In." Please vote"Yes"tomorrow night. Sincerely, Gary E. Botine 1002 Vermont Ct. Ames, IA Thanks,