How do you cut hours because of budget problems and then and the same time turn around and spend 4.5 million on a building? That 4.5 mil doesn't include renovation costs.

What is the City Council thinking? Now's not the time to be spending money, but politicians just can't help themselves even in times of financial trouble. Wake up Council, this is a moronic decision.

Keep the rink open as a community sports center, the greater Scotts Valley area NEEDS this more than ever!

The SVSC is a privately owned business... Bob has been wonderful to the kids in our communities. He stepped up, where our community leaders would not.

Thank you Bob for so many wonderful years at the rink. This was a family environment where so many children and their families really bonded. It's a complete heartbreak for the families that call this place a 2nd home.

The SLV/SV/SC communities really need some sort of sportsplex, family activity center. It's in the community's best interest. Folks who do not have children may not want to fund a project like this, but they need to understand that by not providing a supervised venue... many of these kids would be out looking for their own type of fun... and fall into trouble.

Gangs have started taking over Santa Cruz. Do we want to leave the children in our communities vulnerable to that?

Let's keep our kids busy... and focused on something productive.

If the rink is gone... can we please make it a priority to add something back to the community? This is the responsibility of the community... not the private sector.

I forgot to say how oxymoron is it to have these two conflicting articles on the front page of the Banner- one above the other???

First I'd like to thank Mr. Bach for informing us of details we surely did NOT know. We will be attending the meeting Wednesday as we'd like to be informed of the Mayor and Vice Mayor's intentions here. I was also wondering WHO pays for the gutting and renovation of the building? Where does this money come from? The 'conceptual' plan for the 'town center' has changed with this new venture. Why oh why would so much money be invested in a new library when hours are on the chopping block here and through out the county??? Oh, and not to mention the CLOSING of Garfield Park Library- which is a big loss!

Personally, our family would be sad to see this building converted to a library. Don't get me wrong, we love the library and our family are avid readers, but we are also very much into sports and our town is lacking an indoor sports center. This building hasn't been fully utilized to its potential because the rates they charge for renting it out our sky high, which has deterred coaches/athletes/people from renting it out for various sports leagues and camps. This area could use an all weather sports center. The place was purchased by the Slawinski's to host their auctions and the sports activities were just part of their plan. It would be great to see it converted to an actual Sports Center that could be rented at a reasonable rate. Indoor soccer leagues (youth and adult), volleyball clubs, roller hockey...so much potential for a very fun and much needed site!

June 1, 2009

Dear Mayor Johnson and City Manager Ando,

Please be kind enough to explain why a $4.5 million dollar financial transaction has been placed in the Consent Agenda to be voted upon by the council this Wednesday without any discussion by the Council or full public briefing of the facts.

The Consent Agenda is reserved for "items which appear to be non-controversial" and thus which do not necessitate a discussion by the council or with a briefing to the public.

It is hard to understand how item E could be considered for a vote without a discussion by the Council.

"Authorize the Redevelopment Agency Chair to execute a Purchase Agreement with Slawinski Family Partnership for APN's 022-211-80 and 022-211-31"

While this may or may not be a fair transaction it needs to be moved from the consent agenda where it will be approved or denied without any discussion to the Regular agenda where it will receive the appropriate public scrutiny and transparency.

The citizens of Scotts Valley need to understand the impact of this so called "non-controversial" transaction;

* Scotts Valley apparently loses a Sports Center

* Major change to the Town Center plans - Library no longer planned for the end of the Town Center Green. Library now to be located in the current Sports Center

* Financial impact of a $4,500,000 transaction

* $1,600,000 in cash with $3,900,000 financed by the City at $6.5%

* No mention of any appraisal even being conducted by the City to determine fair market value?

* Loss of Property tax revenue to the City and County.

* An explanation as to why the City Council planned to proceed without a public discussion of these and other aspects of the transaction

We sincerely request that this agenda item be moved to the regular agenda with a full briefing of the details provided to the public.



Scotts Valley Responsible Local Development PAC

This paper is reporting a June 1 meeting to cut library hours drasticly. To as few as 24 hours a week in SV and now they are going to spend $4.5 million on a new library???? What the heck?