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<br />e. West Ten Soccer Center Public Private Partnership <br />The Board considered authorizing the County Manager to continue to pursue <br />discussions with Sports Endeavors and other potential partners in the West Ten Soccer Center <br />project. <br />Recreation and Parks Qirector Lori Taft said that there was discussion about the County <br />being approached by Sports Endeavors about potentially partnering with the County on the <br />soccer center. Most recently, in February, the Manager sent the Board some information <br />detailing the proposed partnership. This could be a large amount of funding for the County. <br />The Manager is recommending that the staff go ahead with discussions with Sports Endeavors. <br />Laura Blackmon said that this will also involve some of the ways in which the facility may <br />be used for tournaments, etc. She did not want to proceed unless this new concept of naming <br />rights in this privatetpublic partnership is something the Board is interested in pursuing. <br />Commissioner Nelson said that he has some frustration with this item, because he does <br />not know why anyone would want to turn down money, but on the other hand he has heard for <br />years that there are some deep seeded concerns amongst some citizens over decisions that <br />have been made on where soccer facilities are placed and how they are developed. He said <br />that there were citizens at a meeting a couple of months ago expressing concerns. The Board <br />referred it to staff, and there has been na feedback about these items. He is frustrated that <br />these questions have not been answered. He is not opposed to working something out with <br />Sports Endeavors. <br />Commissioner Gordon agreed with Commissioner Nelson and said that this item is <br />premature. She said that she does not want to turn down money for a project, but there have <br />been questions raised. She made reference to the bond referendum from 2001 and said that a <br />Capital Needs Advisory Task Force, composed of citizens from all over the county, worked for <br />several months and came to an agreement about where bond projects would be located around <br />the County. She said that there was no mention about a soccer complex. She said that same <br />questions include whether this is a recreational facility or an economic development facility. <br />She said that this was premature in the sense of negotiation on specific elements of this <br />process. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he understands Commissioner Nelson's frustration. He <br />said that he recommended at the February 20t" meeting that this all be brought back at a work <br />session instead of just to two Commissioners. He said that he has been working on this since <br />2000. In fact, in 2000 the soccer complex was identified and he served on the task force. <br />There was a brochure developed in 2001, which answers many of the questions an the orange <br />sheet that was distributed last time. He suggested that in the future when there is an item about <br />soccer, that this report be distributed. He said that he personally believes in substantial <br />equivalency, and this was the thrust of trying to get a comparable number of soccer fields. He <br />said that the Board does not have to decide the details of the complex, but he would like to start <br />discussions with Sports Endeavors. <br />Chair Carey said that it is not disquieting to him to approve this policy about <br />publiclprivate partnerships, specifically as it relates to this project. He said that he approved the <br />West Ten Complex because the County Commissioners have a responsibility to the people all <br />over the County regardless of where they live. He said that it was approved because it was <br />needed and he is ready to move ahead. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that it is not fair to frame this as an equality issue. She said <br />that even if you know that six fields are needed at West Ten, it does not mean that you need a <br />complex with bleachers, a scoreboard, or concession stands. She said that the equity issue <br />was decided when the citizen's capital needs task force met on the parks bond and decided on <br />the needed facilities. <br />