Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Minutes Land & Traffic
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LAND & TRAFFIC COMMITIEE DECEMBER 1, 2020 MINUTES LAND & TRAFFIC COMMITIEE MUNCIE COMMON COUNCIL 300 NORTH HIGH STREET MUNCIE, INDIANA 47305 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 5 SPECIAL MEETING: 6:00P.M ., 1 T FLOOR CITY HALL AUDITORIUM. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Councilman Ingram. ROLL CALL: PRESENT ABSENT Jeff Robinson X Troy Ingram X Ralph Smith X Chair of the Land & Traffic Committee, Councilman Robinson, welcomes everyone to the meeting regarding the YMCAs proposal for downtown development of Tuhey Park. Before they begin, he would like to point out and emphasize that there is no official action being proposed at this time by the City Administration or the YMCA. City Council has not received an ordinance to discuss and decide on any official action regarding this proposal. This meeting is for informational purposes, to allow key stakeholders to present their proposals and to allow adjacent neighborhoods to speak on this issue as well as members of the public to voice their support or opposition of this project. If the City Administration chooses to pursue this proposal further, action will need to be taken by the City Council to approve. If official action is proposed to the Muncie City Council, more opportunities for the public to speak and ask questions will be provided. They, as members of the Land & Traffic Committee, as well as colleagues on the entire Council, believe public engagement and input from citizens is absolutely vital to the process. Tonight's meeting is to allow those wishing to speak on this proposal a forum to do so . They ask that everyone remain respectful and civil this evening. At the end of the day and at the end of this debate, we all care a great deal for this community even when we disagree on an issue, there is no doubt about that. Again, everyone please remain civil and respectful throughout the evening. For fairness to all involved, the meeting has been structured in the following way: the YMCA, Mayor Ridenour, Old West End and Riverside Normal City Neighborhood Associations will be given equal time to present to the Committee their thoughts on this proposal and they will be given 10 minutes a piece. The Committee is able to ask each stakeholder questions after their presentation, although Robinson does ask that the Committee keep it brief. Again, there will be more opportunities to speak on this issue down the road if something comes to the Council, which at that point, they can get more into the weeds on things. However, tonight, he requests to keep it brief so that all the people in attendance can talk. After the presentations, there will be a short 10-minute recess before reconvening and allowing each member of the public 3 minutes to address the Committee. Each member of the public wishing to speak should sign up with Lacey, the Council Secretary, at the front ofthe auditorium if have not already. Robinson thanks everyone for being here this even ing and states it is an important beginning of a conversation on an important issue in our community. 1 LAND & TRAFFIC COMMITIEE DECEMBER 1, 2020 While waiting for the first presenter to set up, Robinson states he received a lot of emails on this topic. He wishes to let Mr. Chad Zaucha know that everyone here is in agreement that we appreciate the YMCAs mission and appreciate what he has done in this community for so many years. Robinson wants to make sure that is very clear that certainly he, and many in the audience as well as colleagues on this Committee, understand the important of the YMCA in this community. Mr. Zaucha thanks him and appreciates it. PRESENTATIONS: YMCA Chad Zaucha, President/CEO of the YMCA, thanks the Committee for the opportunity to continue the dialogue in regards to the future of the YMCA. As it is known, the YMCA's vision is to consolidate its footprint in order to be better stewards of resources, deepen its impact and better meet its mission through programs for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Tuhey site is a proposed location for the new YMCA project. The site is visible, accessible by foot, car or bus. It is safe because people feel safe gathering downtown and it can be financially feasible. In concept, this project proposal fits into a much larger vision for the development of the riverfront and represents the potential of a transformative project that could strengthen the core of the City by enhancing quality of life, quality of place, and playing a role in economic development. This big and potential $20 million investment could strengthen the heart of our community. Zaucha knows there are several concerns that have been brought to his attention that he would like to quickly address, green space being one of them. Based on the conceptual drawing, the green pace is enhanced. It is more contiguous and safer with the ability to expand the river and connect easily to the trail system. (Larger scale of draft on page 31) '·-. '"-:_ YMCA SIT E OPTION A _j i I / YM(.AI'I:m t•.