"...Rapid City is growing, that is a fact and something that cannot and
should not be hindered by backwards thinking people who oppose progress
in our city (flashbacks of the Main Street Square vote). I’m voting yes
on the civic center expansion and urge all voters to do the same.
Because if we’re not moving forward, we’re sliding backward.
— Debbi Fitch, Rapid City"
"...There are no detailed plans for this project; it is basically just a
concept with many unknowns. Can we get or do we even want two additional
professional sports teams? What will the interest rate be (I understand
it’s a variable rate)? Has the parking issue been addressed
sufficiently? Is this even enough money to complete the project? How
does this improve our quality of life? We see public debt growing at all levels with no end in sight.
— Dan Mulally, Rapid City"
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
US attorney filed the ADA complaint
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/mystery-solved-us-attorney-requested-arena-inspection-on-ada-issues/article_4c784e69-d7d4-59b6-8a17-06d21026e1de.html
"Johnson said Monday it was because of him. Not only had he heard concerns from Rapid City residents, he said, but he’d also personally noticed accessibility issues in the arena. Johnson’s father, Tim, a former U.S. Senator now retired from a long political career, uses a scooter because of stroke-like mobility problems caused by a cerebral arteriovenous malformation.
'I can’t speak for other U.S. attorneys, but I can just speak for myself,' Brendan Johnson said. 'I’ve got a problem with facilities in South Dakota that aren’t handicap-accessible.'
Johnson said he personally contacted officials at “main DOJ” — Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. — sometime prior to August 2012 and asked them to conduct an evaluation of the arena’s ADA accessibility.
Back in February 2012, six months before the arena inspection, Pennington County, of which Rapid City is the county seat, had already been notified that it was selected for an ADA review as part of Project Civic Access, a program of the Disability Rights Section of the Justice Department’s Division of Civil Rights. In that program, locales are selected for ADA compliance reviews as part of an effort to spread compliance across the nation, oftentimes without any formal complaint to instigate the reviews.
Jeff Stroot, human resources director for Pennington County, said the multi-day compliance review specifically targeted Pennington County-owned facilities. He was not aware that the review would include the city-owned arena, and he didn’t learn until later that the arena had been inspected.
Why did the inspection team members venture over to the civic center? Johnson suspects his request had filtered down to them."
But I don't think anybody is trying to stop the ADA fixes. Both sides agree this must be done. What there seems to be no agreement on is the cost. This article says $40 million. The mayor says $72 million. Another source says $36-38 million.
"Johnson said Monday it was because of him. Not only had he heard concerns from Rapid City residents, he said, but he’d also personally noticed accessibility issues in the arena. Johnson’s father, Tim, a former U.S. Senator now retired from a long political career, uses a scooter because of stroke-like mobility problems caused by a cerebral arteriovenous malformation.
'I can’t speak for other U.S. attorneys, but I can just speak for myself,' Brendan Johnson said. 'I’ve got a problem with facilities in South Dakota that aren’t handicap-accessible.'
Johnson said he personally contacted officials at “main DOJ” — Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. — sometime prior to August 2012 and asked them to conduct an evaluation of the arena’s ADA accessibility.
Back in February 2012, six months before the arena inspection, Pennington County, of which Rapid City is the county seat, had already been notified that it was selected for an ADA review as part of Project Civic Access, a program of the Disability Rights Section of the Justice Department’s Division of Civil Rights. In that program, locales are selected for ADA compliance reviews as part of an effort to spread compliance across the nation, oftentimes without any formal complaint to instigate the reviews.
Jeff Stroot, human resources director for Pennington County, said the multi-day compliance review specifically targeted Pennington County-owned facilities. He was not aware that the review would include the city-owned arena, and he didn’t learn until later that the arena had been inspected.
Why did the inspection team members venture over to the civic center? Johnson suspects his request had filtered down to them."
But I don't think anybody is trying to stop the ADA fixes. Both sides agree this must be done. What there seems to be no agreement on is the cost. This article says $40 million. The mayor says $72 million. Another source says $36-38 million.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Opinion page; one for, one against
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/opinion/mailbag/march-letters/article_c92e9694-3f7b-5ae1-85cf-aaa7ad5f5eaa.html
"...Perhaps what I’m most disappointed about is the timing of the “Fix the Plan” campaign. Throughout this process there have been ample time for this committee to voice their thoughts, yet they have waited until now to do so. Why? Their actions seem politically motivated at the expense of what’s best for the community.