·ukln9 lot:.l · i I~ I ~,H k ,•,J <; ~ r;u! h Hunh Whhoo Oiv"r <·m~l ro ... ! ~i n ~ lil\1 ri ... )''.JIOO!IIU I L•n t'liuu E: ti •I •I'OJ Ptu• imilylu r .. rk '''"')' H•t'• ·:..., / Ci!'Po11\ 11\p.uo~ . .; '1 :l,· ..~ : '--. ··-, '/ .;,~v r·.,..xt· 1 I 1,11 2 LAND & TRAFFIC COMMITIEE DECEMBER 1, 2020 Zaucha explains in regards to Tuhey Pool that the YMCA has no desire to privatize the pool. The pool would remain public. They simply believe there is an opportunity to leverage resources and share expenses building off the relationship that was put in place this summer where the YMCA was permitted to provide aquatic exercise classes and swim lessons to the community at Tuhey Pool. In return, theY provided pool operations expertise to the Parks Department. Simply put, Tuhey Pool would not be able to open, legally, without the YMCA's involvement. In regards to the park, Zaucha states the YMCA has no desire to take park or playground access from the public. These spaces all would remain open and accessible to all. In addition, consideration would be given to improve the playground areas as part of the overall project desired. Now referring to access, Zaucha explains the YMCA conducts an annual campaign each year to remove financial barriers for those in need. As it is known, those families in our community qualify for free and reduced lunch. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch or are on any form of government assistance, you qualify for financial assistance to participate in YMCA programs and services. Creating access for all is one of the many ways Zaucha claims the YMCA supports their mission. In 2019, the YMCA provided over $3 million in scholarships and programs such as these to make the YMCA open and accessible to all. Zaucha will know turn the floor over to Phil Tevis to further impact the information and ensure a little bit about what could be. Phil Tevis states he works for a Muncie-based Land Architecture and Planning Company called Flatland Resources and they have been involved in many Muncie projects like Minnetrista, Oakhurst, Kitselman Trailhead, Ross Community Center, The White River, Cardinal Greenway, Walnut Street and more. He is a longtime Muncie resident and lives in the Minnetrista neighborhood because ofthe trails and easy access to downtown, Ball State, Minnetrista and the high school. Tevis wants to take a second and thank Robinson and the Land & Traffic Committee for organizing this meeting. In the times of COVID, public meetings have become such a challenge to organize and hold. He also wants to thank the citizens of Muncie for raising concerns about the YMCA's conceptual proposal at Tuhey Park. Tevis, like those individuals, had many questions and concerns and he hopes to share some of what he has learned. This is not the first time nor will it be the last time our community will come together to discuss and contemplate legacy projects like the YMCA. Elders of Muncie would recall the controversy of moving Central High School from downtown to make way for the Ball Corporation, which is known today as Ivy Tech. Tevis, personally, recalls the outcries and opposition to Minnetrista, the Greenways, McKinley Avenue and Walnut Street. We all remember the vocal expressions and concern with Muncie Community Schools and Ball State's partnership, the closing of Southside High School, MADJAX bonding, the jail relocation, Riverside Trail and, most recently, the Waelz Recycling Facility. Community change is hard. Community engagement with healthy discourse is, at times, even harder. In Tevis' experiences, best community outcomes evolve from listening and finding common ground. In the list above and in many more projects, Tevis is always astounded, impressed and proud of Muncie's level of community engagement. We are a passionate citizenry in how lucky we are. Maybe it is because Muncie is home to one of the premier landscape architecture and planning colleges in the nation year after year, semester after semester. Since 1965, architecture students have immersed themselves in Muncie working with community members to envision ideas and to vet them with broad stakeholder input. Right now, student presence at the Muncie Mall is a curing emergent. So many across the nation only wish to have such a resource and we are very fortunate. Tevis believes that because of Ball State, our community knows how to think critically about legacy projects with stakeholder engagement.