— Marcel Wahlstrom , Custer"
"...I do not think they and those who promote this project have demonstrated to the voters neither the benefits they will derive, nor the real financial analysis required before embarking in a project of this magnitude. Therefore, a no vote is called for. The rosy picture presented by these advocates of the economic growth the city will achieve is just that — a rosy picture. The recent news on the front page of the Journal about the state's "economy has grown much less than predicted" means less revenue for the state and should give pause to those who are promoting the rosy picture they foresee for the city. I hope they consider this as a warning.
— Orlando Ortiz, Rapid City"
"...Perhaps what I’m most disappointed about is the timing of the “Fix the Plan” campaign. Throughout this process there have been ample time for this committee to voice their thoughts, yet they have waited until now to do so. Why? Their actions seem politically motivated at the expense of what’s best for the community.
— Marcel Wahlstrom , Custer"
"...I do not think they and those who promote this project have demonstrated to the voters neither the benefits they will derive, nor the real financial analysis required before embarking in a project of this magnitude. Therefore, a no vote is called for. The rosy picture presented by these advocates of the economic growth the city will achieve is just that — a rosy picture. The recent news on the front page of the Journal about the state's "economy has grown much less than predicted" means less revenue for the state and should give pause to those who are promoting the rosy picture they foresee for the city. I hope they consider this as a warning.
— Orlando Ortiz, Rapid City"
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Opinion; build for the next 40 years
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/opinion/mailbag/feb-letters/article_a548bf3d-0245-538a-8435-72d98f0bf363.html
"...The people that supported the project over 40 years ago have been able to enjoy the current facility. The young people who support this project will be able to do the same, investing in Rapid City’s future for the next 40 years. Voting yes on civic center expansion is voting yes for our young people and the future of Rapid City. Let’s do it right, lets invest in Rapid City's future."
— Domico Rodriguez, Rapid City
But our young people are being shafted on their education. I don't think that's a good trade-off.
"...The people that supported the project over 40 years ago have been able to enjoy the current facility. The young people who support this project will be able to do the same, investing in Rapid City’s future for the next 40 years. Voting yes on civic center expansion is voting yes for our young people and the future of Rapid City. Let’s do it right, lets invest in Rapid City's future."
— Domico Rodriguez, Rapid City
But our young people are being shafted on their education. I don't think that's a good trade-off.
final forum gets Q&A for city officials
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/final-civic-center-forum-addresses-wide-range-of-issues/article_b18dad38-5485-531c-af0f-e5267e02c455.html
"Resident Jordan Mason also questioned whether a market the size of Rapid City can support such a large, costly facility, and whether air travel and hotel options are adequate to accommodate big shows and crowds.
Baltzer replied that he believes the city has already begun to lose out on events that require upgraded technology, better stages, and a more modern space than now offered by the 40-year-old Barnett Arena.
Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Julie Jensen said the CVB has an aggressive event marketing plan and works closely with hotels and airlines to improve access and options. Jensen said that when the Barnett was newer, Rapid City could compete with much-larger metro areas to attract events, many of which are now held elsewhere.
'Our Barnett Arena is not relevant anymore,' she said. 'We're not going to bring them here with what we have now. We cannot sell without a relevant building, plain and simple'."
This final answer still has me wondering if we could compete on price (not having to spend $180 million on expansion) rather than size of venue.
Also; http://www.kotatv.com/news/south-dakota-news/civic-center-board-members-face-public-questions/31549976
"Resident Jordan Mason also questioned whether a market the size of Rapid City can support such a large, costly facility, and whether air travel and hotel options are adequate to accommodate big shows and crowds.
Baltzer replied that he believes the city has already begun to lose out on events that require upgraded technology, better stages, and a more modern space than now offered by the 40-year-old Barnett Arena.
Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Julie Jensen said the CVB has an aggressive event marketing plan and works closely with hotels and airlines to improve access and options. Jensen said that when the Barnett was newer, Rapid City could compete with much-larger metro areas to attract events, many of which are now held elsewhere.
'Our Barnett Arena is not relevant anymore,' she said. 'We're not going to bring them here with what we have now. We cannot sell without a relevant building, plain and simple'."
This final answer still has me wondering if we could compete on price (not having to spend $180 million on expansion) rather than size of venue.
Also; http://www.kotatv.com/news/south-dakota-news/civic-center-board-members-face-public-questions/31549976
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